TGOC'26 Day 11 - Rest Day at Ballater

Today is a zero day (a day with no miles walked). You have a maximum of 15 days to complete the Challenge successfully. In my previous years I have always started on a Friday and finished on a Thursday, 14 days, Why? Because, everyone that I knew on the Challenge did it that way. After Covid, the Challenge instituted a staggered start of Wednesday through Friday. The Wednesday start has now gone away, but the Thursday remains, giving you an extra day of walking. Having an extra day allows you to either spend more time on the hills or do a rest day, as I am doing this year. My rest day was brought about because my original route was going to put me into Ballater before the core of people that I knew would arrive, so I decided to wait for them in Ballater, which is such a nice place to hang out for the day. 

First off, today's weather is fantastic (It did rain a little). Went downstairs for breakfast and the sun was beaming through the windows

Fantastic scrambled eggs. sausage and toast to start the day.

Rest days are for catching up on chores. I had supplies to buy so I went out early, got a latte, and took a stroll around town before the Coop grocery store opened.

The Glenmuick church in the center of town 

The Village Green across from the Church. 

Challengers started to show up around noon today and there was the usual gathering of friends in the Bothy Cafe at lunch time. Louise and Carl arrived and then later Andy and Emma. Reservations were made for dinner at the Hotel.

(Left to Right, clockwise) Emma, Lindsay, Esther, Andy, Lynsey, Humphrey, Sir Dave the Beaver, and Colin

Of course, Muffin made an appearance. 

Summary and Stats:

A rest days also give you plenty of time to think, especially about my final 4 days on the Challenge and what I wanted. The weather did not look like it was going to improve greatly over the next few days. As we walk east the snow was no longer a possibility, but rain and low clouds were in the forecast. I had planned one more day of hills the day after tomorrow and then walking through the Fetteresso Forest (I have done that before) and then finishing at Dunnottar Castle (done that before). Half way through the day tomorrow I would be committed to that route to the end, regardless of weather. I decided that I did not want to do the work to walk up high and then see nothing, so I called into Challenge Control and completely changed my route. What did I decide? Day 12 coming soon.... 😉