Day 20 – Saturday 20th August; The bonnie banks O’Loch Lomond
The team were once again up at 0600 for a 0700 start. However, despite the best efforts of the support team the team left slightly late at 0710. The long days of physical exertion mean every minute of sleep is valuable, even if it is a cheeky extra 10 minutes under the disapproving eye of Mother Hen or as she is more commonly known, Sarah! However, as Sarah was still at the Blair Castle Horse Trials, the guys got away with it. A short 20 minute cycle to warm up the legs ensued and as ever with the road bikes, the weather threatened to close in and soak Tom, Ceri and Alex. But, given the guys were only on the bikes for 20 minutes, as soon as the team popped of the bikes, the weather turned out fine. Tom, Ceri and Alex, had a strange sense of déjà vu as the next Munro to be climbed was Ben More. However, it is a different Ben More to the first one they conquered all those days ago on the Isle of Mull. Henry was left to guard the road bikes, which had to be left on the main road. Henry once again showed his cunning and craftiness by erecting a hammock by the bikes using the replacement 4x4 and a conveniently place fence post and passed most of the time until the next RV examining the inside of his eyelids!
Rupert took time out from Blair Castle Horse Trails to return Sarah to the support team. There was also a tactical substitution, Lucy for Sophie Archibald, to allow Lucy some time off and the opportunity to take in all that was going on at Blair. Sophie and Sarah then returned to the camp site to help pack up and collect Rachel, Tom’s girlfriend, before the now complete support team headed off to the location of the next two nights camp, the Arrochar Cadet Training Centre, located on the stunning shores of Loch Lomond.
Meanwhile, having woken sleeping beauty (Henry Munns) at the road bike RV at 1145, the team, still accompanied by Becky, went on to conquer another 5 Munros. The weather was stunning, just like Day 18, but once again there were steep slopes and scrambling was again the only way to summit the peaks. The descent and ascent between Beinn a Chroin and An Caisteal (the second and third Munros of the day) was particularly arduous, with no footpath and lots of hidden holes that strangely seemed to catch Becky out more than the others! The incredible views kept the team going and they went on to meet three families during the day. They met Mrs Manuel and the host she had brought with her on top of Beinn a Chroin and a prayer was read for Corporal Marc Birch. It was a very touching moment and once again reminded the team why they are doing the Munro Mission. The team went on to meet Marine Tom Curry’s father on top of Caisteal and Ian Wright on Beinn Chabchair, along with wife Rosemary and daughter Karen. Special congratulations to Karen as she had worked a night shift the night before and only managed a couple of hours sleep! The team have commented on how it is such an honour to meet families on the hills and it keeps them going when times get hard.The boys finished a bit later than planned at 9pm. However, they were in for such a treat. Not only was there the alluring prospect of a warm bed and hot showers, the Cadet Camp’s mess hall had produced an epic pizza dinner for them! It made a big change to the usual camp produced food. Not that Tom, Ceri and Alex had anything to complain about, but they really enjoyed something so different! As if a warm bed, hot shower and delicious pizza weren’t enough for the lads, Anna Wylie, a sports physio, also agreed to come and help the team. However, Tom, Ceri and Alex exchanged some nervous looks as they lined up for the treatment. They had all heard a few horror stories about legs being bent in some very painful ways. However, after 20 days of constantly using your legs, a sports massage is exactly what was needed. In fact Anna was quite surprised at how good the guy’s bodies seemed to be coping with the demands they are putting them under. The guys have now all reached a plateau as all of their bodies have adjusted to the routine. Let’s hope a few small niggles and the occasional sore feet are all the chaps have to deal with. A special thank you (directly from Tom, Alex and Ceri) to Anna for being so gentle!
All of the Munros climbed on 20th August were dedicated to fallen members of the Royal Marines.
Ben More was sponsored by George Lopes and dedicated to the memory of Marine Dale Gostick
Stob Binnien was dedicated to the memory of Marine Neil Dunstan
Cruach Ardrain was dedicated to the memory of Marine Alexander LucasBeinn Tulaichean was dedicated to the memory of Marine George Sparks
Beinn a Chroin was sponsored by Charlene Birch dedicated to the memory of Sgt. John Manuel, Royal Marines, Cpl. Marc Birch, Royal Marines and Marine Damian Davies. Charlene Birch has a special message; “In Memory and Dedication to Cpl John Birch Royal Marine. KIA Afghanistan. Dearly missed and loved by all who knew him. A devoted Husband, Son, Brother, Grandson, Nephew, Uncle and Friend. Treasured Memories of happier times, Always in our thoughts, Forever in our hearts. Lest we Forget."An Caisteal was dedicated to the memory of Cpl. Robert Deering, Royal Marines, L/Cpl. Ben Whatley, Royal Marines and Marine Tom Curry
Beinn Chabhair was dedicated to the memory of Marine Gary WrightEnd of Day 20 – 121 Munros climbed
Day 21 – Sunday 21th August; Is this a kayak or a Banana?
The team awoke after all the treats of the previous evening with high spirits. Not even the rain could dampen their enthusiasm as they ventured out at 7am on their road bikes. The team were joined by Becky once again they made their way to the Inverbeg Holiday Park. They were greeted by Sophie and Sarah from the support team who just happened to have 4 kayaks for the team to use to cross the beautiful Loch Lomond! A massive thankyou goes out to Bob from Lomond Adventure who let the guys’ use the kayaks free of charge and even gave a donation. Ceri and Alex had a slight moment when they convinced themselves that they wouldn’t fit into the kayaks, but after a little encouragement and a lot of squeezing, all of the craft took to the water and set off across the loch. At approximately 8am, everyone had reached the other side. However, no-one is quite sure what happened to Alex as they approached the landing at Rowardennan. He managed to make a number of 360o turns and started mumbling that his kayak was like a banana! Jack Lister and Rachel were there to observe this strange docking manoeuvre and once they had finished laughing, they helped the guys change and prepare for the climb ahead. By 8.45am everyone was en route to the top of Ben Lomond on a lovely, well walked path. The climb was dominated by low cloud, but by the time the team had reached the top and preparing to descend, the weather had cleared. The team were wished well by scores of walkers heading to the top to enjoy the scenery and when the team had reached the foot of the mountain they were greeted by Leona Walker, there in memory of Corporal Steve Walker, Royal Marines. Leona presented the team with a fantastic bottle of whisky, which will be greatly enjoyed, especially as the nights start to draw in over September.Upon returning to the kayaks to re-cross the loch, Alex, keen to not to repeat his ‘navigational malfunction’ insisted on trying 3 other kayaks. In the end, he just had to suck it up and get back in the ‘banana boat’. The team returned to the Cadet Training Centre on the road bikes for a spot of lunch. After consuming another awesome meal provided by the kitchens at the centre the team set off for a couple of hours on the road bike and swapped to the mountain bikes at Achadunan. Unfortunately, the path was un-manageable on the bikes and the team were forced to walk much sooner than they had anticipated. This added approximately 45 minutes onto their journey, but they were determined to make it to the top, as they were climbing Beinn Bhuidhe in memory of Cpl. Stephen Curley, Royal Marines and Marine Scott Taylor. Unfortunately, the ground under foot was incredibly unpleasant and after a few tumbles and very wet feet, the guys renamed Beinn Bhuidhe, Beinn ‘Boggy’!
The team finally finished the day at 10pm. They returned to the Cadet Centre a fair way behind schedule and very tired. Despite having climbed only two Munros, the team had done an awful lot of biking, which not all the team enjoy. However they enjoyed a lovely dinner of homemade lasagne and apple strudel, all cooked by Sarah.
All of the Munros climbed on 21th August were dedicated to fallen members of the Royal Marines and sponsored by William Tracey Group http://www.williamtraceygroup.com/
Ben Lomond was dedicated to the memory of Cpl. Steve Walker, Royal Marines and Cpl. Chris Harrison, Royal Marines
Beinn Bhuidhe was dedicated to the memory of Cpl. Stephen Curley, Royal Marines and Marine Scott Taylor
End of Day 20 – 123 Munros climbed
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