Lands end John o groats (walking) LEJOG

[i4got]

I’m now in Inverness. Just finished the Great Glen Way, 78 miles in 4 days (although my GPS said nearer 74) from Fort William along the Caledonian canal, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and then back onto the canal.

Apart from one day the weather has been holding up pretty well. Not sure what they make those forestry paths from but its been the toughest part of the walk so far on the soles of my feet.

It was a lot quieter than the WHW but a friend joined for the last 20 miles into Inverness.

Spoke with a doctor friend this morning and it seems that the toe pain I’ve been having may be athletes foot so waiting for Boots to open to get some treatment.

Had a great night last night at Black Isle Brewing when we met up with another LEJOG walker and ended up in a impromptu whisky tasting session with a couple of German tourists.

Tomorrow I set out on the final 10 days to John O Groats. I’ve only got 1 more night camping - there are not many campsites and its mostly farmland so not much opportunity for wild camping. (I may be trying to justify the fact that I just fancy a few more warm beds).

Videos from the Great Glen Way

https://www.relive.cc/view/v36APKJ7dZO

https://www.relive.cc/view/veqzmLBXGB6

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORMe447Kv

https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8J1AZeN6

[i4got]

You can guess how bored I am on my day off sitting in my Wetherspoons hotel in Inverness. I thought this would be my last Spoons but just discovered there’s one in Wick.

Assuming I get there, that will be my 18th Wetherspoons on this walk - a long Spoons golf course.

The list so far is;

Penzance - The Tremenheere

Camborne - The John Francis Basset

Bodmin - Chapel An Gansblydhen

Liskeard - The King Doniert

Crediton - The General Sir Redvers Buller

Taunton - The Coal Orchard

Okehampton - The White Hart Hotel

Wells - The Quarter Jack

Gloucester - The Regal

Gloucester - The Lord High Constable of England

Tewkesbury - The Royal Hop Pole

Worcester - The Postal Order

Glossop - The Smithy Fold

Keighley - The Livery Rooms

Glasgow - The Counting House

Fort William - The Great Glen

Inverness - The Kings Highway

I knew this trip would broaden my horizons

[i4got]

The Rotrex Kid said:

What did you think of the JFB in Camborne? Decent size ain’t it?

Its impressive. I had an American IPA sitting out in the sunny beer garden.

Edited by i4got on Sunday 12th June 20:23

[i4got]

Bill said:

You need a 19th hole!!

Unless they create a new one between Inverness and John O Groats in the next 9 days I’ll have to make do with 18.

[i4got]

LeadFarmer said:

How is your kit holding up? Things such as trainers, socks, clothing etc? And are you finding your air bed comfortable enough, or is sleeping uncomfortable when camping?

Also how do you cope when you are soaking wet in the rain, do you have a system for drying cloths as you go, using hotel radiators etc as I imagine it takes ages even on a sunny day?

I’m on my third pair of trainers but I knew when Inset off I’d be treating them as disposable.

I’ve replaced a couple of pairs of socks.

Ripped a pair of trousers but had them repaired.

All else OK.

I haven’t really had to deal with wet clothes. I get the rain gear on quickly and its been pretty effective. (And I haven’t had that much rain)

I’ve washed socks, pants and t-shirts in hotel sinks and dried over radiators and do a full laundry wash every couple of weeks at most.

The inflatable sleep mat is pretty comfortable but I had to add a reflective roll mat to stop the cold ground coming through. Since I replaced the sleeping bag with a down one I’ve been cosy.

[i4got]

croyde said:

Are your third pair still Hoka challengers, I think they are called?

No. The good thing about Hoka is the cushioned sole and comfortable fit.

The bad thing is the toe box is quite narrow.

I had two toes rubbing together for a while with the result that one swelled ip a bit. Just enough to make it uncomfortable in the Hokas.

So when my wife met me in Glasgow she brought an ordinary pair of Asics I had at home with a much wider toe area.

They’re not as comfortable particularly on the soles but no toe pain.

[i4got]

croyde said:

Thanks again. So you are using running shoes?
.

Yes. Hopefully they’ll be ok for the JoG trail. They were fine for the WHW anyway.

[i4got]

Seven days left and I won’t be sorry to finish. I’ve now gone through 1000 miles and into the last maybe 120 ish.

First two days on the John O Groats trail from Inverness to JoG have been a bit of a drag but I hear from others further up the path that it turns pretty spectacular as it turns more into a coastal walk.

Currently in Tain. Its as lively as you’d expect Tain to be on a Tuesday night. I’m eating in the Royal Hotel restaurant and I’m the only diner.

I guess the main A road must have bypassed Tain as theres no traffic on the high street. I wasn’t expecting Mardi Gras but I thought it would be busier than this.

If all goes to plan tomorrow will be my last Wednesday walking as I hope to finish next Tuesday.

The videos for the first 2 days on the JoG trail aren’t really worth posting. We all know what lanes and roads and bridges look like - you aren’t missing anything interesting.

And many thanks to Mick Dastardly, Phil and “Another PHer” for the donations.

[i4got]

Tain high street rush hour.

[i4got]

I can 100% guarantee I won’t be turning round and walking back.

[i4got]

croyde said:

How are you getting back btw?

My wife’s driving up in the motorhome and we’ll drive back over 3 days.

[i4got]

Popped into the Stag's head bar in Golspie for a drink tonight before a visit to the chippie.

A proper old school public bar. Beer crap as usual but nice to go back in time.

Had a chat with the 3 other drinkers. One owns a local hotel and he had some stories about hosting George Ezra on his recent LEJOG.

He’s hoping he’ll be in the documentary when it appears later this year on TV.

(And thanks for charity donations to soad, markcp interstellar, riley blue, phil, bear-n and “another PHer”.)

[i4got]

Today is a day of two ‘lasts’.

My wife arrives in the motorhome tomorrow and will be ferrying me to and from the end points of the walks. So today is the last day I’ll be carrying a full rucksack.

Tonight will also be my last night in a tent.

Pretty happy about both.

5 days walking left at most - slight chance depending on the state of the path it may be 4. We’ll see.

Thanks go to warp9 on here for your donation too

[i4got]

McAndy said:

Enjoy the home stretch! I hope my donation landed OK I hope your weather conditions give you a memorable run in for the right reasons!

Thank you. I didn’t see the name McAndy may have missed it or maybe a different name was shown. But thank you for the donation.

[i4got]

Regbuser said:

Question: John o groats trail, paths not very good?

Pretty challenging and non existent in places. If you are just doing JoG trail (as opposed to LEJOG) and you limit yourself to 8 to 10 miles a day, I think it could be a really enjoyable walk. But personally I couldn’t do 16 to 20 miles stretches of it.

Today for example the wind is really strong blowing from land toward sea and large parts of the path are along the cliff tops. I wouldn’t go near a cliff top in todays weather.

I arrived at the campsite and pitched the tent eventually. It just flattened to the ground and bent the poles. I’ve had to book into a b&b.

I can’t post the video on here but if you have access to the FB updates theres a video of it flattening.

[i4got]

interstellar said:

On way of dodging the last night in the tent

Why do you think I did the video? I knew my wife would be suspicious that I just wanted a cushy night.

[i4got]

Was going to walk from Dunbeath to Whaligoe today (about 13 miles) but ended up doing just over 20 and going all the way to Wick.

I had only a daypack today and it made such a difference. Couple that with a bit of sun and a strong tail wind and progress was relatively easy.

I’m a bit ahead of schedule. I should have two days left but its only 16 miles by road to JoH and a bit longer on the trail. I’m inclined to do 2 short days and finish on Monday - there's no great rush.

Although I got to Wick, I didn’t make it to Spoons so thats a priority for tomorrow.

So the probable plan is tomorrow Wick to Keiss and Monday, Keiss to JoG.

Apart from the strong winds the weather's been pretty decent on this stretch - just need it to last for 2 more days.

Thank you to bigfoot7 and c8bof

[i4got]

Never mind John O Groats, In Wick I reached the important milestone today of the 18th Wetherspoons on my journey. Nice building but the weather wasn’t up to me trying the veranda overlooking the river.




Eta many thanks to Baldinho

Edited by i4got on Sunday 19th June 18:41

[i4got]

I’m here.

More details to follow later.

[i4got]

Bannock said:

Thought you said you were going to carry on to Duncansby Head? Come on, chop chop.

That was before I realised the JoG trail goes through Duncansby head before JoG.