Although the profile of the final walk is similar to ‘the longest day’, it is simply more doable. It has an overall climb of 1,590 feet, but the underfoot conditions are so much better and the major climb is at the start. The reward is a magnificent view down the river to Spey Bay, from near to the summit of Ben Aigen.

The most touching moment was meeting Mr and Mrs Frog in their passionate embrace. Does taking such a photograph make me a member of the paparazzi? Although these two amphibians have only just become celebrities.

It was also sad to say a kind of goodbye to Christine and her selfless deliveries of tea and cakes (all homemade, of course). What a boost to morale they were. A large vote of thanks to Cenzo, Jenny, Peter, Therese, Linda, Ruth and Mike who shared many miles together, with conversations about a myriad of subjects. By the end we were experts on almost everything.

Can I make final mention of my Fidel hat (a present from my son Graeme). It travelled each of the 65 miles and I’m pretty sure it is

the first one to go all the way from Aviemore to Buckie.

So I will finish with a quote from President Castro, “It doesn’t matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan of action”. That is Busega Scotland.

If you read the reviews on ‘walkhighlands’ about the Grantown to Ballindalloch part of the Speyside Way, you will realise that it has some detractors. In fact, one contributor said they would never walk this section again and others described it as ‘dangerous’ and a ‘real struggle’.

The first section, from Grantown to Cromdale is a delight – through woodland and along the river bank. Then the challenge begins. The walking is very rough under foot and at times it is a route not a path. The profile shows a climb of 1600 feet, and there is a debate on the two main websites as to whether the walk is 13 or 14.5 miles long!

But there are some serious highlights; the restored railway carriage at Cromdale, views south down the Spey valley and the longest bird feeders we had ever seen.

The whole walk took about 7 hours and it was a very wet day. It is also strange that when you are tired your memory makes familiar sections seem shorter, while in reality they are so much longer. In contrast to Peter, I really needed that walk to be over, whereas he literally takes everything in his stride and never complains! The only incident that raised a smile, for us not Cenzo, was his encounter with a slurry pit; finding himself stuck and up to his knees in the stinky, gooey water. Some things should just not happen.

The top team were back together for the 17 mile walk from Aviemore to Grantown on Spey via Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge. The route is generally flat and in its early stages follows the track of the Strathspey Steam Railway. Unfortunately, no trains were running along the 10 miles from Aviemore to Broomhill (also known as Glenbogle in the BBC series the Monarch of the Glen). There is work in progress to extend the line to Grantown.
Leaving Boat, the path enters the Abernethy Forest and passes close to the RSPB reserve at Loch Garten. The loch is renowned for summer visits from ospreys, who nest in the reserve. The species became extinct in Britain in the early 20th century but in 1954 two breeding birds from Scandinavia came to Garten completely of their own accord, and slowly Scotland was recolonised. The ospreys have two links with Busega Scotland; they fish regularly at the mouth of the River Spey and are seen from time to time from John and Christine’s front window. Also, they over winter in Africa – but west not east.
Keeping with the wildlife theme, a pair of woodpeckers were hard at work near Aviemore and Christine had the pleasure of watching a treecreeper, while waiting for us at Grantown. There was also a cow on the platform at Nethy Bridge station.

However, the day ended in disappointment. The planned reward for completing the longest walk was an ice cream was in Grantown. Both ice cream shops in the town are closed on Mondays. How unfair is that?

Day 2 started with a surprise, on a beautiful Spring morning at Ballindalloch! No Cenzo or his wife, Sheena. What could have happened?

A little bit of investigative journalism had unearthed the story. While Cenzo’s birthday is not until the 30th, a major surprise party had been arranged for him the previous evening at the Laichmoray Hotel in Elgin. Despite his best efforts, the evening got the better of him and he was in no fit state to reach the starting line. Therese, Linda, Jenny, Peter and John had to leave without Mr and Mrs Main.

Therese imaginatively suggested that the walk should be re-named ‘Old Dodgers’ (apologies Sheena!) but we are sure that Cenzo will be back on Monday.
Check out the photograph of his incredible birthday cake, complete with the Saltire and Tanzanian flags. Cenzo had generously asked that donations be made to Busega Scotland in lieu of birthday presents.

The Upper Spey Valley is the heart of the Scotch Whisky industry and the Speyside Way passes many distilleries and cask stores. The one at Tamdhu was very evocative in the morning sunshine and close to a patch of wild garlic.

Second walk completed in a comfortable 4 hours.

After many weeks of planning and preparation, the Old Codgers (and friends) are finally on their way. The starting point was the historic Buckpool harbour, in the Moray Firth town of Buckie. It was built in 1857 the local laird and intended it to be the main port for this stretch of coast. However, within 20 years a new and much bigger harbour was being constructed a mile to the east. Buckpool harbour was doomed, due to its silting problems, and the fishing fleet moved away.
The Old Codgers started moving west, aiming for their first ‘fly cup’ at Spey Bay. In addition to John, the walkers included Cenzo, Jenny, Peter and Cenzo’s daughter, Tessa.

Spey Bay itself is an historic site and the point at which the River Spey enters the North Sea. It is also home to the Scottish Dolphin Centre. However, its origins go much further back and are linked to the salmon fishing industry. John and Christine can remember when net fishing from open boats was still practised at Spey Bay.
The fly cup was provided by support person, Christine, and was accompanied by homemade oat biscuits, raspberry cake and gingerbread. Don’t you wish you had been there? Well fortified, the walkers turned south and followed the river to Fochabers, so completing the first 10 mile walk.

Three from seven

Edinburgh is traditionally said to have been built on seven hills.
In his last climbing practice before Old Codgers, John decided to tackle Calton Hill (103m), Castle Rock (128m) and Arthur’s Seat (251m) on the same day. Mistake. The first two were dealt with without too much difficulty but Arthur’s Seat is another matter. At the top there was still snow and ice. In the sun this had melted into a steep and muddy giant slalom. John had no skis but brought his backside into play, using a technique normally perfected by 3 year olds.

With a large slice of good fortune he made it down. Two conclusions reached; his knees really can’t take such abuse and the ambition of a 35 year old in even an active pensioner is a dangerous mix.
In the evening John travelled to Uphall in West Lothian, to deliver a talk at the Face Group of Strathbrock Parish Church. This was a largely male audience and the work of Busega Scotland was well received. John was made very welcome and a generous donation of £120 was made by the group. Many thanks to energetic BS supporter Peter Hagenbuch and Face Group chairman Harry Macpherson, for arranging the talk.

On 19th March, after months of planning and several challenges Julieth and Judy were able to bring the first biosand water filter to Chole and install it at the home of one of the women from group 1 where the others will have the opportunity to see it in use.

As part of an initiative to improve the health of the women in both groups and that of their families, Busega Scotland will make the filters available at a subsidised cost to any of the women who wish to purchase one. They may choose to share the cost with a neighbour as the filters can produce enough drinking water daily to serve two or three families.

Biosand filters are low maintenance and with correct use can go on producing clean water for many years without ongoing costs, making them an ideal choice for poor rural communities such as Chole.

Julieth and Judy were greeted with the usual enthusiasm by the group, some baby bundles were distributed and the afternoon was topped off by the usual song and dance routine – this time ‘Kwaheri Judy’ (Goodbye Judy)’

The Wirral Country Park was the first designated country park in Britain when it opened in 1973. The Wirral Way runs in the park and follows the route of the former Birkenhead Railway from Hooton to West Kirby, a distance of 12 miles. The railway closed in 1962. The walk crosses the Wirral Peninsular before running north alongside the estuary of the River Dee.

This was John’s final long walk in preparation for Old Codgers, that starts on 24^th March. It was also his last substantial outing before he officially becomes an old age pensioner next week. So, how did he get on? He said he felt strong for most of the walk but his knees are the worry. After he finished he went for a coffee in a café in West Kirby and became something of a spectacle when standing up to leave! A bit ironic really, as his brother, Paul, is now recovering from a hip replacement operation but his knees are OK!

Pizza Aid took a major step forward when Oriano Marchi finalised arrangements at Pizzeria Toscana in Elgin. Our local newspaper, the Northern Scot, covered the launch and waitress, Rachel Hagen, posed with a Pizza Mayega. Oriano was very apologetic to John as the featured pizza had chicken on it. No sampling! However, Oriano has come up with a very imaginative way of supporting the Children’s Centre.

‘Order any Pizza and “Make it a Mayega” for an additional 20p, we will match the contribution so that 40p will be donated to Busega Scotland for each Pizza Mayega sold.’

Good news from Mwanza, as Mark James from Shrike Safaris has organised with his web designer to have an add-on button on his website, for clients to make donations to the Centre. Again, very imaginative and simple to use.

‘Would you join us to support Mayega Children Centre?

We invite our esteemed guests like you to join us by donating to Mayega Children’s Centre. The Giving Back page on the website has further details. https://www.shrikesafaris.org/giving-back’

Finally, an atmospheric photo from a Old Codgers practice walk on 4th March.

Water had a very special place in the lives of Mayega’s children when it needed collecting from Lake Victoria.
At the Children’s Centre some rain was collected off the roof and stored in a tank. But Mayega is in a very dry area, so visits to the lake were necessary. All the children made the 50-minute trip twice a day, carrying buckets according to their ages.
School days had similar demands. The oldest 400 hundred children had to bring a bottle of water for the toilets. If children wished to drink during the day they needed to carry their own supply. Children walk up to 7 km to get to school. Sometimes the supply for the toilets ran out and children were sent to the Lake, interrupting their learning (a round trip of about an hour).
The risks of collecting water from Lake Victoria; Bilharzia is endemic, and attacks from hippos and crocodiles are possible. The water at the lakeside is also dirty.

Having a piped water supply is safer and provides more time for school work and play.