Sat 13th
From Kirby Lonsdale to Tebay: big hills ahead of us! Lots of minor roads with moss & grass growing up the middle.
Sun 14th
Tebay to Penrith: A frosty cold morning followed by light drizzle turning to heavy rain, which stayed all day. Still, only our 2nd day of rain (the other being Easter Day) so out of 3 weeks we certainly can't complain! The journey took us through Orton up steep hills and then through spectacular scenery to the A6 and Shap where we enjoyed shelter and coffee in the Greyhound.
Mon 15th
Felt tired for the first time today. Walked from Penrith to Carlisle.
Tues 16th
A milestone day: arrived in Scotland at 1:07pm!! We were interviewed by the local paper and had our photo taken for the Annandale Observer.
Wed 17th
From Kirkpatrick Fleming to Lockerbie. Felt really tired today whilst walking and feeling really rather down. I don't know why. Geoff is being really good and looking after me, almost like a Mother Hen. I enjoyed the company of a cyclist, training to cycle with the vicar of Lockerbie around Ireland, who walked with me a while. We also visited the Garden of Remembrance at Lockerbie:- very moving.
Thursday 18th
Feeling better today, but one very boring road for 20 miles (B7076) to Moffatt. The railway one side and the A74M the other.
Friday 19th
From Moffatt to Abington: still the B7076! But the scenery has completely changed. There are mountains all around and the A47M hidden between them. I saw my first ever Weasel!
Now completed 580 miles and only 2 blisters. (So Far )
Sat 20th
Left Abington in pouring rain and wind. Luckily the wind was behind me and blew me along.
Sun 21st
Ferniegair to Kilsyth. We lost our way twice today. Instead of Hamilton we ended up in Motherwell and then went the VERY long way round to Kilsyth. Weather was atrocious: very wet & windy.
Mon 22nd
Kilsyth to Bridge of Allen. Again bad weather, but the wind is still behind me. It was definately the right decision to walk up the country, not down it!
We had our first "difference of opinion" today (!)...Just a few miles out of my way through Stirling. However, one hot bath and a cup of tea later and all is fine...
Tues 23rd
Bridge of Allen to Crieff. Hurray: a beautiful day. All very exhilerating. The scenery is out of this world. The miles are beginning to tell on me now. I'm taking longer to walk the same amount of miles. Still, I've got quite a few miles behind me now!
Wed 24th
Crieff to Aberfeldy. Again, stunning scenery. Unfortunately I fell over a twig sticking out of the ground five minutes after leaving Crieff and I have a very painful and bruised right knee. We travelled up the A822 before turning onto a single track unclassified road: it was truly breathtaking. We went through the Glen Quaice where I let the child in me come out. There was only me and Geoff so I couldn't resist shouting as loud as I could to get an echo back! Then it was up and up and up and up (and up) over a mountain pass. Anyone who knows Geoff will know of his love of heights! For him to drive over the very high and narrow road was admirable in the least. He was a lovely shade of white when we left the road. I also saw a Golden Eagle for the first time today: very graceful. We were offered our first free B&B too, by a very kind lady who saw me limping along. She gave us free tea, scones and an ice pack, but we had to decline her invitation to stay as we had already booked elsewhere.
Still...onward and upward as they say............
Thurs 25th
Kenmore to Trinafour. We bed and breakfasted at Tummel Bridge, amid a mass of wild flowers: violets, primroses and a whole field of cuckoo flowers. The daffodils in this area are still out in profusion. The mountains and hills are definitely getting higher and longer, but not too difficult. Still, perhaps the last few hundred miles have prepared me!
Fri 26th
Trinafour to Dalwinnie. What a day! I'd rather forget it. The journey was mostly the A9, with wind, rain, sleet and then snow, with a sore knee into the bargain. Now it's beginning to feel tough, but we wont give up. Saw a caperkalie which was good, but unfortunately the Dalwinnie Distillery was closed over the weekend, which was bad. (Maryanne's note: VERY bad, I'd say!)
