Sunday 22nd August- Goodbye Aviemore

Morning All, Sorry, no pictures until we get a proper WiFi connection.  I'm using my phone as a modem at the moment, so very s-l-o-w.  Well, today Matt is attempting a big 30 miles again today, his shins are shot and very painful, but he's doing his best.  We are awaiting information from a physiotherapist about the best way to proceed and treat them.  In the mean time Matt battles bravely on.  He is very anxious to get running at full speed and is frustrated that his body is slowing him down.  Chin up Matt...we are all with you in spirit.

We had a good night last night.  Matt finished well early at 2 in the afternoon so it left time for a bit of shopping and postcard writing.  I hope our cards are getting through to the Garden House? We also managed to get our washing done and dried and still had time for a fish and chip lunch in town and a pizza and a quick pint in the bar on site in the evening!  I'm afraid Matt still didn't manage to avoid the women with the evil thumbs, but is not screaming so much now......are the muscles improving or my technique I wonder?

The scenery here is beautiful, I'd love to come skiing here, beats queuing up at the airport and checking in your skis. MMMmmm might just do that...pray for snow in the Highlands....but not at the moment please!


Today is the day that Jan joins us for a few days.....wow, it will be so different to have somebody to chat to face to face (apart from Matt of course), safe journey Jan and catch you this evening.  The camp site last night was a bit like Fort Knox......you had to have a swipe card for entry into the shower block, then you had to swipe it again to get into the toilets, a card for the washing machines, a card for the driers, and a push button system to get out again!  Blimey mate, I only want to camp for the night not steal the soap!

Not a lot more to say at the moment, Matt has just checked in at the layby and taken some more water and off he's gone again.  Says he's fine....in the zone, so he doesn't say much. The clouds over the mountains are breaking up and the sun has started to shine............

Will talk more later if all goes well.....we might even get a swim in tonight as the the new site has a pool...Matt is thinking about dipping in one of the Lochs to get some ice treatment on his legs......

Saturday 21st August

Hi, sorry to miss you yesterday, busy and no real time to catch up.  However, here we are.  Last night we stayed at Auchnahillin Campsite.  Pretty small, pretty muddy but very nice, in the middle of nowhere.  We met a nice family, also runners, that took the time to come over and have a chat to see what we were up to. They also made a very generous donation and an offer of their holiday cottage to stay over should we need it, so a BIG thank you to you.

I also need to say a big thank you to the remote team back at basecamp...Fran and Jan, who have helped me to rearrange things and update the plaves we are staying.

Matt is good today, his knee is feeling good, but we are not pushing it so only 15 miles again today.  Tonight we will be staying at the High Range site in Aviemore.  We are looking forward to having Jan come and stay with us for a few days starting tomorrow...safe journey Jan.

This morning we discovered that we'd driven 8 miles back to the startpoint with Matt's trainers tied to the front of the Landrover!  They got wet yesterday and were hung out to dry....they got a bit of an extra super air dry this morning!  At least they were still there and not lost

Matt wants me to tell you all that he is not shaving until he reaches Land's End.....OMG, shall we have a competition to see who can guess the length of his beard?  LOL.

I'll upload some photos later, but for now I must get on to the next camp and set up the tent, go shopping, and stuff.....from JB, the expedition chief, cook, bottle washer, psychologist, doctor, driver, minder,chef, tent erector, camp organiser, laundry person, and general go-fa.  Keeping watching this spot.....

Day Four- end of

Sorry folks...me again.  The demands on Matty's time for looking after his body don't allow much time for him to blog, so you'll have to put up with me for a bit.

It's been a very tough day today.  Matt's left knee is giving him lots of problems and the blisters aren't helping much either.   It's now 10:20pm and we've only just finished eating.  We managed to get him a bath this evening so he's been giving his legs the ice and hot treatment, which after his massage feels like it did a lot of good.  Not nearly as many knotted muscles to work out and less painful for Matt too.

You think I'm joking about the cold baths, here's Matt sitting in cold water with his beanie on and his hands round a hot cuppa!  And you thought he was having fun...NOT!!


Look at those eyes...scared stiff of the dreaded thumbs to follow....


All joking aside, the traffic today was horrendous, all going far too fast, yes I know, we all do it, BUT you don't try and run a man off the road...which is what Matt came pretty close to today....I was scared and I was in a layby! Daring not to open the door for fear of it being ripped off in the bow wave as the traffic went past.  Tut Tut motorists, give a man a chance!

Saw some more seals today too.....aahhhh..

Matt on the road today...head down and well focused, run Forest!

A couple of pretty pictures to end with tonight...one of the many bridges in this part of the country, this one is two miles long!

Invernesshire! Stunning or what?

And just to prove we really are here........going South....a long way South!

Go Matty GO!

Good night for now, me signing off at 10 minutes to 11, I'm shattered so I can't imagine what Matt feels like, but I do know he's still got a positive head on him and is praying that his body won't fail him.....keep up with the phone calls guys and thanks to those who have planned to join us for a day or two...please ring just to make sure where we are......it's a BIG country...night night zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Day 4 the first Milestone - Inverness

Hi all, just a quick message this morning....Matt is approaching his first milestone today, Inverness.  He's been suffering a bit with a couple of blisters to his foot and his knee is playing up, so, have changed this evening's campsite for a bed in a premier inn so he can have a proper bed and a bath.

All is going well though and Matt is very positive and still raring to go although he's been in a lot of pain with knotted muscles.  He's permanently afraid of my deadly thumbs and puts his pillow over his head to hide the screams when I massage them!

Thanks for all the comments once again, they are keeping us going for sure....Scotland can be a very lonely place...

Will try and post something this evening, must get back on the road to meet Matt and give him the good news that he has a bed for the night....
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee

Day 3

Well, I hope you all appreciate the trouble I've gone to get on the blog today...here I am sitting in a lounge with a 1.30 karaoke session!  HELP!!  Anyway, Matt is still doing well.  The weather yesterday was atrocious but he kept on going through wind and rain and many changes of clothes.  He spent nearly 10 hours on the road yesterday so by the time he got back showered and ate it was late, then his legs stiffened up , but after a massage from the crazy women with the deadly thumbs (ME), he was able to move again, so we did the same this morning too.  He set off later this morning and is going to take it a bit easy.  He did extra miles yesterday, combined with a shorter run  today, he's got less of a heavy day.  Thank you all for your comments and phone calls.  Keep them coming in, we both need them!

We've been lucky with the midges, hardly any.....and no bite, but the sea gulls here in Dornoch are something else...they tried to get in the tent last night!

The scenery is fantastic, even saw some seals/sea lions this morning , not sure which, I'll try and post a photo and you can choose.

Right, I'm going to try and upload some pictures...fingers crossed.........

This is Matt, with Louise and Robert who kindly ran with him on the first leg of his epic journey.  Thanks again to you both.

Matt in the 'zone'.

 A cheeky hen polishing off the rest of the pepper sauce left over from our steak.

First night's camp......

You choose, seals or sea lions?

The shores of Loch Brora where we stayed last night and tonight.

And one last one for now....Matt coming up to the 20 mile mark on his second day.

Remember me saying about the karaoke?  I forgot to mention it was for 10 to 15 year olds.....I'm the only one here apart from three members of staff.....they've just given up and legged it!

Well I must say this is a treat, a)being able to get connected and b) being able to upload some photos.  Bear with us, connections and battery life do  not always coincide. I will always do my best to keep you updated. Thanks again for all your support, keep it coming.................

Day Two

At Last!  It's only taken me an hour to get things talking to each other!  Technology....great when it works.  Well I'm sitting in a lay by on the A9 near Helmsdale waiting for Matty in the pouring rain.  It is tipping it down.  Which is not good for Matt as visibility is low and the traffic here holds no punches.  It will also slow him down.  He's already changed clothes once.  Poor Matt...this will be a day for me to keep his morale up!

Porridge for breakfast again this morning...Matt has maple syrup on his...full of calories...I stick to sugar and a strong cup of coffee.  This morning it was sling it day.  Sling it all in the back of the landrover and sort it out later!  Everything was wet from the constant rain last night. I drove 8 miles back to Lybster to drop Matt off where I'd picked him up then went back to camp to pack up.

I've just had to close the window in the landy as the rain is blowing in!

Matt should be checking in again soon, so I will update this later and try and put some pics on for you all.  I've just spent twelve minutes waiting for a picture to upload so I'll wait for free WiFi tonight at the campsite.

Love to all from Matt and me.

The end of day one

Well......he's done it!  The first day in the bag.  The two runners, Robert and Louise (managed to meet up with  her again and get her name!), got Matty off to a good start.

We saw several cyclists start at the same time but Matt was the only runner.  The lady in the shop where he got his record stamped said he was either very brave.....or very stupid!Oh well, only time will tell on that one.  We've had a very positive day.  Matt's now in his sleeping bag after a nice shower and a dinner of peppered steak, fresh veg and mash potatoes all cooked on one burner and washed down with a very small glass of wine....well I couldn't waste it on Matt could I, he's  not allowed to drink!  We even had a table and chairs.

I'll try and get some pictures on here tomorrow, the connection at the moment is very slow and it's taking ages.  I don't think there's enough battery left.

We've had a very successful first day..........keep watching this space...............