To add to my growing archive of TGO Challenges on here, I’ve added this blast from the past. It was my fifth TGO Challenge and Phil’s first, and Miss Whiplash came along to ensure he behaved himself. I’ve lifted the photographs straight from Phil’s blog post of March 2009, only editing them slightly.
Our choice of Polartec tights, whilst proving to be eminently practical, did not win many style-points from the Challenge Fashion Police. They are now only carried for chilly nights in the sleeping bag, when no-one can see.
First-timers all over Britain (and the rest of the world too!) getting their routes in for approval might be worried about the weather. Fear not! We had beautiful weather for the first eight days, followed by a blizzard and then finishing with some more sunshine. It’s not always wall-to-wall hurricanes, even though it may seem like it from recent years!
Phil scanned the photos from prints and they have come out pretty well. You can click on each picture to make them a bit bigger
Hopefully, this might give Miss Whiplash a little nudge, to persuade her to come back for another bash.
Did you not notice the giggles as you passed during that crossing? Please tell me you did not get on the train dressed like that......
ReplyDeleteI think around that time I used to wear a nice pair of purple ronhill tracksters in the hills.
Btw what exactly is going on in the 3rd photo, glad that I can't see your hands.
No one dared giggle: Miss Whiplash would have sorted them out. You should see her in vengeful flight!
DeleteI share your pain: If you wait a year or so the black Polartec turns a nice shade of purple.
That third photo has been scrupulously edited.
Either you were doing that irritating (so I'm frequently told) thing that men do and trying to sample the food that's about to be served up anyway if only you'd WAIT A MINUTE!!!!
DeleteOr there's another explanation...
Miss Whiplash's wooden spoon! A Weapon of Mass destruction... My knuckles are still smarting.
DeleteWhat's Spike Milligan doing on the Challenge with a hanky on his head?
ReplyDeleteLord Elpus taught me many things in the lifetime of our friendship: Where to get the most beautiful Rhone wines, how to write a letter that is at first glance wonderfully polite but on closer inspection tells the recipient he is a complete wanker, and most importantly, how to make a sun-hat when you have left yours at home.
DeleteGood spotting:Spike Milligan wrote: "His legs hung from his underpants like two pieces of knotted string. (Puckoon)
Being closely related to a committed Goon fan (who should be committed...) I couldn't fail to spot the great Malligna x
ReplyDeleteImpressive feat bringing that aircraft down. I've never quite managed that although I did once knock somebody off a moped.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been the sun's reflected glare from my balding head that dazzled the pilot.
DeleteUnder instruction from the Civil Aviation Authority, I wear a hat these days.
Sometimes the sun shines on the Challenge?! Surely not.
ReplyDeleteI had a year when I only put my coat on because I was cold. It only rained when I was climbing back up the cliff path at St Cyrus. It *can* happen. It *will* happen again!
Delete:-)
"you can click on each picture to make them a bit bigger" ........PLEASE I'd rather NOT!
ReplyDeleteThese public protestations, Laura... Click on them when no one's around...
Delete;-)
Hopefully, this might give Miss Whiplash a little nudge
ReplyDeleteCome on, Alan. I'm not that daft. And anyway, the boys from E Wing (my support team) are all out now.
And they know where you live ;-)
I'm pretty certain the boys from E Wing don't hold a candle to Miss W's powers of persuasion...
DeleteCome on... You know you want to... really... They say that with all this global warming, 2014's going to be a lovely year.
:-)
I have doubts that you'll persuade her ladyship, and these days my credit card could not bear the strain of her generosity to fellow travellers.
ReplyDeleteThe joy of that night in the bar at the Tomdoun will stay with me forever, as I'm sure the memory of your credit card receipt will stay with you.
Delete"Top shelf drinks all round"... *sigh*
Lord E, Miss W, Spike - you all look loverley (and young!)!!!
ReplyDeleteGood job the Tomdoun's closed; though sad ...
Hi David :-)
DeleteWe were younger: Fourteen years younger and fitter in fact. Time flies by.
Hopefully the Tomdoun will be re-opened and given a new lease of life. But I fear as time goes on it becomes more and more unlikely.