SEVEN ferries in 2024

 Yes ... that's right. You didn't mis-read. My crossing in 2024 is going to include SEVEN ferry crossings. And it's going to be FUN. And I think it's going to be EVEN MORE absurd than my phone-in from London ... 

Here's a rough outline.

FRIDAY 10 May. Start and Kilchoan and take Ferry # 1 to Tobermory. End the day at campsite by River Ba.

SATURDAY 11 May. Make my way through the hills to Craignure. Ferry #2 to Oban. Overnight at Oban Youth Hostel.

SUNDAY 12 May. Ferry#3 to Lismore ... walk Lismore. Ferry #4 to Port Appin. End the day at Ballachulish.

MONDAY 13 May. Through North Ballachulish and Onich to Corran. Ferry #5 Corran Ferry back to north side of Great Glen, lochside road and ferry #6 Camusnagul ferry into Forth William

TUESDAY 14 May. Great Glen Way to Glas-dhoire

WEDNESDAY 15 May. Great Glen Way to Invermoriston

THURSDAY 16 May. Great Glen Way to Drumnadrochit, ferry #7 to Inverfarigaig, and overnight at Ault-na-goire

FRIDAY 17 May. Over the hills to Red Bothy

SATURDAY 18 May. Burma road to Aviemore and old logging road to Glen More Youth Hostel

SUNDAY 19 May. Past Ryvoan and Bynack More into Glen Avon and glen Builg, camping at south end of Loch Builg

MONDAY 20 May. Into Ballater

TUESDAY 21 May. Deeside Way to Dinnet then Firmounth Road and Fungle Road to Tarfside

Route from Tarfside to the coast, and finish point TBA; but with 3 days in had there should be no difficulty with that.

I have a cunning plan!

 So I've sent my entry and paid my fee for the 2024 Challenge.

What??

He's a teacher ... teachers can't do the Challenge because it's in May and their holidays aren't. What on earth is going on, I hear you ask?

Well, like I said ... I have a cunning plan!

I plan to be "between jobs" in May ... I will be leaving my current job at Easter at the latest, and will be looking for a new job to start in September, surviving on my pension and tutoring and maybe some supply and GCSE examining over the summer. 

That will mean that I am free in May, and can attempt my 12th crossing. I miss it ... and right now I need it ... so I'm going to do it. And my route is going to be quirkier, zanier than ever. (Spoiler ... I plan not just to beat the record for the most ferry crossings in any one Challenge ... I mean to absolutely SMASH IT TO PIECES!!!)

Mad? Me? You've all met me, right ... 

So what happened in 2017?

 Well, I entered the 2017 Challenge ... destined to be my last for a while as I was planning a career change and due to go to Warwick University to re-train as a teacher. And teachers cannot do the Challenge due to its timing. 

I duly completed my 11th crossing ... but where from and where to and what I did along the way I cannot rightly say. You see, what with all the hassle of moving to Coventry (and NO ... before you say it, or even think it, I was NOT sent there!) and gettibg set up for my course and all that stuff ... I never actually uploaded all the photos I had taken onto my computer. And as for my maps and route notes, where are they now? I cannot rightly say.

So let's just say I did my final Challenge in 2017 and leave it at that, shall we?

Well ... no ... read on, dear reader!