Bonjour Monsieur Le Grumpy,

I think I can translate for you as I have a copy of Frederic's cypher :)

Frederic was dismayed that the tops of some of his Easton stakes had come adrift. In his rush to purchase some glue to repair them, he managed to leave 4 of his stakes at the campsite at Garva Bridge and he is not going back for them.

If you can get there first and find them, they are yours!

I had one of my Easton stakes fail in the same way in 2010 but I happened to be pitched next to my vendor who replaced it on the spot :)

You're wasting your time explaining modern kit to Auld Grumpy. He is more of a steel snow anchor and hand carved wooden stake type of guy. His only approach to lightweight backpacking is to divest himself of clothing.

Hi
Wife is happy with the weather, so far she choosed the right year to do the TGO.
She doesn't like the length of my planned days 2 to 6, so from now on we will do shorter days.
She also learned about Braemar dancing on Saturday so that's part of the reason for slowing down.
I won't complain much as I am ( again) limping on blisters, I think the cushioning off my trail shoes is lower than last year, I should have replaced them.

As for the tent pegs my title was wrong the 4 pegs were not at Garva bridge, but in my wife backpack she didn't used my dedicated tents peg pouch.
So sorry for the trouble, the good side of this is I carried 50g less for a day:)

Hi JD, have you been looking at CCTV? Temp here is in mid 20s with clear blue skies for the next few days, hope it is the same where you all are!
All the best to those still trucking eastwards.

Ah, I've heard the temperature in Tarfside kitchen can get to well above 20°C when JD remembers to use hot water for the washing up (otherwise it hovers just above freezing…)

As befits an ecclesiastical building, St. Drostan's is a sanctuary, a tranquil retreat from the cares of a cruel world. All shattered of course when a horde of tick-ridden scruffs come staggering in demanding attention.

Well JD, armed with a tick fork or even a Swiss Army Knife and a little privacy I'm sure that you can give them all the attention they need!

I find a blowtorch deters the blighters-and the ticks don't like it either!