Gurkha Highlander - Day 7

Breakfast duly happened at 7:30, and we were on the road by 8. One of the boys had twisted his knee badly, and the decision was taken that he would not walk in the mountains, but could do the road section if he wanted. The first setback was that no packed lunches were forthcoming. Walker John couldn’t remember if he had ordered them, so I was detailed to collect some sandwiches.
But disaster struck on the Banchory to Ballater road. There had been a serious accident and the police had closed the road. By the time we got to the start point, it was nearly 10 o’clock. I was supposed to be back in Banchory before then for a meeting with the Chairman of the Gurkha Welfare Trust , not to mention Mrs. Lear. By the time Dugundra and I had a signal on our mobiles, it was after 10:30. I phoned Mrs. Lear and asked her to pick up sandwiches, foot-plasters, sport drinks and 8 Sunday Times’ - provided we were in it.
By the time I got round the diversion, and back to the Royal British Legion it was 11:30. We were in the ST, and a very handsome article and photograph it was too. Mrs. Lear and the Chairman and his wife just had time to hand over the supplies, grab a cup of coffee and have a quick chat, and then Dugundra and I had to set off to make RV1 in Glen Esk.
It took us an hour and a half to get there. Through the mountains on 14%, 16%, 18% gradients we trundled, with the lights on as the mist closed in. Once we got down the other side, we might have been in the home counties. A microclimate in Glen Esk means that it is extremely lush and rich. The village of Fettercairn even has expensive restaurants and dress shops, and the Milden Estate is the most perfectly looked after example of the genre.
We met the boys a mile After they had passed RV1 - we were early, but without injuries they had made great time and were even earlier. Sandwiches were consumed, energy drinks gulped and they set of again, accompanied by Dugundra who felt better without the knee bandage.
They only had about 2 miles to do to get to Angus Davidson’s house, who traditionally asks most of the valley to early tea to meet the Ghurkhas - and hand over a cheque. 77 years old, he was an ex-Gordon Highlander ( everyone around the area over 60 was, and lots over 35 as well) who had farmed his family acres since his father died. His sister lived next door, about a mile away, and had brought home-made sausage rolls that were delicious. Walker John presented him with one of our “ Gurkha Highlander 2008” caps. He was delighted. He immediately took off his decrepit bunnet, and proudly sported his new acquisition.
After the usual photo session, the walkers took their leave and I made my way along the road to a place called “ The Retreat”. It consisted of a museum, coffee shop, internet business centre and gift shop. It was excellent, and had been the idea of Margaret Michie, to preserve what Glen Esk had been. Between 1850 and 1900 the population had fallen by 75%, but thereafter had managed to remain reasonably stable to the present day. By the time I’d finished there, the boys had caught up with me. I overtook them again. On the way to RV2 I spotted a lady walker limping being supported by two middle-aged men. I stopped to discover they were making for Edzell, but the lady had twisted her ankle. There was just enough time take them, and the lady made a donation as I dropped them off.
I made it back to RV2 at Milden with 5 minutes to spare. Milden has been bought by a hedge fund manager, who has spent millions upgrtading the estate, its cottages and employing additional people on it. They were having a cricket matchj - Guests versus Estate Workers as I passed.
By the time we got back to Banchory, there was a welcoming committee. I shooed the boys upstairs to wash and change and told everyone they would be back in half an hour. The Chairman of Banchory RBL Club, John Duguid, offered us a free meal, which I gladly accepted, and when the boys came down, a quick photo session resulted in a cheque for £200.
A pleasant lady came up to me and asked if I could get the Gurkhas to speak to her father. Louis MacNeil was 86, and had been in 5 Gurkha during the war. They had fought their way through the jungle for over 1200 miles, from Assam, though Malaya, and thereafter back to India. At Indian partition, 5 Gurkha was one of the regiments which stayed in the Indian Army, and so he had transferred to 5 Para. The boys were delighted to talk to a REAL old soldier, and we spent nearly an hour with him chatting. His daughter was overcome with emotion, as he had so wanted to meet Gurkhas again.We left them reluctantly, but had to get some food into the walkers before they started fainting.
They were all in bed by 9:30.
166 down, 26 to go.