Only a Few More Days To Go...

We are now only a few days away from heading back to Scotland, in an attempt to finish what we started four years ago - The Scottish National Trail.  For those who haven't heard about the SNT, you can check it out here: Scottish National Trail.  The SNT is an 850 km long distance South-to-North hiking trail that starts in Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, and ends at Cape Wrath on the very northwest tip of the island.  Ben and I walked from Kirk Yetholm to Pitlochry in 2015 (check out our blog here: JM and Ben - SNT 2015).  Now we are going back, along with Ben's buddy Zach, to attempt the Pitlochry to Cape Wrath leg.

What our route looks like on Day 18...

What's in store:

• 18 days of walking
• 14 nights of wild camping
• 3 nights accommodation (1 hotel, 1 B&B, 1 hostel)

What I'm looking forward to right now:

• A big send-off on Day 1 in Pitlochry, where friends Amanda and I met during TGOC 2017 (Moira, Joyce, and Martin) will meet us and walk with us to Blair Atholl.  Check out the funny story of how we met them here: Moira, Joyce, and Martin.
• Good conversations with the Ben and Zach - I predict politics, skiing, Tanki memories, school memories (Ben and Zach went to the same school between grades 5 and 11), wishing we had bikes, what we will get to eat at the next town, who gets the first shower, why does it rain so much in Scotland, and what time is it back in Alberta.
• Being outside for 18 days in a row, with little or no cell service - enough said.

What I'm a little nervous about right now:

• A couple of tight connections on the way to Pitlochry.
• Whether or not there will be restricted access while walking across Cape Wrath bombing range - more on this in a later post
• How my feet and body are going to hold out.  I'm four years older, and pain and fatigue come a little easier than they used to.  One consolation from previous trips is that I am always amazed by how much recovery is possible with one night's sleep!

What I hope I don't have to write about during this trip:

• midges
• falling into a river
• blisters
• chaffing
• ticks
• broken/ripped gear (especially tent)

We have been planning this walk for about a year now, and it's hard to believe it's finally here.  I am very excited, and feel very fortunate that I am able to have the support of my family and friends to make it a reality.  As anybody who knows me knows, I love Scotland.  I have been blessed to have met many wonderful people there.  They have all been kind, generous, and witty, and they all appreciate their country, and their unlimited access to the land.  I am hopeful that we get the opportunity to meet some new people on this trip, who will undoubtedly help make the experience another unforgettable one.

Thanks to everybody who reads this, and please leave comments if you have any questions or feedback.  My intent is to provide a little more detail about the daily route than I have in previous blogs.  I hope you all enjoy following along.

That's it for tonight.  I better get some rest - I am sure to need it!!