kidmapper

Farewell to the hills. Hello Rob Roy.

I’m afraid I displayed my ignorance today. Luckily the only person who had to experience this first hand was my wife Freya – and she should be used to it by now.

Here we are at the point that David and Alan have to come off the hills, and they knock on the door of the first house they come to. And lo and behold, marked on the map as the first house *we* come to is ‘the site of Rob Roy’s house’. But who the hell is Rob Roy, anyway, huh?

Thus, Stevenson has yet again used his geographical and historical knowledge to rope in another chunk of Scottish lore.

Like the true post modernist dumb-ass I am, I'm afraid the one and only useless factoid held in my head is that Liam Neeson played Rob Roy in the movie. (And Michael Caine played Alan in ‘Kidnapped’ btw – *very badly*). Can anyone out there enlighten me properly about Rob Roy, please?

I have plenty time for reading by the way if you want to recommend a good read. Denise has talked to me about Huckleberry Finn as another great book about journeying and growing up (and published only two years before 'Kidnapped'). Perhaps this is another great classic that we should think about taking for a walk?

NOTE: ABOUT THE 4th & FINAL STAGE OF THE TRAIL

There’s three weeks now of rest and Rob Royishness in the book (the whole of Chapter 25). Only on 20th August do we move on (although in his bed-headed doziness David thinks it to be 21st August – but that’s a tale in itself which I hope we'll discuss next month).

Thanks to all who have travelled along with me this far, either out in the landscape or online. There’s now plenty of time for you to prepare for the final section.

We end in Queensferry on 24th August, and would love to celebrate the end of the journey and the book with as many people as possible with a few drinks in Edinburgh that day or on 25th August if you like.

Rumour has it, there are *at least* two people turning up to join me. And there seems to be some enthusiasm for doing this bit on bikes.

In terms of tackling the major roads (and crossing a motorway) this makes sense, but where does this leave Surrey’s ideas about memory? Does his theory about trees graffiti-ing you hold water when you travel on a bike rather than just walking?

READING IN THE WILD 17: 'what I thought I liked about ye was that ye never quarrelled'

Third Guest Reader: Freya Newbery

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Lunacy, lunar landings and a confusion of Armstrongs

What a pair of troopers are Freya and Ingrid, battling up Glen Lochay against the elements, wading across streams, marching up steep hills, facing out the wind. 

It doesn’t surprise me at all to find comments on the blog referring to journeys and physical challenges currently in the news that mirror precisely what we’re doing here in terms of following a prescribed route, using manuals, never stopping despite what is thrown at us and unspooling a compelling narrative for others to enjoy and emulate.

Yes, I’m talking about the moon landing of 40 years ago involving Armstrong *N* and the Tour de France involving Armstong *L*. If only an Armstong had won the Open also, we would have had a triumvirate of parallel events. Are there any others we haven’t thought of yet?

I was just so pleased that I had my space suit with me on this special anniversary day. If I’d had a bike as well, all bases could have been covered.

As has become usual on the Trail, the book is turning out to be eerily accurate about the possible route for Alan & David. It is perfectly possible to travel almost due south from one glen to another tackling big hills and fording the valley streams.

Each glen has its own special character. The one constant is the wind. Apologies for the sound quality in recent videos and podcasts. Any advice, Jo?

READING IN THE WILD 16: 'I do very well, I thank you'

Let's hear it for our second guest reader: Ingrid Wright.

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We are now five! Will you be next?

With the arrival of Freya, Ingrid, Bern there is now proof (if proof were needed) that the Kidnapped Trail welcomes people of all ages, gender and species.

The weather changes from heavy showers to bright sunshine and back again every few minutes, thanks to the wind that blows down the valley in healthy gusts.

Unlike David in the book, none of our crew are dispirited, sulky or beaten down by the weather. Indeed, there’s a healthy gung-ho spirit that puts some of my mutterings & moanings of previous days to shame. 

We are tackling the head of a different glen each day: Lyon today, Lochay tomorrow, Dochart on Tuesday leading on to a house at the western end of Bulquhidder, where I get to spend three weeks in bed, recovering from what I am beginning to suspect might be Lyme Disease.

Ok, so I’m not going to re-enact David’s plight exactly, although I am a bit anxious that all those insect bites back in Ballaculish may come back to haunt me. Any doctors out there want to tell us about the symptoms I should be looking out for?

And if you’re reading the book (and if not, why not?) perhaps you medical types could let us know what David is suffering from when he finally comes off these hills on Wednesday.

READING IN THE WILD 15: during these horrid wanderings we had no familiarity

Sincere apologies for the quality of the sound in this reading. The wind whistles down these valleys at a fair lick. And I came unprepared in terms of decent microphone technology.

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