I'm often asked why I choose to walk across Scotland every year on the TGO Challenge. I believe the following pictures answer that question admirably.
It's the Challengers themselves that make this walk so incredibly fulfilling. You can walk across Scotland any time you fancy, and you will meet some lovely people. But it's in the middle weeks of May that you'll bump into the most amazing bunch.
You can click on the group pictures to make them much larger, but should you want the original full strength horror of an individual photo, just leave a comment I'll get them to you.
I've nicked a few of the pictures, towards the end of the bunch, from other folk, but you'll notice that they get a credit (well, sort of) beneath each picture.
The first four pictures are taken at Tarfside, an established watering hole for the Challenge. The local Masons open up their hall (right opposite the village sports field, where Challengers are allowed to camp for the night) and can rehydrate to their hearts' content at splendidly low prices.
The remaining five pictures are from the Thursday evening dinner at the Park Hotel in Montrose.
I only wish the night had gone on longer as I missed meeting so many Challengers. Well, there's always next year.
Some Challengers seem to have run around the back of the photo and appear a few times. There should be a cull I suppose, but I have already weeded out the truly dreadful pictures and the ones left are as good as they get. Honestly. You do look like that.
Some of the folk in these pictures won't be back, so if that's you, thank you. Thank you for making the event as wonderful as it can possibly be. And for those of you that are coming back for more? I'll see you next time, possibly on some midge infested bog in the pouring rain, with your socks lying in your tent, sullen lumps of cold sodden felt, infused with pounds of mud.
And below are two pictures that Ian Cotterill kindly provided - those having just completed their tenth and twentieth crossings. Thanks Ian.
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| TENS AND TWENTIES |
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| TWENTIES |
So. There you go. Zillions of Wonderful Challengers!
I agree, the people make it really special. The landscape is great, but it's always there. Challengers are only there for two weeks of the year, which makes it special. Even though I've only done two and a half Challenges I'm going to miss all the people I've met as I won't be doing it next year. Hopefully I'll be able to do 2017 or 2018.
ReplyDeleteYou could always pop up for a week...
DeleteJust a thought...
;-)
That's certainly a possibility. Not quite the same, though.
DeleteOoh-er, I think I need to lie down in a darkened room!
ReplyDelete☺
Will there be dusky maidens?
DeleteOH DEAR GOD!
ReplyDeleteAs I said earlier:
Delete"I have already weeded out the truly dreadful pictures and the ones left are as good as they get. Honestly. You do look like that."
;-)
I'm surprised it got through the ISP web blockers :-)
DeleteExcellent, no photos of me :-) Although that's probably because I didn't do it this year! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe girls would love two weeks with their grandparents in May.
DeleteThis really should be sorted...
:-)
Ah, but I'd heard that you were running a crèche next year instead of doing the TGOC! ;)
Deletegreat photos and yes i,m still jealous i can,t do the challenge and meet these nice people .
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame you can't manage it, Chris. Is this down to available holiday time? Have you thought about tagging along for a few days, rather than walk the whole thing?
DeleteVery nice! Well done, you Tens and Twenties.
ReplyDeleteI just hope potential new Challengers aren't scared off...
Hi Emma
ReplyDelete:-)
I'm sure any newcomer will be bowled over by everyone's loveliness.
Well... apart from Mr Walker, naturally. It is impossible to capture a good image of the chap.
I was particularly impressed by Caburn's halo. Whatever job he's doing, he should have a chat with His Holiness the Incredibly Irreverend Dave about taking up orders.
I counted up male / female ratio of the pictured Challengers. 35 girls and 67 boys. The proportions are slowly rising (well, they obviously are in my world.)
x
Blimey - Caburn does indeed have a saintly aura. But as to the rest, many of those shots remind me of the "rogues gallery" spot on Crimewatch, where the public is warned not to approach but to phone 999.
DeleteOh, hang on - one of them is me!
Hi Alan it,s down to work that i can,t do the challenge but next year i,m going to have a bash at the cape wrath trail which should be fun .
ReplyDeleteYou're taking on a rather grand walk there Chris.
DeleteEnjoy, Sir!
:-)
Naughty boys. I notice you don't dare show my photo.
ReplyDeleteTracy
DeleteI keep your wonderful photo in my breast pocket, close to my heart.
Perhaps I should keep it in my trouser pocket...
So how come you get colour, but we only get black and white, hmmmm???
ReplyDeleteAre us tenners really so monochrome???
Black and white, Jezza?
DeleteI saw a rainbow of characters in that photograph!
:-)
i start proper training next month in the elan valley .
ReplyDelete