Day 13 Monday 29th April

This morning started overcast and misty but good weather was forecast for the afternoon!

At this point I reflect that this really is the best time of year to do this walk. All the delights of Springtime, blossom, lambs, fresh green trees coupled with long daylight hours, sunshine and pleasant temperatures for walking.

I have only had one ‘wet’ day …….so far …… and I am so glad!

Today was a delightful walk despite the hills, they didn’t seem too bad after yesterday’s monsters!

Plenty of rare breeds to spot!

As you can see the weather was brilliant during the afternoon and as I got closer to Crieff I met a couple who were walking Lands End to John O’Groats but in stages over 3 years. They walked on to the camper and donated to Alzheimer’s Society. I didn’t catch your names but thank you very much!

I saw so much wildlife today, lizards, mountain hares, birds I didn’t recognise and I heard cuckoos loud and clear!

Lovely day!

Arrived in Crieff and walked into the town.

Total miles walked is now 240!

So far so good.

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Day 12 Sunday 28th April

Was driven back to yesterday’s finish point approx 3 miles before Tummel Bridge.

A dull morning but could be a lot worse!

Took this picture on the road to Tummel Bridge. The countryside is stunning. Really do need to come back to Scotland to explore in more detail!

This was the first hill of many today!

Crossing Tummel Bridge.

Scenery of the day was stunning but wild!

I suppose I really should have expected all these hills as I am in the Cairngorms but I try not to think about them and just keep putting one foot in front of the other!

Aberfeldy was the destination for the overnight stop!

As I approached Aberfeldy the landscape flattened out slightly and Royston met me as I walked through Aberfeldy and told me I had another 3 miles to go to the 20 mile point! That was 3 miles uphill! The brute of a hill went on and on, steep and long and winding and at each turn I thought it must be the last, but it wasn’t.

This old lady was very chatty as I climbed past her home.

The camper was waiting for me near the top of the hill and we rode back into Aberfeldy for the night.

Being a Sunday evening and Aberfeldy being a small place there wasn’t much food on offer and I didn’t feel like cooking after that last hill!

On well chippy it is then………

I opted for fish fingers and small chips ………. never seen anything like it, the fish fingers were almost 7″ long!

Feeling very, very full I settled for the night!

Total of 220 miles walked.

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Day 11 Saturday 27th April

Left Dalwhinnie at 7.20 this morning because rain was forecast but hadn’t started so I thought I would take advantage of the dry time.

Walked a long way on Cycle Route 7 today, a lot of it runs parallel to the A9 but is obviously safer.

Then I followed part of one of the multitude of General Wade’s Military Roads and I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t just the Grand Old Duke of York who marched his men to the top of the hill and marched then down again!

Weather was too bad to take photos of the worst hills!

Some very high, long and winding roads were walked today in the rain! It had to happen, didn’t it?

I was very damp at the end of today’s 20 miles but pleased to have reached a total of 200 miles since the start.

Spent the night in a lay-by at Tummel Bridge which was approx 3 miles from the end of my walk. No internet so couldn’t update you until my rest day! Sorry!

All donations to Alzheimer’s Society gratefully received!

http://www.justgiving.com/JunesJOGLE?utm_id=25

Day 10 Friday 26th April

Although I was awake early, I had an upset tummy so held off the start of today’s walk till it settled down.

They have a good sense of humour up here!

I was driven to last night’s finish point and started walking at 9.35am.

We had had a little rain and there were plenty of black clouds about, so I donned a waterproof, just in case! The weather was changeable and the sun came out for a while just to prove that breathable waterproof jackets can’t really breathe!

Reached a significant summit? Can’t say I even noticed it till I saw the sign! Have climbed bigger hills already and plenty more to conquer on this walk.

I passed through Kingussie

The day seemed long and as I climbed to high ground it was very blustery, stormy and cold.

I was offered help by a couple of guys, of unknown nationality, who passed me in a car on remote high ground in pretty blustery wet conditions. I don’t think they quite understood what I was doing and that I couldn’t accept a lift!

Just before the end of the day’s walk two young men in a road maintenance truck handed me all their loose change for the Alzheimer’s Society. Every little helps. No donation is too small.

The visibility was poor for most of the day so not many good photos today!

I completed my 20 miles near Dalwhinnie and was cold and damp and it was later than previous days due to the late start, so we decided to eat and have a beer at the only place in Dalwhinnie, The Snack Shack. This saved me rustling up an evening meal in the camper.

We stayed in the car park of The Snack Shack overnight.

Thank you everyone for your donations please share this blog with anyone who may be interested to help me raise more money for Alzheimer’s Society.

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Day 9 Thursday 25th April

We woke to see red squirrels playing in the trees outside the camper!

Excellent start to the day!

I started the walking day from the viaduct at Tomatin where I ended yesterday’s walk.

Not far out of Tomatin I crossed a very impressive bridge for such a rural area it had an inscription which said it was a Thomas Telford Bridge.

I was walking through almost deserted roads, glorious scenery and things were going to get even better!

I met a gentleman (and he was) walking his dog. He stopped to talk about my walk and his own experiences as a walker, and long distance cyclist. He was 72 but was talking about doing another long distance cycle ride. Apparently these start at 750 miles!

Once again a fascinating man who had led walking tours in Iceland, cycled across many countries and who could give valuable advice about the roads in the locality.

On learning that I was raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society he said he would like to donate but didn’t have the cash on him. I told him of the Just Giving page but he didn’t have internet so he asked if the support van would wait for him to go home and get a cheque. As I had only just left the camper after a short stop it was still within sight. I bade him farewell and walked on leaving him to talk to Royston.

When I next saw Royston he said that he had also had a long chat with this interesting man who then walked to his home and drove back in his car with a cheque for £100 for Alzheimer’s Society. Amazing!

What strikes me is how many people are achieving amazing feats, into their seventies, Tom & Elaine we met yesterday, Richard who I met on day 2, and this gentleman, and all without any fuss or recognition. Meanwhile we are bombarded with stories of so called celebrities who have never done anything more notable than wear fancy clothes, put on weight and lose it again or sleep with someone’s wife/husband! There are real people out there who have really interesting stories to tell.

A 100 metres further on I was passed by End to Enders going in the opposite direction, this time 6 men on 4 bikes! Yes that’s right, one bike was a three seater, a triplet!

Anyway the day continued to be a good one! As I stopped in a pretty little village called Carrbridge I was given a £20 donation and more coins were put into the collection tin.

Whilst I was passing through Aviemore a man knocked on the door of the camper and gave Royston £10. I walked on past Aviemore to reach the 20 mile mark and just before the end of my walk a man in a car passed and put his window down and handed me £20. Such kind and generous people! Thank you to you all. Alzheimer’s Society will be very grateful.

8 days walking 160 miles achieved!

Thank you to everyone who donated! If you would like to help beat dementia please use the link below to my Just Giving

Alzheimer’s Society are pleased to receive every donation.

http://www.justgiving.com/JunesJOGLE?utm_id=25

Thanks for following my progress!

Day 8 Wednesday 24th April

Sad to leave Inverness but I have a walk to get on with!

My way out of Inverness was through a retail estate, past loads of car dealerships etc but it was quiet and kept me away from the dreaded busy A9

My whole day was away from A9 for safety reasons but unfortunately that meant an extra 3 or 4 miles to cover the the same distance as the A9.

I found the day quite tough after a rest day and although it was dry, there was mist and wind to deal with as well as some big climbs.

Plenty of gorse lined quiet roads.

Bluebells are in bloom too!

I watched the birth of a lamb.

It’s the best time of year.

Finished at the viaduct in Tomatin after what seemed like a never-ending day.

20 miles completed. Total distance 140 miles.

The best of the day was yet to come…….

A inspiring couple came to visit us in the camper Tom and Elaine Summerscales

We spent a pleasant couple of hours in their company.

Tom is 73 and Elaine will be 70 in a couple of weeks

Their next walk is 750 miles from Ness Point, Suffolk to Ardnamurchan Point NW Scotland, mainland Britain’s furthest East and West Points and starts on Sunday.

They walked Land’s End to John O’ Groats when Elaine was my age and Tom was 73!

They have done more long walks than I have had hot dinners!! Tom has also done all the Munro’s etc etc

Oh, another fascinating fact about Tom is that every five years since the age of 50 on his birthday he walks his age in miles, eg on his 70th birthday he walked 70 miles in 24 hours!

Such an amazing inspirational couple! You can tell how impressed I was.

They are right…….. it is the people you meet that make the journey!

Good luck Tom and Elaine for your latest adventure and thank you for your donation.

Follow them here

https://www.facebook.com/Summerscales-BEWPA-1221498578010280/

Day 7 Tuesday 23rd April 2019

A sunny day in the city of Inverness. Everything looks lovely in the sunshine!

The trees are loaded with blossom and the water is sparkling!

The rest day for a long distance walker is spent on mundane tasks such as catching up on the laundry and stocking up on food for the next few days!

Scotland seems to favour laundries rather than launderettes. We found the one launderette in Inverness and got everything washed and dried.

The rest of the day was spent catching up on this blog and working out how to share it so that I can boost donations to Alzheimer’s Society.

I am a real novice with social media etc and have found the self promotion much harder than the walking!!

Bear with me over the next 800 odd miles and I will hopefully be able to share my experiences of a journey through our beautiful land at the best time of year!

Please share the link to this blog with anyone who may be interested in the journey, the challenge, the charity, or anyone who may be inspired to achieve their own goals!

Age doesn’t have to be a barrier!

I want to reach Land’s End on my 65th birthday.

JustGiving JunesJOGLE

http://www.justgiving.com/JunesJOGLE?utm_id=25

See you after another day walking.

Day 6 Monday 22nd April

At the end of yesterday I was debating a shorter day today but after a good night, I felt refreshed and ready to go!

A lovely bright day and a very pleasant walk all day with only a short spell on the A9 to cross yet another bridge over Cromarty Firth! Beautiful scenery in this glorious weather!

Back on to country roads with plenty of hills to climb but I was starting to look forward to a rest day in Inverness!

Today felt so much easier than yesterday.

The day had another spectacular water crossing, the Kessock Bridge into Inverness.

So much water to cross here!

Another 20 miles walked, and I felt so much better than at the previous day’s finish!

The icing on the cake was that Ben, my eldest son sent a text as I finished the walk to say that he had arranged for me to have a shower and a meal at the Inverness Palace Hotel part of Best Western group.

Perfect end to the day! Many, many thanks to everyone at the Palace Hotel especially Mark who made this possible.

So 6 days walked and a total distance of 120 miles.

Day 7 will be a rest day in Inverness

All I would like to see now is a continuation of the fair weather and lots more donations to Alzheimer’s Society

JustGiving JunesJOGLE

http://www.justgiving.com/JunesJOGLE?utm_id=25

Even a small donation is gratefully received by Alzheimer’s Society, all the small amounts add up to help me achieve my target!

Day 5 Sunday 21st April

Easter Sunday – so I decided to continue on A9 as far as Tain.

Today was the day to cross the Dornoch Firth Bridge. The day was cooler and misty so didn’t manage to get the photos I had hoped for!

The walk felt more of a challenge today, and I was much slower than the previous two days! Probably paying for doing 4 mph up the Berridale hills!

Thank you so much to the lady who caught the support vehicle and donated £10 to Alzheimer’s Society and gave us half a dozen eggs to keep me fuelled up! These kind gestures are what keeps you going when it feels tough.

After the bridge I spotted this huge stone in the ditch to my right!

On reaching Tain my route was through the town, away from the A9 and on to the Scotsburn Road.

A much quieter road and a pleasant change from the main road. The mist had lifted and the sun had come out!

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It was still over 11 miles to Alness and it seemed a long and slow day!

But I made it!

That’s 100 miles in 5 days………..not bad for an almost 65yr old!

Day 4 Saturday 20th April 2019

Sad to leave the beautiful Helmsdale on such a lovely day but I still have 890 miles to walk to reach my destination of Land’s End!

I really could have enjoyed another day here!

I was driven back to yesterday’s finish point and set off for another good days walking whilst the traffic was depleted because of the Easter Weekend.

Just after my start point I passed the stone which commemorates the last wolf killed in Sutherland.

Passed through Golspie, stopped for lunch and a short break in the camper. A sleepy place, probably partly due to the Easter weekend.

Another good days walking and I stopped at a pick up point 20 miles from my start.

We drove into Dornoch for the evening but it was a little disappointing after Helmsdale! That is what happens when you fall in love with a place, nothing seems to compare, for a while anyway!

4 days completed and 80 miles walked.

Day 3 Friday 19th April

Lovely day and I started early. It was Good Friday and I started early and decided to walk the main road A9

I walked at a swift pace for me 4 mph and managed the Berridale Hills without problems and with very little traffic!

A really good day and I achieved my 20 miles approx 5 miles past Helmsdale.

I felt good and managed an early finish and we drove back to Helmsdale to spend a very pleasant afternoon and evening. Lovely place, stopped overnight at the harbour.

Went for drink at Bannockburn Inn and enjoyed a couple of hours of local hospitality.

Thank you so much to everyone there for their donations to Alzheimer’s Society.

Helmsdale was so picturesque and had a lovely feel and is definitely on my list of places to revisit, not necessarily on foot next time!

He was Richard Buffery who is 75 and hoping to reach Cornwall in June. Richard is amazing as he has previously walked LEJOG!

e I walked on but he caught up when I stopped for lunch in the camper. We made him a cuppa then we both headed off at our own pace.

I stopped at Dunbeath Water my 20 mile mark.

Thursday 18th April

Breakfast at The Alexander Bain and met Mark again. Bought his breakfast and exchanged details.

I was dropped back to yesterday’s finish point to start the walk.

Another nice day, not quite so much wind.

Started well and caught up with another solo JOGLE walker carrying a heavy back pack.

Wednesday 17th April John O’Groats 10am

Registration Form for the End to End stamped and off I go.

The sun is shining but it is cold and windy!

Good day walking achieving 19.8 miles. Stopped at 5pm.

Went for a meal at the Wetherspoons in Wick, The Alexander Bain,

and met Mark Webb an end to ender who was on the last leg of his journey from Land’s End! Well done Mark!

Mark’s story can be found here http://www.wildwalkinguk.com

After a good chat, couple of pints and a meal we headed off to the camper to bed!