After finishing on Friday we relaxed on Friday evening. (This is code - meaning we consumed a certain amount of champagne, wine and malt whisky).
As we were finishing breakfast at the hotel on Saturday morning, Walter Baker arrived and Janet and I went with him to see him finish and take some photographs while Andrew and Kate had to go to catch their ferry to the Orkneys. Walter's 79 years old but with mental and physical energy greater than people half his age.
We gave Walter a lift to Inverness and made our way to the airport for the flight home.
People have been asking me what were the best and worst bits? The worst bits were walking beside busy roads such as the A9, or the five miles we walked beside the A38 into Gloucester; the best bits were getting away from roads, and civilisation in general, on paths such as the Pennine Way and the West Highland Way. Other good memories will be of the people we met.
Our preparation, together with a certain amount of luck, ensured we did the journey without too many problems and few injuries other than the blister that was annoying me for the final week. My boots would not have survived much further, though. When I arrived home I realised that I have less than 1mm of tread on the heel of my left boot!
It's still a strange feeling to have finished this walk. It's been the main focus of my life for the last 12 months, and slightly longer for Andrew.
So what's next? Who knows? Hopefully there will be other challenges...........
Finally, and not least, we've both had great support from our wives and families. Our thanks go to them, all the people who have donated to our charity, the Prince's Trust, and all who have followed our progress on this blog.
When you told me about your plan in very snowy Val d'Isere, I was in awe of your plan. Now you've finished it I'm even more so. Not that I doubted that you would achieve what you wanted to do. Well done.
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