We came, we walked and Speyside Conquered

The man on the phone in todays blipfoto, for those of you who don't recognise him, is Jim Hart and way back in late 2011 he made The Kiltwalk an offer we couldn't refuse when he said those infamous words "I'd like to try organising a Speyside Kiltwalk because I think I could get around 50 people to walk from Buckie to Aberlour. What do you think?" And that, Lads and Lassies of Speyside is how the Speyside Kiltwalk was born!!

So discussions progressed and we raised the bar for Jim and suggested that rather than 50 people, then with the right publicity and push we could get 200 and it's fair to say that from day one, Jim would have been happy with 50.

So that was Jim's plan get 50 and anything else was a bonus, however Jim didn't take into account several key factors those being (1) the appeal of The Kiltwalk, (2) the generosity of Speysiders and (3) the ability of Jim Hart to appeal to every man, woman and child across the region to drum up not only Kiltwalkers, but support from local people, businesses, pipe bands and radio stations. In fact you name it and Jim got it to support us.

So by the time Carey and I arrived on Speyside on Saturday, everything was ready to roll and all that was left was to pray the heavy rain that had been forecast, stayed away long enough for the walkers to finish and I can't prove it, but I'm sure Jim arranged that too.

So while Carey and his Dad started the long trek from Buckie I headed to Fochabers to see some of the Charity helpers as well as waving off my sister and her family who I had roped into walking this leg of The Kiltwalk.

I then found Jim and he appeared very much like he did in the picture i.e. completely calm and in control and it's fair to say he was. I got my orders for the finish line and headed off to set up all the goodies for the Kiltwalkers as they finished, however not before I watched them all head off behind the Pipe Band.

Now maybe it's just me, but I never tire of hearing a Pipe Band as it generates a sense of pride, something unique, something very "Scottish" a bit like The Kiltwalk in fact and I'm sure I grow at least six inches taller when I follow them.

I got back to Aberlour, where we had stayed the night before and it had been great to be in the Mash Tun and hearing everyone talking about taking part. By the time I arrived at the Tea Room the Marque was already up and the tables and chairs were being assembled, and everything was going just like clock work.

So I got hold of Jan and a few others and we laid out everything and it was quite a site with medals, burger tokens, wrist bands, whisky miniatures, bottles of water and irn bru not to mention more Walkers Shortbread than you could ever imagine.

Now I've only ever walked a Kiltwalk before, so I've never actually helped out on the day and what happened next was rather humbling, but a great experience and something that will live long in the memory.

At first it was one or two and then threes and fours and before you knew it Kltwalkers were coming over the finishing line and into the deregistration area in their tens and twenties and everyone was saying the same thing.

Of course they complained about their aches and pains and the hills, but they all said "what a great experience it had been" and "thanks" and when I asked what for? they all said "for bringing The Kiltwalk to Speyside" and I was almost speechless the first time I heard that as its The Kiltwalk that thanks Speyside for having us and if you'll have us, we'll be back next year!!

So Speyside The Kitlwalk came, you walked and you conquered and not just 50 of you, or 200 but 500 of you so well done to one and all.