Day 16 - Aviemore to Alness. 58 miles, hilly bits 2800 ft

The closer we get to John o’ Groats, the more other people we meet end to ending. Some are on their way to Land’s End and we look at them with pity. One bloke plans to complete his final 150 miles to John o’ Groats by 3pm tomorrow. (We mentally marked him as deranged.) And met yet another blooming ex-fireman telling how he did it in 8 days some years ago.

Why is everyone but us such an athlete? Do they drop a day from their total for each year that’s passed? We’re averaging 60+ miles a day and pretty proud of ourselves.

Today we made it to Inverness. To my horror, Alan led us across Kessock Bridge while lorries thundered past at 50mph. When discussing the trip with my friend, Frances, she said what’s the worst that can happen. I die, I suggested. Wasn’t thinking quite along those lines she said. But both of us have been carers for our very ill husbands, and recently widowed herself, she understood what I meant when I said staying alive is no longer so vital. (The others weren’t so reassured by this logic.) And it didn’t make the lorries less scary.

Today’s lessons:

1. Strangers have the best stories

2. Aviemore YHA does butter

3. Norwegian fishermen say f*** a lot

4. Aldi condensed milk makes the best millionaire shortbread

5. Dog breeding is preferable to working with sex offenders

Thank you and goodbye Invernesshire.

Goodnight.