TGO Challenge 2012 Day 13: Tarfside to North Water Campside

Sunshine, Ice cream and Real Ale

Distance: 26.1km  Ascent: 140m

I woke up around 6 and looked out of my tent – there was something odd… Eventually I realised the tent next door to me had already left!  The guy was clearly a very early starter.  I had a rather leisurely start in Tarfside chatting to everyone on the camping field.  As a result I wasn’t ready to leave until around 9am. 

Previously I’d walked directly down the vehicle track along the river from Tarfside.  However today I really need a coffee so I decided to head to the Retreat (I didn’t realise that St Dronstans also do breakfast!)   So after a short walk along the road I came to the Retreat.  I’d never been before but it did look like they did nice breakfasts.  As I’m not a big breakfast fan I had a very nice filter coffee.  With my caffeine fix sorted I set off along the road to try and work out which bridge was the correct one.  Before setting off I had asked several people and been  been told a different bridge each time.  So aiming for either bridge 1 or bridge 2 or bridge 3, I set off along the road.  I found the right bridge and continued along the vehicle track.

Views from the vehicle track

River North Esk

Part way along I found Peter, Russ and Herman all taking a break in the sun .  I opted to join them for a short while.  Vicki also joined us and we discussed crossing the Larig Ghru in 2009 in the particularly stormy weather we had that year.

View from the rest spot

Herman relaxing in the sun

I left Russ, Herman and Vicki to continue their break and headed on.  I eventually caught up with Peter and walked along the river with Peter for a while.  We stopped at the grassy spot near the Rocks of Solitude for lunch and  Peter opted to sunbath.  After lunch I head on along the tracks and then path Edzell.  My first port of call was the Tuck Inn.  I was surprised there were few challengers here but I suspect I was earlier than most.  I had a Kaleidoscope ice cream which was fantastic!

The Kaleidoscope ice cream

I was joined by Ian C  who was having his main meal.  I left to go and get some more money.  Ian had told me the shop at the far end of Edzell does cash back.  I asked the shop owner how much I needed to spend - £5.  Looking at their real ale and wine I decided on 2 bottles of Trade Winds.  So with a much heavier bag I set off over the bridge towards North Water Bridge.  It’s not long before I had to join the road to North Water Bridge and spend around an hour walking along dodging lorries and fast cars

Edzell Airfield

Eventually I got to North Water Bridge.  Looking at the campsite I realised I was one of the early arrivals (although not as early as the guy who left Tarfside at 5am!).  By the time everyone else arrived I was clean, fed and was starting to sample one of the Trade Winds!.  Eventually I was joined by Russ, Herman and Carl who all set up camp near by!  This was only after Herman had expressed some doubts as to whether I might snore.  I would have told him off but after day 5 but man can do no wrong!  As the late afternoon turned to evening the camp-site filled with challengers.  A few of us  took up residences on one of the tables and started sampling our various beers, whiskys and left over food.  Around 8pm Alistair drove over from the cottage he was staying at in Brechin and join us.  He’d also brought more beer!

Edwin, Carl, Dave, Alistair, Ian & ? at North Water Bridge

Tents at North Water Bridge

Even more tents at North Water Bridge

I remember spending most of the night talking to Andrew and Carl and then being joined by Ian C and Nik later on.  I retired to my tent around midnight.  Andrew and Nik stayed up keeping everyone camped aroud the table up until much later