Puerile Contests

Day 1: Bishopbriggs to Dumbarton

Distance: 18.4 miles

Time: 8 hours 6 minutes

Tomorrow: Dumbarton to Garelochead (est 18 miles)

One of the really special things about this pilgrimage is that James is walking with us. It's just been such a delight to be walking with both my boys. However, concessions have had to be made to help keep James onside; specifically, we've stopped for something to eat in actual eateries not once but TWICE. Luncheon was taken at a retail park on the outskirts of Glasgow; the boys feasted at KFC and I sat on my own in a Burger King. Later in the afternoon we came across a lovely coffee shop by the canal at Bowling, and James and Barnaby devoured Rocky Roads the calorific value of which I really don't want to speculate on. Those Rocky Roads were the only rocky roads we saw all day, and I'm going to pass over to Barnaby to tell you more about today's walking.

Our day started with Aunty Maureen's loving hospitality which gave us a perfect start to our walk. This walk is a pilgrimage between two places that were a significant part of my Granny's childhood and we realised this was the right time to bring her hame. Most of the day was steady flat path along the Forth and Clyde Canal (which does make it quite a boring walk to talk about). 

Reluctantly, I disagree with my fellow pilgrim, I didn't find today boring at all and it was my two companions who made it so much fun. One of my absolute highlights was when Barnaby tried to introduce his big brother to Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'; he listened for about a minute and then exclaimed, "What! There's another nine minutes of this?" We also spent quite a lot of our time playing really juvenile word games which invariably descended into a lot of kn*b jokes; with regret I have to confess that I was definitely the best at this vulgar, puerile contest. Sorry Mum.

The highlight of today was definitely having James with us as he has never joined us on a walk further than the front door. His presence was enough even though he was listening to music 90% of the time... Nevertheless, it was nice to have him there walking with us even though he still isn't fully on board with the whole thing. He was the one who encouraged the outrageous outcome of stopping TWICE on this walk. (although I did enjoy the KFC...)

James writes:  I very much enjoyed this absolutely fabulous opportunity to venture out with my fellow peers. Whilst I was, at first, daunted by the many miles I had to walk at the start of this pilgrimage my spirits greatly improved further on in the day. One of the things that slightly miffed me on the walk was my kin, Bartholemew's hair, which greatly resembled a jutting out edge of a cliff; in addition to that he put bountiful amounts of hair product on his hair [THE REST OF THIS SENTENCE HAS BEEN CENSORED BY BARNABY] [OUR ABILITY TO TELL YOU THAT THE REST OF THIS SENTENCE HAS BEEN CENSORED BY BARNABY HAS ALSO BEEN CENSORED BY BARNABY]. [BARNABY HAS NOW ALSO CENSORED OUR ABILITY TO TELL YOU THAT HE CENSORED THE CENSORED SENTENCE.] This will be all.

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When I made my pilgrimage in February my backpack weighed 27 pounds. My pack for this walk is 35 pounds, and it's Mum's ashes which make the difference. We have shared her out, but I'm still carrying most of her. On Saturday afternoon we poured some of her ashes into two Mountain Warehouse flasks, so that the boys can both be sharing in taking Granny hame. Quite how she's added so much weight is a mystery to me, because there was nothing of her. At times today I've definitely felt the difference of carrying the extra weight and my shoulders really hurt tonight. I remind myself that she carried me so far, her love and example carried me to today, and sore shoulders are a small act of thanksgiving really. I'm in Scotland, I'm hiking, and I'm with both my boys, I couldn't be happier. A huge part of that happiness, a huge part of the Dad I am, is the Mum she was.