The route...almost


As we enter the last 4 weeks, before we begin our marathon 1100-1200 mile hike from Lands' End to John O'Groats, we thought it might be good to give a rough overview of where our walking route will take us. 

As you will observe, from the photo, the route we have planned takes us along the Coastal path through Cornwall, into Devon then into Somerset. 

Once we reach Bristol we will cross over into Wales for a bit and take a route west of the Pennines before heading up towards a route that will follow the Settle Carlisle Railway and then on to Scotland.

Oh my, what then sprung to mind was walking the West Highland Way, which is where we will no doubt encounter the most feared beastie in all of Scotland.

The midges, the midges, I'm no gonnae kid ye's,
The midges is really the limit,
Wi teeth like piranhas, they drive ye bananas,
If ye let them get under yer simmit! (For my non Scottish friends, that's a sleeveless garment worn under your shirt).

There is no defence against the vicious wee brutes who attack any bare flesh with abandon, I'm sure we have all seen the cartoons where the bees or wasps dive bomb Sylvester or Wile E Coyote. Well, it's worse than that. There really is no defence against the swarm. Don't even think about a head net for that only works one way and that is to let them in and, keep them there. 

Nevertheless, we are looking forward to getting started however, we do so with a mixture of excitement and some days thinking: "What are we letting ourselves in for?" Wondering, have we trained enough? Have we trained too much? 

It is a long way to walk, then another thought popped into my head as I was reminded of an old song written by a man called Harry Lauder, the title of which is: "Keep right on to the end of the road".

For those who don't know Harry Lauder who was born in 1870, later to become, Sir Harry Lauder, was a Scottish entertainer. He retired in 1935 but came out of retirement for a brief period during WW2. 

He is seen perhaps today as a bit "twee" perhaps a "tartan shortbread tin" Scottish entertainer. Nevertheless, if you were to do an internet search you will find some recordings of him singing; "Keep right on to the end of the road". I have listened to some recorded on a 78-rpm record. They may sound a bit grainy, but it is clear he had a great voice. 

Anyway, Sir Harry, wrote this song after his only son, John Currie Lauder, a captain in the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was killed in action on 28 December 1916 at Pozieres, this is the place where the Battle of the Somme had been fought a few months earlier.

The first verse says:

Every road through life is a long, long road,
Filled with joys and sorrows tooAs you journey on how your heart may yearnFor the things most dear to you.

You know life, is just a walk, for some it is long for others not so. However, like Sir Harry's song it is filled with joys and sorrows, or as someone else has said "life is full of "joy, joy and tears, tears". 

We are sure you, like us, have experienced many days of joy but equally as many of sorrow, many days of trouble. Indeed, there is, in the Bible in the Book of Job a verse that says: "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward". (Job chapter 5 verse 7).

Yes, our road may feel lonely at times, yes our hearts may yearn for the things dear to us and yes even after nearly 30 years I still miss my older sister. Someone said to me recently, to get through this I had great faith. My answer to them was no, I do not have a great faith, but I do have faith in a GREAT GOD! It is He who has and does sustain me. 

Now I hasten to add!  Do not think me pious or a "goody, goody" for saying such things, I'm far from that, as Shona will be quick to point out, sometimes I'm more of a "grumpy, grumpy". 

What it is that makes the difference is, "knowing God" and knowing "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". (The Book of Romans chapter 8 verse 28).

We hope and pray that we will be able to complete our long walk from Lands' End to John O'Groats and still be smiling and in the process be able to raise a significant amount towards fighting cancer. 

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement.

Shona and Mike




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