Walk 5000 miles
Dog are crossing Canada for charity
beautifully. I am feeling good, I am feeling strong, it is more of a mental challenge than anything else.
“It is going to take me a good wee while.
“I’m hoping I am going to manage it before winter comes next year so I will be walking pretty much for the full year.”
Michael is a veteran of long walks having trekked across India on a personal journey in 2017, but still admits there is a “touch of madness” in attempting such a challenge during a pandemic and in a foreign country.
Every step of the journey is being documented by Michael on his and Luna’s dedicated Facebook page, where he posts songs playing the guitar he brought along with him.
The pair have been camping along the way and due to COVID-19 they have not been able to sit in restaurants or cafes for food or shelter – but the generosity of strangers has lifted their spirits. “People have been so kind,” he said. “People have put us up in motels for a night, brought us food on the side of the road, it’s been, honestly, such a trip of human kindness.”
He says people from back home have made many observations about the similarities between British Columbia and Scotland.
“People back home are very much commenting, it’s so similar to Scotland, in your landscape and also your weather right now,” he added.
“Although I’m doing this for my own corner of the world in Scotland it’s very apt across the board here, especially in Canada, that we have got to be looking after what we’ve got.
“I am trying to experience what you have here in regards to your wilderness.
“Please look after what you’ve got here. That is what we are striving for in Scotland.
“If you visit Scotland now you’ll visit the Highlands and you’ll see they’re very barren and very bare and basically what Trees of Life is trying to do is restore the Caledonian Pine Forest.
“I think they’re also working to reintroduce species such as lynx and I’m hoping later down the road they might bring back things like wolves.”
Trees for Life’s head of fundraising and engagement Colin MackenzieBlackman added: “We were born out of the realisation that the ancient Caledonian Forest that once covered most of the Highlands and much of Scotland, is vanishing.
“When Michael reached out to us and said he’s doing this amazing adventure for Trees for Life we were delighted.”
To donate to Michael and Luna’s cause, head over to www. justgiving.com/fundraising/