Day 13 - Media Madness!

Saturday 13^th August 2011

This morning the team left at just gone 0600 with Bob Hawkes who had come to join the team. They were not happy about having to push their bikes up the hill but it was worth having them at the top to ride between the first few peaks. The support team walked up (no bikes for them!) and waited for the cyclists to finish in the cold and wet. It's not an easy life being a support team member!

The support team then drove round to camp in one of the most remote locations of the challenge.They were worried that they would have a 35km walk to the wild camp spot behind Blair Castle but managed to gain access in the 4x4 along the track which is always a fantastic relief! Thankyou very much to Atholl Estate for their help with this. There were lots of river crossings in the 4x4 but these were very well negotiated by driver and support team member Becky Roby. There were still some pretty hairy moments though, including getting the wheels stuck in a bog and all having to get out and push!

Whilst the support team were breaking a sweat trying to rescue their vehicle, the team were doing brilliantly. They had summited the first two Munros relatively quickly in the most awful weather. They had climbed Carn Aosda and The Cairnwell by 0800 and Carn a Gheoidh by 0900. The next five Munros had 500m of steep ascent and descent between them. The ground was boggy and very heathery so it was very tough going for the guys. Tom chose to have his naps in very scenic locations and again had one at the top of a Munro. It was really great to have Bob Hawkes with them today and he joined the team for 7 Munros. The last Munro was summited at 1830 but it was closely followed by a very long 3 hour walk out which Ceri says was absolutely awful and dragged on and on.

In total the team did 40km today. They were soaked to the skin by 0700 but the sun put his hat on for a bit so they were quite dry by 0900. This pattern continued all day in typical Scottish fashion. There was a nice breeze in the evening to dry out until the team had to cross a river up to their knees in the final stretch which was a rubbish end to the day. Becky and Henry went off after the support team’s support to join the climbers on their way down whilst Sarah and Lucy caught up on sleep and cooked dinner. They team pitched four 2xman tents in a pony hut in Blair Atholl Estate, and made beef casserole for supper! The team needed all the rest and sustainance they could possibly get for what is a very very long day tomorrow (Sunday).

The team have now done 25%! It is a massive boost for them to know that they now have a significant chunk of the mission under their belt. They have climbed over 80 Munros too so the next big mark will be the 100 Munro mark! Alex is suffering from some minor muscle strain but is constantly stretching and administering deep heat to relieve discomfort. Ceri is in really high spirits despite a tough day and Tom is quite tired but they are all doing incredibly well!

The highlight of the day for the team has most definitely been the amount of newspaper coverage they have received after meeting HRH The Duchess of Cornwall the day before. Ceri has been splashed all over major national as well as lots of local newspapers with the Duchess sitting on his knee, with big cheesy grins on both of their faces! (See yesterday’s blog photos). To date the picture has made it into the Daily Mail, The Sun, The Deeside Piper, The Kirriemuir Herald, Forfar Dispatch, The Press and Journal, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Record, The Daily Mirror and inside the front page of the Scotsman to name just a few! It looks like being cheeky for a bet definitely gets you places! 

Day 12 - A visit from the Doctor..

Friday 12^th August 2011

This morning the team left the camp at just gone 0700 and were joined by Sally and Lucy from the support team for the first half an hour to keep them company. They were also joined by Tony, Fiona and Mel; a few Exeter Alumni who used to be part of the walking club at the University and have stayed in touch with each other ever since and still enjoy walking together all these years later. They joined the team for the first two Munros of the day, Driesh and Mayar. With a son in the RAF who has served in Afghanistan, Tony had kindly sponsored Mayar with help from others in the 1970’s Exeter Out Of Doors Society. It was also kindly sponsored by The Black Dog MC (Montrose) so thankyou to them. Tony then continued on with the team until 1430. Fresh faces and new conversation are always welcome for the team so they enjoyed having the company.

Later on in the day heavy mist had settled in and stuck around for a while. Unfortunately the team missed a family on the last peak (Creag Leacach) as the mist was too bad, and they only missed them by about 30 seconds! But they came along to the mountain rescue centre for a cup of tea with the team none-the-less which was lovely.

The mist did not deter the team and they arrived to collect road bikes a good hour ahead of schedule. The cycle up to Glenshee ski centre where they were to stay for the night was very steep. At one point Ceri was cycling too close to Alex and fell off his bike which caused Alex to stop and consequently fall off himself!

However despite the nasty weather and all the team’s ailments, they arrived at the Ski Centre in good time. On arrival the team were able to spend the night in the ski patrol’s office which was wonderful as it was nice to have another night inside and to dry out some wet clothes. Furthermore Dr Crookshank from the Glenshee Medical Centre kindly looked at Tom’s feet and put a good dressing on them so hopefully they are on the mend! A huge thankyou therefore goes to all at the Glenshee Ski Centre.

The team are doing fantastically but are very physically and mentally tired. At one point the team stopped at the summit of a Munro to look at the maps, and when they got up to go Tom was fast asleep! What they are doing is an incredible feat of endurance and they need all the support they can get. Please support DecAid and make all of the team's hard work worth it.

Day 11 – A Royally special day.

Thursday 11^th August 2011

After a wonderful night in warm beds at the Inver Hotel, the team left in pretty low spirits as they realised that the long awaited night of comfort was over in a flash. They peddled off up the road in the drizzling rain at just gone 6am. It was a mission getting everyone packed up in the hotel without waking the other residents. The support vehicle followed the cyclists up to a track junction. There were slightly more hills along the way than the team expected but they took them in their stride. Meanwhile Sean told jokes to Becky over the radio as she cycled! At the track junction the team changed into their walking gear and ditched their very sodden cycling kit. They headed off up the track to summit Mount Keen (a very antisocial Munro as it was very much out of the way of any of the others so a bit of a pain!). Mount Keen was dedicated to the Parachute Regiment and was very kindly sponsored by Dynamics Modelling.

Meanwhile the support team cycled (walked!) the bikes up the same track so that the team could then cycle them out once they had finished climbing Mount Keen. Once back at the road the team cycled at break neck speed down to Loch Muick where they were to enjoy a lovely lunch with HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.

The team timed their arrived at the cottage where the lunch was to take place perfectly. They had a welcome party to clap them in consisting of Sophie, Rupert, Sarah and the rest of HRH’s entourage who had all arrived just before the team. Sue and Charlotte Snell were also there representing the Inver Hotel, kind sponsors of Lochnagar. The welcome party also included Euan Rellie who had met everyone and donated to the Munro Mission at the Inver hotel reception. Euan was staying on Balmoral Estate not far from the cottage and was very keen to join the team, so they were more than happy to have him join them. Most importantly, the team were greeted by John and Moira Adams from Croesyceiliog in Wales. Mr and Mrs Adams are the parents of Private Kyle Adams, a 21-year-old paratrooper who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009, and they had come a long way to be with team and HRH on this special day.

The runners were then applauded as they cycled down the drive looking very tired and muddy!  The morning had been tough as they had raced to meet HRH on time, and had had to walk on tricky ground with lots of hidden holes, but they were glad to finally be at their destination for some food and a chinwag with royalty!

Almost immediately after, HRH arrived driving her 4X4 and looking the part with her climbing socks, climbing boots and walking stick! After a very quick clean up (Sarah was ready and waiting with the baby wipes!) and a change of clothes, the team were all ready to meet the Duchess, after keeping her waiting for only a few minutes! The photographer put the boys in place and shortly after the Duchess came over to chat and have photos taken whilst the boys tried not to look quite so knackered! HRH was charming, funny, easy to talk to and full of admiration for the team and their monumental efforts. She even mentioned that the Queen was worried about them which cheered them up no end! 

 The Duchess greets the very tired Munro Mission team

After all the initial meetings, The Duchess led everyone into the cottage for a lovely lunch. The cottage was built by Queen Victoria and has been in the family and untouched since so it was like walking back in time! Everyone tucked into sandwiches, crisps, soup, coke, chocolate, tea, coffee (and even sloe gin!) provided by the Duchess’ team whilst they mingled and chatted. The Adams’ met the team and were truly taken aback by their dedication and the challenge that they were undertaking. At one point he even said “ I can’t find the words to describe how fantastic this group of people are. I really can’t. To be doing what they’re doing at such a young age is something really special”

Once full of yummy goodies, the group then gathered outside with the stunning backdrop of the loch and the rest of Balmoral Estate. Mr and Mrs Adams, the team, HRH and the local minister all stood together whilst the others gathered around. A few lovely words were said by the minister before HRH handed over a handmade heather wreath to the Adams family. It was a truly special moment and everyone was very thankful to be present. 

 HRH shares a few words with John and Moira Adams after presenting them with a hand-made heather wreath in honour of their son Private Kyle Adams

Unfortunately the midges had started to descend so the group started to get ready to head up their next Munro, Lochnagar. Lochnagar is the 3,789ft peak in Glen Muick which Prince Charles has regularly painted since he was a child, and was dedicated to Private Kyle Adams. The wreath was to be laid at the summit of the Munro in Kyle’s memory, and Lochnagar was kindly sponsored by The Inver Hotel.

Everyone started lathering up with Avon’s Skin So Soft (amazing for preventing midge bites) and Sarah offered some to The Duchess’ Equerry, but he had never heard of it and thought he was being offered moisturiser so a good giggle was had!

The team then said goodbye to The Duchess, Sophie, Sarah and Rupert who were all staying behind, but not before Ceri got the Duchess to sit on his knee! A fantastic moment which has been captured and has taken the media world by storm! They were all waved off and headed up Lochnagar with the Adams family, Becky, Henry, Sean, Lucy, Sally, Rupert, the local minister and Euan. 

 The Duchess takes a cheeky perch on Ceri's knee.

The walk up Prince Charles’ favourite Munro was absolutely beautiful and not too steep, with lots of wonderful waterfalls littering the way. The heather looked so pretty along the well worn path which made for good walking. The parents of Private Kyle Adams took the wreath they were given by HRH up with them and laid it at the summit in honour of Kyle. The weather also stayed dry which was a wonderful bonus. The team picked up the pace and steamed on ahead, summiting the Munro in 1hr 45mins. They waited at the top for the Adams and the rest of the support team for a photograph in front of the summit. The team then went on to climb the rest of the day’s Munros which they did in record breaking time, finishing ahead of schedule at just after 2100. 

 The local Minister, The Adams' and the team on Lochnagar before laying HRH's wreath of heather at it's summit in honour of Private Kyle Adams.

Becky and Lucy ran down the whole way from Lochnagar (which was a lot of fun) and then cycled the mountain bikes out the 5miles or so back to the trailer. The rest of the night was then spent in a car park! Hundreds of midges were swarming around everywhere and it was impossible not to use a head net! The team were all suffering a bit with aches and pains and the first aid kit was in full use last night. There was lots of tiger balm for Alex and his shins, whilst Tom went straight to sleep after a good supper and Ceri had a refreshing dip in the river to ease his muscles.

All in all it was a really good day for the team that started off badly but ended up very relaxed and finishing ahead of schedule. They really enjoyed having lots of company up Lochnagar and it was a godsend that the day stayed dry for the Duchess and the team. It is a day that the whole of the Munro Mission team will remember for a very long time to come. It was truly special. 

If you would like to support families like the Adams' and honour ex-service personnel like Private Kyle Adams, then please visit our website to sponsor a Munro and donate to DecAid's chosen charities. Thankyou. 

Day 9/10 - A wonderful night of luxury....

Tuesday 9th/Wednesday 10th August 2011

With the team striding over the Munros of Scotland, the support team swapped over media team members, giving Lucy Taylor a night in a warm bed, and Sophie Archibald another taste of life in the wilderness! The team were able to get in contact with the very lovely Estate Manager who opened the gate for the team's 4x4 and allowed them to drive instead of walk the whole 20k right up to the (very luxurious) bothy that was to be home for the night. The support team could not have been happier and Sophie missed out on discovering what it's really like to be a support team member/pack horse! Luckily the day had been mostly dry (despite a bit of rain in the morning) so the team had a better day than the last few. Support team prepared dinner, made the bothy look a bit like home and awaited the arrival of the runners, much like expectant wives awaiting their spouses (sorry Henry!)

At 2100, slightly later than expected, but still early in comparison to previous nights, the team (and Sean Aston) arrived looking very tired (but dry). On arrival resident podiatrist Henry Munns got stuck in seeing to blisters and other aches and pains, and the aroma of (slightly burnt) sausages wafted through the hills as supper was served. After being tended to and fed, the team's spirits were high (once again!) as they told us about their day. 

They had been met earlier by 9-year-old twins Nuala and Cliona, who have an incredible number of Munros under their belt. They arrived to climb Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm with their Scotty dog who alone has climbed 150 and seemed most unimpressed by the Reindeer that the team met along the way. The runners were very impressed by the agility and enthusiasm of the twins, and almost had trouble keeping up!

The next morning, and after deciding to have an extra hour in bed, the team were awoken just after 5, filled with porridge and packed off for another wet morning. However the team were all smiles knowing that they were going be having a wonderful night at the Inver Hotel courtesy of Chris and Sue Snell (parents of DecAid team member Henry Snell - see the Light for Life Ceremony).

Whilst the team climbed Ben Avon, Beinn a Bhuirde, Beinn Bhreac, Beinn a Chaorainn and Beinn Mheadhoin, the support team rode their mountain bikes the 3k to get to Derry Lodge, where they were to be picked up at a later time. Sophie had the seat of one of the mountain bikes adjusted/lowered as far as it would go but it was still a touch on the large side and her feet wouldn't touch the floor. She had never mountain biked before and was doing fine (just) until she found herself flying down some steps and into the grassy verge. She was fine, but the bike less so....(sorry Tom).

The support team left the bikes for the runners to pick up and made their way back to the Inver hotel to prepare boards and presentations for their reception in the evening, which DecAid co-founder Rupert and media team member Lucy were already doing on arrival. Soon after and at the earliest time yet by far, the team arrived back soaked to the skin at about 6. But they were quickly enjoying warm baths/showers and steaks and beer by the fire! The team could not have been happier, but the enjoyment of the luxuries simply brought home how they will be spending the next few weeks without them.

With full tummies and warm (and wind burnt) bodies, the team enjoyed a tipple or two at the reception. l'Art du Vin very kindly supported DecAid with wine and Woodwards provided some of the canapes, so a big thankyou goes out to them. The DecAid boards were up and people were mingling, getting to the know DecAid and and the Munro Mission team slightly better. The reception went off without a hitch and everyone had a really wonderful time. The best part however was that the reception raised over £900 for The Munro Mission so an absolutely huge thankyou goes to Chris and Sue Snell at the Inver Hotel for such a wonderful evening and their fantastic hospitality. 

If you would like to help the DecAid Munro Mission get even closer to it's target of £80,000, then please visit our website where you can sponsor a Munro, donate or even organise to join the team at points along their route. And please remember that if you know anyone who can provide the team with another night of luxury (i.e. a warm bed and shower!) then please get in touch at decaidmunromission@live.co.uk. Thankyou!

Day 8/9 - No room in the bothy...

Monday 8th/Tuesday 9th August 2011

This time last night the support team were settling down in a very tiny bothy after a 4 and a half hour trek with kit for themselves and the team. Tents, sleeping bags, roll mats, homemade chilli con carne for 9 and lots of dry socks. The planned overnight stop was Corrour bothy, only a 3 hour walk in from the road. Much to the team’s disappointment the bothy was full so the two tents were pitched outside for the team whilst the support team were recommended by some friendly Germans who had bagged the bunks for the night to head down the valley a further hour and a half to a very tiny and isolated bothy. On arrival, kit including sleeping bags were drenched and the four support team were exhausted after 3 river crossings and lots of scrambling over heather. Meanwhile at the other end of the valley the team arrived after a long and very wet day at their tents (slightly miffed not to be under a roof).

After a very cosy night in the tiny bothy the support team packed up, put on their extremely sodden boots and headed back down the valley to the tents to collect the team's kit. The team left camp at 0730 heading up Carn a'Mhaim first and then Ben Macdui. The team were sad to miss the Walker and Beattie families who had come to climb the Munros but a last minute change to the route sadly altered the summit times.

The team have now climbed over 50 Munros, each dedicated to a service man or woman who has lost their life in Afghanistan over the past decade. Despite the extremely long days the team are always in high spirits and it is incredible how upbeat they are even when they arrive back soaked through to the skin! The support team seem to be spending most of their time in the Kingsussie laundrette!

Day 7 - Rain rain go away...

Sunday 7th August 2011

After a fantastic night’s sleep, the team awoke to the smell of bacon; a rarity on the Munro Mission so far. It was surprising how quickly everyone got up! Unfortunately today was another wet day but the runner’s clothes had dried overnight so the team left in very good spirits, joking around before they left. Sally and Lucy are now skivvies to Alex and Tom as they tend to their every beck and call, hanging their clothes out, sorting their bags for the next day and making sure they have everything they need when they come off the hills.

Through absolutely torrential rain that lasted all day, Becky and Henry followed the team on the roadbikes to the base of their first Munro, Geal Charn (Glen Markie) . The rain came down so hard that the support team had to rush to the laundrette in order to get their cycling kit dry in time for the next road cycle later in the day. Word in the laundry room at Dunraddy campsite was that a month’s worth of rainfall fell in 12 hrs!

Sean Aston kept the team company all day which was hugely welcomed by the team! He kept them going as they battled against the horizontal freezing highland rain. The route was tough going with lots of heather and many hidden holes in the ground which caught Ceri and Alex out a few times. The team are looking forward to the next few days as the last Munros they have been climbing have been described as nothing more than grassy hills! Perhaps this challenge is too easy for them?! The next few days should provide some more interesting scenery for the team.

Whilst the runners were getting drenched out in the wilderness, the support team found a campsite for the night and put the tent up. They then headed going off into the Cairgorms to do a big recce of various access points to bothys for the next few days.

The climbing team and Sean returned to the campsite which was a bit out of the way but definitely worth the extra cycle for the warm shower and tumble dryer! They were absolutely soaked and very cold when they returned so the support team gave them a hot supper; a delicious pork and fennel casserole and some wonderful ginger cake courtesy of domestic goddess Becky Laing. With full tummies the team enjoyed an early night (very much a rarity) and were in bed by 2200.
 

Watch the team make their way across the highlands via their GPS spottracker and visit our website to support DecAid and donate to our chosen charities.

Day 6 - 39 Munros down! A few more to go...

Saturday 6^th August 2011 

On Friday, in preparation for using mountain bikes for a lot of today, Becky and Henry went off to do a recce. However they quickly found that taking advantage of an open gate wasn't their brightest move as an angry beekeeper told them off for trespassing and they had to swiftly rethink today’s logistics!  Sally, Lucy and Sarah also spent most of yesterday (and a small fortune) buying more food in Kingsussie (which seems to be a never ending task) and washing tons of sodden clothes in the laundrette.

With food, clothes and the route sorted out for today, the boys left on their road bikes this morning at 0700 and made the trip on the A9 (the main road up the middle of Scotland) from Dalwhinnie to Balsporan cottages. This proved a bit hairy, but they reached their destination in one piece and in time to meet Mrs Evison and her friends at the base of Geal Charn (Loch Ericht), the first Munro of the day. Geal Charn was dedicated to her son Lt. Mark Evison of the Royal Welsh Guards, and Mrs Evison and her friends met us before climbing it with the team. They signed our Munro Mission map and were given a heather posie (made the night before) to place at the summit in honour of Mark. 

It was a beautiful morning and the support team were sad not to be able to join the party up Geal Charn. However, they had to whizz round the A9 to the next stop where Sean, Sally, Henry and Lucy were to cycle 3km up a steep track to drop the mountain bikes off for the team to collect. It seems like the support team are always cycling uphill whilst the runners get the nice and easy ride downhill! Furthermore, Sally enjoyed a tactical dismount not helped by Lucy’s inability to cycle across fords and subsequently ended up with very wet feet. Sergeant Major Aston (EUOTC AT instructor) joined the team today and will spend the coming weeks walking with the runners and helping with the support team. He also has a particularly inspiring knowledge of flora and fauna which fascinated the support team on the way back to the vehicles. Looks like we won't need to buy anymore food for the boys...plenty of bilberries!

The support team met the runners at 1230 after their mountain bike to the road. All were in high spirits and there was lots of banter as they were an hour ahead of schedule! They were provided with a big lunch as they sat by the side of the road and changed into road bike kit. The boy’s appetites seemed nearly insatiable as they tucked into cocktail sausages, round after round of sandwiches, hundreds of scotch eggs, milk shakes, dozens of chocolate bars and a special Crunchy bar for Tom. After alerting the support team to his Crunchy obsession they then took to buying an industrial size stash of them...it’s only a matter of days before he must surely be sick of them!

Off on the roadbikes they went along the A9 causing a VERY long tail back, which didn't go down too well. But the team were all looking very smart in their new cycling jerseys, which were sure to heighten spirits also!

They then trekked off up Carn na Caim and Meall Chuaich in the pouring rain and returned saying that they were definitely being added to the most mundane Munros list! Tom tried to lighten things up a bit by doing an unplanned heather inspection. Flipping over his handlebars into a heather bush certainly broke up the monotony of the slog up two very boring Munros. After a bit more cycling the team arrived at our luxury overnight stop...a bunk house...with a SHOWER!! The team were absolutely sodden and very cold so it was an absolute god send having a drying room! After long hot showers and a big sort out the support team tended to the team’s blisters and cuts before sitting down to a wonderful fish pie supper, which Sarah cooked after her day off at the highland games. Over supper she told us how she had been mistaken as a hillrunner competitor!

After a big supper altogether and a big kit sort, Alex did his final stretches, Tom had another quick run through the maps with Becky for tomorrow, and Ceri read up on the Munros for tomorrow in his infamous book. All ready for another day in the mountains!!


Follow the team's progress via their GPS spottracker and visit our website to support the team in their Mission!

Day 5 - Smiles all round.

Friday 5^th August 2011

In stark contrast to the night before, today the team finished ahead of schedule at 1930; a very civilised time and the earliest yet! It was a dry day with easier navigation according to Ceri, and the team didn’t see anyone on their route. The day went well, with limited biking except for a nice road cycle at the end in the evening sun. However Alex was very miffed not to be able to call in at Dalwhinnie distillery which he was apparently promised! Unlike the previous days, the team were all in very high spirits on their return as they were finishing early. Supper in the village hall which they had rented for the evening was also a plus! Rupert, James Fish and Sergeant Major Ashton joined the team for a few beers as a Friday night treat, and afterwards the boys sorted their kit and walked down to where the tent was pitched down the road from the village hall, in between two power stations! 

The team are all fantastically upbeat, and are doing really well. They are very happy to now have the 4 toughest days under their belt, and to be able to look forward to some shorter days and longer sleeps! With over 35 Munros now climbed, the team are on a roll and need all of our support. If you would like to sponsor one of the Munros they are yet to climb, or simply donate to our charities, please visit our website, and remember that you can watch the team in real time via their GPS spottracker. Go team go!

Day 4 - A plan gone awry...

 Thursday 4th August 2011

After reapplying plasters and filling the team with as much porridge as they could, the support team sent them on their way at 0600. It was a beautiful morning and the team went on to climb 8 munros: Bheinn Bheoil, Ben Alder, Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag, Geall - Charn, Carn Deag, Beinn a' Chlachair and Geal Charn.

The support team went to do washing in Kingussie and to buy more exciting food stuffs for the boys to keep the morale up. Lucy had also been contacting some of the bereaved families to organise times and meeting places for their climbs up the Munros in the coming week. However the rest of the day didn’t go quite according to plan....

 

The support team pitched camp where they left the vehicles, quite literally on a tiny patch of grass next to the road and not far from a river. Not luxurious but ideal for the team as it was the best place for them to camp enroute. Earlier the support team had cycled for an hour across beach and other terrain in order to leave the bikes in an obvious place for the team to collect at 2100. However, there was no glow stick to place with the bikes, which proved to be a bit of an error....

Sarah, Lucy, Sally, and Henry were all organised and settled down to wait for the team at their campsite. Earlier in the day the team’s GPS had stopped working and so there was no communication between the support team and runners. Furthermore, Becky had gone off on her own with a map to meet the team on their second-last Munro, and the support team had no communication with her either. At 2100 the runners were expected to show up, but 2100 turned into 2200 and then 2300 still with no sign, at which point the support team decided to have supper. Lucy was beside herself with worry, and the support team also had Rupert on phone concerned about the team and wanting to know where they were. The only person not worried however was Sarah, who was sure that all was fine and that they had just become help up at a point along the route. At 0130, and still with no word from the team, Henry and Sally went up the track to try and get contact with the team via their radios. Finally, contact was made.

It turned out that Becky had managed to meet up with the team without any problems but they had all come off the track at a different point. Combined with the fact that there was no light to suggest where the bikes might be, the runners were unable to find them. This put them back slightly, but the worst was due to come when the chain on Becky’s bike broke, preventing them from going any further. Once in contact with the support team, the runners continued back to the camp while Henry and Sally met up with Becky and walked back with her and her broken bike. The runners got back at 0230 and everyone was in bed by 0300. A ridiculously long 20 hour day, but everyone was safe, sound and happy to be together again.

Due to the nature of the first 4 days, and the fact that the team had been getting in so late, it hadn’t been possible to chat to them much about how they were doing. However, we gathered that there has been a lot of ipod use, with Tom using Dr. Who to get him through!

Day 3 – The loneliness of the long distance walkers

Wednesday 3 Aug 2011. At 4.45am Sally and Lucy rose well before dawn to make sure all the guys were ready to go for the 6am start. Not only did they have to slave away to get the porridge ready, but had to prepare and pack the kit (food for the route, map checks, radio still working, the list goes ever on) and boil pan after pan of water, because the team had drunk so much during the night to replace lost fluids. Unfortunately, the water didn't cool down in time so there team were lacking slightly in water. However, having done all of this meant that Tom, Ceri and Alex could maximise the time they were resting and recovering. For them it was literally, get up, throw some clothes on and go.

One team that hadn’t been resting during the night however, but merely re-grouping and lying in ambush for some prey, was the massed midge battalion that occupied the area outside of the bothy. The team literally couldn’t take breath without inhaling a lung full of the damn things, so everyone had to leave the bothy in full midge protective clothing, and no washing up was done because they were so bad. The guys spared a thought for all the RAF Officer Cadets from Cranwell who had to sleep in tents outside the bothy all night.

Whilst Tom, Alex, Ceri and Becky headed off into the hills once more, the rest lugged the support kit to an RV with Lewis Ashton. They stowed the kit and drove to the closed point of Day 3’s campsite. However, due to the remote and wild location of the site, the support team had to repeat their ‘donkey’ roles and lug the support kit to the shores of Loch Ericht. The task was made slightly easier however as the support team were able to use mountain bikes to cover the distance, in order for the team to ride the bikes out. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in sun and Lucy thought she would brighten the mood further by taking a tumble head first into a ditch! She claims it was all for comedy effect, but the rest suspect an ill-fitting, vision obscuring cycle helmet is to blame ( yet I am happy to report that Lucy didn’t sustain any injuries).

A spectacular sun set bathed the shores of Loch Ericht in a golden light as the support team made the 3 hour long walk into the bothy to be in place for Tom, Alex and Ceri’s scheduled arrival at 7.15pm. The support team had trekked in with tonnes of kit for the boys and spares of everything as they had been away from the vehicles for 2 days now. Lots of food was also brought in as the days are so long and the boys had requested extra rations. However on the way the support team met two guys who were very interested in the mission.

 The beautiful view from the campground

The location was absolutely stunning, but ruined by the midges onces again. The sun was setting on the loch  and other than one single tent outside the bothy it was a very peaceful and quiet evening.  Whilst waiting for the boys, the sunset clearly had an effect on at least one member of the team, as Henry Munns decided to serenade Lucy and Sally with some singing. What he lacked in talent, he certainly made-up for in enthusiasm, however even this didn’t prevent the girls from rapidly diving into their day sacks for MP3 players.

To try and recover at least a few ‘man points’, Henry then decided to show off his fire lighting skills in the bothy’s fire grate. Sometime later and with much help from the girls, there was a roaring fire. As the support team ate supper, they began to wonder where the Munro team had got to. They couldn’t raise them on the radios and the team had missed the scheduled arrival time by quite some way. Henry, Lucy and Sally decided the best thing to do was get a little sleep and wake at 11.30pm to see if they could contact the team. Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, Rupert Laing and James Fish had been watching the team's progress on the GPS spot tracker (provided by TrackPlot) as they worked into the night. Both the support team and the Edinburgh office were very relieved to see the team arrive at Loch Ericht at 11pm. The terrain had been much, much worse than Tom, Ceri and Alex had realised and the weather had closed in to slow them further.


As soon as the runners arrived, the support team provided them with hot soup before swinging into action to make sure the team were ready for the next day. Wet, cold, sun burnt and hungry, the support team made sure that the team's swollen and blistered feet were taped, aching limbs stretched out and masses of pasta bolognaise consumed (whilst in their sleeping bags). Each member of the support team now looks after a specified member of the running team, to make sure that the correct things are brought out to for them at night etc. The guys managed to finally get their heads down at approximately 12am, with the alarms set for 5am, a mere five hours away....




The guys have now climbed over 20 munros which is almost 10 percent! The best Munro so far however has to be Beinn na Lapp which was climbed on the 3rd and dedicated to the Scots Guards. Media team member Sophie Archibald and her father climbed it ahead of the team and celebrated John Archibald's 60th birthday at the top with a smartie cake and champagne! Sad to have missed the runners they left another surprise Smartie birthday cake at the top for the team which went down a treat!

If you would like to support the team on their incredible mission, please visit our website to sponsor a Munro or simply donate to DecAid's chosen charities. Stay tuned for more updates!