The Mountview Hotel Nethy Bridge

... line "take a moment to behold"...



Before I knew it the road descended into a single lane track with tight passing points every hundred yards and heaps of snow poles. Thank god it was Sunday morning and many people weren't daft enough to brave the ...

... in our ears. Where was the camera when you needed it (yes, in my rucksack!). The jet was gone within seconds and I had no time at all to get the camera out of my bag.

We got back to the hostel, get showered (separately!) and then headed out to the local fish and chip shop for dinner and then to the pub next door to the hostel for a pint!

Can't get internet here tonight so I will have to upload some pictures later.

... the time I got everything sorted and left the hostel it was around midday so I decided to head over to Aviemore via Loch Ness for a few pictures, first stopping at Foyers Falls and then a few places along Loch Ness south shore.

I arrived at Aviemore at around 15:00 and checked in to the Bunk House, got my room sorted and then went for a walk around the town, stopping at Tescos for some food for dinner. Yep, pasta and chicken again!

... dropped in to the bike shop and got them to swap the rear brake cable over and all was well. I then set out and did the two red routes again, moaning about the cycle up and wishing that I had got the Land Rover shuttle to the top, but I just didn't want to be lazy. The second run went without any mishap or broken bones, all together a great day. Now back to the hostel for some food and a pint!

Finally back at home. It's been 15 weeks and 12 countries (14 technically, but a stopover in Sydney and stepping on Zimbabwean soil whilst Bungy jumping don't count). There's been highs and low's throughout, but on the whole, the experience has been fantastic and completely and ...

... a large army in England and gained popular support from the English army and Navy forcing James to flee to France in 1689 with his young son James Francis Edward Stuart who became known as 'the Old Pretender'

Even though not Catholic, many Scots resented the ousting of James, as Stuarts had ruled Scotland for over 300 years. Supporters of the Stuarts were called Jacobites from the Latin pronunciation of their deposed king ...

... slow in the mornings and dealing with the tent etc isn't helping!  I'll see how I get on over the next few days (my pack is still a reasonable weight!) and if I need them then my friend will drive them down.

A few miles from Inverness I meet my first "on foot" End-to-Enders!  This is a group with a difference - they've been doing the route in stages over the past ten years fitting it in around work and family commitments.  They're on their second-to-last ...

... jobs, family and lives in general (I half expected him to publish their bank details). The Nazis could have got a few tips from him.

After I had finished off a few too many pints, and made the decision to order some Paul Theroux custom thumbscrews on my return, I decided to go for a wander (stumble)around the train.

The alleyways on the sleeper carriages were amazingly narrow, and I have no idea why I didn’t notice this when embarking. I guess I was too lost in ...

... in the nice "warm" (freezing) water of Loch Ness. Scrambling down the side of the hill we were finally at the banks where Katherine discovered one of the witches hats that had gone AWOL. Net me just tell you that Scotland is the land of witches hats. During the weekend we had passed by quite a lot of roadworks (as you do), where they use witches hats to merge lanes etc. However in Scotland they don't leave gaps between witches hats, basically they are placed ...

... the end it will be a life-changing trip. Who knows what will come out of my travels and the people I will meet. I would like to get to know some people my age and hang out with them a bit as I'm starting to feel a little like an old-timer always hanging out with Norm and Tina. I'm definitely missing the social aspect of college and a social life as being here it's pretty non-existent. Anyways, maybe that will change. From Northern Scotland... Cheers! Rob