HICKATHRIFT PRESS

The wind played with the tent all night and as morning came the rain started. We had planned to climb the mountain at 9am, but decided to stay in the shelter instead. There were four of us: Rulf, Thierry , Susi and I.

We are eating and watching the rain. Rulf, a German, eventually left on his way up to Nordkapp. Thierry, Susi and I are planning to climb a 1,500 foot mountain.

Susi and I sit with Kelsey and Renee from Aberdeen and have lunch. They along with many other young people in this campsite are walking along the ridge of the Loften islands. They are so kind, they take my fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease up to my target. I feel really emotional about that. Such a special moment.

Susi and I walk across moorland to a layby on the road and we hitch to the base of the mountain. An Italian picks us up in a VW and we get his really interesting life story in ten minutes. We climb up 2,000 steps, along with everyone else and we get the best iconic view in Norway, the view of all the holiday brochures. Tomorrow I’ll be cycling along that road.

Susi is interested in plants too. She collects plants from the wild and grows them, to make teas. We love looking at the plants as we go up the mountain. I learnt from Susi that they are trying to learn from Acheilla Mollis about how to waterproof clothes as it collects water in globules. She talks about plants that maybe a cure for covid. I noticed the Acheilla Mollis turn from the lowland type to the alpine version as we went up.

Susi asks me what plant I would take to a desert island, if I could only take one. I mention my favourite plants from the ‘attractive’ aspect. She said nettles because it’s a nutrient-dense food, a natural medicine, and a sustainable fibre source. I was wondering what plant everyone else would choose?

The evening is beautiful and Susi leaves to cycle through the evening. I’m planning to get up really early in the morning before it rains.

Thierry and I, sitting in the shelter get 21 sightings of Orca diving out of the sea. If you look closely you’ll see one in the photo of the sea.

I would just like to say a massive thank you for following me, for all your lovely messages and support, they really help and get me through the really tough times. Thank you massively for helping me reach my fundraising target for Motor Neurone Disease, I appreciate it so much.

Motor Neurone Disease is supposed to be a rare disease, but three people in my life have been on the journey of this rare, progressive neurological condition that destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscles. My sister, brother and I nursed my father through MND, my godfathers wife, who was like a surrogate mother to me, died of it and my partner’s wife too.

There is no cure for MND, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It occurs when the specialised nerve cells (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord stop working and die prematurely. Without messages from these nerves, muscles can no longer move, causing them to weaken and atrophy.

Half of the funds raised from this ride will support research into Motor Neurone Disease, helping the scientific community better understand the condition and move closer to effective treatments. The other half will go to the Oxfordshire Branch of the MNDA, enabling them to provide the best possible support to local people living with MND, as well as their carers and families.

I would like to say such a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported this ride so far, and thank you to anyone who supports me further into the ride. I really want to do what I can to support people facing the same situation as we went through. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.