I began this blog in November, 2007, specifically as a calling card in the hopes that it would introduce me and help me get to know other participants in last year’s Challenge. It has since become the unsatisfactory collection of maunderings its one or two readers now see before them, but it began, joyfully and successfully, as a blog to help me make friends and ask questions for my participation in the TGOC.
Last fall, I attended a local event and ran into a keen outdoorswoman I hadn’t seen since just before I’d left for Glasgow. She asked enthusiastically about my walk across Scotland, and I had to tell her it hadn’t gone as planned. She reacted as if I’d told her we’d had a death in the family. Which, I must admit, is pretty close to the way I felt heaving myself onto that bus at Invergarry.
But time heals all sprained ankles, and I’ve been cheerfully following by blog what sound (and look) like terrific crossings by friends I met on the trail or after bussing around to Braemar and Montrose. Envious congratulations to all, and cheers to director Roger Smith, who showed me such kindness last year. I’m still holding out hope for 2010, but another possibility has opened up. What do you think? Crossing Scotland in May? Or tramping New Zealand in January?
3 comments:
Of course, you do both! But seriously, Mark, you have unfinished business in Scotland and plenty of old friends waiting to buy you that celebratory dram in Montrose.
Thanks, Phil. There's nothing I'd like better than to take you up on that offer.
Cheers!
We know just how you felt after having to retire from the Challenge- 2 years in a row with injuries!! So you can imagine how elated we are to report that we successfully completed this year's Challlenge. Now for the hard part of deciding about next year.
New Zealand sounds exciting...
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