1000 miles....almost.....but not......

 

Week 11 

Monday

On Monday we completed the last leg of the West Highland Way from Kinlochleven to Fort William and we were, without doubt, thankful it was now behind us. 

This photo was taken at the original finishing post, which is just before the turning that would take us towards Inverness, Banavie and the Great Glen Way. 

As this is a Lands End to John O'Groats challenge there was no need for us to walk another mile to the new finishing post, or to the official start of the Great Glen Way, which we have also previously completed.

Tuesday

It was an early start, on a glorious morning, as we faced a 24 mile walk from the Glen Nevis Caravan site to Laggan Locks. The photo on the right was taken from the top of Neptunes staircase.

Neptune's staircase is an amazing feat of engineering, built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it is the longest staircase lock in Scotland. 

It raises the Caledonian canal by 19 meters over a quarter of a mile and takes approximately 90 minutes for a boat to travel up or down the eight locks. 

The system was originally hand-powered, probably by big hairy kilted Scotsmen who drank gallons of Irn Bru. (Our other national drink, made from girders). Nowadays though it is operated by hydraulics.

Wednesday 

Today should have been a fairly easy 10 - 11-mile walk, ah "the best laid plans o' mice and men, gang aft aglae". Due to forestry work we were diverted uphill considerably and ended up walking 16 miles. By the end of the day, we were both feeling wearied. 

As I thought about this though, I realised that this is so much like life. We make plans and then it is as if we are thrown a curved ball and our plans go awry. As an example we need only think back to the pandemic to understand this.

I am reminded too of a verse we find in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 27 verse 1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Tomorrow a curved ball, might come your way. 

Thursday

As usual we were awake early and still feeling a bit weary, however, on opening her phone Shona had a very timely encouraging text, which had been sent at 22.48 on Wednesday evening. Both our phones are on silent by this time hence we did not see it till Thursday morning. 

The text was from Carol and David who we met on our walk from Kinlochleven on Monday. They sent a text to say, that wondering afterwards about us taking a break on Sunday. They then read our blog and realised that we followed the same Lord as they do. 

After our walk, which was only 8 miles, we were further encouraged by a visit to the Glen Rowan Cafe Invermoriston, not simply for the fact they serve an extremely delicious breakfast roll, which we heartily recommend, along with the many delicious looking cakes and so much more. 

We were encouraged by Jess and Janine who, when they realised we were walking in aid of Cancer Research UK, gave us a small card that said: 

Instead of your bill today we are giving you a Dobby Card. This is a card named after our dear friend Dobby who we lost to cancer in June 2023.

Instead of your bill today we ask you instead to donate the price of it in her name to your charity.

Letting a little piece of Dobby continue on in the amazing task you have undertaken.

We would like to thank Jess and Janine for their encouragement and were more than delighted to give a donation in memory of Dobby.

Friday

Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit: A tough start to the day with a long two-mile steep hill climb, at least it was dry as we walked, only met one person going in the opposite direction who just said hello as he passed.

Saturday

Another very tough two-mile hill climb to start the day, this is becoming a bit of a habit, as I was climbing, I was reminded of Psalm 46: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". This in turn reminded me of a verse from Philippians 4 verse 13 my dear Mother-in-law often quoted which says: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". 

We look forward to closing all the motorhome blinds this evening and a rest day tomorrow, we are also looking forward to attending Culloden Baptist Church.

Oh, I nearly forgot..... we have only walked 998.5 miles, not quite a thousand.....

Thanks all once again for reading our blog and thank you for all your encouragement, next week we turn from Inverness on our penultimate week towards John O'Groats.

Please feel free to visit and share the "Shona and Mike Take a Hike" fundraising page at:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/shonaandmike-giving-page-2298439   

You can also visit our page using the QR Code below:







Comments

  1. Anonymous13 July 2024 at 23:30

    Hi Shona and Mike. I have just read your blog that you were in Drumnadrochit on Friday. Bill and I were also there on Friday, on holiday. Wish we could have met up for a coffee to encourage you on your way. It is a beautiful area, but , I’m sure would be tough going. Great respect for you both, and may God richly bless you on your journey. We are home now- go safely to John O Groats. XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shona and Mike Take a Hike20 July 2024 at 10:56

      Thanks Irene, we were just passing through quite early on our final day to Inverness. Thanks again for all you encouragement.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous15 July 2024 at 01:38

    Hi Shona and Mike! Sounds like you had lots of extra hilly bits thrown in this week!?! Well done, you take everything in your stride! Hope this is a good week for you both. Not long to go now! Enjoy!
    Fiona & Donald xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shona and Mike Take a Hike20 July 2024 at 10:55

      Hi Fiona and Donald, we're a wee bit late replying this week, it's been long walks every day, so not done much admin. Thanks again for all your encouragement.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous15 July 2024 at 12:12

    Just read your blog and the kindness of strangers brought tears to my eyes. Then again strangers are just friends we have not met yet. You are both an inspiration. 🙏 Susan x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous15 July 2024 at 13:44

    To you both I lift my hat! Remarkable. Blessings to you both on the last few hurdles of your amazing journey - Robert Macleod.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shona and Mike Take a Hike20 July 2024 at 11:00

      Thanks Robert, thought about you a lot as we were passing through Brora. We actually ended up staying at the Caravan and Motorhome Club site. We have stayed there once before, just after lockdown. It's a great wee site.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We're now end to enders.......

Image
  Week 13 When we announced the Shona and Mike Take a Hike challenge to our Church family at Miller Hall, there were three reasons we outlined.  The first was that we saw it as a work, and whilst we knew that works could not earn us favour with God, we believed that by our works we could show our faith. Secondly, we said that we were very much aware of the warning that reminds us that we could, or should, not boast about what we will do, for none of us know what tomorrow will bring. Thirdly, and most importantly, anything we were able to achieve we must, in accordance with the words we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31 that say: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God".      Today, Wednesday 24th July 2024 we reached John O'Groats, and for being able to walk 1131.5 miles we simply give God all the praise and glory, for the fulfilment of His promise, given to us on 28/4/24, the day we left Falkirk to travel to Lands E...
Read more

Who are Shona and Mike?

Image
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog, please be patient with us as this is the first time in our life we have ever tried to write a blog. Not to mention the technical issues of actually setting up our blog page. As you will see we are not young computer whiz kids. Recycled teenagers maybe but not overly PC competent.  Is there a reason we are writing the blog? Yes of course and the reason we write this is to promote our challenge of attempting to walk from  Lands End to John O'Groats,  a distance of 894 miles as the crow flies, but as we are not crows we will need to walk approximately 1200 - 1300 miles.  What about us, who are we? Well! We are a married couple and by the time we start this huge, or as a young friend of ours used to say “mahoosive” challenge, we will have been married for over 48 years (this clearly indicates we are not in the first flush of youth). However, like thousands of others, we have family and friends who have been affected by canc...
Read more

Still pressing on......

Image
Walking week 7 On Sunday we spent some time with Shona's Aunty Ann, as is usual, when we visit, we were amply fed and watered. It was lovely to see her and cousin Derek popped in to say hello. Our walking between Monday and Thursday was generally easy, mostly urban with pleasant weather.  Friday on the other hand was wet, and the hills were steep. The photo on the right is Shona walking towards the Ribblehead Viaduct, in the distance the hills are shrouded in mist. The Ribblehead Viaduct was built during the Victorian era just over the border from Cumbria into North Yorkshire and is undoubtedly the most impressive structure on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. Sadly, hundreds of railway builders (“navvies”) lost their lives building the line, this was due to a combination of accidents, fights, and smallpox outbreaks. In particular, building the Ribblehead (then Batty Moss) viaduct, with its 24 massive stone arches 104 feet (32 metres) above the moor, caused such loss of life that the ra...
Read more