Day 105 - Wick to Keiss - 12.1 miles

Sally is walking with me for the last two days so after a hearty breakfast we set off.
Staxigoe harbour.
Its hard to imagine how at its peak, 50 herring boats would have crammed in here.

I'd never consciously seen a Common Blue butterfly before.
Well! Today was their day. Lots of them - in varying states of blueness...
An information board identified the large number of ships that had foundered along the coast here.
Noss Head lighthouse was built in the 1840s to a novel design with diagonal windows which were believed to be stronger. The design was so successful it became the model followed elsewhere.
The bay and the good farming land surrounding it has long been fought over.  Because of warring between Clan Sinclair and Clan Gunn, Castle Gurnigoe had a long stormy history from the 1500s.
The Sinclairs must have won the decider because it's now called Castle Sinclair

There are dramatic cliffs along the South shore of the Bay.
These two new friends...
ensured we were heading in the right direction.

Then, these two.
They must hear it all the time - how much she looks like her mum!

Whale jaw bones built-in to a dry stone wall.

As we approached the beach we walked passed Ackergill Tower Castle.
A 5 star hotel - what a fantastic location!?

Clean white sand stretched for miles.

Sandpipers

Terns

Well! It just had to be done. Having gone for a swim in Cornwall, it was going to be Scotland's turn. No! The sun wasn't shining and there was a brisk cooling breeze but I might have toughened up a bit over the last 1200 miles because my sensitive parts will forever remember Caithness being warmer than Cornwall.

Our accommodation was an eco house with views out across Sinclair Bay and we watched the weather coming in and Noss Head in the distance slowly disappear in the low cloud.

By the time we'd had supper, the rain had set in properly but nothing's going to dampen the spirits for the last 14 miles tomorrow. 
Total distance walked so far = 1272.1 miles
Total ascent so far = 141 741 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/fundraising/david-thomas216

Comments

  1. Anonymous24 July 2022 at 00:14

    Fantastic!
    Have wonderful day to day!
    A magnificent achievement!
    Neil

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous24 July 2022 at 02:56

    I'm feeling quite emotional! What an achievement. Thinking if you both today, with John O'Groats on the horizon. xxx Lindsey

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tony and Ruth24 July 2022 at 09:33

    Whatever you do, don‘t give up now!,,, We are with you!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mike D24 July 2022 at 18:24

    An unbelievable accomplishment (so close now)!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous25 July 2022 at 04:30

    amazing. so what will I read ow every day with my coffee?
    Y.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous25 July 2022 at 07:40

    If I stake my claim on Sinclair Castle, any chance I might commission you to design and oversee the refurbishment thereof? Ruth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous26 July 2022 at 10:40

      Hi Ruth, .......as it's you! My rates are very reasonable!!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous27 July 2022 at 10:10

      I'll come up with a proposal encompassing dry socks, blister plasters and whisky. I feel sure there's a deal to be done here.

      Delete
  7. Andrew Gardner22 August 2022 at 14:49

    David. Very well done for the walk and for what you have achieved. Seems a long time since we met in St Andrew's church in Penrith.

    ReplyDelete

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