Hundreds and thousands!

I am SO excited - my charity, the Search and rescue Dogs Association has now benefitted from more than £1000 from all you lovely lovely people - thank you so much every body - I am just so thrilled, it is such a good cause. Couple that with the fact that we have today, passed through the 1000 mile mark, AND into our final hundred miles and it's looking good.

Not so good yesterday.

We got off to a good start, leaving the Lovat Hotel in the pretty town of Beauly, and we must thank them for their wonderful hospitality, for the last 3 nights they have looked after is really well.

In Dingwall mum went to get some super super strength hairspray in a pathetic effort to get her hair under control. She took one of those small cans to the counter, full walking gear on, boots, rucksack, poles, the works. Ah says the assistant we are doing hair products 3 for the price of 2 at the moment. Mum pointed to the rucksack and said no thanks. Would you like it in a bag said the assistant, mum pointed to the rucksack and said no thanks. Have you got a points card? said the assistant, mum pointed to the rucksack and said no. Would you like....mum pointed to the rucksack and.....!!

Our walk took us alongside the Cromarty Firth for the whole day. As we neared Evanton we looked up and spotted the Fyrish Monument (google it) on top of the hill overlooking Evanton, where we had arranged to meet the Yorkshire gang for lunch. After that, David walked with us for an hour which meant that mum could lose her rucksack in their car. When we joined up, they left us to make the long journey south but not before Rachel had presented us each with a bag of old fashioned sweeties to help us on our way - yes, even me. It's been wonderful to see you, people, thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to come up.

This is maybe a good time to thank everybody who has made the effort to visit us, walk with us, and eat with us. It has meant a great deal to us, and has always spurred us along. We're on our own now to the end, and thoughts of past visitations will be in our minds as we wander on.

We had some good spots yesterday, herons, red kites (didn't know they were up here) and oil rigs.

Then we got to Alness and our B&B for the night. You can imagine, I am sure, that we have had some pretty hairy experiences in the accommodation stakes, and we have spared you the gory details. Last nights abode had 58 excellent ratings on Trip Advisor, and that really should have told us something. When we got there the owners were out but had left a note on the door, telling us which room we should occupy. They had also left their two dachshunds lose. They were extremely vocal and were clearly very fond of the human ankle. Dad left mum and I outside whilst he went to locate the room, and lock the dogs out of the way. The all pervading smell of cigarette smoke was enough to knock you out. Once we had ploughed a furrow through the rubbish on the carpet (including a fine selection of toe nails) and layers of dust on every single flat surface, we got to the bed. It had quite clearly not been changed and nor had the bathroom been cleaned (for a long time). To cut a long story short, we were able to get a room at the hotel we are staying in tonight, and they sent one of their staff down to pick us up. Dad rang the B&B to tell them we wouldn't be staying. They said why. Dad said because it wasn't clean, and the man put the phone down on him!!

Anyway, all this made us very late getting in and that's why you didn't get a post last night, and I'm very sorry!

Today we have walked from Alness to Tain. We are near enough on Tarmac all the way to the end now but we have been on back road with very little traffic. The daffodils and primroses have given way to lupins,  rhododendrons and foxgloves all prevalent in the wild. Gorse and bluebells continue to sweeten the air with their wonderful aromas.

Tomorrow it's Skelbo.

Keep spreading the word.

M
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