Tue 15th June - Day 60, Milton to north of Garve (23 miles)

I had camped in a narrow belt of wood next to the road and I wanted to leave early to avoid upsetting anyone, I was packed up and away by 6:45, it was a cloudy but dry day and the wind had dropped.

There didn't seem to be any footpaths going my way so it was to be 12 miles along the roads, a short stretch of minor road then onto the A832.

Passing through Muir of Ord I stopped for a short break just past the distillery and while I was having my customary mars bar I noticed black spots on my arms.
On closer investigation I realised they were tiny tics buried in me, I had never seen tics this small before, they must have taken a shine to me while I was camping among the ferns in the wood last night.
I pulled out about 10 but they were just the ones I could see!

At Contin I stocked up on food as I wouldn't see another shop for two days, then I treated myself to lunch in the Achilty Hotel and got my phone charged up, it turned out the owner had ancestors from Orkney.

After lunch I backtracked a short distance and got onto the forest track on the east side of Black Water, this followed the river past Rogie Falls and Loch Garve for 6 miles to Strathgarve Lodge.

Passing the Lodge I continued on the minor road to Little Garve where I turned right to come onto the A835 just before the start of another forest track.

Signs on the gate said to keep out as felling work was in progress, I could see & hear no activity and as I didn't walk along the main road I stuck to my plan and went into the forest.

After 3 miles I pitched the tent on the side of the track, there were a lot of midges here so I didn't bother cooking and ate cold food tonight, lying in the tent I am still finding tics crawling on me.

Tomorrow it is cross country over the hills.

1054 miles completed.