The Big Day Part One - The Veteran's Story

So here we are folks. It has taken a while for us to get our thoughts together after the event itself and we all had well-deserved breaks afterwards.


This is Sandra's story...

On the eve of the event we all found ourselves at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, electronically tagged, carbon and fizz fuelled and thoroughly entertained by the wonderful Gurkha bandsmen. The down side was the news that Checkpoints 4 and 6 were closed to support crews due to the muddy conditions! After a pep talk by the Commanding Officer who had run the course (allegedly) the night before we said goodbye to Lynda and Paul (our support crew team leaders) and headed for the Premier Inn for a decent night's sleep!

My 40th birthday dawned grey and gloomy and with the heart stopping declaration by Sue at 4.45am that she had "no shoes"! She meant "no shoes" too! None, nada, zilch.  So followed several attempts to rouse family and friends in Ash Vale to do a mercy mission and bring the shoes down before Sue's nightmare of starting in flip flops came true! Luckily Paul came to the rescue and disaster was averted! Sue also stole my pants but that's another story!!

Fresh faced and dry at the Start

After a Gurkha breakfast we were ready for the Start.  Becky had not slept well due to a neck injury but we were confident that the adrenalin and excitement would kick in and all would be well. The news that Checkpoint 3 was also closed was a blow but one that we could and would cope with. Thanks to Sue's illicit correspondence with Tom from Oxfam and to the massive "I am 40 Today" badge on my rucksack most of the other walkers were aware that I was a veteran!!! After the first tears of the day, with the Gurkhas piping us through the start line, we were on our way at last after all the months of training and preparation. The sense of camaraderie amongst all the walkers was amazing and lasted until the end.  After a thousand "Happy Birthdays" we arrived at Checkpoint 1 relatively unscathed.

A brief stop before tackling Beacon Hill ( the steepest b*gger on the trail) proved to be too brief as we almost immediately had to stop to tend to Becky's first blister. The hill was as bad as Sue and I remembered  but we made it to the top without incident.  As we approached Checkpoint 2 the heavens opened and we walked through pouring rain to meet the lovely Lyn, Emma and Karen who had given up their Saturday to tend to our every need.  Luckily they had soup, cake and birthday surprises for us.  We felt pretty rotten asking them for dry socks, plasters, water refills, etc.  Time was precious and there wasn't enough for the usual polite chitchat!

Vicky tries flying to the next checkpoint

Soon we were on our way again and four became five with Karen braving the elements to walk the next section with us.  We had trained on this bit so we were confident that it didn't hold any horrors...until Karen picked up a blister and then promptly lost the soul of her boot in one of the boggy puddles!!! Karen trooped on whilst we silently thanked the powers that be that it wasn't any of the "team" who had succumbed! Lyn had parked up in the road adjacent to the closed checkpoint so we grabbed a welcome cuppa from the Gurkhas and did some footcare roadside. The girls had made sarnies for the next stretch - right to checkpoint 5 and they headed for the nearest hostelry on the pretext of drying out some of our soaked "waterproofs" whilst having a well-deserved lunch.

Oh good...more rain coming in!

Section 4 is a bit of a blur, if I'm honest.  We had news that Becky's husband, Rich, had pulled out of his team at the next checkpoint.  The rain continued and our spirits dampened.  Close to the checkpoint we were heartened by the appearance of Sue's friend and her children who had come out especially to spur us on.  The checkpoint was like a scene from a First World War drama.  Farm buildings loomed in the murk whilst "survivors" of the first 40km huddled for shelter clutching tea and Compeeds.  Becky's feet were now becoming a problem and despite various protests she declined to treat them.  We soldiered on to the half way stage and it became more and more clear that we were unlikely to finish as a four.  As we got about a mile from the checkpoint Paul and Steve (our night support heroes) appeared to give us moral support.  They were sent to convince Becky that she could finish as we had all planned and that we would help her get through. After a comedy fall (mine of course!) we arrived in the mire of Checkpoint 5.  Cars were being pushed by Gurkhas and hauled out by tractors! Lyn's sturdy 4x4 sat oblivious next to the gazebo blaring out 80s music and full of more surprises (a zimmer frame for me!) and pasta for everyone.

Becky decided to continue so we said goodbye to the girls for the last time and headed out into the unknown territory of section 6 to Botolphs.  Again my recollections are a bit hazy.  The mud was relentless.  Boots, socks and legs were covered making each step harder than the last and it was difficult to stay upright. I know that Becky was unhappy and that it was almost inevitable that she wouldn't make it past the next checkpoint despite our encouragement and my protests that spending the night cooped up in a car with Paul and Steve would be a fate worse than the final stages of Trailwalker!! In the end self-preservation took over and I didn't feel I could use my energy on anything other than getting Vicky, Sue and me over the finishing line. So at CP6 we had to part company with Becky.  It was very distressing for all of us, particularly Vicky who was losing her sister and had very painful blisters. The boys played their part brilliantly and when they had exhausted all means of persuasion tended our disgusting feet without flinching, cutting the zinc oxide tape and applying Compeed like pros. Becky was installed in the car and we three set out again into the night....

The path along the river towards Upper Beeding was treacherous and it was a massive relief to feel tarmac under our feet as we reached the village.  Lots of support crews had pulled up here, giving their teams some respite from the mud.  It was the first real taste of civilisation we had had since we left the start line but soon we were ascending the steep, narrow path back onto the South Downs Way.  Sue and I struggled and had to take several breathers. Vicky had found a second wind and stomped up to the top.  We all took glucose tablets when we finally made it and headed for the hot food and bright lights of Devil's Dyke which we could see for miles but never seemed to get closer. This is where the swearing started and I think I may have broken out the "c" word. Vicky's normally polite self was also taken over by a dirty mouthed stranger as the pain and fatigue set in.  I will never forget the final climb into the checkpoint with the Oxfam volunteers and Gurkhas banging their cooking pots in welcome as we struggled in.  The boys tried valiantly to make us force down the pasta meal provided but it was 2am and all we wanted to do was curl up and sleep.  We had hoped to be able to relax here and our schedule had allowed us half an hour but in the end we were there for much longer - changing socks, dressing blisters and taking painkillers.

Onwards and downward, briefly, before tackling New Timber Hill - a slog in the best conditions. Despite it being very "uneven" - a comment I am not likely to forget we managed to make it and look back on the trail of headtorches following us.  A bit more civilisation crossing  a dual carriageway and passing through the village of Pyecombe with all its residents tucked safely up in bed! The boys had done good this time and had set up with a few other support crews at Pyecombe Golf Club.  We were able to sit down out of the mud and the boys rustled up a pancake for Vicky and porridge for Sue and I whilst also tending to our poor, mangled feet.  If there is a world record for the number of Compeeds on one foot Vicky might have broken it with her outstanding 11!!!!! Our spirits were somewhat lifted but the next section was the longest and we weren't at checkpoint 8 yet! The sun was starting to rise and the volunteers at the checkpoint greeted us warmly.  The massage tent was tempting but if we laid down we might never get up again so we ploughed on!

The sunrise was soon overwhelmed with cloud and a shower or two!! The slog to checkpoint 9 was never ending.  We were all feeling the pain and fatigue now and not to mention the need to pee every ten minutes!!!  We made it to the Gallops eventually and Paul and Steve came into view having left Becky in charge of our breakfast. They had been confident that we would be almost at Checkpoint 9 by now but the conditions had got the better of us and our pace had slowed considerably.  With the boys to spur us on we made it to the 90km mark.  There were lots of tears - so near and yet so far.  The bacon butties and cups of tea provided the fuel we needed for the last stretch and Steve gallantly agreed to walk to the end with us.

Hurray -the sun finally appeared after 25 hours in hiding and we set off with renewed vigour up the last steep hill and through stunning cornfields dotted with poppies.  The crying this time came from Steve's story about running in wet swimming trunks (ouch) and certainly took our minds off our own chafing!!! We were welcomed to checkpoint 10 by the lovely Gurkhas and helped a man who looked like he wasn't going to make it to the finish with the trusty freeze spray. No one was getting this far and giving up!! The last stretch seemed a breeze in comparison to what he had been through. We sloshed through the puddles knowing that the end was in sight.  Paul walked up from the finish to meet us as did Sue's Paul who had already walked 62.5 miles with his team.

Nearly there!!

The Finish line came into view and Becky managed to walk the final 1km with us.  As my children and nephews ran out of the crowd to hug me I realised the enormity of what we had achieved and sobbed like a baby.  We had walked 100km in the worst conditions the event has ever seen and we raised over £6000.  We had been through all kinds of  physical and mental challenges and we had done it!!!

 The sense of achievement is amazing but we couldn't accomplished it without our wonderful families and friends who supported us through all the months of training and fundraising, not to mention the event itself.  Special thanks to Paul, Steve, Lyn, Emma and Karen who gave up their weekend to stand around in the mud and rain, touch our feet and sort our dirty clothes! Thank you to all of you!

The Night Crew Blog

The Night Crew Blog

Arrival at Check Point 5 - Washington

Not a good start!  We were scheduled to take over from the indefatigable ladies’ support crew, who had braved all the few check points which weren’t so inundated with the Monsoon rains that Lyn’s trusty four wheel drive vehicle could navigate the mud.  Check point five was closed to further vehicles and those which had made it in, had to be towed out by a farmer/tractor!  So we parked just off the A24, and walked, home-made scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam in hand, to the check point, where we joined the retiring support crew. 

Steve and I put on our best trainers, and walked against the flow of walkers, ankle deep in mud, to meet the walking team – “Vale Venturers”; hereafter referred to as team “VV” to avoid more RSI than necessary.  We found them about a mile up the path, in very high spirits.  The conditions were well beyond “Epic”.

Team VV had a well deserved break in the support crew shelter, passionately decorated by the female support crew; a feat which the male support team (we) would never be able to replicate even in dry conditions!  My home-made scones were rejected in favour of a pasta meal.  How dare they!

Before their departure to the next check point, team VV were presented with base ball caps, lovingly prepared by Lyn; baseball caps with a difference; Lyn had taped pictures of each team member’s favourite male hunk to a stick, which was suspended on the sun visor of each baseball cap, dangling tantalisingly in front of each team member’s boat race.  The idea was pure brilliance; team VV would be spurred to the finish line by sex!  In practice, the stair rods of water put paid to the plan, with sex-symbol pictures falling sadly to the ground before the psychology had a chance to be tested.  I reckon had the plan worked, team VV would have won the race!

Becky announced that her feet were losing the battle against blisters and made a plea to pull out.  However, we persuaded her to carry on to the next CP, hoping that we could continue with the “bite sized” chunk approach to the end of the course.  Team VV had done a sterling job of passing the half way mark, and we wanted to give it our all to make sure they reached the end as a complete team.

After a cheeky cream tea with Lyn, Karen and Emma, a quick transfer of the team kits from Lyn’s 4WD to our borrowed Ford S-Max was arranged in the pouring rain along with “several tonnes” of home-made cake paraphernalia, which we failed miserably to offload back to Lyn. (“So and so made that cake for Sandra; you have to take it, however wet it is!”)

CP6 - Botolphs

So, CP6 bound, with a firm request in mind from the team for a chip purchase for team VV.  This country is famous for the abundance of its fish and chip shops, but scarcity or non-existence is the word en route to CP-6.  We had failed to procure the potato fuel that was so desperately needed by our brave team, and prepared ourselves for a deserved “roasting”.  Perhaps “roasted” support crew was a moral substitute for rain sodden, cold and sub-standard chips!  The small business owner who spots the gap in the market; a chip van which can follow the Trail Walkers en route, will clean up!

To add insult to injury, the car-park at CP6 was like a peace-time version of “The Somme”.  We were therefore forced to make the best of a road-side base where foot repairs were promptly dealt with; plasters, talc, fresh socks. 

Time for team VV departure; a bombshell was delivered:

Becky to Paul:

 “My feet and neck hurt, I didn’t sleep last night and I can’t go on!”

 Paul to Becky:

 “Head for the next check point, then see how you feel; we can patch up the blisters, and give you drugs for the neck pain!”

 Sandra to Becky:  “Be warned that spending the night in the car with Paul and Steve is a fate worse than a night out with Beavis and Butthead!  The pain to the finish line is a blessing in comparison!”

 Becky:

 “I’ll take my chances!”

Despite our best efforts, our powers of persuasion, and promise to Lyn that “no-body would pull out on my watch”, we could not overcome Becky’s determination to finish at CP-6.

I wonder, after putting up with Steve’s untimely bodily functions, in a very confined space, whether Becky now looks back and wonders if finishing the course was less of an endurance test than spending the night with the Denbigh brothers?!  May be she was blissfully unaware as she slept off forty miles of gruelling trail walker.  As the driver, I know where I would have rather been!

Team VV had lost a member, but while upsetting, nothing was going to stop Sue, Sandra and Vicky. 

  

CP7 – Devil’s Dyke

CP 7 was also inundated with mud and water.  We ushered the VV girls into the Turkish mud bath of hot food tent, where they tucked into some wholesome Ghurkha grub.

Then, back to the roadside make-shift refuge, where Steve and I got to work on replenishing the teams’ “foot tread work”, patching up, with Compeed  “puncture repair kits”.  Compeed’s dividends must be up this year! 

CP8 – Jack and Jill’s Pyecombe Golf Club Car Park

CP8 – closed to the support crew.  We had to conjure up a plan.  The low pressure weather system had rained on all our plans for hot bacon rolls, home-made pancakes and warm, dry refuge for our VV girls.  It’s so hard, with no street lights, and only a head torch, to find your way through the cavernous depths of a dark S-Max boot to dig out the provisions your team are crying out for, and you feel you’re letting them down when the pressure is on, to get them up and running for the next gruelling stint.

Luck at last!  On the trip from CP7 to CP8 we spotted, a perfect make shift base right next to the golf course; a dry side road with a flat strip of grass.  This would be the blokes’ support crew redemption! 

We set out a table, chairs, and stoves.  Tea and porridge were brewed, and were well received by the tired and demoralised team, who I think were pleased to see us ahead of the next check point.  

A home-made pancake with lashings of energy fuelled golden syrup was cooked up and served to a fatigued and flailing Vicky. 

The feet medication routine was now executed with practiced precision, and a shoulder massage for Sue was met with welcoming sounds of pleasure!  May be support crew membership had its merits after all! 

They and we could now see the “light at the end of the tunnel”.  The team left us, spirits a little more elevated, and we reassured them the next stop would be at sun-rise where hot bacon rolls would be waiting.

CP-8 – Shut :(

CP9 – Kingston Hollow

Morale in our support crew was now running high; this was the first field in which we were able to navigate Sue’s S-Max Ford without traction loss.  The grass was long and dry.  The sun was starting to show over the horizon, lighting the horizon sky with a bronze tint and the finish line over the hill. Epic!  We had a little time to absorb the beauty of the surroundings, before setting to work on grappling with the erection of Sue’s gazebo.

Steve and I fancied a stroll, and set off along the course in the hope of catching up with team VV.  After half an hour of walking or so; Paul to Steve:  “They must be around the next corner??” and so on and so forth.  One hour later, and after what must have been getting on for four miles, we started to wonder whether they had left CP8, or whether the massage there was too nice to leave alone.  These Ghurkhas have a lot to answer for!  Finally, at the top of the hill, we saw our girls in the distance.  I think they were pleased to see two dashing young geezers, ready to offer them a free ride for their rucksacks! (I didn’t phrase that last sentence very well; I’m sure their rucksacks aren’t worth that much!)  We force fed them chocolate bars and drinks.  I think we were able to help them up the pace a little, as understandably, after walking through the whole night, they were now a tad weary.

On arrival back at CP9, Becky had prepared the bacon rolls, which were devoured like a pack of hungry wolves (or should I say, with a high degree of dignity by three very deserving young ladies) – wait for the slap!

You guessed it; more feet care!  Then, Steve joined the VV girls on the final leg while Becky and I drove to Brighton race course, the finish line.

I set out on foot again with Sue’s husband Paul, who had finished Trail Walker with his team a sickening several hours before, and still had the energy to join me to meet his beloved wife, Sue.  I was expecting to find team VV substantially dragging their heals on the final leg.  Not a bit of it!  We had walked barely two miles back up the course from the Brighton finish line, before the high spirited team appeared over the hill, and raced with us to the finish line, pressing right through the wall of blister pain and aching limbs.

Well done team VV.  We are so proud of you, the sixty two miles you endured and the thousands you raised for Oxfam and the Ghurkha Trust.

Ambling Around Amberley - CP4 to CP5

Wednesday 4th July

Although it was Independence Day half of Vale Venturers decided to depend on our Support Crew for our last training walk on the South Downs before the big day.  Lynda was our driver and Emma her trusty navigator as we left after school drop off.  Barney, Pebbles, Yoshi and Sid formed the rearguard on 4 legs!!

Sid takes the words Amberley Mount a bit too literally!

The weather was definitely not in our favour.  We found the checkpoint and waved goodbye to the girls (muttering about them being able to find a nice cosy tea rooms or better still a pub whilst we plodded through the mud with 4 mad, randy hounds in tow!).

The section down by the River Arun is MUDDY! Leeches were happily swimming in the shallows on the path.  Both Sue and Sandra found it very difficult to get into our stride especially as the dogs had to be on leads for quite a while.

Heading for the clouds!

Eventually we reached the bottom of Amberley Mount. Its is pretty steep but nothing on the scale of Beacon Hill! We are sure the views from the top are breathtaking on a clear day. Unfortunately this wasn't a clear day! The top was shrouded in mist and we could barely see 50 yards ahead.  Sue was trying out her new trail shoes and detected a "hotspot" on her heel.  A Compeed and chocolate stop was deemed necessary and we both perked up considerably! Emma texted some brain teasers to keep us occupied (for about a minute- come on Emma we need something for the other 23 hours and 59 minutes!!!).

A lone horse rider loomed out of the murk - very Jane Eyre in style but not a dark, handsome Mr Rochester unfortunately! A few kms further on we met two fellow hikers, one of whom was wearing very revealing wet, flesh coloured shorts!!! After walking a few metres past them we both collapsed into giggles. More Mr Bean than Mr R!

Heading downhill towards the checkpoint we met Lynda and Emma coming to meet us! They had checked out the locality and had found a fish and chip shop! Chip shops are a requirement of Vale Venturers! We reached the car near Checkpoint 5 very muddy and wet. After a lot more giggles about the man in pants and Sid's amorous behaviour we got changed (changing towel nil points) and headed for some chips and Sue's homemade soup!

Just like a real checkpoint!

Last day of training on the trail. Rubbish weather, path pretty awful but spirits are high and support crew are wonderful.  We can't wait for the big event! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=valeventurers&isTeam=true

Wild strawberries, wild orchids and tanned bottoms

Wild strawberries

Sunday 1^st July 2012 and 3 out of 4 of the Vale Venturers Team set off for their final training walk prior to the “Big Event”.  About 5 minutes before our scheduled departure time, the heavens opened, meaning that we headed off along the side of the ranges in full waterproofs, two dogs in tow.  En route, we came across some wild strawberries and orchids, which were beautiful.

We reached the lake and then continued following the side of the ranges, with Sue (navigational expert) claiming that she was sure we could turn right towards Pirbright and then skirt back towards a farm we have previously passed.   

Checking the map (again!)

 A quick map-check later, we took the correct path (albeit rather boggy) and worked our way back towards the lake.  The weather couldn’t seem to make its mind up, and it kept raining, stopping, raining, stopping….!  And we kept donning our waterproofs, stripping off…donning our waterproofs, stripping off…luckily there were no soldiers around to witness these stripteases!  We have decided that a fake tan may be necessary before we tackle the actual trail in 2 weeks’ time!

Henley Park Lake

Eventually, several map checks later, we arrived at the lake for our lunch stop.  Minestrone soup, tuna sandwiches, sour cream and onion crisps and cashew nuts provided well needed sustenance, before we began the trek home.  The lake itself was beautiful, with water lilies in bud.  Barney even went for his first ever swim (pushed in by Pebbles) and we all got drenched when the dogs decided to shake off excess water all over us!  Thanks dogs!

Ready for the challenge!

The walk home was good-humoured, discussing the relative merits of Ann Summers parties (!) and we were pleased to have covered almost twelve miles in 3 hours 22, despite the intermittent rain, one dodgy foot and two overly energetic dogs (excluding stops!)  Go Vale Venturers!!!

Into Fern's Gully!

Spirits high and sunshine finally in the sky, three members of Vale Venturers set off on their final long (ish) training walk before the “big event”!  With Sue in charge of route, and two dogs in tow, and Becky’s temperamental foot, we headed off towards Mytchett Ranges.   

The back side

 First “check-point” was the Basingstoke Canal centre, where we tucked into Olive Bread with Marmite, cashew nuts and tasted Becky’s “cranky cranberries” as well as planning an essential food list for 3 weeks’ time.  2 cups of coffee and three dog-sick clean operations later, Vale Venturers attempted and failed to make a toilet stop before continuing with their walk (toilets closed!).

We carried on across the Mytchett Ranges, skirting some rather large puddles, almost falling over (Sandra) and climbing some very steep hills before trying to find our way back to the main range track. Sue was convinced that we had to cross the road (which we did) only to cross back over (again) and follow another track (which we christened “Fern Britton Gully”) before stopping for Check Point Two.   

Looking totally natural!

Pretzels and Tropical Sun refreshed us before we crossed the road yet again (following Sue’s directions) and finally made it back to a point that Becky recognised, and was then able to shepherd the team home safely….although Sandra almost got knocked into the canal by Pebbles!  All in all, despite a poorly Barney dog, 2 almost comedy falls, 2 “getting lost moments” and one temperamental foot, this was a successful and enjoyable final training walk. 

Near the end and still dry!

   

We walked almost 14 miles,ascended 1800 feet and enjoyed some interesting conversations and motivational tactics!  Needless to say that we will need many “units” of motivation to keep us going in 3 weeks time!

Stage 2 – Tackling the big one again!

Wednesday 20^th June

Bath time!

With children dropped at school & nursery ½ of Vale Venturers, Wendy & 3 dogs set out to tackle Beacon Hill again! We parked up at Harting Down and set off. Sandra & Sue have walked this stage before and decided it wasn’t too bad – but after all the other teams reviews of this demon stage we decided another practice was in order!  It wasn’t long until we realised why everyone comments on Beacon Hill but before we got there we were delayed – this time because Mollie the dog jumped into a trough for an early bath! 

View from the top

Then we could put it off no longer – Beacon Hill! Now Sandra’s infamous hill coding was required and she defined this as definitely a sh****r of a hill! In the dry, it was ok! It is steep and unforgiving but we were rewarded by beautiful views at the top! 

After that hill climb we had to descend only to go up again and again! The views and conversation kept us going nearly all the way to Cocking! We then did a tactical U-turn to be back at Harting Down in time for the school run!

The trail on the other side towards Cocking

Mr Badger breaks cover

As we started our hike back another walker pointed out - 6 week old badger in the field! Amazing to see so up close!

Lunch was on some logs at the top of a hill – so we were able to see the sea and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Barney dog decided now was the time to get the urge on Mollie dog so we were all glad we hadn’t packed sausages for lunch!  After much giggling and hilarity at Barney’s expense, we set off again.

Oh yes – Beacon Hill again! This time we had time to stop at the top and look at the trig point and identify some landmarks! Coming down Beacon Hill was just as challenging – Wendy was fearless, Sandra traversed and Sue just exclaimed she was stuck!

Back to the car with minutes to spare! 9.9 miles walked 1600 feet ascended and Beacon Hill conquered with no poles!

24 days and counting – BRING IT ON!!

Game chicks head for Gamecock! 9th June

Trying to suppress the excitement!

At last the day we had all been waiting for - the Gurkha Training Day at Nuneaton.  Unfortunately  due to holiday and work commitments Becky and Vicky were unable to make it so Sue and Sandra were accompanied by the lovely Lynda - a key member of our support crew.

We got off to a good start with the place name - Gamecock Barracks home to the Queen's Gurkha Signals.  Lots of giggling ensued.  Definitely one to add to our list!

We managed to compose ourselves long enough to be introduced to some of the officers and to say hello to Tom from Oxfam.  After grabbing a much need cuppa we sat down to hear tips and advice on training for the event and most importantly how to deal with the dreaded blisters! The pros and cons of Compeed and zinc oxide tape were explored.  After hearing about a soldier who needed skin grafts after ripping off the tape we may give that a miss! Up side though - most people lose half a stone doing the event and some a whole stone!

Don't lean back!

Next up was the army simulation exercise where we were joined by the Red Harrows team. Basically this involved walking with a pack the size of a small chest freezer on your back! We all, surprisingly, kept upright! The kit the Gurkhas have to carry is incredible and aside from the pack they also have a webbing belt and a rifle! After walking for about 15 minutes on the flat we were in awe of them!

Armed and very nearly dangerous!

We all needed a good stretch after this.  Sue's wobbly leg was playing up a bit so she needed the support of the young, seriously fit physical training instructor to keep her upright! (Any excuse...!). Sue we are spending only 15 mins at each
checkpoint including Gurkha massage time!!

 Squats!

Fortunately, we could now smell the wonderful aroma of curry floating across from the mess tent. Unfortunately ,we still had to do the Circuit Training and Aerobics before lunch which had filled us with dread since we received the invitation! We think they were very gentle with us really. About 10 minutes of running (WE DO NOT RUN - EVER!) and then the circuits.  We all managed to plank for 30 seconds and Sandra managed the Mexican wave several times (not strictly an exercise at all!). It was a lot of fun and, judging by our inability to laugh with out pain for the next few days, very good for our fitness levels!

Definitely liking our technique!

Too beautiful to eat!

What can we say about the lunch? Delicious just about covers it. Gorgeous creamy curry and we were forced to have seconds! It's very impolite in Nepal apparently not to do so!  Even the salad was a work of art and the chefs obviously took great delight in feeding us all up! After a massive slice of cake we were ready for the afternoon session.

First up a potted history of the Gurkhas and their involvement with the British Army.  Only Nepalese men born in Nepal can serve in Gurkha regiments and they take just 150 or so young men each year after a rigorous selection process.  Then pep talk from a Gurkha who has run Trailwalker in a ridiculously short time! When a soldier is picked to do this challenge they devote 6 weeks solely to training for the event! Civilian challengers be afraid! The best part though is that he recommends we eat a choccy bar every hour to keep our energy levels up! Brilliant - that's 24 choccy bars in the bag!

It was time to say farewell (after another accompanied visit to the loos!).  We had met some lovely people including the other teams present: The Bun Loving Criminals, Mental Orientals and The Red Harrows.  The Gurkhas were amazing.  They were so polite, modest and strong.. We should all be honoured that they want to serve our country! We hope that in completing this challenge we can give a little bit back.