Contact — Penelope Janu

Setting the scene:

After a 21km walk today, we have arrived at a lovely B & B known as Clifton Cottage. Our room is small in size but our charming host, Carmen, has crammed everything one could possibly want into it (including four chests of drawers, three side tables, a wardrobe, a fridge, soft drinks, six chocolate bars, two wagon wheels and a coffee machine). Unfortunately there isn’t quite enough room for our cases (which are delivered to our room by a luggage company, so we only have to carry day packs).

The walking was easier today than yesterday (or maybe that was simply because my leg was, while slightly unreliable, more operational - thank you, Voltarin). We walked along ex military paths (some dating back to Roman times), through forests, farms and pine plantations.

The good:

Pine plantations are a common sight in the Scottish countryside, but in the past twenty years or so, there has been a push to plant many more native trees (that aren’t going to be harvested!), particularly on routes such as the Highland Way. Birches, oaks, elms and many other species are now a much more common part of the landscape than they were, which is so crucial for diversity in not only tree life, but wildlife generally. Mr Darcy took quite a few photos of big black slugs today (I am not sure why) but they are certainly thriving!

The bad:

Just like midge denial, many guide books seem to minimise the distances walked each day. Today, for example, was supposed to be on an 18km walk, but it was definitely 21km. Sometimes the difference is attributable to elements like travelling to our accomodation, or a slight detour, but more often than not, the distances are simply longer than flagged (and this is often made clear by local signposts).

Not that we actually need local sign posts, or guide books, according to Mr Darcy. He has a Garman that records distance (accurate due to a satellite I am assured), together with his heart rate, average travelled per hour, and elevations and destinations and (likely) hallucinations. Me and my watch are less accurate, but not by much: as we walk approximately 4km an hour, for an eight hour day, with lunch and a tea break taken out, we will walk twenty-eight km. I think this works quite well, but it doesn’t show my heart rate…

The I didn’t expect that:

So… My dear boots are seven years old, and have taken me on many day and weekend trips in our Australian national parks, but also from the west to the east coast of England (320km) and around Mt Blanc (240km). But today…

The sole of one of my boots came away! And then, within an hour, the sole of my other boot came away! Is the glue only made for a limited number of kilometres which, clearly, both boots have completed?

Blake Sinclair’s grandfather’s house

I am constantly daydreaming and… today I saw Blake Sinclair (the character from my 2024 novel) grandfather’s house. The book is set in Australia, but the house and the important role Blake’s grandfather played in his life is crucial - so I am delighted that now I have a visual representation of the cottage. The location and situation and lighting and everything else was perfect! And here it is!