A satisfyingly weighty ‘plop’ through the letter box this morning brought the excellent news that Mike and I have been accepted for the 2011 TGO Challenge backpack across Scotland.
I can’t really believe our luck, this being my fifth Challenge entry and the fifth time I have ‘made the cut’. This year there were 440 applicants for 330 places. I was disappointed not to find friend and neighbour JJ #3 on the list, nor Mick and Gayle #4, or even the irreverent Reverend (aka David) #1. Hopefully they are high on the list of reserves.
A number of other bloggers appear to have been successful, so come next May armchair enthusiasts may be able to tune in to Tony, James, Louise, Geoff, Andy, Phil, Laura, Martin, Shirley or even Alan to gauge how well a random selection of participants are managing to potter across Scotland. Not all of them will have the energy to make postings as they go across – some prefer to write up their experiences later, at leisure, but I know that readers of these particular pages prefer the ‘what’s going to happen next’ uncertainty of daily postings from such trips, so this blog will be posted ‘from the coalface’ so to speak. It could be interesting as Mike has only backpacked properly for two days in the past 40 years #2.
The picture above was taken on the morning of Day 2 of the 2009 Challenge that I completed with Sue. We had camped comfortably at NG 871 001, below Luinne Bheinn at the head of Coire Odhar, a much more sheltered spot than Mam Barrisdale, near where Robert Slade had finished up bivvying due to problems getting his Akto tent up in the wind and rain. He was not too cheerful when we saw him later on Day 2; he was wet. We had warm, dry feet. It’s on occasions like this that the decision to wear waterproof boots rather than lighter trail shoes seems to be a ‘no-brainer’!
#1 – reserve number 23, that’s good news, he’ll make it in.
#2 – so his Black’s Good Companion tent, even older than my Phreerunner, may need to be replaced!
#3 – great news – JJ is reserve number 11. He will be there.
#4 – more good news - M+G are also high on the reserve list.
21 comments:
Well then...
That's quite a Bevvy of Bloggers. Be gentle with poor, poor Mike...
I'll do my best Alan. Just trying to think of an innovative route out of Oban. I understand the 'Austrian Route' goes via Lismore!
I can't wait to get home and see if there is a big fat envelope waiting for me. I do hope so now that you have got me all excited!
JB: You are in! :-)
Coolio
Yes, James, I wouldn't have mentioned you in the blog posting if you hadn't been 'in'! Not even I can be that cruel!!
Hi Martin,
Congrats on the TGO entry. Yes the route out of Oban is not that enticing, other than to do the obvious Glen Kinglass route but, i know that you like the high level routes so it will be interesting to see what you choose.
The views are still amazing though.
I haven't really started planning yet, but I really do have to bear in mind 'poor poor Mike'. I think I can easily find a fine weather alternative to Glen Kinglass. It's Glen Lonan that I'm perhaps becoming resigned to - but at least that should be sociable; last year I set off in the opposite direction to everyone else at Lochailort...
Congratulations Martin! Won't be able to follow you this year since, all being well, Lynne and I will be a few days ahead of those of you on the Challenge.
Have a good one!
Oban is a possible with me. Summits of the South route by Turnball Martin as a start point there. That or a big northern route. I will tweet my progress and send the odd twitpic but live blog. No chance.
I've not come across 'Summits of the South', Martin. Nor do I know anything much about tweeting. I'm happy to stick to the blog.
Happy planning...!
So, Gibson, you and Lynne are doing your own Challenge? Just a few days earlier means you are sure to miss the midges, but you may not be so lucky with the monsoon! You should aim to finish at Montrose when we do...
If the dates had suited we'd have applied for the Challenge Martin. It's just a few days too late in starting given other plans and we couldn't have gone to the dinner. Arriving in Montrose, signing in etc and catching the first train home didn't really appeal!
I just found your blog but am sure to follow your TGO Challenge. I sounds like an unforgettable event, and great fun, too!
Looking at the list of who is in it seemed for a while that everyone in the whole world got a place apart from us!
The good news is that like JJ and David, we are high enough up the reserve list as to be very optimistic that we will be there (it does seem a little wrong to be wishing for people to have the misfortune of having to drop out, mind)
Hello Martin & folks!
I'm hopeful of regaining a place for next year and do look forward to joining you all. Have a route gradually unfolding in my noggin so will start to get it down in readiness for 'the Call.'
Oh the excitement :)
That's great news. Thanks everyone for your comments. I agree, Gayle, that there should be no wish for people to drop out, but as with all such events there are bound to be withdrawals for a wide variety of reasons.
Maria - hopefully following everyone's preparations may brighten your dark Scandinavian evenings in the months to come...
I'm hopeful ..... but 52 on the standby list is probably pushing my luck. Like Gayle says, it seems wrong to be hoping that people drop out(.... but if just a few could, please). Can anyone confirm the standby list rules this year; is the list closing on 1st April like last year? (I'm not at home so haven't actually seen my letter yet).
Hi Judith - it's 1st April, just as last year, though I think one or two got in at the last minute.
Good luck, your name often comes up in Challenge circles. We hope you are enjoying life.
Martin
Thanks Martin. I should be home in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to the West Highland Way in December!
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