tree

Last night I bivvied next to Bruce's Stone, overlooking Loch Trool. An atmospheric and very peaceful place (nowadays). Jess took a long time to settle down - I think she thought she should stay awake to guard me. The moon was very bright, it never got properly dark and at 5am I took Jess back too the camper van to join D.

After breakfast, we set off to climb the Merrick, highest of the Galloway Hills. A lovely (warm!) walk, marred only by reaching Culsharg Bothy (to D's right in the photo) to find that all the windows had been smashed, both rooms were full of rubbish and the outside had been used as a toilet. We took a bag of rubbish out, but the place has a nasty atmosphere - such a shame as it should be a lovely place to sleep.

Time to make the tea now - choir tonight and it's our last rehearsal before the concert on Saturday :-)