With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

Over the coming days and weeks, you'll have several ways to get into 'Kidnapped', exploring the world it describes and thinking about why this book is so darn good and still relevant to our world today. So here is the story for the 28th-29th June:

as a podcast: (as soon as I can work out how to do it properly you'll be able to subscribe to future podcasts in the far right column of the blog. Bear with me. It's kinda hard walking, recording & site building all at the same time.)

the full text online: (which I've put on a wiki so you you can edit and annotate it as much as you like; indeed, I'd *encourage* you to mess about so we can perhaps end the trip with our own "mashed-up" book.)

as a video: (which is currently being a bugger to upload so will appear soon I promise). I hope to make these vids downloadable for ipod users soon too. Again, bear with me...

It's here!:

Every day I'll read out the section of the book (abridged) in the location being described in that section. Today I'm on Earraid using Chapter 14 as my guide.

Because Stevenson has noted in the book that David gets to Queensferry on 24th August, it's quite simple to work back through the story day by day and conclude that the journey from Earraid must have started on 30th June, and that the shipwreck occurred on the night of the 26th June.

Actually I think my maths is better than Stevenson's since he appears to have lost a day somewhere along the way. Perhaps you can spot where this happens...

Comments

[Sarah]

Amazing that you did this! 'Kidnapped' was the most significant and exciting book from my childhood.... it's such an old friend I still keep reading it.
Have just found your site so I am looking forward to your journey. Great idea - something I would have loved to do also, but alas, older and live in Australia now!
Best of Luck in all you do,
Sarah

[timw]

Thanks Sarah! The latter parts of the journey aren't too strenuous for us oldies! Check out the maps and never rule out getting out there.

best wishes

timw