Far North sponsored walk on May 9th

[cal125]

Hi all! Cal the wannabe Invernessian here...

To bring up to speed those who had already left when I put out the all staff email, I'm walking 14 miles from Forsinard to Altnabreac for Depression Alliance Scotland on 9th May. That is way, way up North; the walk crosses the Sutherland - Caithness border. As a lifelong city girl I've never done anything like this before and it's exciting but a big challenge.

If anyone would like to sponsor me online and has not already seen the instructions on how to do so, please feel free to send a message and I'll let you know the details.

Big time respect to Muz and crew for their hard work, initiative and generosity with their time and expertise in setting up this site. I hope it's a huge success and give us all enjoyment for years to come.

[muz]

Thanks Cal

Hopefully this link should work straight to Cal's sponsorship site:


dascot.workwithus.org/Fundraising/Donate.aspx?page=1634


All the best with your fund raising venture!

Muz

[cal125]

Well everyone, I'm back and it's all done!

I really couldn't have had any better luck with the weather. It was brilliant sunshine, so much so I had to use lots of sunblock and looked even more like an alien than usual ;D It was also windy as I expected in the open countryside but that was a blessing as it stopped the sun from being too hot. I set off at 07.30, earlier than expected but when it became apparent that the good weather was to stay I wanted to do as much as possible before the hottest time of day. The landscape was truly awe inspiring. The photos from the website on which I found the route were a good guide but no photo can convey the scale. The Flow Country is massive. Every so often I would pass a crystal clear stream; the rest was all heather moorland with the occasional blue glint of various small fishing lochs. I saw perhaps seven vehicles in total during the four and a half hours it took me to do the walk. The occupants of one of those vehicles, on learning that I was walking to Altnabreac to catch the train, kid me on that it was cancelled; I didn't fall for it, particularly since I hadn't specified which direction and the North and Southbound trains through Altnabreac at that time are only about 20 minutes apart The joke was on them, having assumed as it turned out that I was heading for Wick or Thurso, when they walked into the Forsinard Hotel that evening after their day's fishing and saw me sitting there! ;D It made for a very convivial evening and I was made so very welcome by all concerned.

My online sponsor page is still open and will be for a little while longer. Alternatively Amanda still has the paper form. All support will be very gratefully received. The fact that on the day I went up, the Highland Chieftain and everything else was delayed by there having been a suicide on the line at Grantham proved a most ironically timed reminder of just how serious and widespread an issue mental ill health is.

All the best to you all,

thanks,

Cal

[muz]

Well done Cal!

Funnily enough, Diane H and myself were discussing your adventure this afternoon - both hoping you'd do this thing safely and enjoy it!

So it was great to check up on the site tonight and discover your post. It sounds like you not only pushed your own limits, but enjoyed the adventure, and met some good folks as well as raising some money for a great cause! ;D

Funnily enough - one of the first things I'll be doing in August is spending a week or so on the motorbikes with my pal, driving up to Caithness and around before returning to Edinburgh over a period of 4 or 5 days, just as a wee trial run for an idea we have of doing a "Long Way Round" type trip around the complete coast of Scotland.... But that will be a whole new thread, if I ever get the project sorted out! ;D

[cal125]

Thanks for the support and your own idea for the motorbike round trip sounds fantastic too; when you do the full tour, depending on your schedule and how much time you have you may want to time it to include a visit to the famous Simmer Dim rally in Shetland which takes place around the longest day. (Simmer Dim is the local name for the nights when it's never completely dark up there around the solstice.) I have only been to Shetland once and it was nothing to do with bikes but I have heard enough about the rally to gather it has a great atmosphere. I shall look forward to seeing the plans take shape.

[muz]

Thanks for that Cal - I've sent my pal the link to this discussion and we'll be looking at that idea - which sounds great! ;D

[cal125]

Hi,

Here are a few links I found for you; some of the sites contain further links you may find interesting and the blog type ones are hilarious! ;D

www.bikerlifestyle.co.uk/Image/2007/simmerdim/rally.html

www.lpmcc.net/rallies/rally_simmer.htm

shetlopedia.com/Simmer_Dim_Rally

www.northlinkferries.co.uk/shetland-events-2008.html

[muz]

Thanks for that Cal! - Incidentally - I saw a lot of folk paying up this week for your sponsored walk and look forward to hearing how you got on!

A great effort that I think we can all agree about! (Which is great considering how some of the other threads are going at the moment!) ;D

[cal125]

Thanks for the vote of confidence I'm really grateful to all who have supported me and I have produced a thankyou leaflet of which I'll be giving a copy to Amanda to put up beside the flexi machine.

I just got back from another lovely relaxing few days in Perth. It finally seems to be getting a bit warmer; this is the first time I haven't been shivering in my flat when returning from a trip away. I hope everyone is looking forward to the summer despite the uncertainty going on.

[cal125]

Thanks again to all who supported my sponsored walk. The total raised from the Argyle House collection was £97 and others donated online. Photos can be seen on the notice Amanda has put up by the flexi machine The sponsor page remains open for anyone who still wishes to donate as I appreciate May was a busy month for many people.

[Argyle Neuk]

Well done Cal...

Here's a video of the Highland Chieftan route - don't know if you've seen it before

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cySHlFyJNU4

[cal125]

thanks so much for that, no I hadn't seen the princess on YouTube but I was on board a couple of times when she was diverted around the sub (Edinburgh Suburban line, normally goods only) due to Sunday engineering work. I may even have been on the same train on which the chap filmed that footage but I'd have been in First Class of course ;D There are a few Highland Chieftain videos on there so I had fun checking them out!

[rotweiller]

Well done on your walk. It was quite an achievement. So refreshing to hear someone doing something positive and very worthwhile.

[FireFox]

Yes, that was very well done. We should all do something like that, giving some of our time for a worth while cause.