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Midsummer Walk – 16th-
17th June
With a grim weather forecast
for the west, a well chosen ‘plan B’ was put into action, forsaking a soggy
Poolewe for a jaunt from Blair Athol to Lynn of Dee.
We arrived at Old Bridge of
Tilt shortly after 02:00, and the weary zombie-like travelers shambled out of
the bus into the darkness. But it was dry darkness, and we set off at
around 02:15 up the track through the dark woods. There was little to be seen -
at all – but eventually the woods opened out and the light improved. The clouds
obscured most signs of sunrise, but the track and gentle gradient made the
walking easy. Glen Tilt narrows in long stages, although at least the river is
impressive in its grandeur, and with its narrows through deep rocky pools and
gorge near the head of the glen.
 We
made a stop at Falls of Tart by the suspension bridge, to regroup and re-fuel.
There was a demonstration by the senior club members of advanced relaxation
postures, including a daring inverted position by one adept. It was perhaps
fortunate there were no high trees or precarious ledges at hand. The intense
meditations lasted for some time.
After descending gradually
along the track for a while, we made another stop around 09:30. The weather had
been very kind, with only a few hints of drizzle, and now it very generously
rained on us for the rest of the trip. Individual techniques were once again on
display crossing the Geldie Burn, but perhaps because of the rain, no-one
thought to take scores for technical merit and the most entertaining splash. In
any event, we did not seem to lose anybody, as far as anyone could remember.
With distant views of The
Devil’s Point and Cairn Toul to the north-west (for another day), we passed over
the inaptly-painted White Bridge. Following more of the seemingly endless
track, partly on auto-pilot by then, we landed at the familiar Lynn of Dee car
park and our trusty bus. With thoughts now focused on the customary barbecue,
the unending rain and hungry midges made a move compulsory. Inspiration somehow
took us to an ideal lay-by on the way back to Braemar, and by then the rain
really had stopped.
 Derek’s barbies are matchless. An understatement on this occasion - they were lighter-less too. Luckily, Mike
had some extra safety matches. They were so extra safe they were flame
resistant, and it took most of the matches and a good selection of traditional
incantations before the equally flame-resistant barbecues set ablaze. As if
possessed, Derek leaped into action, soon firing hot kebabs and burgers
copiously in all directions. Drinks were downed and spirits were raised. By
and by, the (very) full party settled unusually quietly back into the bus.
Everyone must have eaten well as I heard several profess to being completely burgered. The driver sped us homewards, to (or perhaps because of?) the
harmonious sound of contented snoring. A close thing, but another midsummer
walk had been saved.
Bob Holmes
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This site was last
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26/01/2008
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