Diary: August, 22

Continued 3/3.

9th

Woke up from body itchiness and soreness of yesterdays bites, during the night I had vommited the meal the elderly man had purchased for me at Burger King. My guts were squirming but luckily I had full water bottle to hand.

Another new day, but not for me? trapped in the personality cult shadow of the Banana Republic. Had peaceful night sleep in this garden.

Castle Stuart.

Wood pulping plant.

I decided to visit Culloden battlefield, walked south along a track through some woodland.

As I walked the lane yards away from the battlefield I felt low tectonic resonance into the ground at my feet, the visitor centre had an unearthly appearance typical of holocaust architecture.

As I walked the field, smell of blood became increasing apparent, not just the smell of one blood, but of many. A man weaped by a clan remembrance stone as his Japanese wife attempted to console him.

At Bannock burn I was emersed in joy, of celebration, here at Culloden, I was soaked in blood, and subjected to anti-english sentiment. I left the battle field and walked back towards Inverness to hitchike out via the A9. An hour later I was stopped by police, asking if I had been walking down the A9, claiming a report of a “phone call”.

I struggled to get another lift for just over one hour until an Scots / Irish man stopped with his nephew. He took me down to the outskirts of Kingussie via purchasing me a meal a burger king. Next lift came from a 4×4 farm truck, the guy was from a village somewhere near Ullapool, he was difficult to make conversation with, and freauently wound down his window when sneezed or coughed. He failed to get fish and chips at Dunkeld. Having been dropped at Stirling services I recieved a lift from a woman going to Cumbernauld, she took me back to her house, let me use her showed and we ate chickpea curry, she then drove me to Bothwell services. I then hitched a lift to Abingdon services from a nurse travelling to Biggar. A couple drove around the roundabout twice stating at me before stopping to tell me about a nice woodland I could camp in over night; I declined.

Last lift came from a polish corrier on his way home to Warrington. I felt apprehensive about leaving Scotland so stopped the lift at Gretna Green services. I attempt to reverse my direction North for an hour until after 10pm. I then walked down a slip road, ptiched up my tent, and went out like a light.

8th

Woken anxious, and went back to sleep, this happened three times until I began to itch, got out of bed and saw this. These bites are all over my body, I did not have them before I climbed into a friends bed! He is going away for a week; so I will disappear today.

Had a shower this morning so I am hoping this doesn’t travel with me or my life will be a misery! Trying not to make a fuss of them but the worry is stressing me out. The day was hot so I waited at my a friend’s until late afternoon. I bit the bullet of anxiety and walked out of Banff, hitchhiking a lift to Buckie, then another to Inverness.

Popped into Tescos supermarket and suffered listening to the misery drone of Adele whilst purchasing my evening meal, a sixty-seven pence packet of chocolate biscuits. I waited a long time at the roundabout where a black man with a white woman drove by sticking his two fingers up at me in an angry gesture; am glad they know that I know how much they fear and loathe me.

The junction was slow so I walked down to Longman roundabout to thumb all traffic going down the A9, waited hours here as wind blew misery onto my cold face. Eventually an elderly man named John stopped, offered to purchase me a train ticket, then took me to get something to eat. He took me to his empty brother in-laws house where I pitched my tent in his walled garden. Climbed into my tent, turned and zipped out an unhinged evening.

7th

Had an extremely disturbed night after camping near a Tescos superstore.

Arrived back in Banff after hitchiking a lift from Ellon.

This town is beginning to feel lonely, alone half the day waiting for a very casual a friend to ring.

Later the call came with an invitation to join him, he kindly washed my clothes and purchased me a box of fish and chips after I made him a caramel latte.

6th

Pitched my tent fifty yards away from the River Tweed, about a mile north of Peebles.

I ate a cheap tin of Scotch broth for breakfast.

A few yards walk down the river I met an old friend.

Wildflowers are bonnie.

Past by Neidpath Castle.

A footpath rooted in Scottish ancestry.

Past by an awesome viaduct.

Trees so tall.

There are many more photographs of my walk along John Muir way.

I hate Cromwell.

5th

Had a really disturbed nights sleep pitched near Tarriff bridge, I felt relieved once I had packed away and left the area.

Hitched a lift into Tarriff two miles south from Banff.

Where I soon met the Turra Coo of Tarriff.

Visited the local museum where I learned the local language used to be Doric and that sailors had their own unique family knitting pattern for their wooly jumpers.

Passed through Oldmeldrum.

Walked quicky through Invernurie and acquired a lift all the way to Peebles.

I don’t have much mind for Peebles after suffering some intense hardship there but found this picture in the shop window.

Down by the river I attempted to rest my sorrows.

As I cooked a coffee on my portable stone a group of youth gathered behind me. An Italian couple appeared to be attempting to lure me over the bridge, followed by a teenage girl, I walked the other way.

A few miles down the river I cross over a bridge and found a place to pitch my tent. The peacefulness kept me awake but rested nonetheless.

3rd

Today I left a friends and caught the bus to Cullen, I had planned to finish this stretch of Northeast Highland coastline from Cullen to Portsoy.

I first visited a strange cafe opposite the Coop supermarket but the music changed to Motown “shes got sunshine” not a minute after I’d walked through the door. The cook was singing her head off as I hasted out.

A few minutes after I found a decent cleaner cafe and enjoyed some breakfast before begining my walk via a visit to the local museum.

The weather was cloudy, no sunburn today.

Climbers.

Creepy face in the cliff.

Cullens caveman.

I decided not to scale this stretch of broken footpath, felt weak and wind had gained strength upseting my balance.

Stumbled upon findlater castle.

As the field blew through from my hair.

Crab on Sandend beach.

A couple were observing below the cliff, said a deer and her baby were down here, can you see them?

As I entered Portsoy I found a pub by the harbour.

I visited another pub and left after my debit card bounced a payment. I walked two miles east before a lift came to return me to Banff.

Something must have triggered me to walk to Mcduff after such a walk, where I spent my last money on a pint in the Plough.

Walked back from McDuff in the evening, over Banff bridge and across the beach at Sunset.

And another picture.

Tiredness really effects you when you’re traumatised, I did not even realise the sea had come up to my ankles resulting in wet socks / walking boots.

I walked too far so had to make my escape over an emergency ladder bolted onto the sea wall. I walked past Banff harbour and pitched on some grass near a pavilion; fell asleep knowing I’d regret sleeping on this ground.

1st

Today I got very pissed in the bar, so much so that I took a picture of myself on the toilet.

I’ve spent years trying to lift my gaze, since being decimated and traumatised on the depraved streets of London. Never show them you’re suffering, expression of pain are firewood to their pyres of spite.