This morning’s cycle started off through some pleasant woodland paths for the first 10 miles up to Carrbridge. I was struck by how peaceful this was with the birds chirping and singing. What followed was good surface cycle paths running parallel to the busy A9 road. The weather was perfect with a slight tail wind, cloudy with 17 degrees temperature.
I thought a lot about Jess today. Partly because I was meeting her Granny and Auntie, who both live in Inverness.
But I also reflected on my LE2JOG trip and wanted to highlight one of the reasons WHY I am doing this.
Yes I want to raise some valuable monies for the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund, Above all, I wanted to give my account of how special she was to all of her family and do my little bit to keep Jess’ memory alive.
I think back to how excited and how much fun Jess had on Christmas Day 2017. She enjoyed dancing and singing Karaoke and we all laughed at those family member’s efforts, who it’s clear are frankly tone deaf and have no rhythmic timing. She loved playing the ‘After Eight’ game where you have to plant the dark mint chocolate square on your forehead and, without using your hands, you have to rely on deft facial movements, an awareness of balance and gravity to navigate the chocolate down your cheek or nose to your mouth, without letting it drop on the floor. Jess would laugh as the chocolate would melt all over one’s face or the facial contortions at the effort to move the chocolate looked like some poor sod having a stroke.
We had a brilliant day with friends on New Year’s Day, a week later. Jess was really enjoying the day and later on was singing at the piano with her Dad. I excused myself and left early as I had to go into work on 2 January to prepare for a new member of staff who was joining my business the next day.
I had only been in work a short while when my son called me and said I had to come home straight away because “there’s something wrong with Jess”. What followed that day and the subsequent days was the worst experience of my (and my immediate family’s) life. But this paled into insignificance what it did to Michael, Jacqueline and Jess’s twin sister Lauren.
Jess was a talented and caring girl who loved her family.
I remember she brought me a delicious Victoria Sponge. When I asked her how she went about making this masterpiece, she replied very modestly and quite amusingly “You just follow the recipe”.
I remember taking Jess and Lauren to piano lessons and you could tell from an early age she had a passion for music.
But it was as a singer in the local churches and the National Youth Choir of Scotland where her real passion and talent lay.
Jess was a caring and compassionate girl who always sought to help others. At only 14 she had a sense of how music could help people when they were in need.
I am so proud of the dignified way in which Michael, Jacqueline and Lauren have conducted themselves and the fitting memorial fund they established in Jess’ honour has been inspiring. The local community rallied round to support the family’s fundraising efforts in many varied activities and events in Jess’ memory.
So my 2 x week fundraising cycle challenge is my little bit to highlight the importance of remembering Jess.
Today’s approach to Inverness was fantastic because there was essentially 10 miles of free-wheeling from 405 meters above seas level descending to the Moray Firth whilst enjoying the fabulous scenery.
I had arranged to meet Jess’ Granny (Nancy) and Auntie (Linda) in Inverness. It was lovely to catch up with them. Nancy was concerned about me having enough provisions and Linda was concerned that I should have some Deep Heat to combat my sore calf muscle – all for my onward journey which is going to experience significant periods without services or provisions due to its remote location the further north I go. Thank you Ladies!
I had also arrange to meet up with Stewart, an old school friend, who moved to Inverness with his wife Alison over 20 years ago. We had arranged to meet for lunch at the Corriegarth pub for lunch.
As my sat-nav directed me to this establishment, I got off my bike, said we had a reservation for lunch and my friend had checked in advance it was OK to store my bicycle whilst we ate lunch. The helpful barmaid showed me downstairs to the cellar where she locked my bike. As we returned to the bar she couldn’t find our reservation. That’s because I had walked into the next door pub The Heathmount, not the Corriegarth. Doh!
I really enjoyed meeting and catching up with Stewart and reminiscing about the times we played together in our school band and how we were pipped at the post in the national Rockschool competition.
Stewart insisted and generously paid for lunch and he was very thoughtful in giving me a couple of bottles of Lucozade. What a top bloke. Thanks mate!
I set off for my Day 12 destination of Evanton, crossing the Kessock bridge and enjoying the view of Inverness and the Moray Firth before leaving the city behind me for the rolling hills and the northern towns of Tore and Dingwall.
I hope I did Jess proud today and she would have liked me visiting her Granny and Auntie. Although, I suspect she would have thought how stupid and completely unnecessary my exertions have been. She would probably say something like “Could you not do something easier?”
As I make my final push to the finish line of John O’ Groats (hopefully on Thursday) I would ask if you are reading my blog, please consider helping with the final push in our fundraising efforts. I would like to thank all those who have already pledges funds. I REALLY appreciate it.
I made it to the Kilthearn Guesthouse on the outskirts of Evanton by 7pm. Tomorrow’s penultimate stage is a big 85 miles due to the scarcity of accommodation around Tongue. So I’m having to cycle beyond me planned destination. I’m hoping to get away early and stock up on 2 days of supplies.
Today’s trivial facts
NO. OF MILES CYCLED TODAY : 62
MOMENT OF THE DAY: Spending time with Nancy, Linda and Stewart
WEATHER: It was perfect today. Dry and cloudy with a slight tail wind, 17 degrees
FUEL: I ‘fuelled up’ and ate well for breakfast, Stewart kindly treated me to a lunch of pasta, chilli-king prawns and crab meat and a couple of shandies.
SONG OF THE DAY: Songbird – Fleetwood Mac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTi19MPOvDw
% of FUNDRAISING TARGET REACHED: 94% (Thank U for sponsoring me)
WEDNESDAY’S STAGE 13 DESITINATION: Tongue, Highlands (85 miles)
Scotty Boy's Bicycle Across Britain 
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