Day 103 - Whaligoe to Wick - 10.6 miles

A repeat of yesterday saw me on the 06:30 bus towards Whaligoe to continue my walk northwards to Wick...but this time fuelled with some porridge and....free of the two ticks that I'd picked up on Day 101 and had managed to succesfully remove last night. Ghastly!!!
All along the coast there's evidence of abandoned farms and old houses.
At Ulbster Mains there's a mausoleum
dedicated to those who once lived here and the graveyard is full implying how populated this place has been.

At Ashy Geo and Ires Geo the sound of the nesting birds was unforgetable.
Razor bill, seagull and guillemot


This Oystercatcher seemed to be conducting a choir of bellowing seals in the water way below.


My bird app identified a 
Rock pipit

...and a 
Meadow Pipit

The Beatrice windfarm became visible off the coast

The route passed the remains of Wick Castle

At the harbour, I visited the RNLI station and met the Mechanic Johnny. 
The coincidence was born in Chichester and lived there until he was 5. His father Dougie and grandfather before him were all crew of the Selsey lifeboat. As Johnny said, it's in his blood.
On the wall in the briefing room there were photographs of mountainous seas in the harbour entrance less than a hundred metres away.
While we were talking, the coastguard called on the radio discussing the possible need for a cliff rescue. Johnny was listening out in case their lifeboat might be called to be in attendance.

Just after 5, Sally arrived on the X99 from Inverness having had an epic 8 hour journey from Edinburgh. With rucksack on her shoulder ready to walk with me for the final two days to John o'Groats.

Total distance walked so far = 1260.0 miles
Total ascent so far = 141265 feet

If you'd like to leave a comment, correct me on any detail or just nudge, it'd be great to hear from you. If initially it comes up as Anonymous, please just add your name at the bottom so I can see who it's from.

email: david.LL.thomas@gmail.com
mob: 07850109100

If you'd like to contribute to any or all of the three great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.

- Parkinsons UK   - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215


- Just Wheels UK  - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.- 

- RNLI   - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there 

https://www.justgiving.com/

Comments

  1. Anonymous23 July 2022 at 02:39

    Hi, ticks 🥵 ! Love pick of tractor and farm house. Great that Sally doing last section with you to JOG’s. Chris Sussex.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mike D23 July 2022 at 03:27

    How dramatic that Sally arrives on the X99 — sounds like an experimental plane from the 1950s!
    Can you really be just two days from the end? What a remarkable journey — so many gorgeous views, lovely quiet moments, and fascinating people along the way.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dorothy MacVicar23 July 2022 at 05:09

    Nach eil thu a' dèanamh math ! Aren't you doing well !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous23 July 2022 at 08:53

    There’s a lovely little museum in Wick with a fabulous collection of old photographs. Well done you and enjoy your last couple of days. Love Jess and Colin xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous23 July 2022 at 13:05

    Wow.. you are almost there. Amazing effort! Kakai

    ReplyDelete
  6. Robin24 July 2022 at 02:26

    Ticks are nasty. I have had tick bite fever twice and don't recommend it and that is not even thinking about Lyme's disease. Be careful to take the head out completely. To do this, lever up from the underside at the end away from the heat and pull straight out without bending the tick. You may well know all this of course

    ReplyDelete

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