Just had a letter and sd card from Roy. Here's an extract from the letter:
"Rain, rain, rain! The trouble with showers in bonnie Scotland is that they last such a long time - like measured in days! And the trouble with too much rain is the creeping damp you get in the tent. The major concern is keeping the sleeping gear dry. If this gets wet, then - no sleep. No sleep - ultimately leads to failure. And so I go to great lengths to limit "cross contamination" between wet things and dry.

Today I took the chance to wash a few things through. Got away with most things except my cotton shorts, underpants, walking trousers and silk liner for the sleeping bag. Wore my underpants on my head for a while to use body head to dry them, and wrapped my sleeping bag liner round my body. Soggy boots are still causing a problem but now I've got the waterproof socks, maybe they will help."

Back to Helen. I think these two photos are taken from the ferry to (or from)Arran, and on the top of Goat Fell on Arran.

Roy seems determined to cheer himself up by showing us that it doesn't rain ALL the time, and by wearing his silly hat at every opportunity.

He's looking forward to getting up in the "big hills" near Fort William, then it's the final leg from Fort William to Cape Wrath. He's getting a bit homesick, but hopefully now I've sent him the waterproof socks, they will give him a boost! Helen

Hi folks
I've just received an sd card from Roy, but as usual, no clues as to where any of the photos are, so we'll just have to guess.
He has gone west at speed, mainly because there's not much point hanging about in the rain! His boots are causing concern because of the problems of being permanently wet, leading to an increased danger of blisters. Also, occasionally a campsite owner or farmer's wife has taken the boots away to dry, but is suspected of drying them too fast, leading to cracking etc. Roy suspects that they are actually leaking now, but doesn't want to buy new ones this trip. He's talked to a cyclist who has recommended "sealskinz" socks which claim to be completely waterproof. I've ordered a pair for Roy to try, so he may end up being the only person to attempt the Scottish Highlands in leaky boots but waterproof socks! On the bright side, he is very pleased with his tent.

He insists that I show you that when he can buy fresh food (eg broccoli) he eats very well, even if it does all have to be cooked and eaten from one pan!

Roy came across this post, and explanation, along his Southern Upland Way route.

Roy's route has taken him through Jedburgh (maybe this is Jedburgh Castle??), Traquair, Tibbie Shiels (highest inn in Scotland), Beattock, Brattleburn (good bothy), Wanlockhead (youth hostel)and Sanquhar. With his love of trees, he obviously thought this one was worth a photo.

From Sanquhar, there was a bit of a change of plan. The Southern Upland Way (and Roy's planned route) heads south, then west then north in three sides of a square. Roy, after several days of continuous rain, decided he wasn't keen on this plan, so asked me to look for a route straight across. Well, the only possibility was forty miles of wriggley forestry tracks - not a good idea. The only possibility, that is, except for a short bus ride. So, in the interests of expediency, the bus won. After five or six weeks delay for medical reasons in Macclesfield, Roy was anxious to get up into the Scottish Highlands ASAP rather than get "bogged down" in the border regions. So, he is now on Arran. Having climbed Goat Fell, he will spend tonight with friends Joe and Linda who live on Arran and will hopefully let him have a shower and wash his socks. Then tomorrow he sets off on the ferry from Lochranza to Kintyre.

Roy has reached the end of the Pennine Way and "turned left" to head west along the border country. These photos are from when I went up to visit him near Hadrian's Wall (B and b of course - I've not braved the tent yet). We stayed in a farmhouse with a pheasant in the garden and house martins in a nest just outside the bedroom window. Met two Roman soldiers on Hadrian's Wall. He's since sent me a page to type up (below).

"Well troops, it turned out that getting going again was every bit as hard on the old heart strings as I knew it would be and the long medical saga made it even worse. Still, here I am with one standard and one long day (27 miles) to the end of the Pennine Way.

Have just renewed my insoles, so I'll be watching for blisters like a hawk! I had to change them sooner rather than later - the old ones were disintegrating and Helen said they smelled! As if!

I have made some adjustments to my food and water carrying arrangements which I hope will speed things along a bit. The food side will make breaking camp simpler and quicker, while the water arrangements mean I can drink on the move without stopping to take off the rucksack. (OK OK, stop yawning at the back).

Highlights so far? Hawes is a beaut little town, Tan Hill pub is a "must return", and generally, the good local beers along the way have been excellent - no need to force down the mass produced chemical cobblers from the big names. Low lights? Too much damp for too long will test the spirits of anyone - but then it's so good to get the chance to dry out.

So my advice to everyone out there is - never miss a chance to get in the dry, and keep off chemical beer. All for now, Roy"

It's Helen again now. After writing that, Roy did get to the end of the PW, but with an exciting 27 mile final day. The last leg is the hardest because it is the most remote - no habitation at all until Kirk Yetholm. He did it on 1 July, which was the hottest day of the year so far, and he had run out of water by the time he got there! A lesson to be learnt I think. Needless to say, he had two days in KY to recover but he's speeding west now. H