The penultimate day of the Highland March, and a sense of achievement and disappointment was in the air.
Canary would complete his 100 mile mark for the week on this day, whilst Gringo would need to wait a few miles more. ITN and Junior were the only 2 troops left to complete and End to End walk, whilst Bronson was still far off after his first day debarcle.
We set our from Crieff down a busy main road. 2 miles in length and again, seemingly never-ending. The hiking poles were proving to be a valuable asset as we made it ever closer to the top of a not-so-steep hill.
Mrs Gringo enjoyed her day, and it was fantastic to have another nice day of sunshine. The clouds though were behind us, but the wind was pushing us forward.
Gringo Junior was getting through the pain barrier with those very sore legs, and the hard surface of the tarmac was causing extra strain on everyone’s joints. Canary too was struggling, but with his hardest day being earlier in the week, found it no problem at all to make it back into the countryside.
We needed to make our way down towards Stirling, and we couldn’t help but find our way up another hill. This time we headed up behind Stirling University and the Wallace Monument.
We were completing this day in good time, and the advancing party were responsible for doing the live MFR broadcast. A stop off at the top was required as we waited for the following Canary and Gringo. A cereal bar and a drink of pop later, and it was live onto MFR for our update on the Highland Marchers progress.
MFR had previously been involved in a great week of broadcasting for the Highland Marchers, whilst also raising the profile of the Charity Trust and ICTFC. The Lovely Lyndsey was forever on hand to introduce the DJ to us, and ITN found himself taking the listeners by storm.
When asked by the DJ how the walk was going and where we were, there was no other possible answer, but to say;
“well it seems quiet down there in the town, so we’ll be ok to take Stirling from the North”
This of course in reference the Battle of Bannockburn from which the English fought the Scots many centuries ago. You can only admire his quick wit and humour at something like that.
Back to the walking and it was all down hill from here… well, almost anyway.
A winding road towards the back of the University, and it was difficult to imagine any form of transport being capable of going up judging by the extremely sharp up-hill corners.
We followed the road down, and with ITN’s local knowledge from his running days, were able to find a short cut into Stirling.
We intended to finish up at the William Wallace pub for a drop of the Alcoholic stuff. The support bus was parked up behind, where we all met for baggage disposal. A few troops took up the chance to get closer to the Wallace Monument, so another up-hill climb was in order for the next 500 yards.
Back down to the bar, where a relaxing Elvis and Bronson were already taking in refreshments.
After our intake of some much needed beer, we continued towards Stirling Town Centre following a busy main road. We had a path for company and followed the now dis-used Alloa to Stirling railway. Making it in to Stirling we all stuck together. Gringo was now setting a gentle pace, and we all kept up with him until Stirling.
Uncle Albert had proceeded to continue ahead in the bus with Bronson, and the bags were sorted out for the B&B stop. Again this would separate the group, as we needed 2 accommodations once more.
Tall Paul had joined us at Bannockburn, where the Full Moon had not only come out early, but was out 3-fold. Bronson finding the urge to keep it out for longer than the rest, and again, a “photo, opportunity”.
We all had ourselves some well deserved grub in the nearby Robert the Bruce Hotel, and made our way to the digs. We were soon to find that Tall Paul, Elvis and Bronson are (simply put) three-of-a-kind.