TGO Challenge 2014: Mallaig to Nether Warburton. Home Page

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This post pulls together all the blog posts for my 2014 Challenge, from sending off the application form, sorting out the new shelter, designing our route, to the walk itself.

You can click on each post (it’s in chronological order) and the blog post will open in a new window.

 

PREPARING FOR THE TGO CHALLENGE:

• We are successful in the draw:                              A route in for vetting
• The Route Sheet                                                   Route Vetted
• The maps: A route Overview                                 Route overview
• A new shelter for the Challenge                            Taming Trinnie Trailstar
• A post for gear heads                                            Final tweaks & Gear List

THE CHALLENGE BLOG POSTS:

• Part One                                                               Leaving the city behind.
• Part Two                                                               When a day goes agley... 
• Part Three                                                            Consequences
• Part Four                                                              A walk through Stronelairg
• Part Five                                                               Let's stick together
• Part Six                                                                 Callater Nights  
• Part Seven                                                           The Challenge family 
• Part Eight                                                             Go East, Young Man

 

I’ve had fun putting this together. I hope you enjoy it too.

NOTE: If you are thinking of applying for the Challenge for the first time and would like to know a little more about it, or have anything you would like to ask, please feel free to get in touch. You can get hold of me by email; You can find my email address on the Challenge Message Board quite easily.

This year I walked with Phil Lambert and Andy Walker and you can find their accounts of the 2014 TGO Challenge by clicking on their names. It’s up to you who’s version you believe!

TGO Challenge 2014: Part 8: Go East, Young Man

PHIL PACKING UP AT CALLATER LODGE

Over the years I reckon I’ve probably clambered up Carn an t-Sagairt Mor with Pete Shepherd a dozen times, both of us with thick heads from the night before down at the Lodge. I felt slightly melancholy as we started our trudge (a little late, it has to be said) up the hill. I missed the old sod. Morpeth and I were part of the “Class of ‘95,” along with Michael Gray, Chief Constafool Andy Desmond (VD & scar), Bert Hendrickse, Mick Croydon and of course, Phyllis LaBorwitt.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story of our trip to the coast, with occasional comments chucked in.

MAD'N'BAD & STORMIN – CLICK TO ENLARGE


CROYDON, LORD ELPUS & ME c/o STORMIN – CLICK TO ENLARGE


DUBH LOCH










EVENING ABOVE THE SPITTAL


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HEADING FOR THE 'TUCK IN' – CLICK TO ENLARGE


ANDY’S PIC: BLUE DOOR WALK


N WATER BRIDGE: SPOT YOUR SHELTER – CLICK TO ENLARGE


THE TRAILSTAR LOUNGE




ANDY & PHIL, NETHER WARBURTON – CLICK TO ENLARGE


ME & PHIL, NETHER WARBURTON, IN THE RAIN – CLICK TO ENLARGE

Now then. One last word. Your rucksack has been your constant companion throughout your walk. She’s protected you from icy blasts, provided comfortable rest stops in the sunshine, been dropped in sheep-shit, bogs and streams. She’s looked after all your gear while you were in the pub.

Do the decent thing. Take her down to the seaside. She’s deserved it.

As I was trudging down the road to Nether Warburton in the pouring rain, my skull cinema was playing this little gem.

TGO Challenge 2014: Part 7: The Challenge family

This is a post for my one of my best mates, Denis Pidgeon.

Amongst my friends there’s been a lot of talk recently about the “Challenge Family” and what it means to each of us. Over the last twenty years I’ve made dozens and dozens of friends on the Challenge. Had it not been for this wonderful event we probably would have never met. This event welcomes all-comers; it’s inclusive, and a force for good.

I’m just pointing that out.

Here are some of this year’s crop of Challenge friends. There are an awful lot of people missing from this post, so please don’t feel offended if I have missed taking a snap of you!

DENIS PIDGEON

 

TGO Challenge 2014: Part 6: Callater Nights

It’s but a short hop up to Callater Lodge from Braemar but it always seems to take a little longer after a Saturday night in the Fife Arms, and a hurty knee.

IAN COTTERILL, MICK (CROYDON), JOHN DINGWALL, ENROUTE TO CALLATER

It was wonderful to see Mr Dingwall – who had had a very nasty health-scare earlier in the year – fit enough to carry his clobber up to the lodge. It would take more than a blooming heart attack to keep him away.

ME, ENROUTE TO CALLATER LODGE [PIC C/O PHIL]

These days, Callater Lodge (also known as Stan and Bill’s) is manned heroically by Bill, Mick and a few trusted friends. Their hospitality is legendary, with warm fires, gas lighting and friendship.

CALLATER LODGE

 

PETER MOLENAAR

 

STORMIN

 

 

VICKY & TOBY THE FIRST

 

BILL, THE MUSIC MAN

I was fortunate in bagging a bed upstairs, so all I had to do was stumble upstairs to bed at God-knows-what-time-in-the-morning. I slept like a log, until… Well, just play the video. There are no pictures.

 

THERE ARE NO PICTURES. JUST CLICK & PLAY FOR YOUR DELIGHT & EDIFICATION

It would have just been wrong to bludgeon the blighter to death with heavy hiking boots or to spear him with sharpened walking poles, as I had spent all evening enjoying his hospitality. Ho hum.