A Hot Day in the Control Room

Some were camped nearby, but forty or so more Challengers arrived before the 5pm deadline, Richard Flint being last to sign in shortly after 4pm (only behind Nik Lawcock by virtue of me having collected her from Stonehaven).

It was hot. Ice creams all round seemed an appropriate way of celebrating the successful conclusion of this, the 30th TGO Challenge  (formerly known as the Ultimate Challenge).

Around sixty stayed for the Friday night dinner at the Park Hotel, a very jolly affair during which John Burt received a foot massage by way of compensation for having had to give up near Aboyne!

A Busy Day at TGO Challenge Control

A very busy day here in Montrose.

Past the campsite on my early morning run, then a full day in the Control Room.

Great to see so many old acquaintances and to do micro catchups with them in between washing up and other random duties.

I am the Biscuit Man!

Montrose

Here are three images of Montrose taken on today's 'biscuit run'.

A great day without too much pressure on the TGO Challenge Control Room.

But only about 100 Challengers have finished so far. That leaves around 200 to come in, most of them tomorrow. It'll be a busy day.

Lovely evening with nearly 40 at dinner, including a number of very good friends who we haven't seen for some time. No pictures due to battery failure on this old phone. Replacement is imminent.

Good news of the day: hernia op fixed for 8 June, so we can now make plans for the summer.

TGO Challenge Control on a quiet day

The lull before the storm. Only thirty or so finishers to process so far. Over 300 to go. It'll be all hands to the pumps:

Goodie bag

Dinner tickets

Pin badge

Sock swap

Sign in

Write out certificate

Provide tea and coffee, biscuits, cake and shortbread, wash up, replenish

Sell mug, extra t-shirt, pin badge if not ordered

for each of these finishers....

A Trip to Tarfside

Many TGO Challengers pass through Tarfside, which is between one and three days from Montrose, depending on which way you walk. A small team of volunteers at St Drostans provides sustenance for those passing through. They nearly ran out of beer last night, so I was despatched on a mission of mercy, via a convenient liquor store.

The team was pleased to receive the delivery and posed gratiously behind Ann's delicious scones. I was obliged to test them, straight from the oven, with Ann's home made jam.

Delicious, as were some of the views on the 40 minute journey. Meanwhile, Montrose spent the day engulfed in sea fret.

Scurdie Ness

Scurdie Ness, seen here from a vantage point during an early morning bout of light exercise, is a favourite finishing point for TGO Challengers like Stefan, also pictured. 

Stefan, who took a route from Mallaig to St Cyrus, was this year's third finisher, much earlier than most due to work commitments. He had enjoyed this year's wonderful weather, despite which the drop out rate of more than 10% is greater than usual.

We were pleased to welcome Sue to the team at Challenge Control. She had a journey from Manchester that started with the excitement of an audience with garishly dressed Michael Portillo and finished with a lift from Arbroath after a meltdown of the east coast mainline train service due to a broken down train. Luckily she was just in time for tea.