Hi all,

Most of us know some one who has been effected by cancer either directly or indirectly.

Some of you will already know that my wife Alvean was diagnosed with Breast cancer over 18 months ago and it has been a long journey since then. It has been physically and mentally challenging for Alvean and also in a different way for those around her. Alvean has grown to learn that the ongoing implications mean a new norm and things that were taken for granted are now not possible or a push too far.

The breast unit at George Elliot hospital were excellent and all the other staff involved such as the lymphoedema clinic have played there part in helping manage the on going symptoms.

One group a Charity called Hugs in a bag Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer had a massive impact on Alvean at a time when she was extremely low.

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer (LFBC) is a registered charity providing personal, emotional and practical support to women with or recovering from breast cancer. Among the many things they offer they provide the Hugs-In-A-Bag initiative which was launched to provide practical support, as well as a virtual hug to women going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. Each bag costs £35 to create; LFBC provide each bag completely free of charge

So here we go. The idea is to raise some money for the Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. This old guy is planning a motorcycle ride to Scotland of approximately 1600 miles. It will include a section of the NC500 route which is well publicised but also additional roads. I am completing it solo, just me and the bike and will be in some very isolated places alone. While some do this kind of thing for pleasure the experience for me is a first and will be challenging to say the least. The only thing that will be used more than petrol will be pain killers I think.

In advance thank you to all whether you have simply read this or donated. For my Facebook friends I will try and put some photos on if I am in any fit state.

UPDATES

1) I am absolutely blown away by the support we have received and have reached the target I set. Thank you so much. I have put the target upto £525 which is 15 bags and more importantly 15 people helped. Once again thank you

2) An update on the trip so far

LEG 1

The first leg of the trip from home to Gatehouse of Fleet Dumfries completed. A distance of 270 miles.

The signs on the M06 warned of strong winds and they certainly were. My head now knows what a ping pong ball feels like.

Scotland cried when I arrived but that has happened before when I have arrived at places. She then realised it was there for a good cause and the sun shone beautiful. However, she reminded me again of what to expect by raining on me again.

I didn't hurt too badly this morning. I just felt like a small person with a stick had sneaked in and beaten me the.

Leg one done.

3) Leg 2

Today I travelled from Gatehouse of fleet to Aviemore via Glentrool skirting Glasgow. 239 miles in total.

The road I took across country had that many pot holes that even a non golfer could guarantee a hole in one. Add to this I now believe my motorbike has two rocks tied together with knicker elastic for suspension when loaded despite all the adjustment I did you will have some idea of my issues. To add to the fun it was very misty and rained on me after lulling me in to a false sense of security with a beautiful start to the day from Gate house of Fleet.

My back felt like one of the seven dwarfs had taken steroids, gone to the gym , got a bigger pick axe and gone to work on my back. As it is a family page I won't say where he visited next.

Eventually I found a garden centre and comforted myself with a black pudding stack. Another first for me. It was beautiful and distracted from the pain in my back. As I headed towards the Cairngorns the sun came out and I started to understand what the trip will bring.

4) Leg 3

Yesterday I had watered and covered the steed over ready for today. If I look after her hopefully she will repay the favour.

I then went to my room and that's when the kid in a sweet shop face appeared. There was a bath to soak away those pains.

Today I travelled to Keiss about 20miles south of John O Groats via Cromarty, Rogie falls and Balblair distillery. A distance of 193 miles.

The morning started cold. It didn't need any brass welders but it was close. The bath worked a treat for the first 20 minutes. Then it was definitely the steroid taking grumpy with the pickaxe who went to work again. On the plus side the sun shone all day.

The day was one of transformation. Coming out of Aviemore which is a commercial high street. The sea suddenly appeared and the terrain started to change. The further north I travelled the more vast it seemed to get. The photos don't do it justice.

My first stop was Cromarty. There were thousands of sea eels swimming in the water and mackerel jumping out of the water in a feeding frenzie.

From there I travelled to Rogie Falls and saw Salmon swimming up stream in a magical setting.

My next stop was Balblair distillery to obtain a thank you present for someone. Not a drop passed my lips which can only be described as torture.

At the start I spoke about the transformation and the day ended with accommodation that feels like it is not on the mainland. It is remote with views to the sea from 3 sides and it all feels a bit odd here. Not normal whatever normal is. If there are no further updates from me come and recover my steed I don't want her getting lonely.

PS there is no bath so I have got a feeling that grumpy will turn up early tomorrow because he seems to be arriving earlier everyday and leaving later. I think he might also have a friend with him the way I feel tonight.

5) Leg 4

Keiss to Lochinver via John o Groats and Dunnet Head and Stoer light house. Mileage 191

Well Grumpy didn't arrive tihis morning which is good news, the bad news is he did a night shift and has not finished work. I will definitely have to drug him up with some paracetamol today to quieten him down.

The accommodation while a little strange was brilliant. It was more like stopping at someone's house. They gave me a lift to the pub. There was non of those fancy little soaps and shampoos. Just a big bottle from Tesco of each. Loved it.

The day started with a beautiful looking morning with the sun out but it was blowing a hooley.

My first stop was John O Groats I was a little latter that usual because Marie wanted a lie in so it was an 8.30 breakfast. Well it is Sunday.

I gatecrashed a coach trip and got them to take a photo and rode off into the sun. That's right it was still sunny.

Next stop was Dunnet Head the mainlands most northerly point. It was still blowing a hooley and I found that my large screen to help keep the wind off works as a brilliant sail when the gale is blowing from behind. Combined with the pot holes and the 2 rocks and knicker elastic for suspension the steed tried to buck me off on numerous occasions. However, I was determined not to break the bottle of whisky

I then headed From East to West and all I can say is wow. I was blown away. The photos really do no justice to how it looks. Sections with almost moon like terrain but with green shooting through to stunning beaches and lochs. Not to forget the sheep and cattle I had strolling across the road. I tried not to hit them as my understanding is motorcycles have an allergy to them.

I then arrived at Stoer light house which was a bit of a hidden gem. You can park there for free and there are walks. There were plenty of people having picnics.

I forgot to mention because the scenery blew me away. No it was not just the wind. Grumpy turned up after about 4 hours rest. He must have got Sneezy involved in the steroids and gym. I knew it was Sneezy because when he sneezed he hit me with the pick axe causing a shooting pain.

Leg 5

Stoer to Lock Alsh via Poolewe and gairloch 174 miles

Today started well, clear not sunny but fine. I thought Grumpy had been busy for a few days so would have a rest.

The first part of the journey was a single track road with passing places. The road went on for about 15 miles with huge climbs and decents on a broken tarmac surface with constant hairpin bends. In addition the cattle and sheep gladly strolled around in the middle of the road. I was so pleased to see the A road sign for my next section.

Unfortunately that challenging road had been an invitation for Grumpy to arrive

As I travelled the next part I stumbled across National trust place which had hot drinks. Result. I stopped and found it to be a lot more. It showed what glacial meltwater and ice did many years ago.

While I was looking at this amazing sight Scotland realised I was on the way home and started sobbing. I mean really sobbing. The remainder of the journey didn't offer many photo opportunities as visibility was down to around 20 feet in the hill clouds with driving rain. I did reach my 1000 mile point and took a photo when safe. I decided grumpy had to be put to sleep again so gave him the drug know in the fairy tale land as par ecet omal. That I thought was the end of that.

That was what I thought wrongly. I stopped for one of my regular fuel stops and found there must be an 8th dwarf called Sneaky because the thumb on my right hand no longer operated. I had to take the keys out of the ignition with my left hand and open the fuel cap with my left hand. The real problem came when I went into pay and my wallet was in my right hand zipped pocket. I am not saying it caused some amusement in the fuel station but the cashier said he was going to put the cctv on you tube.

When I eventually arrived at my stop for the night I tried to charge my water proof phone. It shouted to remove the charger as there was too much moisture in the charging port.

What a day made well by good food, a good beer and a good whisky while my very warm room with the heating turned up now tries to dry my gear for tomorrow. I really don't want to slide on wet clothes.

Leg 6

Sorry about the delay posting due to thumb issues.

It was another ride in the rain today with my trip taking me from Kyle of Loch Alsh to Largs. A distance of 207 miles.

My clothes in the main had dried the only thing that hadn't was my gloves.

No fairies had turned up in the night to repair my thumb so typing this left handed is just a little awkward to say the least. I would describe my thumb as MIA.

I expected today's update to be short given my limited thumb movements. Apologies for the lack of photos but holding the phone to take a picture was challenging.

The views from the hotel were beautiful as I sat and had my breakfast. I ate plenty of seafood on my trip and all of it was gorgeous. It was smoked salmon this morning

The rain today was not as bad. It started and stopped but was rarely like Yesterday when it felt like buckets of water being poured over my head. It was that bad that my digital display was just about unreadable and my motorcycle satnav changed from screen to screen thinking anything with that much weight on the it must be a finger.

As I travelled South today through such places as Fort William the spectacular scenery started to fade and the roads lost their back destroying pot holes. My arrival at the sea front at Largs felt very much like being in Southsea in Portsmouth where I had lived for a few years. It felt as if the journey is starting to approach the end. Which it is for Scotland.

I reached my hotel which was done in a 1970s theme. Not intentionally you understand. With a citrus yellow bathroom suite, stained anaglypta wallpaper and a fan heater for warmth. I felt I was living the dream.

With the lack of a thumb to use I should have known better than trying to make a hot drink. I managed to drop the kettle causing the hot water to land on my hand. My already cold and wet hand spent the next 20mins under the tap getting wetter and colder before I dob dib dipped ( I wasnt in the Scouts)and applied burn gel from my first aid kit which I was very impressed with.

A hot meal a nice beer and a bed were all that I needed to make life better. Tomorrow would be a new chapter.

Leg 7

Largs to Gatehouse of Fleet via Stranraer. 125 miles.

After last nights events the hand was sore this morning but it could have been far worse. On the plus side the incident seemed to have scared my thumb into working and it was at about 70% of being fully operational.

The well known Scottish song and dance that had been performed with two good friends the previous mornings was not needed this morning. In case you are wondering it is a little gig called 'I Kenneth e getteth Mike it en' ( Translation. I can't get my kit on)

On top of that exciting news the fact that I had driven for some miles on roads with no pot holes and broken tarmac meant Grumpy had left the building. There was nothing pretty about him and he wont be missed. He shouted something about the pot calling the kettle black as he left. On the note of pot holes I am sure many cattle have been lost in those pot holes and are strolling around in them never to be seen again.

I left my luxury establishment with the host looking at me with the same suspicion as when I arrived. I felt as welcome as flatulence in a lift. However, the sunshine was shining as I headed for what was a short day which was quite a relief. The rain came and went as I followed the coast road south towards Stranraer and Scotland regularly reminded me what I was leaving behind both in scenery and in weather.

I arrived at Gatehouse of Fleet and inspected the well travelled bottle of whisky to see it had survived which it had. That tubular bandage had offered useful support just not for my elbow.

My hosts Tony and Hester Parker did a grand job of putting me up again. A lovely home cooked meal made a pleasant change. The good whisky was sampled with the only thing it should be drunk with. Good company.

While sipping the whisky I mentioned to Tony that the video I had put on with the salmon jumping upstream infact didn't show any salmon jumping up stream at all. I just had a vision of people watching it a few times and zooming in trying to spot them, which in my strange way I found amusing. Sorry to you if you were one of those along with Tony Parker who's face was a picture 😂 I just can't help myself sometimes.

Tomorrow is the homebound leg and back into England.

Leg 8. The final leg. 267 miles

As I left Gatehouse of Fleet the sun was shining. Today promised little more than a long motorway drive. I thought I would not take any photos because I didn't want to put Scotland to shame with a lovely motorway services photo.

I was so pleased to arrive home. I got my helmet off and the dogs and Alvean were waiting for me. I got an excited wet kiss with a tongue up my face and then the dogs said hello. Sorry Alvean I couldn't resist it. The end of the trip had arrived and the challenge met with a distance of 1665 miles covered in 8 days.

As I got off the bike I got cramp in my leg and did another funny walk as I had done a number of times previously over the last 8 days.

Today the day after my return normality started to return as I walked the dogs. The right hand is operating at around 80% including my thumb which makes life so much easier. I had to pop to the opticians as I had dropped my glasses and stood on them one evening as I was getting off the bike and lost another pair. I think given the state of me physically when I arrived some evenings that was not a bad result. The steed had served me well

So what have I learned.

Scotland has stunning scenery and sure knows how to do bridges and narrow roads with passing places.

The midges are not that bad. A liberal dose of Smidgy and a mosquito head net worked a treat. People look at you enviously who don't have one rather than laughing which is what I expected.

Some of the villages I stayed in had characters that could have been taken straight out of a comedy sketch. I suppose that comes from their remoteness from main stream life. It was an alternative life style for some that is for sure.

For me it pushed me beyond my comfort zone. If it hadn't it wouldn't have been a challenge. I have a new respect for social media seeing people's comments and likes was a real lift on those hard wet painfull days. For me no matter what my personal challenge is be it small or big it is about trying to do it. Some times I will succeed and sometimes I won't but I will give it my best. I will embrace what I can do and not dwell on the things I can't.

Finally can I thank everyone of you from the bottom of my heart who have been involved in following me on this challenge and those who have donated. The money raised I know from our personal experience will have a massive impact for those who are at a particularly challenging time in their life.