Our
fortnight long adventure
crossing The Highlands
is over and some time
has now passed, more
than enough to allow
memories of the hard
times to fade and the
good to flourish.
Our
first three days saw us
crossing the dramatic
and brooding wilds of
the Knoydart Peninsula
through to the welcoming
embrace and eccentric
hospitality of the
Tomdoun Hotel.
These
three days saw some
filthy weather; some
very wet feet; the sad
news that another
challenger known to us
had retired due to
injury and, most
importantly, some of the
most spectacular views
this country, if not the
world, has to offer.
The next day provided us
with the start of what
would be a
challenge-long theme of
beautiful weather, as
well as everybody's
favourite view.
Yet - as
we crossed the Great
Glen, left the majestic
Western Highlands and
headed for General
Wade's military road
over the Corrieyairack
mountain pass of the
bleakly beautiful
Monadhliath mountains -
trouble was brewing.
After a
further two days of
mountain tracks and
unending tarmac, we
arrived in Kingussie
broken and battered by
the perpetual effort
with Emma almost
crippled by the blisters
she had been fighting
through for the past 40
miles. They were
to prove costly.
After an enforced rest
day, and with heavy
hearts, Leon and I
dropped a disconsolate
Emma off at the train
station and struck out
towards Glenn Feshie a
man down.
Two
days of landslides,
stunning vistas,
'luxury' camp food,
panic due to a short
term inability to read
maps and scorching heat,
Leon and I rolled into
Braemar to find a
surprise welcoming
committee that included
a refreshed and fully
recovered Emma, yay!
The rest of the journey
saw us on an easier
route via Ballater,
Aboyne, a pub or two and
the flatter, greener,
rolling vistas of the
east.With a recharged
Emma and strength in our
legs we powered through
the final leg with
little incident or
trauma - feral herds of
killer cows and the sad
loss of my spork aside.
So, on a
disappointingly drab and
rainy Thursday lunchtime
we duly touched the
water in the shadow of
the imposing Dunnottar
Castle and contemplated
our return to normal
life.
This was my second
challenge, and once
again I was overwhelmed
by the beauty and
majesty of the Scottish
Highlands.
It is
this incredible
landscape which brings
so many back to this
event, but I also take
as much from the trip in
the form of the
simplicity of the
endurance feat.
There
is really nothing to
your day other than
putting one foot in
front of the next with
the occasional stop to
rest or refuel.
It is an
opportunity to
completely clear your
mind of the clutter of
everyday life, whether
by slow contemplation or
by completely blanking
your mind.
On this
trip the chance was
taken, from time to
time, to reflect upon
the reasons behind our
fundraising and, in no
small part, how lucky I
was to have the health
and well being to be
able to visit such
places.
CRY do
great work and I'm glad
we were able to
contribute in some small
way to them helping the
victims and loved ones
who are affected by what
is such a tragic
condition.
Will Wilkin
Will, Emma and Leon have
so far raised £1270
for CRY. You can
still sponsor them at
www.justgiving.com/Coast-to-Coast-for-CRY
Many more photos from
their adventure can be
seen at
http://tinyurl.com/TGOC2010
