Day 40 – Kingussie to the Sun(without cream!)

Jeeezuz it was hot today!
The morning started cool enough and early cloud gave the impression of good conditions for a long 24 mile hill day. Not so. After an hours 18 mile bike ride to Garva Bridge Brenda & I wandered up the first hill Meall na h-airse and it got progressively warmer until it was hot hot hot! Fine view all around but we had to part company with her back to the van for chores and me for the alleged easy option…
I actually felt really strong running across the very rough ground that separates the 1st hill and Gairbeinn then Carn Chuilin though admittedly a lot of the bogs and peat troughs were well on the way to total drought. The views from the tops today were stunning with not so much haze as yesterday and getting closer to the west coast gave very dramatic shading with layer upon layer of mountains to try and identify. Then it started to go wrong. I had a good descent toward the Corrieyairack track but after pulling myself away from the temptations of a swim in the river, I noticed I was the colour of a large Alvie strawberry! For the first time I forgot cream up before going out and I have paid the price big time! Running with burnt legs through deep heather is something exquisite indeed… I took a bad route choice to the track and then a nightmare 3 mile flogging in long grass, bog and tussocks to get to Carn Dearg. Knackered. Some comfort eating and the fine views kept me going though and the last top, another Carn Dearg, was only 30 minutes away. The final drop into Glen Roy was hellish rough and I got messed up in some gulleys, another tired mistake.
Glad to see the van and Brenda was a superstar to have dinner ready to eat when I arrived! Ahh, food, beer and aftersun – what else does one need after a day like that? Yes, more beer.