Distance 27km Height climbed 217 metres. 6 hours 30 minutes. Weather: Much the same.
 |
| The North Esk just down from Tarfside |
 |
| Day 12 Route: Part 1 |
 |
| Day 12 Route: Part 2 |
I breakfasted at the tent then went off to feast my face on bacon rolls and mugs of tea at St Drostan's.
"Why did you eat so many bacon rolls, mister?"
"Because they were there, that's why".
The bridge over the North Esk has been closed by the
landowner who claims it is dangerous. A cynic might think he had other motives.
Some Challengers, I understand, now ford the river here. I saw no point in this, there being a
perfectly good bridge a couple of miles downstream, so I set off along the road
towards the Retreat. Soon after a miracle occurred. I actually caught up with
another Challenger who was walking even more slowly than me. It was Gordon Green, and it wasn’t
really a miracle. It was simply that Gordon had a very poorly and painful foot.
Oh yes, I can walk faster than a man in intense pain. I walked with Gordon for
a while, until Seb Coe and Steve Ovett arrived, and I then broke in to a sprint
and tagged along with them for the rest of the day.
 |
| John and Ian crossing the bridge over the mighty North Esk River. Ian is poised and ready to sprint on along the track. |
We crossed the river and then took the footpath along
the south-west side of the river towards Edzell. Our progress was so fast that we whizzed passed, without seeing,
the bridge that would have taken us to the ‘Blue Door Route’ and also the path
that would have led us off road and enabled us to by-pass the might conurbation
of Gannochy. To my eyes, these spots on the route were just a speed crazed blur.
Edzell was reached in good time, with its renowned café, The Tuck Inn, and an early lunch / third breakfast beckoned. There then followed a trip to the butcher’s shop, which
sells pies to die for. Fortunately, we didn't need to, we just got our wallets out and tucked in to another lunch.
 |
| Eating fried stuff before we hit the pie shop |
 |
| Day 12: Route Part 3 | | | |
|
|
 |
| What a change a day can make to the scenery |
 |
| North Water Bridge campsite |
 |
| How do I fit in that tent? |
 |
| Alan Rayner rubs his hands with glee at spotting an unattended hip flask |
Then it was along more tracks, and that long straight
road, and more tracks to the camp site at North Water Bridge, to be joined by a
fair few Challengers over the next couple of hours. That evening we all sat
around a roaring camp fire singing songs. I made that up. We sat at the picnic
tables and chatted and had the odd snifter until Zebedee sprang up and told us it
was time for bed.
Finally, on a serious note, I have to express my gratitude
to readers who have expressed concern and support for me over my possible
addiction to Primula Cheese spread. This
is no laughing matter. Like many
substance abusers I have found myself covering this up for a long time, whilst
secreting tubes of the stuff around the house – in the bottom of my sock
drawer, in the toilet cistern (Primula tubes are watertight) and so on. I believe that
the first stage of treatment is to admit to the problem. Hence these blog
posts. I have done some extensive research on the Internet and think that
fellow sufferers would benefit from the following information from the webbed thing:
"The cause, apparently, is casomorphins - protein
fragments, derived from the digestion of the milk protein, Casein. The distinguishing characteristic of
casomorphins is that they have an opioid effect. Dependence can develop,
leading to withdrawal syndromes with abrupt discontinuation. Opioids are well
known for their ability to produce a feeling of euphoria, motivating some to
recreationally use opioids."
There it is.
Out in the open. I confess. I am a recreational user of Primula Cheese.
For those of you worried that you might be following
on that same sad footpath of physical and psychological degeneration from which
I am now seeking escape, here is a useful link to a website in which you can
learn more about this terrible peril. It catalogues the stages of addiction,
which include a desperate need for more cheese, a rejection of other food
stuffs, nightmares, hallucinations, a belief that everyone else is walking faster
than you are, and an obsession with alpine cow bells. My simple advice is, therefore, vary your lunchtime diet, do not eat Primula on more than two consecutive days, and seek help before it takes control of your life. Hey, and let's be careful out there.
 |
| JJ, Johnboy, Alan, Ian and Rob Jones |
