Scotland.

Sunday 3rd August
Day 96

We are now in Scotland just before the village of Gretna. We were shod today by farrier Paul Johnston. Paul did a fantastic job that took over two hours. He added borium to the shoes to make them last longer and give better grip. This alone is a difficult and long process not helped by the extremely hot temperatures today. Paul only charged a very small amount for his time and skill, he also took his time giving advice and showing me a few handy tips. Paul was an amateur jockey and has been a farrier for thirty years. He is well respected for his skill and craftsmanship. 
Workington 0775 4565737
We met Miss McKenzie whilst parked up and waiting for Paul to arrive at Longtown, also Mr. Fleming who worked farm horses ploughing, haymaking and logging back in the forties. He told me the modern farmer works very fast and their machinery is very efficient but they don't get  much more achieved than he did in his day.
We called in to a feed merchants to buy some wormer and a running tether, which allows grazing of narrow verges.

Monday 4th August & Tuesday 5th August
Days 97 & 98

Due to lack of signal yesterday is included,
We are now 35 miles over the border into Scotland, are on first name terms with the the midges. We are between Lockerbie and beattock following the old road that shadows the M74. It is extremely hot!
Yesterday we were the guest of Mr & Mrs Garner in the village of Kettleholm. They have a business breeding the native fell pony's. At the garners I was able to give Pops a bath and do my washing. Today we met a lot of people; Hamilton a local farmer and businessman. He gave us a tray of quail's eggs He told me they are an aphrodisiac which is a shame as I could do with giving Jet some breakfast. We met Mr & Mrs Watson who are on holiday from North Scotland. Mr Watson came back later in the heat of the day with a couple of ice cold beers. Thanks for that!

Wednesday 6th August
Day 99

We are 58 miles from Glasgow and all very tired from the early mornings. Tomorrow we  will again be up at 3am ready for the off at 4.30. Last night we were visited by Mr Hyslop a local farmer and businessman. He invited us to his house just down the road and there his good lady wife laid on a feast fit for a king. It included fine wines and malt whiskey. I was able to take a shower and  was also given some feed for Pops. Mr & Mrs Hyslop were having friends staying with them, a very nice couple that also showed great kindness towards the team and I. Their name is Charleslecornu which hails from jersey as they themselves do.

Thursday 7th August
Day 100

We are just above the village of Crawford. We had our picture taken by Ritchie Miller, free lance photographer, musician and all round nice guy, After taking the pictures (that he was sent to take) he took Pru and I down the road and bought us lunch. Thanks a lot Ritchie. 
We had met a man called Frank last Sunday before we had gone into Carlisle. Frank rang this afternoon and said he had driven up to see us, and when he arrived he had brought a video tape of the interview which had been on TV the day before. He had also bought some carrotts for pops and some tinned food for me. Frank, you are a good and decent man, thank you very much.
We have had some visitors come to see us; Shane Armstrong who himself is from the Romany tradition, Scottish, and a horseman too. He and his people are parked up a few miles down the road. We had passing us Jocky and his wife with their wagon. I have arranged to meet up with Jocky at some point. We also met local man Tommy Baird and Sara and Brian.

Friday 8th & Saturday 9th August
Days 101 & 102

We have made it from Crawford to Coalburn. We stayed at a communal housing co-op. This place provides a place where travelling folk can stay and have a shower and do any repairs that need doing in the workshop that is on site. There are communal kitchens and plenty of space for the kids to run around. The Talamah Centre also grows its own veg and is quite self sufficient. There are lots of nice people at the place and everyone gets on/
We are now in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, and staying with Shona and John. Shona's dad Jocky worked with the big heavy horses from the age of nine. Clydesdale's are the native horse to this area and Shona and John breed them. Jocky is now retired but his advice is still sought after and I spent a good afternoon myself asking for advice on horsemanship. On Jocky's land he has a small lake and allows Jim a local man and friend of the family to carry out his work of conservation of the depleting stocks of fish in the area. Jim is an expert at what he does and the local rivers authority seeks his and his teams advice on matters of river, lake and fish stock conservation. Jim has stocked Jocky's lake with fish that he breeds for release into the rivers, he also walks the streams and river banks clearing fallen trees and natural dams that inhibit movement of fish.

Sunday 10th August
Day 103

Had the day off today and had dinner with the Steel family. Tommy steel and I took La out to fetch a rabbit and we came up trumps! 
Moving off tomorrow.

Monday 11th August
Day 104

We are now begging to skirt Glasgow on the south east side. 
Breakaway survival member (and instructor in his own right) Jock came to visit us with his family at camp yesterday. Jock runs The Backwoods survival School in the highlands of Scotland.
Jocks wife Shona and his children Erin and Connar cooked a brilliant curry on an open fire.
We are parked up on a verge next to the home of David and Jen MacDonald-Wagstaff. They coach, train and play polo at top level. This includes Cowdray park in Sussex where some bloke called Charlie Windsor plays, who ever the hell he is. Dave and Jen's son Mark is training to be a jockey in Yorkshire but is up in Scotland visiting his folks for a few days. 
Today I took off as I was offered a free days tuition on horsemanship and an introduction to the game of polo.

Monday 12th August
Day 105

Thank you to Maximuscle for giving me some energy drinks and bars to help me on my way.
Thank you also to the Power House in Glasgow for their help in obtaining these products  www.Sportfood.Co.Uk
We are 5 miles south of Sterling on the A9. Coming through Falkirk we met three local lads and we met Chellaine, Duncan, Dave and Craigie Mcphee.
We are going to try and get as close as we can to Crief tomorrow.

Tuesday 13th August
Day 106

Dropped my phone in some water but hopefully it's alright. We came up to the village of Kinbuck just as they were about to close the bridge, A lorry had hit it and taken some of the wall down. We were just in time to cross as it would be closed for two to three weeks and a 15 mile detour back the way we had come. Me met the lads from Stirling Council who are all bloody nice lads plus quite a few other people including two policemen that told me about the bridge.

Wednesday 14th August.
Day 107

We are camped in Glen Almond between Crief and Aberfeldy. We are just yards from the river. Today we have walked twenty five miles through some of the best scenery and toughest terrain yet.
In Muthill we took our lunch break and met a few people too.

Sunday 17th August
Day 111

Had the day off today. Signal strength has been bad for past few days so the site has not been updated properly. I will be able to start updating Andy the webmaster with information again tomorrow hopefully.
What a great place to stop though!

Monday 18th August
Day 112

We are now safely through Aberfeldy and tomorrow will make for Pitlochry on the A9. La managed to escape last night and is now AWOL.

Tuesday 19th August
Day 113

We are just past Calvine 9 miles north of Pitlochry. Tomorrow we have probably the most dangerous leg of our journey so far, an unavoidable ten mile pull up hill on dual carriageway, the A9 one of Scotland's busiest roads and one of the fastest. We will leave early to get some kind of head start on the traffic.

Wednesday 20th August
Day 114

We are now two miles south of Dalwhinnie. We have had another long and hard day. We once again met Mr and Mrs Merrall. They came out to find us after meeting us yesterday and had thought about buying some food for pops. Instead they insisted on giving me a tenner for a bag and in no way would they take no for an answer. So a big thank you to them. Also AC of Glasgow (who wants to remain anonymous) ran out to meet us and out of his car brought dog food and horse food. AC and Mr and Mrs Merrall thank you and I wish you all you wish yourselves. We also met on route today two very nice Canadian lads who are touring Scotland on their push bikes. Scott and Scott, and one lady who we met whilst in a lay by.

Thursday 21st August
Day 115

We are in Kincraig and 35 miles south of Inverness. We won't see much of Loch Ness as we only just skirt it, so no chance of seeing the monster.

Friday 22nd August
Day 116

We are just north of Carrbridge on the old A9, on information from a local lady named Jane we took an old drovers track that lead us a few miles further on off the beaten track.

Saturday 23rd August
Day 117

We are now five miles southeast of Inverness and parked near the battlefield of Colluden.

Sunday 24th August
Day 118

We are parked up on the shoreline of the Moray Firth and are now past Inverness. We are taking tomorrow off as a rest day. I cant rite any moor due too rum and coke inpareing my dujedment - gond nyte

Monday 25th August
Day 119

We are making a slight diversion to Dingwal tomorrow to buy some horse food, then it is onward and upwards. Thanks to Alexander for the use of his field for the last day or two and to john and Angela and for their hospitality.

Tuesday 26th August
Day 120

We are 8 miles from Alness and were invited to stay with Christine, John and tristan ,sanders,parkin.  Two freinds of mine debbie and doog from down south also caught up with us and were invited to dinner as well, went to Dingwall to get feed from Frank Nicol Feeds and were given lots of support and some complimentary bits and bobs. Thankyou. (01349 863854)

Wednesday 27th August
Day 121

We are five miles south of Tain. We met up with David Cotton whilst travelling up the A9. David has walked 5,711 miles around Britain raising money for the RDA. He set off on October 1st 2002 and is about a month from finishing. He is a very nice bloke and has covered a tremendous amount of miles and has a website dedicated to his journey. 
www.coastwalk.co.uk 
I for one take my hat off to him for covering that many miles. Fair play to you David. 

Friday 22nd August
Day 123

We are in Berridale, after the hardest day of the whole journey. The Shap was relatively flat compared to the hills which we have been climbing all day combined with the lethal heavy traffic that frequents these very narrow steep mountain roads. It's what I would think some of the Alps would be like. To say I was a little concerned would be an understatement. We have more of the same tomorrow. Having said that, it was a challenge which we met and overcame.

www.highlandclearances.com

Saturday 23rd August
Day 124

We are 4 miles past Dunbeath and two day's from John O Groats. I decided to have a short day as yesterday was so difficult. We are staying on a croft on the northeast coast ,courtesy of Mr Henderson, his sister. Mrs Taylor and her daughter came to see Pops and brought a box of homemade goodies for me. Later Mr Henderson came up the windswept hill carrying about two pints of piping hot, home made soup. Thank you to all three of them. The weather is rain on and off with high winds that are freezing, not much wood about so I am using sheep coal as well.

Sunday 24th August
Day 125

Ten miles to go and that is that. This time last week we had just crossed the Kessock bridge that take's you over the Moray Firth. Since Tuesday we have travelled over 115 miles and the last fifty being the hardest of the journey. There are no pictures today due to heavy rain and not wanting to get camera soaked.

Monday 25th August
Day 126

We reached the end of the land today. The scenery is bleak and cold, with tourists taking pictures. Of our story they were told,
now at journey's end,
and safe our little band,
grateful for the chance to have returned to the land.

Thank you very much for following our travels. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Please show your appreciation by giving generously to my chosen charities.