It’s a pretty hectic time preparing for a BG, it should be rest time really but there’s so much to do, like work, filling food bags and did I fill them, sorting time cards, sharpening pencils, the list goes on and on. Needless, to say I was up at normal time Friday morning ready for a final kit check before breakfast and the numerous texts, phone calls and good luck emails, whilst checking the weather forecast ever 30 seconds but we did find some chill out time before my brother arrived from Southend for a mid -morning snack (full English), more coffee was drunk before loading the van, how anyone can do a BG from a car boot is beyond me, we had every single corner filled and no floor space left. We were almost ready to go but not before an extra nap, which I found pretty easy all things considered. I woke slowly before filling up again with spaghetti; it was more a case of forcing it in than enjoying the flavours.
Helen offered to drive but I thought it would be less stressful if I drove; we dropped off the dog and picked up Mickey P in Kendal. As we drove up past Thirlmere we were shocked at the lack of water and so we slated the people of Manchester for drinking too much. We parked in the car park behind Moot Hall, next breath everyone had gone and I was on my own and for the very first time I felt nervous of the task ahead of me, people arriving soon put a stop to that. We gathered at the doors of Moot Hall and soon had a strong crowd of well wishers to see me off. I asked Ray to go down the Sweet Temptation passage when we started and as we passed he had a quick look down saying “that’s ok but what are we to do if the Piano removal men are coming up with a piano” a look of disbelieve from me followed. The time soon passed as I chatted to crowds of well wishers, I’m not one who likes a fuss but it was great to see them all. Almost time to go was the cry from the back I turned on my watch only to find the wrong time of day but there was no time to adjust it as we ran so I passed it back for someone else to sort anyway luck was on our side that night Sweet Temptation alley was clear not a piano insight.
Leg 1: Ray Gill, Garden Centre Dave, Nick Gannicliffe, Andrew McCracken (Parachute run) 12.5miles 5150ft of Ascent, target time
Ad Altiora, we climbed and climbed towards Skiddaw passing the small car park and our waiting road crew with the Pacers bags and my watch, I could now tell how fast we were going, too fast! My heart rate was going mental, must just be the adrelin rush of the BG I thought, my pacers were telling me to slow down, which I did! (they may say different), I glanced back a few times to see how Nick G was doing, GC Dave stating if we stop talking your going too fast, with that advice and only deep gulps of breath to be herd I slowed. Skiddaw was soon topped out to the cries of “well that’s the fastest I’ve done that” I needed to slow down but the next section is my favourite on the round with its long slopes and soft grass it seems effortless and easy to gain some time. I topped out alone on Calva, both pacers opting to just view me touching the summit. We dropped off and crossed the heather towards the river at a more of a walking pace, much to the delight of my pacers, picking up the worn trod with ease.
We hit the main path towards Blencathra my feet were starting to cook and I could feel something was not right. We spotted Nick re-grouped then up to the summit, where we were meet by Andrew. He was to be our guide on the parachute route, as no-one else had done it before; we got it right this week thanks to Andrew and a little red hat as our target to a trod. Again this route is fabulous if you like the adrenalin rush, the chute to me is like a white knuckle ride at a theme park, steep grassy descents then the fast and furious scree runs finishing with a narrow track beside the beck, one wrong footing and it will spit you out.
I dropped into Threkeld with one pacer at my side, Ray, passing the industrial units I could feel my feet , they where sore my heels slide back and forth as we went, s##t was my thought had we gone too fast and I’ve blown it?, but I was feeling so strong. At the pit stop I must have had a look of anger on my face, I was cross with myself I had damaged my feet so early on, anyway with an egg butty and a cup of tea with sugar inside me and loads cheering from my supporters, I set out again but in the back of my mind I was thinking it was over, a 2 year plan had been smashed to pieces in a little over 3 hours, I just had to pray that the hard work of my pit crew to protect my heels from further damage would work.
TBC
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