Day 18

Close Encounter with a Cow...

only got a minute, so instead of telling you about the most refreshing experience on the Isle of Iona (will save that for later) instead I will tell you about the cow.

I was running around the Isle, camera in hand continuing my series of 24mm Scotland when I came across a family of ... yes ... cows. Two calves and one Mum grazing calmly.

I decided to interrupt their meal for a few moments and test out their courage, so I lay down in the muck that was their field (mostly dried) and waited.

As I was snapping away it definately drew their attention and curiosity. Mumma cow was gradually coming closer and closer, ripping out the long grass with such force along the way, trying to look inconspicuous I guess. In the end she had come right up me to within about 30cm of the lens, steaming it up in the process and ate a circle of grass right around my whole body for about ten minutes. Perhaps showing off to the bulls watching from the other side of the fence, or teaching her calves that they are really in control. The sound of a chewing cow is deafening at close range, grunting and puffing away. And for those of you who know the 24mm lens - imagine the images!! Awesome!

today, it is absolutely pissing down with rain. keep walking.

Day 16

Day 16 - Tim on the Isle of Iona

Spectacular place. Ferocious weather. Wonderfully collected people.

Every time I have had a moment of de-motivation, someone has come along and smiled at me. perfection in timing everytime.

Seeking serenity for silence is pointless if you live with a messy mind.

Iona, being the wonderous place it is, I spent my time painting, sweeping and plucking thistles from the farm land. It uplifted me more so than standing on the highest cliff overlooking the widest oceans. Because I knew that it is only my heart that tells me of happiness, not the waves. Don't get me wrong, my appreciation for the beauty that is inside and out is as high as ever. But I have found a new way of observing.

I love this walk. The barter system on which I am living requires me to work, everyday. For meals, shower, internet. everything. Nothing is for free. I am not a charitable cause, and it is absolutely fantastic. I have removed all elemensts of economics from my life and for a brief moment I am removing from the lives of the people who I work for.

In a couple of weeks I will be in Fort william, about 250km away. then i will pump this walk in the media. my aim is to make finding tim a national experience.

If you see me, give me your trash!

I walk the roads, cleaning up the mess left there.

someone has to do it.

tim out

Day 14

Day 14 - Tim in Bunessan

Started off grand!! record time packing up. nice and early. feeling strong. 20 miles ahead of me today. no problems!!

Although....

Those of you who know me, please raise your hand if I, Tim Lock, should not be allowed to own a seriously sharp Leatherman Knife...please note my raised hand.
After getting the knife to sharpen my "weapon of death" it was aptly named (walking stick) to stab my prey (trash), my seconf purpose was unknown, until I pulled out an orange and thought "Aha!! peeling to be done"
There is now a red, bloodied bandage on my left thumb..thank god for my quick reactions and first aid kit, otherwise I would have had a thumb a couple of millimetres shorter than my other. In unicen please "tim..you idiot". I am a walking talking breathing bleeding marketing tool for Leatherman right now. They are aweomse everyone should have one!!

You should see me, bandage on my left thumb and middle finger (wodd gathering - grabbed a thorn bush - slice), both black with ash along with the rest of my hands from fighting with the fire. Covered in scatches - 17 on both hands at the minute three quite deep. Red hair now, and as always caked with mud. In fact looking around, evertything is covered in ash. My camera. My food. My drink. I'm surprised the mini wading hole next to me doesn't have a solid coat.

But, I am sitting in paradise. Waterfall three metres to my right (washing away the ash i suppose), sheltered rocky fireplace, about to munch on a delicately made sandwich (leatherman knife involved) and a hot choco. what else could you want after two days and 25 odd miles on foot. I am just outside of Bunessan I think on the Isle of Mull. About 12 miles or so from Iona.

But I did get a boost of reassurance and confidence from Paul today. Walking along, as I do..and Paul, Debbie and their son Josh were waiting around the corner for, obviously had seen my placard "CLEAN UP SCOTLAND" on my pack. Nice hot bed. Cold beer. Good food. Was the offer on the Isle of Erraid. An almost fully self sufficient organic island 1 mile square same port as Iona. . . . "these times will come Tim. Be strong. Not fuel!!!" I thought to myself. So I contined walking with the buzz that someone actually paid attention to what I was doing of just trying to avoid me or hit me with their death on wheels machine.

tim out.

Quote of the day -


some'in or other..I'll get back to you.

Day 13

it's been a while since my last post..so here it is..

After 4 days sitting at Oban waiting for postage of promotional stuff for my walk to arrive, which never did, and recovering from my 43km..the frustration set in. I was angry, easily rattled and lost touch of perpective. It's amazing how quickly life on the move becomes more than just a routine..it becomes a necessity almost. Having my little river bed fire and cozy tent to sleep in became so beautiful, I missed it. And unfortunately, I took it out on someone I loved.

But as soon as I don'd the new boots and began walking again, it all came back. Calm, collected Sanity.

Crossing the Mull Straight I think it was called by ferry, my next destination was The Island of Iona off the west coast of the Isle of Mull some 37 miles away.

Only could manage six today, lame I know. But I started off weak and it got me..especially when I found a glorious little spot to set up camp just off the winding roads of the Mull.

There is little to no traffic on these parts and I feel I will be passing the same bus drivers a few times over the next few days.

Gary from the servo, gave me directions to a place to camp - "when to road cuts right through the valley....long sweeping....two lochs....track which dips off tto the left...past the cattle grid... I look sheepishly at him as I was aware that once again I had zoned out.

...he repeated...I walked.

obviously I didn't make it to where he said, but follow your insinctis eh, and thats just what I did.

Beautiful spot. And I learned more about myself by watching the fire I lit than I had in the past years I feel. When all you have surrounding you is the simplicity of nature you learn to undertsand it and yourself... (let's make that the quote of the day)

tim out

Day 11

people have suggested to me that this walk is admirable or meritorious.

but simply I am living my life day to day as I wish to.

that is one thing a person should aim for in life . . and i am not alone.

if i deserve credit . . then so do you.

Day 9

These boots were made for walking..and thats just what they'll do..
The scottish roads are not designed..for walkers like me and you..
scariest damn roads you'll walk on!! inches between me and cliffs' both sides, trucks, traffic and tremendous amount of adrenalin!! 22kg on the back makes for slow reactions!

I have begun to be met with criticism, skeptisism, curious-ism...basically all the isms'. Including humour-ism, but then I would laugh at myself too if I saw me walking along steaming - yes steaming! Pants tucked into my red socks. walking stick with a blue rope - untwined - tied on like trassels. dripping wet from the beautiful scottish weather. and a number plate on the back of my pack. Aha!! finally legal on the roads I am!! just going to have to watch my speed now..I'm cruising at a solid 5km an hour and have that speed down pat..

but today, at the end of my 43rd km . . . pphhhh to 25km...the light had faded and I hit the wall like I had never done so before. I was absolutely motoring up until the point I put my pack down for my last break..then I literally could not move a muscle. I was stuck on the side on the road, seriously..stuck. until a motorist pulled up dragged me (nothing dodgy, just wanted to help) into his car, not with my objection though, I was delirious, talking crap and basically a mess..I have never felt so satisfied with an effort..even though I didn't make my goal of 51.8km, almost..not quite..

tim out

quote of the day -

scotsmans who have not left their own country their whole lives are bound to have few teeth. especially when their idea of a good camping trip is lots of drink and drugs....and of course we can't forget the fresh air. but the next comment was - "I can't smoke outside...too much fresh air.." ??!!

Day 7

Apparent rest day... :/

I ended day 6 with a quick skinny dip in Loch Long, much deserved after 12 miles, (sorry to any passing motorists that may have been slightly offended..) Twas a small Loch, I could see the other side, but I was sheltered by overlooking mountains and last glimpses of the sun - awesome! I spent that night camped on a rocky river bend, patiently caring for a small fire started with one match and no paper(getting better), curiously peering into the most mysterious woods I have ever seen. My little enchanted forest. For the age of this collective of pine trees, the old needles had dropped. Lightly forming a carpeted floor motionlessly rippling. So soft to the eye, and under the boot. Yet not so to the bare skinned face and hands. The price you pay for enchantenment.

Massive day yesterday. 16 miles - 25km basically non-stop. Arriving in Inveraray. I needed a break. So I walked in the George Hotel, and bartered a meal for an hour and a half of seriously hard trench digging. That did not help the pain. My Achilles Heels have become my achilles heel, they ache. But as with all pain, it passes with time - keep walking. Time for a therapeutic salt soak..

I spent today labouring away at the George, and great Scottish family pub - 135 years passed through the generations, highly recommended to anyone in the area of the beautiful little town. The back wrenchin cement mixin, diggin and labour has left me covered in a new mess. Now I need to barter for some new socks. So tomorrow will be my rest day - to the streets! for I have some money to raise.

To all the support texts - thankyou so very much, but I am out of range, and dont know when I will be back in so am contemplating bartering for a new mobile account...sketchy...we'll see. And to the Brodie's crew - You all ROCK and I will never forget the times we all had there!!

Tim out.

Quote of the day - (well..not really a quote more an observation..
Scottish people are more interested in supplying beer than food, hence their jolly nature - a history of unsanitary water leaves people with little options - beer it is!

Day 4

Fire Crackling. What a beautiful sound. A sign of self sufficiency. I sit here on this river bed, waiting for my water to boil, in the pot donated to me by Lucy of the Ben Lomond Cottage, so I can enjoy a nice hot cup o' tea. Slow moving stream to my left, Loch Lomond to my right, birds above. That was my morning.

By the afternoon, I had left the side of Loch Lomond and the West Highland Way. I caught a ferry over the other side of the Loch, for the only people I was seeing were other walkers, and when I explained what I was doing, a response was, 'well we're walking too....so what.'

So now I am on the road, heading to Oban, through the valleys that these roads follow, but, have lost my map..so whether I get there or not is up to a stroke of luck and the help of passer by-ers. So now my map has become an object of ignorance and neglect by me, lying there on the side of the road - somewhere..

There is a new goal - keep you're eyes on this sight for updates.

Environmental Conservation through Global Education. My walk had been extended.

tim out


Quote of the day -

Solitary confinement in a vast expanse of equal matter.
No wonder the brain feels trapped and alone when it surrounded by its own ego.

or on a lighter side - when trying to a explain to a 62 year old lady the internet, who has never used a computer before, be wary of telling her to grab the mouse next to the keyboard . . . unless you are willing to catch an airborne elderly

Special thanks to -


-Mr and Mrs Jenny Taggart - for taking two garbage bags of bottles and cans of my load.
-Fred Cartmel - giving me the confidence in the Scottish people through his kind words.
-Gary for the coffee, and David Cooper for the meal from Rowardennen Hotel.
-Jenny for walking with me and helping with the back wrenching rubbish collection.
-Chris Clark manager, owner, proprietor of the The George Hotel - Inveraray...fantastic pub, fabulous people - awesome food..for the meal and the work that will keep me going! Thankyou!
-Nicky & Kylie - Oban Backpackers for putting me in a bed in my delirium.
-David Bleazard - Outside Edge, Oban for their expert advice in fitting me with some new and essential footwear!!

Day 3

If someone in a singlet, pants tucked into their unpaired socks, covered in mud and possibly a touch smelly (I couldn't tell) walked into your pub and asked for a meal in exchange for a couple hours work in the garden or what not, what wouold your reaction be...?
"My God...what drug is this guy on? better call the police..." was the face I got in response. I did manage to get a black garbage bag for some litter picking though, not without the old - "go wait in the hall while I get you one" . . she thought I was absolutely nuts..

The next place I went into I got a coffee (sorry - cappuccino) a good conversation and a meal 7 miles down the road..and after not eating for two days, what a meal it was!!

So after three days I have walked 42km, not quite the 25 per day I was hoping for, but, a new element has entered this stroll, which seems to be creating more attention, and affection ;), I have filled up four garbage bags with trash in the past three days, which is dramatically slowing down my progress, and destroying my energy levels. So . . . 5000km . . . . ??? main thing is -

I am travelling my way, seeing more than I ever would have hoped to before, meeting some incredible people and am completely removing any element of pollution from the air and litter from the ground - my environmental conservation action in an attempt to raise funds and awareness for Frontiers' environmental conservation action!!

Every piece of trash on the ground, be it large or small, is a moment of ignorance and neglect by the person who threw it. Each one is as important as the next.

tim out

Quote of the day -

The most precious times in life
are those when time itself means nothing at all.

Day 1

Leaving Edinburgh

The rain is falling and the morning fog is settled over Edinburgh.
It's cold and I feel like crap . . . but I wouldn't want it any other way..
6:50 am and a perfect day to start.

Time to walk on...

A bus (first and last in Scotland for a long while) to Milngavie, then my feet beyond that..

Who says you need a car?

tim out