Day 4 - Thursday 17th June 2010.
Got up at 7am, slept from 1:30 til 6:30 - 5 hours, pretty good by my camping standards, so far. This is my last morning on the open road - until my next tour. This should be a short day, only 40 miles until home, have averaged 60 miles the previous 3 days. That has been taking it easy but have enjoyed it all the more.
With tent packed up and last cereal bar consumed, set off at 8:30, thought I'd take the side road to Fettercairn, mistake, very hilly and 5 miles instead of 4, still not disastrous, "main" B road would have been better. Went straight through Fettercairn towards the dreaded Cairn O' Mount. Got to the bottom at around 9:15, I was dreading it as I have struggled up it before, unladen from the Fettercairn side, it is only 2 miles of a climb from that side but it starts off as a 16% gradient near the Clatterin Brig Cafe but I'm sure it gets steeper close to the top, there is a respite in the middle but weighed down, I had to stop and rest a few times, nevertheless I managed to pedal my way to the top.
After a long rest at the top of the Cairn O' Mount, I set off downwards, there are a few surprises on the way down with a couple of short steep climbs just to stop complacency. Stopped at Banchory for the standard tea and scone refreshment. Just 17 miles until home, it was pretty hot now and I was heading past Hirn and looked down for my water bottle and it wasn't there. Not sure if I'd left it at the top of the Cairn or a thirsty passer-by had taken a fancy to it in Banchory ?
Eventually made it home after a good 3.5 days and 220 miles with good weather and scenery.
Final itinnerary was:
Day 1 Home (Kinellar, Aberdeen) - Braemar (56 miles) - Camp at Braemar
Day 2 Braemar - Glen Clova Hotel via Glen Prossen (60 miles) - stay at Glen Clova Hotel bunkhouse.
Day 3 Glen Clova - Glen Esk campsite including Glen Esk (64 miles) - camp at Glen Esk (nr Edzell)
Day 4 Glen Esk - Home (40 miles) via Cairn O Mount - home to my own bed.
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