Having just completed an epic 850-mile cycle, Councillor Bob Ellis can enjoy a few weeks off before he tackles his next physical challenge a gruelling trek through the Perthshire countryside.
The 64-year-old is none the worse for his Land’s End to John O’ Groats cycle, despite an injury almost stopping him in his tracks on the final leg of the event.
Accompanied by son Arran, he covered the length of the country in nine days, only slightly longer than anticipated.
The pair were hindered by a serious road accident in Fife, which entailed a lengthy detour, and with the end almost in sight Mr Ellis suffered a setback.
He said: “On the penultimate day I had a badly swollen knee and had to finish early. I was for giving up, with 75 miles to do, but I was placed in an ice cold bath, which took the swelling right down.”
Thankfully able to complete the last leg, Mr Ellis can now look back with pride on the achievement.
“It was phenomenal, something I had always wanted to do,” he said. “It was just a case of get the head down and look to the north.
“The scenery was tremendous and the weather was varied, with sun, wind and rain.”
He paid tribute to the help they received from the other members of the team his wife Lyn and cycle technician Gerry Hunter, from Rattray, whom he described as “fantastic”.
The Blairgowrie and Glens councillor is also delighted by the sum they have raised for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) £5,000 and climbing.
He thanked “all those businesses, organisations and individuals who have sponsored us over the period with food, drink and money”.
Anyone who would like to boost their fundraising total can do so by going to www.justgiving.com/bobnarranslejog.
Now Mr Ellis is looking forward to a challenge nearer home the Cateran Yomp on June 28/29 a trek with which he is very familiar.
One of the founders of the Cateran Trail in 2000, Mr Ellis is one of the few people to have taken on and conquered all three of the Cateran Yomp’s three routes, the longest of which takes participants on a 54-mile trek through Perthshire.