About
The Ridgeway Ramblers is a team of four ladies, all under 40, who will be participating in the UK Oxfam Trailwalker 2008. It takes place on 19/20 July across the South Downs Way. It isn't a stroll - the route isn't flat, we'll be walking through the night and we have to complete the route as a team, passing through each checkpoint together, in under 30 hours.
The aim is to raise an awful lot of money for both Oxfam and for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The blog is an account of how we're doing, in terms of both training and fundraising.
Blog
Saturday 19th July - Stages 4 and 5 - no longer footloose and blister free...
Stage 4 was a rather nice walk in the afternoon sun; stage 5, however, was where things began to come unstuck. Stephanie had been struggling with the hills from the outset, but has huge amounts of stamina. The loan of a set of walking poles from Katya ensured that the hills became more manageable, but halfway through the stage, her pace slowed still further even on the flat. A quick inspection of feet revealed that Stephanie had somehow developed a huge blister on her left heel which had then burst – too late for Compeed! With a similar blister emerging on her other foot, the only possible course of action was to get the team to CP5 as quickly as possible and to hand Stephanie over to the first aiders of St John’s Ambulance. Whilst poor Stephanie spent 45 minutes having her feet tended to and strapped up, the rest of the team feasted on more goodies from the cool bags. Finally we were able to get back on our way. Stage 6 begins with a long, steep hill, testing everyone’s resolve, before relenting into a beautiful meander across some beautiful countryside. Fortunately, the heat of the day was beginning to abate meaning that we were finally able to enjoy the scenery. Notwithstanding the gentle downhill incline of this stage, we were all starting to tire as we walked into CP6 at Botolphs.
Saturday 19th July - Trailwalker - Stages 1,2 and 3
Stage one was remarkably easy – the crowds of people meant that most walkers were trundling along at a similar pace and the topography of the stage is fairly gentle. We had previously decided that Support weren’t needed at CP1, so Richard enjoyed a proper breakfast back at the B&B whilst we had a quick cereal bar and a five minute break before setting off on Stage 2. This stage is notable for “Beacon Hill” a relatively short but nonetheless vicious ascent towards the beginning of the stage. Oxfam had generously posted a photographer there in order to immortalise all the teams whilst they were red of face and sore of limb for the first, but certainly not the last time in the event. As we walked along, the weather became ever muggier, and the overcast skies grew darker. Only 200 yards from CP2, the evitable happened and the heavens opened. A brief pause was taken to put on waterproofs, and as soon as they had been donned, the weather abated. Such is the British summer… Again, we entered CP2 well ahead of the 24 hour pace we’d set ourselves. Quick cup of coffee to celebrate and the first of many sock changes for the team. As we left CP2, the sun began to peek out and within half an hour we were all putting on sunblock. Our main focus in stage 3 was the food that was awaiting us at CP3 – we knew that Val and Vey had been shopping and cooking to ensure we kept our blood sugar at an appropriate level and we couldn’t wait. Just under two hours later and we weren’t disappointed – cold pizza, pork pies, homemade flapjacks. It isn’t just an army that marches on its stomach – it’s the Ridgeway girls as well!
Saturday 19th July - the Starting Line
The alarms went off all too soon, just before 5am on Saturday. We were all heartened to see that it was more-or-less daylight at this time, which augured well for walking 24 hours hence. A quick breakfast and final kit check, then we crammed ourselves into the car and drove to the start line.
There was something rather surreal about the huddle of people at the start line. Groups of Gurkhas in identical kit were everywhere; there were some serious types who were obviously going to be running the entire course; then there was the majority of the “field” – slightly nervous, not sure whether it was really a good idea, sleep deprived and unable (already!) to face another cereal bar. Before anyone could devote too much time or attention to thinking about it, the countdown began and we were off.
For those who are unfamiliar with Trailwalker, perhaps this would be the time to explain the practicalities. Entry is as a team of four. The route is 100km along the South Downs Way, divided into 11 stages, with 10 checkpoints (CP1 to CP10) and the Finish, which is at Brighton Racecourse. Teams need to check in at each checkpoint (to ensure that they’re not jumping into cars and driving from start to finish) and all four team members must complete the event for the team to be considered to have “done” Trailwalker. Support Crew are able to meet their teams at each of CPs 1 to 9, to provide them with tea, sympathy and, in Ridgeway’s case, the contents of two branches of Waitrose. As will become apparent, teams view their Support Crews as a cross between guardian angels, Florence Nightingale and the A-team, often simultaneously.
Friday 18th July - the night before the Big Day
We travelled down to Petersfield on Friday afternoon, knowing that we would have to get through the dull but necessary process of registration that evening in order to be able to use our allocated 6am starting slot on the Saturday morning. When we arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, having sorted our kit boxes to include the essentials and nothing more, there were plenty of other entrants around, as well as lots of Gurkhas, some directing traffic, some inspecting kit and others registering for the event themselves. The registration process went both swiftly and smoothly; had we arrived a couple of hours later we would have had to endure lengthy queues. Once everything was ticked and signed, we were given tracking bands on our wrists, with which to check in at each checkpoint. We then opened a rather nice bottle of red wine to quell our nerves. The heavens promptly opened, sending the team’s blood pressure back up – none of us really wanted to walk in the rain… A pasta supper preceded a return to the B&B and an early night.
24 hours, 42 minutes and 40 seconds, one heck of an achievement.
We did it. Team Ridgeway Ramblers completed the 2008 Oxfam/GWT Trailwalker in 24 hours, 42 minutes and 40 seconds as a complete team. We then drank pink champagne, in true Ridgeway spirit. Once I've sorted out photos etc, I'll post more of a "blow by blow" account of the event, but there are some more important things to be dealt with first. Top of the list are is the Thank You section. Support Crew - you are all amazing people - tolerant beyond belief, cheerful, turn-your-hand-to-anything, reliable. Vey - massaging Rachael's feet was above and beyond, and you made sure we could have fed five other teams too; Cass - Ms. What-a-Trooper, gets it done with a permanent smile; Jayson - attacked by a gazebo, supplying advice to the St John's Ambulance team, let's say no more about that!; G - you're insane, you give the BEST back massage, you made us all smile when we were on the verge of tears at CP9, we love you; Rich - I don't think you slept any more than we did over the distance, thank you for getting us there, for cheering us on and for driving me home again... Christian - thank you for abandoning work to be there for Stephanie when she really needed you. You'll probably never know how important it was. Over and above doing the walk was the incredible generosity of spirit we witnessed during those 100km. Sometimes, it was just the little things that made us smile, or well up (bunch of girls, I know!) - the people on stage 7 who had left out jugs of juice and plates of biscuits for the walkers, who they'd never met nor would they; the Oxfam volunteer at CP 6 who had made us each tea and coffee and fed us chocolate within 45 seconds of being checked in; the vehicles that beeped and waved as we were crossing the road bridge in the night on stage 8; the other walkers with whom we spoke along the way, most especially team Aloha Ubantu. The list could go on for a long long time. Big thanks also to those who texted us and called us during the walk - Philip and Val, Sara, Elena, Sally, Tomi - we weren't always able to reply, but just knowing you were there meant so much; Sam - you're a star! Being told to "keep pushing" at 70km made us all laugh - maybe Trailwalker is a bit like childbirth... Caroline - splendid card, absolutely hit the nail on the head! And too many others to mention individually, but THANK YOU, every one of you. So - it wasn't just about putting one foot in front of another and keeping on going for the four walkers. It was a whole host of other things and other people that made it possible. Trailwalker is quite something else!
Not long to go - counting down the hours
We've loaded up the car; we're eating pasta for lunch. Then we're off. I think we have everything. Certainly, we can't fit much more in the car, so god only knows what it is that we could have left out - the kitchen sink maybe? Or perhaps one of the cats... I'm nervous, with moments of being downright terrified. The nerves are about not being able to finish; about letting people down; about getting knackered or injured and having to pull out (the spectre of the terrible tiredness of the Thames Down Link walk lurks in my mind); about someone else in the team dropping out. It won't be for want of preparation or of support or of desire to do it. This time tomorrow, we'll have done the first four stages. This time on Sunday, all going to plan, we'll have finished. All I ask now, is that you think positive thoughts for us. If prayer is your thing, a few kind words in the right direction won't go amiss. And I'll let you know how we get on in my next post. Watch this space - just not until Sunday.
Crisis
Going through the checklist last night and throwing kit into boxes, I discovered that my woolly ski hat is nowhere to be found. It is a pale blue beanie hat with a white embroidered snowflake. If you happen to find it, tell it to go home quickly, otherwise it won't be able to come along on Trailwalker.