Leaving Persie House at 7am enabled Sue to depart from the Linn of Dee car park an hour later for her cycle into Glen Lui and the traverse of The Devil's Point, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine.
The River Dee was in benign form as I crossed the bridge beyond the National Trust car park (above).
Sue shot off ahead whilst I made a false start, having forgotten to bring the key to my bike lock. The easy track as far as Derry Lodge, then a push over a narrow bridge and a more difficult pedal, with sandy sections and water culverts, led me to within 250 metres of the bridge over the River Lui, where I decided to abandon the bike. Of course, I had the key, but the actual bike lock was sitting happily back in the car. Never mind.
Here's the view back down the valley from Luibeg Bridge.
And this is looking up the valley.
Soon I was on the steep ascent to the 1037 metre summit of Carn a'Mhaim. Starting at around 500 metres, the ascent wasn't demanding, especially as I knew that others in our party had given me a 2 hour start.
On reaching the summit I enjoyed good views all round, and particularly across to The Devil's Point, from where Sue had already broadcast her progress.
Here's the view back to Derry Lodge.
A couple joined me on the summit and kindly took a photo.
After consuming half my lunch, I said goodbye to the couple and headed back down via the substantial cairn at the subsidiary 1014 metre summit.
Good views as I descended, on the way meeting those who had given me a two hour start, before I reached Luibeg Bridge again and embarked on a search for my discarded bike.
This tree stump had me puzzled.
A pleasant bike ride got me back to the Linn of Dee car park by 3:30. Here's my route - about 20 km on the bike plus a 7.4 km walk with 600 metres ascent, taking me a little over 7 hours.
The others turned up at 5:30, after a paddle in the river, and Sue pedalled in 20 minutes later, slightly ahead of schedule after a brilliant day's walk and an impressive three Munro tally.
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