Day 9 – Pipers & roar of Harleys mark finish line.
It was the perfect finale. After 117 miles walking from the Kelpies to Maggie’s Dundee via the Fife Coastal Path, it was entirely appropriate that Bob Grant should lead us home.
Piped up the driveway to the Maggie’s Centre in the shadow of Ninewells Hospital, he was given a guard of honour from the Harley Davidsons who had staged a special ride out to be part of the day.
As they revved their throttles in tribute, he took several strides forward, paused to take a small bow and then completed the final steps on a remarkable, challenging and richly rewarding journey. A lovely moment, and a moving moment too; one to cherish for a long time to come.
The final day was an easy one – a 6.8 mile walk from the Tayport services, across the bridge, along the waterfront and up to Maggie’s Dundee.
It was the only day of the walk where we could see our destination from the start point.
Even the weather couldn’t spoil the party. True, it gave us a good soaking in the middle of the Tay Bridge – rain driven horizontally into the side of our heads thanks to the wind whipping down the Tay, but it, literally, blew over, and the forecast which strongly suggested more than one shower proved to be wrong.
The black clouds headed in the opposite direction, and by the time we reached Barnetts Volkswagen garage on the waterfront, our waterproofs were all stored in our rucksacks.
The garage stop off was a key part of the day – part of the forecourt had been cleared for the arrival of dozens of Harley Davidson bikes from across Scotland.
The sight and sound of so many bikes was something special, and the support of Barnetts staff summed up the positive response of everyone towards the walk – those who could help simply went out of their way to do so without hesitation, and every such gesture simply lifted our spirits higher.
The bikers also brought one special passenger with them. Janice Allan was part of the 2013 Bob’s Walk team and was planning to do this walk until her terrible accident while trekking in Uganda while fundraising for Maggie’s Fife.
Banned by her doctors from doing the walk, she vowed to be part of the final day, and there was a surprise for her too as she arrived at the Kirkcaldy centre, was handed a jacket and helmet and invited to travel by bike to meet up with us and walk the last few miles.
Back on the road we headed along the waterfront before the bikes all roared past in a cavalcade of blaring horns and sirens.
A single Harley Davidson stood guard at the turn into Maggie’s, and the pipes and drums struck up as we made the last climb of the walk.
A special moment to remember; one to make you smile too – a warm memory which made every step of every day through three regions, over two bridges, right round Fife, on paths, beaches, farm tracks, inclines, and descents absolutely worth it.
Bob’s Walk was a huge team effort – on the walk and behind the scenes – but the man at its very heart is the most remarkable of all, and pivotal to the fundraiser which is set to generate thousands of £s for Maggie’s Fife.
It was an honour to be part of the core team which followed him home.
Bob’s Walk is sponsored by event partners Mackays Marmalade, route partner FMC Technologies, plus ACA Sports, Shadow Blinds and Dundee & Fife Chiropractic Clinics.
Huge thanks to O’Connell’s, Kirkcaldy; The Duchess, Kirkcaldy; Stewart Barton’s physiotherapy, Anstruther; and Morrisons’ Invertiel store for their generous donations
You can donate online at www.justgiving.com/bobswalk2015
You can also donate by text message.
To donate £5 just text DOCB99 £5 to 70070
To donate £10 just text DOCB99 £10 to 70070
