Day 110 of the End to End in 2019 made use of several stations on the Far North Line. This meant we could both walk together all day. We began at Helmsdale station and took the train to Kildonan, the end of yesterday’s walk. We were walking to the next station which is Kinbrace.
Although it is along a road all of the way it is a fairly quiet route and presented no problems. The Far North is the place of myths and legends and not a few disputes about how far north it really is. As it was there were still another 8 days walking to go until John O’Groats.
The landscape is full of signs of human activity dating back many generations: hut circles and brochs are common , as are sheepfolds but here and there an occasional burnt mound tells you that even our stone age forebears threw stuff away.
Kinbrace is another small gathering place which boasts a timber yard and a station, as well as a tiny tin chapel, erected in 1925. This has recently been restored into a community centre and through the kindness of a local resident I was able to visit. She had the key in her kitchen drawer.
As we get nearer the End we meet more Lejoggers. Helmsdale Hostel, our current resting place was full of them, and we exchanged End to Enders Tales with several, some going south, others going north like us. The merits of the JOGT were put to the test, especially as one traveller had made an almost crucial mistake at Golspie and camped below the tide line. He was soaked but otherwise unharmed when the tide came in.
From the remembered bible, psalm 91: Whoever lives with God, shelters in a holy place.
Holy One, you warm us with the intensity of your love,
you soak us with the abundant generosity of your company.
For the tough days and the challenging ways,
I am thankful for your presence:
may it be real now for those who struggle today.
JAL: 05.08.2020 in Longdendale.