It must be doubtful if there has ever been a long-distance tractor marathon as impressive as that just undertaken by retired police officer Peter Matheson.
Since August 9 he has covered an astounding 8,500 miles, and he still has to travel a few hundred more on his Tractor Bumble adventure.
On Friday evening he was at Kinnesswood near Loch Leven for a brief stopover en route to journey’s end at John o’ Groats.
His Odyssey started at John o’ Groats and took him down through his old homeland of Essex, then to Dover, up through Europe to Norway’s northern tip to see the Northern Lights.
Then it was back through Finland, and Europe making his way towards Land’s End.
Mission accomplished, he is now en route to mainland Scotland’s northern outpost once more.
Even more remarkably, his trusty Massey Ferguson 135, named Annie, has a roll-over frame but no cab.
“It was down to -20C coming down through Finland and I have frostbite on one toe, but apart from that it has been OK,” said Peter.
He has travelled with his faithful Labrador Amber and towed a 28ft caravan behind the tractor.
“That posed its own problems in the gales going up the Norwegian coast.
“At one point crossing an icy bridge the wind caught the caravan and pushed us right across. I thought I was going to end up in the drink!”
“The point of going so far north was to see the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis. I actually saw them six times and they certainly bring out the child in the man. They are mysterious and looked to me strangely like kids dancing in the heavens,” said Peter.
The observation is apt as Peter is using his trip to raise money for the Tom Berridge Fund, which helps combat teenage cancers.
This was set up in memory of Tom, who died aged 19 after a year-long battle with the disease.
In the 1980s Pete was a member of Colchester Young Farmers Club with Tom’s parents Emma and Tom.
Details on the background to the trip and a donations page can be found on Peter’s Tractorbumble.com website.
Annie has been remarkably reliable, although Pete has had to repair 12 punctures: 10 on the caravan and two on the tractor.
In a twist of fate the only mechanical problem arose just as he was approaching Massey Ferguson’s UK headquarters in Coventry.
The company sponsored his trip and he was making a courtesy call. It turned out that the cylinder head gasket had blown. But by the time his visit was over, the tractor had been taken to the workshops and a new gasket fitted.
“I broke down literally on their front doorstep which was pretty lucky,” said Peter.
On Saturday at Kinnesswood he took part in a rally organised by engineer Rab Drysdale, with local tractor enthusiasts and members of the DMR tractor club hitting the road to escort him on the first few miles of his final run to the north.
He is planning to to be at John o’ Groats by this Saturday.