Another beautiful morning. Saileag and Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg seemed an easy way to finish the weekend and get in Graeme's one hundredth. As there was about a mile and a half between start and finish we parked in a lay-by a half mile forward and walked back to the gap between the trees where the Five Sisters walk starts. This time we were making sure we got the right route and soon found it on the right side of the gap - Yesterday on the Five Sisters walk we had started on the left. Oh, what a difference, so easy to walk up a path and with a lightened pack doubly so. We still almost missed the route when, just about the tree line the path moved off to the right. As this seemed wrong I began to look for another path and soon found one, faint at first but stronger later, going up. But we could easily have missed it. A real dawdle of a path by yesterdays comparison though tiring - Graeme ahead as usual. At a rest point about halfway Graeme pointed out three birds circling above the road way below. We wondered if they might be eagles. Keeping an eye on one we watched as it wheeled in ever widening circles from about 200 feet to a thousand. It then swung away and continuing the circling it was soon way above the height of the hills where it joined its pals. Not once did we see it move its wings yet it swept up 3000 feet with no effort. We imagine they were eagles but were not close enough to look enormous. Maybe I have at last seen them. Weather was glorious and sun lotion rubbed in. Up to the saddle and then up easy slopes to Saileag. On the way some mist came in and a few drops of rain. It will pass we said but were so wrong. Within a minute it was chucking it down with hailstones and steady rain and that was it until we were coming off the ridge. What a change and how sudden. Saileag has a fairly insignificant cairn so it was just quick, wet photos and on.
A very straightforward and easy walk off Saileag and down into a col leading on to some easy, gentle, grassy slopes. All the way the rain came tumbling down but what annoyed more was that we could see sunshine on the hills and valleys everywhere but here. Towards the top the path veered over a couple of airy gullies but as there was no wind there was no real feeling of worry. The top itself is surprisingly rocky. As you approach you can see what looks like the cairn sitting on top of boulders but there is quite a strenuous scramble over these large boulders before you reach the top. What looked like the cairn was indeed the cairn but very strange. It is carefully built in rows of rock, not just piled up, and sits right on top of huge boulders looking as if one push would send it down the cliff. To get the photo required standing on a projecting rock out of the bottom of the cairn and slightly airy. Weird. Hardly celebratory photos, it was as quick as we could take them then a walk round looking for shelter. There was none but we found a little table like rock formation where we could at least shelter our sandwiches. What a celebration for Graeme, us sitting there in the pouring rain with Guinness and 1664, sandwiches beginning to melt and disintegrate as we ate. Still now we both have at least achieved 100. Not bad for an oldster who started at the age of 50.
No problem coming off the hill. The ridge down is gentle and grassy and coming out of the mist and rain we could see how easy it would have been to take in Aonach Meadhoin at the same time. However, we weren't interested and can do this one with Ciste Dhubh another day. Finding the precise way off the ridge to the road was surprisingly awkward. Because of the strong paths all day we assumed one down to the road. But if there was one we didn't find it. We simply looked then for what we thought was the best route and went straight down. It wasn't too bad and although tired and although there were a few treacherous points I got to the road without difficulty.
