Log No 25. Tue 23rd Apr 2013 - Tay Bridge to Carnoustie, 12 miles (440 miles walked)

No mistake with the bus times this morning and I got dropped off at the south end of the Tay Bridge at 10.15.

The weather was sunny intervals with a strong and cold southwesterly wind.

After crossing the bridge I called in at Dundee bus station to check out connections between here & Aberdeen.

The cycleway was supposed to go through the docks but after a while I was redirected back onto the main road.

I rejoined the cycleway after a mile or so and continued along the front to come into Broughty Ferry.

I got to Monifieth at 12.50 and had a break while watching four kite surfers.

One of my considered options was to pitch the tent here in the campsite then walk on with a light pack and get the bus back.

The option that won out was to use Fiona's as a base and not have to think about the tent or where I could stock up from. It means a lot of travelling time to start with on the first day but reduces each day after.

The coast from Monifieth around Buddon Ness was off limits as the army use the area for weapons practice and has a secured base there.

Signs for the cycleway also call this the Angus Coast Path and I followed them along the railway line and into Carnoustie by the golf course.

It was only 14.30 but I was ready to call it a day.

The 14.50 bus should have got me to Arbroath with 3 minutes to get the Aberdeen bus but I got to Arbroath bus station to discover that improvement works meant the connection was now from a bus stop back up the road and I ended up having to wait another hour.

Totals for the day were: walked 12 miles in 4 hours 15 mins, while bus & waiting times were 7 hours!!

It sounds bad but I could have been lying down for 7 hours in the tent.