The next day I set off from my Nan‘s house to John O’groats. A trip that had been unknowingly in the works for years.
Our close friend, Ann drove my Nan and I to the airport in the early morning with my 17kg bag - packed inside was my home for the next 3 months.
I tried to sleep but by 2am my stomache was in a tight knot and I was head over heels chucking my lunch in to the toilet. Trying to be as quiet as possible for fear of making a fuss and I got myself back in bed hoping that was everything.
But it wasn’t. I had managed to keep it underwraps and quiet enough that my Nan and Ann didn’t realise till we were in the car and on the motor way - I sqwarted from the back seat for the car to be pulled over. It’s funny how things work out, because I know no one other than Ann that would be able to very calmly respond “Sick bags are in the door on your left”. Yikes. That was close.
The pretence of being okay continued onto the flight, telling the flight assistant that I just scared of flying. I had little energy and became a bit delirious. My bag became unbarebly heavy. After reaching inverness I had to walk about 200meters to Blacks to get gas canisters for my stove, I felt so stupid that I’d never thought to check how much it would weigh and if I could handle it. The bloody thing reached the weight of a sack of concrete at some points! This was according to the men in pubs that would snigger at me on entry and whom I'd challenge to lift my bag and if they found that too easy the request of a push up with the weight followed. This pleased me as many of them found it difficult and in return I gained some form of respect from them.
Typical me though, I just wanted to lay down and deal with everything later, so that’s what I did. When I eventually arrived in John O’groates I fumbled about and instead of pitching up my tent I rented a room. Flat out with the most heinous dreams.
These dreams continued throughout the walk. Every night another vivd extreme circumstance followed me into my sleep.
tbc
NOTE: The Meme below was sent to me by a friend of a friend, who I was in contact with for advise. He didn't know what I was going through but couldn't of sent something more encouraging.
