Day 28 Tuesday 14th May

After breakfast at Castle Green Hotel I was driven to the start point.

I was a bit apprehensive as to whether I could cover decent mileage today after such a low activity 3 days.

As I completed Scotland in 3 weeks and am well ahead of schedule I can afford to trim mileage.

Today was an important day as I was due to reach the halfway point in my walk.

We have made modifications to our original plans and my total mileage now is likely to be around 880 miles.

Lovely weather and quiet country roads to walk today!

At approx lunchtime I reached Yealand Conyers my half way point!

The New Inn was open and supplied me with a well earned pint!

Thank you to the New Inn for your hospitality!

I walked on to a lane not far from Lancaster and was picked up and driven to Lancaster. As the weather was nice and the Lancaster one way system was hard to get to grips with we decided to drive to Morecombe and have an evening by the seaside!

Hence the silly picture ……

Day 27 Monday 13th May

We went to Kendal early with Ben and had breakfast at Castle Green Hotel. Luxury!Breakfast with the General Manager!

At 8.20 the RAC came and took the camper to Kendal Car Centre for repair.

Whilst the van was being repaired I walked the route from one side of Kendal, where I finished on Friday to the other where I was to start on Tuesday.

Monday night was a complimentary stay at the Castle Green Hotel ready for an early start and long walk on Tuesday

Amazing room, fantastic place to stay! If ever you want to visit The Lakes and want a relaxing place to stay with stunning scenery and great food give Castle Green a try, you won’t be disappointed!

Day 25 & Day 26

Well as I arrived in Kendal a week earlier than I expected the fault with the camper wasn’t the end of the world, actually it was a perfectly timed breakdown as when Ben finished work in Kendal he took us back to his home in Ulverston

We slept in a comfy bed for 3 nights, lovely!

Fantastic to spend time with the grandsons.

Thank you Ben, Lucy, Harry & Oliver for a lovely relaxing weekend!

Day 24 Friday 10th May

Today was quite a bright day and I enjoyed the walk through some gorgeous scenery but with plenty of hills.

I followed the A6 from Clifton and it wasn’t too busy!

I have read many accounts of the walks and rides that include Shap and was expecting the worst. However the scenery more than made Up for the climb.

By afternoon I had walked through the very pleasant linear village of Shap and climbed the hill.

This bothy is at the top of the hill and as you will probably know a bothy is a place that tired hikers can sleep in. It is very basic but offers protection from wild weather.

After a break at about 13.5 miles I took a track to the left of the A6 which was a very interesting 5.5 mile walk which felt like walking back in time to my childhood. The track at first was grass and gravel but included parts that were steep and rocky, pools of sticky mud, cattle grids. I saw plenty of sheep and lambs and had to avoid all the sheep dung. The track turned into a single track road to remote homesteads. There were gates at intervals along the road.

The scenery is stunning but there are lots of pylons and I found myself walking under crackling wires.

After some very steep hills on these narrow lanes I found the camper waiting for me at the junction with the A6. Unfortunately a brake pipe had split! We phoned around but being a Friday afternoon we had hit ‘weekend’ in the garage world. No one would look at it till Monday morning. This meant I had an enforced rest. As my son Ben works in Kendal it was far from traumatic! We went back to his home in Ulverston with him and spent the weekend with my family, a bonus, I wasn’t expecting to be at an Under 11’s Football tournament on Sunday.

As I was well ahead of schedule this was a very pleasant weekend in the Lake District with gorgeous weather. So glad the breakdown happened here and not in the Cairngorms.

Apologies for the delay in posting this blog but I needed a phone signal and internet connection at the same time and that seemed very rare here!

I am losing count with mileage but have walked around 420 miles, will tot up before next blog!

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Day 23 Thursday 9th May

After a restful night and a full breakfast I had to be driven back to yesterday’s finish point so today was a late start, about 11am but that at least meant I missed most of the rain!

Walking was along a fairly quiet but undulating road.

You see all sorts whilst walking ……… part of what had obviously been a very old tree brought down by Storm Desmond!

A very odd vehicle passed me and took me by surprise so by the time I got my camera ready it had gone into the distance.

Early in my walk today lovely couple turned their car round and came back to ask me about my walk and offer to take me to their house for a cuppa! They generously gave me £20 for Alzheimer’s Society and wished me well!

Thank you so much to all of you who have offered kind words and donations, it means so much!

I walked on to Penrith and as I approached the town I realised how high I had climbed over the walk today!

The hills of the Lake District lay to my right but the tops of most of the peaks were in the clouds so I couldn’t get what would have been a stunning photo on a sunny day.

As I walked downhill into Penrith I realised that my 10 mile mark would be Wetherspoons for a quick beer! This is The Dog Beck quite a quiet place compared to some of the branches I visit near my home!

The ladies loos appear to be dedicated to Wordsworth.

As I was in there on my own I decided to close all the doors to take a photo and as I passed along the neat row of wash basins each tap turned on automatically!!

Anyway there was more walking to do.

I walked out of Penrith towards Kendal on the A6.

As I approached Clifton there were lots of historical buildings and sites with brown signs.

It looks a fascinating place to anyone interested in history. There are plenty of stone circles etc in the area. I hope I get the chance to come back and explore.

I decided to stop at 15 mile point today which will leave me about 22 miles into Kendal tomorrow.

I plan to have an early start tomorrow as the weather looks best in the morning.

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Day 22 Wednesday 8th May

We parked overnight in the car park of the Metal Bridge Inn where we had our meal last night, Steak Night! A celebration meal for walking into England.

I was driven back to the border where I finished last night. The weather was forecast as wet so I made an early start! Walking at 6.30am.

Mixed day’s walking! A reasonably quiet road alongside a motorway, a road all the way through Carlisle and later a quieter road.

Carlisle felt like a nice place to be! It was a not a a good day for taking photos though.

I stopped in Wetherspoons for a coffee!

There was some rain today but it was manageable.

After walking about 18 miles I was picked up and we drove to Penrith for the evening as we had been offered complementary bed & breakfast at North Lakes Hotel & Spa.

It was nice to relax and have the use of WiFi.

A comfy bed and the promise of a full breakfast was lovely after such a damp day!

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Day 21 Tuesday 7th May

As planned I started walking early today! After porridge and 2 cups of coffee in the van I was walking by 6.20 am

Today was going to be the day I left Scotland and stepped into England!

I have loved Scotland and am sad to leave it and can’t wait to come back and explore more.

The weather has been mixed and I was right to start early.

Walked through Ecclefechan birthplace of Thomas Carlyle.

A good days walking and only got slightly damp!

Was pleased to reach Gretna

and just after, to cross the border into England!

3 weeks on the road and I have walked the length of Scotland! 371 miles walked!

I am well ahead of schedule and I am really looking forward to a more leisurely stroll through England as I still have 6 weeks till my finish date! Hopefully walking through England I can focus on raising more money for Alzheimer’s Society.

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Day 20 Monday 6th May

The first proper bed of the walk was great!

As the weather wasn’t good I took the morning off but when the weather cleared I walked about 8 miles to Lockerbie.

I guess most of you know Lockerbie for the same reason as I do! …….

A short day but I probably needed it.

We arrived at Lockerbie in time to stock up on provisions before the shops closed and as the next day’s weather wasn’t looking too good made the decision to have an early start to take advantage of the dry hours. Can’t believe I am nearly out of Scotland!

If all goes well tomorrow I will take the first step into England!

I am really pleased with my progress.

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Day 18 Saturday 4th May

I started my day walking from Tesco and most of the day’s walking was along a cycle path on a very quiet road which runs almost parallel to the M74.

This is a very very quiet route as the traffic is all on the motorway. Hardly any cars, very few cyclists and no pedestrians.

I have three days on this road!

Perfect cycleway but no cyclists!

Spoke to soon! A cyclist rode alongside and started chatting about my walk and gave the day a real highlight when he told me he held the cycling world record for cycling John O’Groats To Land’s End and back!

James MacDonald a real celebrity!

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/3362/world-bike-speed-record-james-macdonald-sets-new-record-for-joglejog

Thanks James for brightening my day and as I said your ride was ‘insane’ ! Check it out folks.

As I have said before it is the people you meet that make the walk!

Finished my day at Abington.

Total 320 miles walked

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Day 19 Sunday 5th May

We stayed in Abington overnight and in the morning I was driven to yesterday’s end place!

The day’s walk has again been on the cycle path on the road that runs parallel to M74

A generally quiet walk!

Almost out of Scotland!

Passed this sign

Sad though as Scotland is amazing and I am already planning when we can come back!

Cannot believe how close to England I am now!

Special treat tonight as Royston has booked us in to a Days Inn!

This is the first night in a real bed since the start of the walk and of course the internet connection has allowed me to update the blog!

He has suggested I take my rest day tomorrow ………. as we don’t have to check out till 11am!

We will see! I may walk some miles tomorrow. At present I am ahead of schedule so I could have a short day!

Goodnight folks! I need some sleep will update as soon as I can!

340 miles walked !

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Day 17 Friday 3rd May

On Friday morning I was driven back to the spot where I was dropped the night before.

My walk out of Airdrie was through built up residential areas and it wasn’t long before I was missing the wild countryside of the Cairngorms.

I still saw plenty of trees in blossom and colourful gardens and had a riverside walk at one point

During my day’s walk I started to reflect on the enormity of the task I am undertaking.

It actually feels very close to a miracle that I have been able to walk 300 miles without any knee pain

Just under 9 years ago after suffering several years of severe knee pain I had an exploratory operation on my right knee. The result of the operation was that it was arthritis and the surgeon said that my only option was a complete knee replacement and he was happy to book me in straight away. As I was only 56 I decided that I would try to wait as the surgeon explained that new knee joints have a limited life.

My knee pain got worse and I was taking two paracetamol and two Ibuprofen every four hours just to get through the day and was never free of pain. Eighteen months after that exploratory op I was in a sorry state both knees, both shoulders and both hips were painful.

When I admitted how miserable it was making me feel during a conversation with one of my son’s he suggested I try Rose Hip Capsules from Holland and Barrett as a relative of his wife took them and had managed to give up his walking stick.

I am a sceptic but at that point I was in such pain that I went out and bought some the next day. I followed the directions exactly and six weeks later I realised I wasn’t taking any painkillers and I wasn’t in pain! I have been taking the H&B Rose Hip now for over 7 years and do not have any arthritis pain!

I am so grateful for this new lease of life and the opportunity to fulfil a life long ambition to do this walk!

Anyway back to the walk! Much of the day followed cycle paths, although there weren’t many cyclists!

My walk finished at Tesco Lesmahagow and the end of the day meant I had now walked 300 miles!

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Day 16 Thursday 2nd May

This morning I started fairly early and walked from the camper as that is where I ended Tuesday’s walk!

The weather was good but the forecast for this afternoon was a possibility of rain so I wanted to get as much of my 20 miles as possible done before the rains came!

Felt quite good and there was a noticeable change of terrain today, more walking through built up areas, goodbye to the Cairngorms, however that also meant less hills!

I am missing the wide open countryside but there is still much beauty at this time of year.

Early in today’s walk I passed the site of the Battle of Bannockburn.

…..and the pub that cashes in on the date of the battle!

I also crossed the Forth & Clyde Canal

Did pass beautiful countryside, friendly animals and stunning blankets of bluebells!

I miss the Cairngorms but there is so much beauty in nature at this time of year!

Reached Airdrie after walking just over 20 miles.

Total now 280!

Could reach the 300 miles mark tomorrow!

Very pleased with the way things are going so far.

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Day 15 Wednesday 1st May

We stayed in Stirling last night and I got my steak!

Did a little sight seeing and caught up with the blog.

A very poor picture of the statue of Sir William Wallace who fought the English in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, made famous by the Braveheart film.

The day off has gone so quickly and this afternoon I have felt tired but tomorrow is another day and hopefully will be another 20 miles to add to my total.

I hope to start quite early tomorrow as rain is forecast for the afternoon and the more dry hours of walking I have the better!

Including breaks it usually takes 8 hours to complete my day’s walking.

We had our evening meal at The Crossed Peels, the local Wetherspoons, and

on our way back to the camper we spotted a steam train chuffing out of the station.

This was the Highland Chieftain on the 10 day Argyll, Mull and Iona Tour.

http://www.railwaytouring.net/travel-tours/argyll-mull-and-iona

Looks like a fantastic experience!

Keep following and hopefully tomorrow I will have some better photos for you!

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Day 14 Tuesday 30th April

Today my walk started straight from the van as that is where I finished yesterday.

A pleasant, dry morning and as this is the seventh day of walking since my last rest day I am looking forward to a break tomorrow in Stirling.

Today was a day for spotting contrasts of man made relics and wildlife!

Spotted a Canada Goose on a nest very close to the camper whilst we had lunch.

Other birds spotted were goosander, peregrine falcon, and ospreys.

This was Muthill Old Church and Tower.

And this was a relic from the more recent past!

Today was a positive days walking and I am happy to have completed over 260 miles of my journey!

Looking forward to my day off and a huge steak tonight as it’s Tuesday and Wetherspoons Steak Day!

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