Weather has greatly improved – actual ideal for walking except it was very cold this morning (freezing) and I slept in half wet clothes / sleeping bag. So surprised that I slept at all.
Yesterdays campground was at the parking lot of the River Affric … even had a toilet. Camping was not allowed … but there were 3 other tents there already when I came 🤷♂️.
I left around 09:30 and was planning to go to the Tomich Hotel for a lunch drink and snack (found out later that it was closed 😢). First I walked for about 10km along the KINTAIL AFFRIC trail (nothing really beautiful and not really a trail rather a highway – nothing that I have to ever do).
Here I met Graham, a seasoned TGOC‘ler, but who was struggling a bit because of yesterday’s bad weather.
Than i went over the mountain to get into the next valley … upon checking my map I saw the PLODDA FALLS marked about 5km away (detour of around 9km) and decided to go there (you will see the loop on the map).
What a great decision! First I walked by the ruins of the GUISACHAN HOUSE showing fortune and failure in just one generation.
But did you know where the GOLDEN RETRIEVER comes from?
I did not … was originally bred here … there is even a GOLDEN RETRIEVET statue in the small village of Tomich.
Then I went through an ancient and most beautiful forest with huge scotch pines to eventually reach the Plodda Falls … impressive 40m drop and georgeous surroundings. Often worth taking a detour!
On the way to the Tomich Hotel I passed the already mentioned Dog Statue to find out that there is no beer / food due to closure of the hotel 🤦♂️.
I wrote this report here just in case there is no reception at my campsite.
🚶♂️ : 1 – TGOC Participant – Graham
🦌 : 2
Total of almost 30km and 800 altitude meters
Readiness 70
Sleep 76
Activity 93
Learnings:
- Pivoting often leads to surprising and valuable results … so does the experimentation! Be bold!
- Turn back every once in a while and have a look at what you just saw / did and what you can learn from it (which is what i do with my learnings 😇).
Magic Moments:
None up to now, but I will still have to walk another 8km … lots can happen!
My Travel Adventures 