Despite feeling strongly
to the contrary, I decided to take a rest today. It seems to be that
I go through a cycle of about 12 days of getting progressively fried,
until I sense it's best just to relent for a day and make the time
back up later. Actually, I'd go as far to say I enjoy this process of
getting behind and pulling the time back.
I'm just over two weeks
from the finish line. Last week, I was three days behind schedule. In
the past couple of days I've got back on schedule, but today's
rest drops me a day once more. The last week has been mental: I
crammed eight planned days into five to make up time through Glen
Shiel and Affric. It worked, and put me back on par. The price was
huge days in Affric getting tired and fried by the sun which has
beaten down over all the country. The heat made me lethargic and
weary, and this morning I decided a break was in order.
The prospect of the final two weeks is feeling a little stressful. The sole reason is the
weather forecast. For the foreseeable future, there's going to be
afternoon thunderstorms arriving on the back of heavy showers and
sun. Lightning seems a cruel turn of events so close to the end of my
Round. I've got a couple of overnight trips coming up (Monar and
Fisherfield), and it's easy to trade that exposure to the weather for
single-day walks. That would leave me with overnights very close to
the end. I feel as though I might be getting backed into a corner.
The good news is my
parents are up until the end, and it gives me a base to work from
without worrying about where to sleep and what I've got to eat. But I
can't lie - a big part of me is at a point where I'll be quite happy
to have it all done. In my head, new challenges and projects await.
The intensity of the Shiel-Affric bagging marathon has dropped me
north of Glen Carron with a sense in my head that it's over. Of
course, it most certainly isn't. Persistence pays more than ever and
I'll have to maintain the pace right to the end. The lyrics to
Marathon come to mind. (Another Rush song, sorry.) My rest day today
probably deepened the momentum slump, but I expect this. I'll get up
some mountains tomorrow and it'll certainly disappear.
The good news is, as of
yesterday, I've got 40 to go. I should do the Fannaichs in a oner -
that would mean there's 31 to go which is a really nice prospect! But
no, I'll save them for next week.
My plan for the next few
days is to get up early
and get my hills done. It seems the thunder will be triggered by
afternoon heat, so it would be nice to get my plans done by midday.
Right now, I'm at the Badachro Inn with my folks and Uncle Jim. Today
has been spent eating, resting up, and not much else, gladly.
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