We’d just arrived in Holland the last time I wrote about events on the GoTrek – now well in to Germany Holland feels a long time ago!

Although very wet compared to the glorious weather we had in the UK Holland and more importantly the people we spent time with there made it a wonderful part of the journey.  Not forgetting how delightfully flat the country is with an impressive cycle lane network too.

We visited a gym with an altitude training room, something I’ve never experienced before, funny that I should be in there with a picture of Everest behind me during the anniversary week of my summit push on the mountain two years ago!

Sport, health & wellness centre Julien 

ElliptiGo’ing at altitude!

We also enjoyed a night at Fitland!  An impressive set up where you sleep at altitude in rooms with air pressure equivalent to being at 2,500m.  The hotel had an aeroplane bar and a ferry spa – click here to see Punkt video for details!!

Dave, Arnoud and I

Arnoud, a lovely Dutch guy who’d joined us from Rotterdam to Amsterdam when we had arrived in Holland, invited us to stay at his hotel.  He and his wife had set it up soon after they lost there daughter, Loek, to cancer.  It is only open one week out of every month and it was a privilege to be invited there.  The hotel is for families with severely ill children.  It’s a place that they can go to relax, enjoy lots of activities, good food and have fun.  The weeks are run by volunteers and the cost is covered by the Foundation Lucai.  We spent time with the families and children, shared meals and soaked up the atmosphere – it was a remarkable atmosphere.  It amazed me that after what Arnoud and Karen have been through that they both have such capacity for giving and caring.  Amongst the fun and lightness of our journey this was a poignant time.

People are just amazing, you never know what somebody else might be going through or has gone through.  It made me, yet again, realise how precious life is and that we can make a difference… and that I can certainly ElliptiGo a huge number of miles… especially knowing that the bigger purpose behind each elliptical rotation is to inspire others, to raise money for Coppafeel and to support the brave and inspirational woman behind Coppafeel, Kris.

With Kris the founder of Coppafeel

We departed Holland in the pouring rain and crossed the boarder into Germany.  It was grey and miserable.  The change between the two countries was immediate.  The cycle paths were not quite what they had been, the road signs were in a different font and different colour – which actually makes a surprisingly huge difference!

We got our heads down and  ElliptiGo’ed all day in the rain.  With no sign of the rain letting up we decided that our plan to camp should be abandoned and we’d find a cheap place to stay.  We looked at a few places and they weren’t that nice so we carried on.  Realising our options were running out, it was getting late and we needed to find somewhere, we past a building that looked like a big house but with loads of Canoe’s outside.  The door was open and Adolf (Addy) greeted us.  We briefly explained our scenario – he told us to take our ElliptiGo’s around the back, said that he would be leaving soon, but the hostel (ordinarily only for organised Canoe groups of 15 people or more) was empty for the night and we could stay!  We felt the kitchen, dining room, games room, shower room and huge dorm would be enough for the evening.  What a welcome to Germany!

This is a link to the hostels facebook page.

Addy said “I’d like to think that someone would do this for me if I was doing something similar” which is what Joe (the stranger – now friend) who had taken us in on the first night of the Go Trek had said.  People are mostly full of goodness…  I think maybe we just don’t get a chance to see it when we’re all so busy being independent and not ElliptiGo’ing around Europe!

Addy’s Hostel

Unfortunately the rain continued into Dusseldorf.  It was good to arrive at our event that evening and meet Stefan (the ElliptiGo man in Germany) who had been riding around on his ElliptiGo with a trailer promoting our arrival!

The Punkt video of our meeting with Stefan

ElliptiGo trailer advert

A few days into Germany despite the miserable weather we’d experienced hospitable, welcoming and kind people.  We were on route to Klien- Villip via Cologne and the sun finally appeared as we rode alongside the Rhine.  We reached the mountains and passed through stunning woodland – I love Germany!

Our Go’s by the Rhine

Dave’s friend Nicola realised that our route passed her parents house and we had a wonderful evening with them and delicious home cooked food.  It was a real treat and I wished (as I have so often on this trip) that we could stay longer.  But Bad Neuenahr was calling – a beautiful and interesting little German village where we did some ElliptiGo test rides and met the locals.

We met Marc and Machaela Linden, owners of a nearby family run vine yard and boutique hotel.  They invited us to a BBQ at theirs that evening.  They also invited us to stay.

Wine bottling/ElliptiGo parking shed

We accepted their kind offer and yesterday (Day 23) left our trailers in their wine bottling shed and did a century on the ElliptiGo’s!

100 miles!

A friend of theirs told us that just a few days ago the cycle path that runs alongside the River Ahr from the source to the Rhine had just been finished and we calculated that an out and return would make us not only the first ElliptiGoer’s along the route but we’d also be able to hit the 100mile mark!

It was a gorgeous ride…  Already totally taken with Germany I am loving it more and more!  I’d recommend coming to stay here, Weingut Sonnenberg, and visiting the River Ahr and the region.  (It’d be a long shot but Nicola’s parents are worth a visit too – they are lovely, warm and fun people!)

After 769 miles and yesterdays 100 Dave and I are feeling great.  Physically we’re strong and both feeling fitter, especially now we’re back into hills.  The ElliptiGo is proving to be a remarkable machine.  We’re getting fit without compromising condition.

ElliptiGo’ing in Utrecht

Our efforts to raise money for our £3000.00 target for Coppafeel continue…  We’re at 42% of our target with £1,276.01 raised.  Thank you to everyone who has donated.

Please support by donating directly to our charity – Click here to donate to Coppafeel.

Or by buying a Go Trek T Shirt – Click here for T-Shirts.

www.thegotrek.com

We’re exactly three weeks into The Go Trek.

769miles of ElliptiGo‘ing through the UK, Holland and now into Germany.

So what’s happened?…

Physically my body is a little different.  I was curious to know where and how my body might change.  When you ride an ElliptiGo, perhaps surprisingly, you feel it not only in your legs but also arms, stomach and back – it’s an all over workout.  My arms have more definition than they ever have had, my muscles are stronger and my body is leaner, although I’ve stayed the same weight.  I wondered if my thighs and bum might chunk up a little bit like they did when I cycled Lands End to John O’Groats but they haven’t – which is nice!

ElliptiGo arms!

Dave has lost weight and his already impressive calves have even more definition!

Dave Calves Cornthwaite

I’m definitely in the routine of eating, sleeping, eating, ElliptiGo’ing, presenting/speaking, eating and sleeping some more.  I have everything organised in my trailer.  Everything has its place.  All items are grouped and put in dry bags, which all fit perfectly into my two Aquapac rucksacks that, as if made to measure, fit exactly into my trailer!

All my luggage neatly packed!

Mentally and emotionally my head is in the journey.  Different to a lot of other trips I’ve done, this trip has presented quite new challenges.  We’ve yet to camp!  The journey (so far) has not been about roughing it.  The challenge has come from the long physical days, followed by events and presentations that has meant on average we’re getting around 6-7hrs sleep a night.

I’m loving spending time with family, friends, friends of friends and new people who we’ve never met before.  We are meeting wonderful people and finding ourselves in remarkable situations.  Right now, Dave and I are currently staying at a Winery Boutique Hotel, our ElliptiGo’s are in a shed – the wine fermentation and bottling shed!  This wasn’t planned.  We met the vino family yesterday, they invited us to stay and we simply said “Yes, thank you”.

Wine bottling/ElliptiGo parking shed

I’m also really feeling like I’m getting to know Dave better.  Before the start of this trip Dave and I had spent 4-5hrs in each others company.  Dave is humble, he’s accomplished amazing things (including being tetras European, adult category, Champion when he was 12yrs old!), he’s good to travel with, considerate and ridiculous.  The ridiculous part is important – if you’re not smiling and having a good time, at least sometimes, then what on earth are you doing?!

Team Douche Bag!

www.thegotrek.com

After Ditchling Beacon (the third highest point on the South Downs) Dave and I thought the rolling hills were pretty much over for England – how wrong we were!

Dave and I are really getting into shape now!

We departed Brighton pier with our entourage – Ali B on her bike and for a short while Chris on his moped.  Then we hit hills, lots of them.  The North Downs are most definitely not flat!  We stopped for a pretty lengthy lunch consisting of delicious sandwiches (thank you Loobey), Chocolate Digestives (thank you Super Cycling Man) and Lindt chocolate (thank you Ali B)!  Then we made our way to Tonbridge where the sun was shining and people had been out mowing their lawns – it felt like a typical British summer’s afternoon. We spent the night at Dave’s cousin’s house and for the first time we did some stretching and ‘rolling’ which felt good!

Rolling on the Fit Bar

Dave’s aunty called round and I liked her very much, she is a whirlwind of energy and sadly didn’t stay long – although long enough to tell us we were both mad!  Dave’s cousin has two small children, Stella (age3) got out her book called ‘a Squash and a Squeeze’ and wondered if Dave’s name was actually Squeeze!  Funny as only the night before, having never seen or heard of this book, my god-daughter Flo had chosen the very same one for her bedtime story.

After a grand feast we slept really well and being so organized, left the next morning bang on time! I then realised that I’d left my gloves in the house – just as Dave had shut the latched door. Luckily, a helpful neighbour had a ladder and I was able to retrieve my gloves!

Just climbing through a window – as you do!

More hills and a few miles later we were met by fellow ElliptiGo’er Chris, who works at the Cyclopark in Gravesend – our destination for the evenings test ride and presentation. Having experienced some serious hill ascents the joy of the descents came and with the wind behind us we were ecstatic to hit a record time for a five mile distance of 17 minutes and 14 seconds!

Here’s a little clip just after we made our record – Punkt – The Go Trek 

The Cyclopark was really good fun, lots of people who have never been on an ElliptiGo came and tried them out – I think Deb’s was the most delighted!

Deb’s first time on an ElliptiGO

Thanks to the staff at Cyclopark we had a great evening and a fun presentation before we hit the road for a short trip to stay with a friend’s in-laws, who stayed up until 11pm and fed us the most delicious dinner.  Thank you Jo!

The next morning whilst packing our trailers we were presented with a cake – IDEAL – perfect snack food!  After a short ferry crossing (Gravesend to Tilbury) we were joined by Andy, a good friend of mine who I’d met when I was 18 – he had been a guest in the chalet I ran in France!  We soon stopped for a cup of tea to accompany our cake.

Tea and Cake!

Another pretty good day, I think we had few minutes rain but that was soon forgotten when we arrived at our night stop – Andy’s place wasn’t too shabby.

Humble lodgings for the night!

Andy’s place is actually New Hall School in Chelmsford. We had school dinner in the canteen, visited the design & technology centre for some trailer maintenance and then did a presentation for some of the students. The night ended with a very splendid hot chocolate and Andrea exclaiming that “ElliptiGo’s are my future!”

School Dinner!

A bit of Gaffa tape needed!

Presentation at New Hall School

When Dave said we were being joined by some mates for our final day in the UK I wasn’t expecting anyone to turn up on a BMX!

Ben waving on his BMX!!

Ben did though, and he kept up!  We were also joined by the Mississippi Challenge 2013 boys.  Probably my favourite part of the day was this interview we did at Colchester castle…  Punkt – The Go Trek

We made it to Harwich in plenty of time for the ferry so Dave and I headed for Morrison’s to buy supplies and dinner. Amazingly, the Manager saw us in our Go Trek t-shirts and asked about what we were doing – he then said dinner was on him and we could get whatever we liked from the cafe!

I still can’t quite believe it now.

Lovely Morrison’s manager!

The ferry was MASSIVE. We tucked our ElliptiGo’s into a corner of the lower car deck and made for our cabin. 443 miles ElliptiGo’d in the UK and now we were Holland bound!

ElliptiGo’s on the ferry

It wasn’t the best wake-up call I’ve ever experienced, ‘don’t worry be happy’ bellowing out of the speaker in the ceiling of the cabin followed by very loud announcements every 10mins that breakfast was being served on the upper deck. They started at 6 am and we weren’t even due to dock until 7.45am!

After the incredible weather we had in the UK I was expecting even more sunshine and warmth, instead we were greeted by grey clouds and rain.  It wasn’t all bad though – Ned, a friend of Dave’s, had joined us on the ferry and was accompanying us for the day on his Whike!  A very cool wind surf/bike machine… cool until the chain snapped and Ned needed a tow.

ElliptiGo towing a Whike!

Chris and John, two Dutch guys had met us off the ferry and were escorting us to Rotterdam Central Park. John towed the Whike and Chris arranged a mid-morning tea stop at his friend’s hotel which was very lovely and a welcome break form the rain. Next stop was the park and on our arrival I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw Jan! He was the guy we’d met just outside Leicester last week and had come to see us – bearing gifts of Nutella and chocolate.

We love this man!

Jan the chocolate fairy!

We also met Prince Pieter Christiaan. He came to our presentation at the running club and presented us with some Go Trek ElliptiGo underwear which was pretty cool. It’s not every day that one gets knickers from a Prince!

Five hours later we’d arrived just south of Amsterdam – it had been our longest day and we were tired! Arnoud, a Dutch ElliptiGO champion and all round lovely guy, had accompanied us. I was pretty excited about where we stayed. Punkt – Hotel Fletcher

Sunday was our rest day – apparently! We had been entered into a 45km race and we made the start but not much further – preferring the breakfast and hot drink option instead and that afternoon we had the chance to see Ned again and test ride the Whikes for ourselves. Brilliant FUN!

Loving the Whike!

The start of this week has been busy and fortunately more chocolate has found its way to us – thank you Fritz!  We’re getting through the miles and have already completed over 600!

The flatness of Holland combined with the cycle paths here makes for easier ElliptiGo’ing, which has been a welcome change – Dave and I although feeling good are a little tired!

Our total donations for Coppafeel are now at £1,164.36.  Thank you to everyone who has and is supporting us.

We are having fun using Punkt – an interactive map where we are showing photos and short video clips as we go.  See The Go Trek Punkt Map Here.

We are now selling The GoTrek t-shirts via the ‘Say Yes More’ website so don’t forget to get your-self one before they all disappear!

To buy a GoTrek t-shirt click this link.  Each sale supports Coppafeel.

Say Yes More Go Trek t-shirts

Honestly I’d intended to do more training than I actually did on the ElliptiGo before we left.  I managed about 40 or 50 miles in total.  However, discovering Dave had done much less I felt fine about it.  We both thought it would be an incredibly tough start, but that we’d soon adjust.

We arrived in Liverpool early – so early that they wouldn’t let us in!  Building our trailers in a nearby Morrison’s car park wasn’t exactly what I’d expected!

Building Trailers in Morrison’s car Park!

It was lovely starting our trip in the UK, so often my adventures begin in another country and to have my dad there at the start to wave me off and to know that through the UK leg of our journey I’d be seeing both friends and family was really great.

Joined by Daniel, our first guest rider, we set off at 2pm last Tuesday.  Within minutes we’d been stopped by a motorist who’d blocked our path with his car, got out and waved us down.  He needed to know what on earth we were standing on and what we were doing!

This man stopped us in the road!

As luck would have it our ElliptiGo’s and trailers got in the way (literally) of a cyclist called Paul, who just happened to be a volunteer for the Cycle Network and guided us through Runcorn city centre avoiding roads, traffic and hold ups.  Of all the people we could have got in the way of, I’m so glad it was Paul.

As we made our way into Sandbach we stopped at a pub for our first cup of tea.  Half an hour later with £20 in donations for Coppafeel from generous locals and staff at the pub we set off having been warned ‘there’s a big hill into Stoke. Good luck!’

The hill wasn’t that big!  But it was gone 6pm and we decided to think about finding our first stop – a field to camp in.  I looked back to see that Dave was behind and saw a serious looking cyclist over taking him and was rapidly approaching to over take me too.  I thought if he was local he might have some advice about the best route we could take, like Paul had done just hours earlier.  Amazing how conversations can go… within two minutes Cycling Joe said ‘do you want to come and stay at mine?’

Naturally Dave and I said YES, then waited for Joe to call his wife and wondered if we’d done the right thing – this man was a total stranger!  But hey, this was an adventure and gut instincts said Joe was a good guy.

Arriving at Joe’s beautiful home to be greeted by his lovely wife and daughter, a huge bath, comfy beds (complete with teddy bears) and fish and chips for supper.  Dave and I did a lot of grinning!  It was such a funny evening.  We sat around the table with our new friends and laughed a lot…  and as I drifted off to sleep that night having done our first 33.4 miles the only muscles that were aching were in my face – from laughing!  Surely tomorrow our legs would ache?

The lovely family who took us in on our first night

We departed from Joe’s at 8am after a delicious full English cooked by June and with no aching muscles (? thinking they’d probably ache later on or tomorrow) and we got on the road … to my parent’s house!

Two things spring to mind when I think back to Stoke; approaching the most incredibly fragrant round-about covered in beautiful flowers with a sponsored by Emma Bridgewater sign… just before the Emma Bridgewater factory.

And this -

Nice!

A quick food break at some road-side services resulted in more donations for Coppafeel from some delightful dustbin men who we struck up a conversation with.

The generous bin men!

As we rode closer to home we were met by our second guest rider, my step dad.  He and Dave were talking and only I was visible riding ahead when a small boy, pointed and shouted, “Mummy, look at him!”

Getting home was amazing!  Mum cooked a roast, friends came over and the dogs attacked the trailers.

The dog wasn’t keen on our trailers!

On Thursday morning Kris, the founder of Coppafeel, her sister and friend joined Dave and I for breakfast.  Kris is 27.  She’s an intelligent, bright and beautiful young woman.  I knew a lot about Kris before I met her.  She founded Coppafeel after being mis diagnosed twice for breast cancer.  By the time she was diagnosed she was Stage 4, there is no Stage 5.  Meeting the person behind the charity, the person who had been someone I’d only read about and seen photos of stopped me in my tracks.  We have one life, it’s precious.  We don’t know what’s around the corner or what will happen tomorrow so make the most of everything you have right now.

With Kris founder of Coppafeel

I am proud that our journey is supporting Coppafeel; raising awareness and funds for such a great cause.  Check your body regularly – both men and women get breast cancer.

It was a beautiful day, Day 3 of the journey, after breakfast Dave and I went to have a chat with Sally Pepper on BBC Radio Derby and then headed to Leicester, our next stop.

Gorgeous day in Barrow Upon Soar

Joined by Nick and Helen (who made the biggest single donation we’ve had yet – thank you so much!) for the afternoon, we had another stroke of luck with a random meeting.  Dutch cyclist Jan, was over in the UK on his bike, he works with the Dutch Cycle Network.  He had lots of advice and info for our next country Holland.

Our hosts for the evening, Tony and Sarah (who we’d never met before) had prepared a delicious meal with not one but two desserts (amazing Sarah!).  And that evening we did a presentation for Wanlip Sailing Club.  It was the first time Dave and I had spoken together.  It went really well, it was funny, the sailing club were lovely and listening to Dave speak I realised there was so much I didn’t know about this wonderful and strange ginger fellow who I’d met for a grand total of 3hrs before this trip!

Alice, a 16yr old who came to the presentation told us about her own challenge – to ride her Grandmothers bike 5000 miles in a year in memory of her Grandmother and to raise money for charity.  I was very impressed!

Alice joined us on Day 4.  We had 55.6 miles to Milton Keynes.  Time wise we were doing well, that was until we managed to get 19 punctures in two of our trailer tyres!  Who gets 19 punctures??!!  Dave has never had a puncture before so maybe he was just getting them all in one go?

It was a freshly cut Hawthorn hedge alongside a canal tow path that did it.  Alice had home made flapjack and Dave’s mum and dad appeared with more home made flap jack so that made things much easier to deal with.  And Dave’s mum made me giggle when she showed us these!

Love Dave’s mum!

We did puncture repairs and got a mile down the road where we were greeted by my friend’s aunty and uncle with Bakewell tarts!  Perfect!  Next stop was George Halls Cycle shop who sorted us out with new inner tubes with slime - all labour was free as there donation to supporting our trip.  Thank you guys!

Joined by another friend James that afternoon we all finally made it to Milton Keynes.  Dave’s mum is a machine on her bike and it’s little wonder Dave is the man he is having met his parents.  We did a quick BBC Three Counties Radio interview…

A live Radio interview on the phone!

…had showers and were into our next presentation in no time.  A great evening and still Dave and I were waiting for aching muscles?!  How could we have ridden 170 miles and not be feeling it?!

Gerrad and Julie, fellow ElliptiGo’ers had come to our talk and offered us beds for the night.  Another top evening with good company and new friends.

Gerrad, Julie and Clare joined us for the next Days ride to London and as our group sped along we had even more looks than usual!  Julie had a huge supply of food and we had more chocolate than we knew what to do with when more friends gave us the most enthusiastic drive by we’ve had yet and dropped off a couple of kilos of Dairy Milk and Galaxy!

Our arrival in London was funny and protests in Trafalgar Square made for a great welcome party.

Arriving into Trafalgar Square!

Dave and I visited Octopus Clinic where we had a quick acupuncture session and a little rub down.   It felt so good – thank you Hazel!

By now our legs were a little tired, but still not really aching or sore?

Sunday was a rest day, we only did 20 miles!  Starting off with photos on Abbey Road crossing and finishing with an event in Hyde Park there was lots going on.  Joined by the police safety cycling team and Coppafeel boobs we certainly weren’t missed in the park.

Abbey Road Crossing

Copping a feel in Hyde Park!

That night we stayed with ‘Super Cycling Man’, he rides everywhere in a superman outfit. So that’s nice!  

Our best show of guest riders was on Monday morning at Clapham Common for the London to Brighton leg.

The London – Brighton starting team!

By the time we reached Ditchling Beacon there were almost 50 of us!  The steep ride up the hill was slow, but we got down into bottom gear and made it.  The reward of ice cream, views and downhill into Brighton made all the effort worth it.

Ditchling Beacon!

BBC Radio Sussex did a quick interview with us on arrival and being greeted by our friends (and my god daughter Flo!) on the seafront was the perfect end to the day.

That and the delicious desert Flo made us that evening!

Flo and I

Jelly and fruit (with tiny teeth marks in some pieces!)

Reaching the sea, 300 miles done and the first week over I reflected on what an incredible time we’ve already had.

ElliptiGo’s are amazing; you get a great cardio work out, you cover distance, there are fantastic views from standing tall on them and the best bit…. there’s no impact so your body doesn’t get sore!

Loving the Go’s!

People are so kind and so generous, thank you to everyone who has fed us, provided beds, baths and good company.  Thank you for all the donations we’ve received for Coppafeel and thank you for all the shouts of encouragement and good luck wishes.  It makes all the difference.

It’s fantastic to be on an adventure at home.  I’ve loved sharing this first week with family, friends and all the people we’ve met.

Looking forward to the next few weeks… and getting to know DC even better!

The GO Team!

www.thegotrek.com

And if you can spare just £3 to help us reach our £3000 target for 3000 miles please donate by clicking here.

Thank you!

As we cross five countries our mission is very simple; to raise money for the breast cancer charity Coppafeel, to encourage people to join us and share the love of good adventure with a simple message ‘say yes more‘ and all whilst having a very good time!

It’s strange to be starting in Liverpool, which is so close to home and for once in the UK – so often my trips begin after a long haul flight.  We have chosen this as our start point to be amongst friends – Everton football club use ElliptiGo’s and they’ll be seeing us off.

Preparation before a trip has become a familiar process to me…  It goes a little bit like this

1. I have so much time I’ll get super organised and be ready to go well in advance.
2. Hmmm, time is getting shorter, I’d better start getting organised.
3. Ok there’s just days to go until I leave, I need to stop shuffling kit around and actually pack.

With very little time until we begin I’m currently in Stage 3!

It’s been a really good few weeks, I’ve loved getting to know Dave, my gotrek companion, better.  He is incredibly calm with a very positive attitude.   He has experience of expeditions and we’ve been able to work well together, sharing the process which can, at times, be daunting and difficult.  He clearly has a sense of humour too which, for me, is one of the most important qualities you can have in an expedition buddy.

My parent’s are delighted that during this trip, Dave and I be wearing the safest helmets in the world - Kranium Helmets. We met the designer, Ani Rao, at The Outdoors Show in January where he was exhibiting his helmets, that are made of cardboard!  He’s young and cool but mostly he’s super intelligent with a fantastic story and product.  After a serious cycling injury left him hospitalised he set about designing a helmet with woodpeckers in mind!  Replicating the structure that a woodpecker has between it’s beak and skull Ani has developed one of the safest helmets out there!

On just day two of our trip we’ll be heading into Derby and our stop over for the night is at my parents.  Home cooked food and my own bed….such a treat at the start of our journey!

Dave and I will be towing trailers behind our ElliptiGo’s with everything we need to be completely self sufficient.  However, we are welcoming the offer of beds for the night so if you happen to be on our route we’d hugely appreciate a place to stay… and shower!!

In my trailer I’ll definitely be taking my new Jetboil stove – I used it yesterday for the first time and love it.

We’re encouraging people to come and join us or just say hello during our trip, if you can meet us for a cup of tea or ride a section with us we’d be delighted to have you along.

We’ll be in Hyde Park London on Sunday 5th May between 3-5pm so if you fancy test ride or a look please come.  Then on Monday 6th May we’ll be leaving Clapham Common at 8am (tbc) to ride London – Brighton.

For details about our exact movements please keep a close eye on my facebook and twitter … and of course on The Go Trek website – which you can sign up to for updates which automatically enters you into prize draw for some fantastic prizes!

We are supporting the breast cancer charity Coppafeel and we’re asking people to donate just £3.00 to support us on our 3000 mile journey to help reach our £3000 target!

To donate click here.   Thank you!

Now… back to packing chaos!

Packing for The Go Trek!

“maybe we’ll meet one day, on land or in the sky!”

We did meet (on land!) and I learnt a bit about what he was up to.

Here was a man with a plan; Expedition 1000 –  25 journeys of 1000 miles or more each using a different form of non motorised transport.  He’d already skateboarded across Australia, Kayaked the Murray River and was about to ride a tandem bicycle from Vancouver to Vegas…. as you do!

We joked about doing a journey together.

On 27th November last year I got an email from Dave, it was brief, he asked if I was interested in doing a 1500 mile journey across Europe on an ElliptiGO that he expected would take 6weeks.

I replied “Yes!”.

Dave Cornthwaite, myself and the ElliptiGO team.

A few emails and a bit of logistical stuff later we arrive at now…  In three weeks time, Dave and I will be setting off on our ElliptiGO’s to do a 3000 mile journey (I don’t remember when the distance got doubled!) across Europe.  Encouraging people to join us from the five European countries we travel through we’ll be; raising money and awareness for breast cancer charity Coppafeel and sharing the love of good adventure with a simple message – Say Yes More!

We will also be attempting to set the world record for longest distance travelled by an ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle.

You may be wondering what is an ElliptiGO?

An Elliptigo!

It’s a stand up bike that looks very different to anything you’ve seen before.  Imagine a cross trainer with wheels, running without impact and being 8ft tall!

and officially an ElliptiGO is….

….the worlds first outdoor cross training device engineered specifically for runners.  It combines the best of running, cycling and elliptical training.  It delivers a high-performance workout experience that closely mimics running while eliminating the impact.

Out on the ElliptiGO

It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to ride an ElliptiGO.  Generally it takes less than a minute to master and you immediately feel where it’s working!  One of the things that I love the most about it is that you are so high up and as you travel you see so much.  I like the thought of all the benefits of running without any impact.  You can reach good speeds on them and they have gears so hills are no problem.  No seat means you can’t sit and ‘rest’ as you would on a normal bike, but you can stand still and coast along which gives you a break if you need it.  I’m not a huge fan of being in the gym so for me bringing the cross trainer outdoors is ideal.  I’d recommend everyone to have a go!

The first part of our journey is down through the UK so please come and join us or just say hello if you can…  You can follow our journey and see our whereabouts here -

www.thegotrek.com

We’ll be looking for places to stay (bed, floor, field etc) and good company during the trip so if anyone is nearby our route and can help out we’d be very delighted and very grateful!

This is our route by country- UK – Holland – Germany – Switzerland – France…

and in more detail….

30 April – Trek begins @ Everton football club
1 May – Derby
3 May – Milton Keynes, 7pm
4 May – Hyde Park, 3pm
7 May – Brighton, 5pm
8 May – Gravesend, 5pm
10 May – Harwich to Rotterdam ferry
11 May – Rotterdam
12 May – Amsterdam
14 May – Utrecht
15 May – Arnhem
17 May – Dusseldorf
18 May – Cologne
21 May – Bielefeld
25 May – Frankfurt
28 May – Heidelberg
30 May – Karlsruhe
1 June – Stuttgart
2 June – Ulm
3 June – Munich
6 June – Lake Constance
7 June – St Gallen
9 June – Winterthur
10 June – Schindellegi
11 June – Lucerne
12 June – Berne
13 June – Lausanne
14 June – Geneva
15 June – Aix les Bains
22 June – Nice
23 June – Monaco
26 June – St Tropez
2 July – Lyon
5 July – Versailles
6 July – Paris

I am really excited about this next adventure, it’ something totally different…. and I might even get my mountain fix when we get to the Alps!

ElliptiGO high mountain pass route to be confirmed….

Say Yes More!

The purpose of the trip was to do a lecture tour with Summit Climb’s Dan Mazur to promote awareness and raise funds for the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development in Nepal (MEFSD)’s latest project, a new Sherpa Training School.  You can read more about it here in this article Katy Dartford wrote up for Trek & Mountain Magazine’s website.

Sherpa Training School

The lectures went brilliantly.  They were all very different and all thoroughly enjoyable.

We began north of San Francisco, in Santa Rosa at the Rock, Ice and Mountain Climber’s Club.  The venue couldn’t have been better – it was in a room that was part of a pizza restaurant and a delicious pizza was good preparation for the evening!  With no planned place to stay it was thanks to Maria Anna that we had beds for the night and an impromptu venue for the after talk party!

It’s always fun to meet the people you are talking to and hear their stories.  There was a great guy called Nathan Heald who we had the pleasure of meeting.  He was just visiting the US as he now lives in Cusco, where he is a climbing guide.  If you fancy some Latin America climbing, Nathan is your man www.skyhighandes.com.  We also met an inspirational couple in their 70′s who still run marathons and who will shortly be heading to Nepal to join a service trek.  I’d like to think I’ll be doing that kind of thing in my 70′s!

We had an early start as the next day we had some serious miles to cover to our next stop, Visalia; one of the largest agricultural regions in California.  I felt quite at home amongst all the farms, cattle and crops!  The Fox Theatre was the venue and what a venue!  It was huge and splendid.  Quite an intimidating stage to step out onto but I soon found my groove and really enjoyed that I was speaking with Dan and was able to listen to his full Everest story.  If you ever get the chance to hear Dan speak it’s a unique and great experience.

The Fox Theatre – view from the stage

Our kind host at The Fox, Paul Fry, stayed up late with us and still got up early the next day to take us to see the giant Sequoia trees – an hours drive away in Sequoia National Park.  It was snowing in the park and the trees made me feel microscopic, they are so big and tall that your eyes can’t work out the perspective.

The giant Sequoia tress

Our final stop and lecture was later that evening – another few hour’s drive South to CalTech Alpine Club at the University campus.  We were joined by a group of deaf climbers who have been achieving great things and who brought along sign language interpreters for the talk.  This was a new and enjoyable experience for me and I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Sonya and the interpreters.

Lecture at CalTech with an interpreter upfront with me

Each lecture was a wonderful opportunity to tell people about the MEFSD and the Sherpa Training School.  We are very grateful to everybody who came and who donated generously to support the cause.  Thank you for being a part of our lecture tour.

It was also very useful to spread awareness and ask for people’s input and help on how to collect second hand climbing gear and transport it to Nepal from around the world (from the States is no problem as we have sponsored shipping from the US to Nepal) for the Sherpa’s Training School.  However, one of the most important messages we want to get across is to let people know that we want/need their old climbing gear (that is still safe and functional) to use at the School.  If anyone outside the States has any of the items in the list at the bottom of this blog post please send me a message (squash@squashfalconer.com) and I can let you know where to send it.  Also, if you have any ideas about how to centrally collect kit and ship it to the States we’d appreciate your ideas and thoughts on that too – thank you!

Before the lectures began, I had a few days in California, which were all jam packed!

Highlights included -

* A visit to Pelican’s headquarters where Sharon Ward, the Marketing Director, set up the first part of our meeting along the ocean front!  She said, “Men have meetings on the golf course and I think I’d like to start a movement that women have an equivalent ‘outside office’!”  It certainly has my vote.

Ocean front meeting with Sharon from Pelican

After our ocean view meeting we heading to Pelican HQ where it literally all happens!  They make everything in their factory in CA.  I have been working with Peli for a few months and have been using their kit a lot.  It’s incredible to know and use kit and then see it being made.

With Keith inside the Pelican Factory

Probably one of the most mind blowing processes I experienced was one of the Pelican protection cases being made with the help of a robot!  Impressive stuff..

As always, it’s a pleasure to meet the team behind the products I use, especially when they give you chocolate…thanks Jason, it was delicious!

* Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge; from the land, from the sky, from the water below and from on it!

Golden Gate Bridge from the sky

On Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge from the water!

* Eating Clam Chowder and following up with a hot chocolate at Ghirardelli’s. (Thank you Stacy!)

Clam Chowder

Ghirardelli’s hot chocolate

* Meeting the GoPro team at their headquarters in Half Moon Bay.

At GoPro HQ with Pilar

I love the people that I work with and the people that I get to meet along the way. Putting the US trip together wasn’t an easy task and I wondered at the time if I was doing the right thing and if my focus was in the right place. I’m happy to conclude that it was a wonderful trip and recognise (yet again) that when you get out there and do stuff, stuff happens!

Below is a list of items we need for the Sherpa Training school (used equipment is fine and sherpas come in all sizes, from very small to very large):

▪    Plastic climbing boots
▪    One-sport-everest or other boots with built in gaiter
▪    Crampons
▪    Ice axes
▪    Helmets
▪    Harnesses
▪    Carabiners
▪    Descending/rapelling/abseiling/belaying devices
▪    Ascenders such as petzl/jumar/bd, etc
▪    Slings
▪    Ropes
▪    Jackets made of fleece/pile or goretex or down
▪    Trousers made of fleece/pile or goretex or down
▪    Rucksacks and backpacks
▪    Sleeping bags
▪    Warm hats
▪    Mittens and gloves made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar or goretex or down
▪    Sunglasses
▪    Baselayers made of  made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar
▪    Socks made of  made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar
▪    Trekking shoes
▪    Headlamps

Through climbing with Summit Climb I became aware of the MEFSD and I have been an ambassador for the charity since 2007.  The Foundation exists to help local families help themselves to build schools and hospitals and environmental projects in remote areas near to Mount Everest. The MEFSD is a registered charity of Nepal number 326/060/61.

In 2010 I joined a Service Walk and visited the village of Patale in Nepal where we delivered medicines to the health clinic and visited and taught in the primary and secondary schools.  This trip was particularly special to me as Patale it is the village where Jangbu, the sherpa who I climbed both Cho Oyu and Everest with lives.  He has been very instrumental in the work the MEFSD has done in his village.  I visited his home and met his family and friends.

The Sherpa Climbing School is a new project although the MEFSD have been working on it informally for years on a small scale; providing kit & teaching climbing skills, working from a tiny office and a simple small classroom.

The MEFSD want to make the Climbing School larger; they need staff who can review applications and do admin, teachers who have the right technical skills, kit for the Sherpa’s and larger store rooms and classrooms.

This is the only FREE Sherpa Climbing School in Nepal, it will mean Sherpas from remote villages who have the capability and skill but no means to get trained will now have access to the training and therefore a career.

Dan and I will be doing lectures this week in California.  Details below…

Mount Everest Live Multi Media Slideshow: 5, 6, and 7 March: Rescuing, Climbing, Paragliding and Motorcycling.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the 1st American Ascent of Mount Everest!

LECTURE DATES AND LOCATIONS:
Tuesday 5 March, 7:30 pm.
Santa Rosa RIM CLUB: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401.

Wednesday 6 March, 7:00 pm.
Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St, Visalia, CA, 93291.

Thursday 7 March, 7:00 pm.
CalTech Alpine Club, 102 Steele, Caltech Campus, 1200 E California, Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91125.

Inviting women and men, families and children of all ages, to participate in an exciting evening.  Come join our fun 1 hour live multimedia show for a great cause: the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development (MEFSD). Our main goal this year is to raise funds and collect new and lightly used climbing and trekking equipment, clothing and shoes for the New Sherpa Climbing School.

This colorful, and intriguing presentation features Squash Falconer, the famous motorcyclist, paraglider pilot and Everest summiter, along with Dan Mazur, 9 time Everest leader and rescuer of Lincoln Hall, world famous climber “Left for Dead” at the summit of Everest. The story was featured on NBC Good Morning America and Dateline with Matt Lauer. We encourage you, family, friends, and colleagues to join the team for our live and in-person slide video show. It’s going to be an inspirational, fun, and very sociable event where you can meet like-minded folk, share stories and converse with the leaders and members of SummitClimb, SummitTrek, and the MEFSD before we head off to climb Mt. Everest again this spring.

We love to interact with our audiences, so please bring lots of questions to ask and be ready to join the discussion.

Also, WE HAVE HAND CARRIED FROM KATHMANDU, NEPALESE ART AND SOUVENIRS TO GIVE YOU in return for your kind donations: necklaces, paintings, scarves, soap, tea bags, wall hangings, and incense. Thank you in advance for telling all of your friends, family and colleagues. The more the merrier!

All of the proceeds from these shows go to build the New Sherpa Training School. We accept cash, credit cards, and checks payable to Mount Everest Foundation.

Please invite everyone you can think of for an exciting and invigorating talk. Let’s bring together people in your community who enjoy mountains for an interesting social event, to make new friends and rendezvous with old acquaintances.

Here is what we need for the school (used equipment is fine and sherpas come in all sizes, from very small to very large):

▪    Plastic climbing boots
▪    One-sport-everest or other boots with built in gaiter
▪    Crampons
▪    Ice axes
▪    Helmets
▪    Harnesses
▪    Carabiners
▪    Descending/rapelling/abseiling/belaying devices
▪    Ascenders such as petzl/jumar/bd, etc
▪    Slings
▪    Ropes
▪    Jackets made of fleece/pile or goretex or down
▪    Trousers made of fleece/pile or goretex or down
▪    Rucksacks and backpacks
▪    Sleeping bags
▪    Warm hats
▪    Mittens and gloves made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar or goretex or down
▪    Sunglasses
▪    Baselayers made of  made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar
▪    Socks made of  made of wool/poly/fleece/pile/polar
▪    Trekking shoes
▪    Headlamps

We need donations to cover the costs of shipping the donated supplies to Nepal.  Do you or anyone know of companies or airlines who might give free or discounted shipping, or funds for the shipping?

  We are able to arrange a tax deduction / gift tax eligibility for you, should you or the donating organization or company require it.

  Please contact our offices to arrange shipping and/or pickup of the equipment and clothing at your location info@MountEverestFoundation.org.  

Thank you very much for your kindness in joining our charity non-profit team of men and women Sherpas and men and women of all ages and abilities from around the world working together as unpaid volunteers to share knowledge and build on skills and experience to increase mountaineering and trekking opportunities and be sure it is being done in the correct way, with attention to safety, teamwork, environmental and social ethics, as well as good customer service.



Edited by Tom Grimshaw

I stood amongst the mass of people, the immense piles of luggage and took in the apparently organised chaos that surrounded me.  It was finally time; Wings of Kilimanjaro, a project three years in the making, that aimed to see a huge group of people attempt to climb and then fly from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – in the process raising $1 million for charities on the ground in Tanzania – was about to begin!

Organised into sub groups of ten teams of ten our coloured caps matched those of the porters who would be climbing with us and slowly but surely we began trekking through the rain forest and towards our first camp.  It was an easy day, just a few hours hike to 3000m.

The huge number of porters organising kit and supplies for the mountain.

I was excited to get going but equally, if not more excited to begin to get to know and meet some of the incredible people who were part of the team.  Kari Castle, (legend) trotted past with an umbrella when the heavens opened and the huge rain drops fell.  Very generously Kari gave me one of her spare umbrellas (she’d brought three in town the day before!).

I also had the pleasure of hiking some way with Babu Sunuwar, who told me how after flying from Everest as part of his Summit to Sea expedition, things got tricky when he and Lakpa were kidnapped, held hostage and robbed during their Kayak to the Indian Ocean!  The hike to Camp 1 seemed very tame all of a sudden!

Despite the rain it was a good day – cloud cover kept the sun off us and the temperature remained perfect for hiking.  Arriving at Camp 1 to the vast sea of yellow tents just centimetres apart from each other brought home to me the size of the group that was now moving slowly up Kilimanjaro.  Our bags arrived, a delicious meal was served and as I put my ear plugs in I wondered if I’d actually get any sleep.

Camp 1, yellow tent town!

Day 2 began with the realisation I’d slept through my alarm!  After a filling breakfast of tea, toast, porridge and eggs the team began moving once more and soon we were back on the now steeper trail heading up.  We had our first glimpse of the landing field and you could feel the general buzz and excitement knowing that in just a few days time we might all be in the air heading towards it.  We arrived at Camp 2 to Mike Kung who was ground handling his paraglider up a rock – easily the most impressive ground handling I’ve ever witnessed! The porters, who were just as impressed and mesmerised decided to sing and dance to celebrate the occasion.  The sound of their singing and vibrations through the ground from their dancing feet gave the same feeling you get when you are at a music concert.  It was electric and we were buzzing.

Mike Kung, ground handling.

The rain through the night hadn’t stopped by morning and day 3 had a wet start.  A few people weren’t feeling too well and Colin Downer, who I was hiking with looked grey…he rapidly deteriorated and it became apparent todays short easy hike to Camp 4 wasn’t going to be so easy after all.  Several people became ill and the doctors prepared for the the fact that a sickness bug was amongst the team and could well be upon us all if we weren’t very careful.  It was on this particular day that I think everyone realised just how blessed we were to have three incredible doctors on the trip.  Dr Matt, Dr Luke and other Dr Matt were capable, caring and very, very good at what they did.  I’ve certainly never been on an expedition before with such a great medical team.  We reached camp early afternoon, and in search of phone signal I went for a hike upwards and was pretty pleased when I snapped this picture with my iPhone of Adrian Leppard who was looking for a quiet spot to do some yoga.

Not a bad iPhone photo!

Lots of hand washing, drugs and electrolyte drinks seemed to stem the spreading sickness and people were a lot better by morning.  Day 4 was a long one, with an optional acclimatisation hike up to Arrow Glacier (the height of Mt Blanc) before heading to our camp below, at 4000m.  It would be the first taste of going downhill on this trip, often a forgotten part of training for mountains and people really felt the 1000m decent – particularly in the knees.  For a few reasons this camp was a favourite for me; there was an ice cold stream that I washed my hair in, I randomly bumped into Samuli, an old friend who was guiding another group and who I haven’t seen for years, we had a very clear night and the stars were amazing. To finish it off I spent time with AJ who had packed in her luggage some extraordinary items including; the biggest tube of hand cream you’ve ever seen, a huge bottle of spa massage oil, a white pair of Ugg boots, a white down jacket and some very impressive striped leggings – AJ was definitely glamping!

This seasons must haves for any expedition!

Day 5 saw us leave camp following an up and down trail until we finally reached our camp at the same height as we started that day.  With plenty of space in camp, I decided this would be the ideal place to test my Handy Hammock out.  It was easy to put up – thank you Darren!  and provided the perfect resting place to view both Kili and the valley below.

www.handyhammock.co.uk

Silliness reined supreme in the evening and we possibly kept a few people awake with general fun and games. I had no idea that setting a camera on a long exposure in the dark whilst writing something with a torch could be so entertaining…sorry to all those who were trying to sleep!

The next day – Day 6, things stepped up a gear and we were en route to high camp.  So far mild altitude sickness had only hit a few but as we reached 4,800m lots more of us were starting to feel the effect of it.

The sunset over Meru Peak from this camp was up there with the best I’d ever seen.  An early night followed as tomorrow would be summit day.

Sunset over Meru Peak

Things on Day 7 began a little differently – there seemed to be disharmony amongst the porters and something was going on, most of us were unaware what.  The group started for the summit early, the intention was to all be at the top around midday for a group photo.  Stocked up with water and chocolate I contently headed up the mountain.  As you can imagine with a huge group moving at different paces some people reached the top much sooner than others.  Out of the 100 people in our group I believe 99 of us made the very top.  The largest single group to climb the peak with an almost 100% summit success.  This was a wonderful milestone.  A summit on a mountain should never be presumed – I was proud to stand amongst the Wings of Kilimanjaro team for this great achievement.

On the top of Kilimanjaro!

Dropping down just 100m below to crater camp, our base for the next few nights, it became apparent what the mornings disharmony had been about.  A large number of porters and guides had left the expedition and gone down due to a misunderstanding about transporting more water up the mountain.  This loss of porters meant things in Crater Camp would be little different and food and water would be in short supply.  It was now that things became more complicated.

Tired from the summit I headed to my tent.  I had some water left over and a few snacks.  News spread round the camp that supplies would be with us before the day was out; new porters had been arranged to bring food and water up to our camp with a drop from a helicopter as a back up plan.  It was now early evening, the clouds rolled in and it became obvious the re supply was unlikely tonight, I was ok and I drifted off to sleep.  Early the next morning I  learnt some people had waited in the dining tent and there had been some food and water, others though, as I had, just went to their tents and had very little or nothing.

My concern at this point was people at altitude; tired, with little or no food and dehydrated.  The porters who were due to arrive with supplies had apparently been turned back by the porters heading down – they informed the new guys the expedition was over and we would be heading down also!  The heli drop had been called off as a result of the wether.  It was apparent that everything possible was being attempted to resolve the situation we were in, the issue was, despite best intensions things weren’t happening.

Some breakfast and a little water from melted snow appeared in the dining tent.  Not everyone was aware of this and a few people began Day 8 with nothing.  The group hiked up the short distance to Stella point, our designated take off area.  Cloud cover and high winds meant it was pretty clear that no one would be taking off.  Concerned about the conditions at Crater Camp, bad weather and feeling unwell made it the obvious choice for a number of the group to head back down.  The doctors also sent down people who were suffering with AMS.  Porters were arranged to join those descending.  I guessed about 30 people left the mountain.  The rest of us returned to Crater Camp, where snow was being melted and remaining food was being prepared.  Not at any point did we have no food and no water.  The issue was things changed.  From being served three course meals with plenty of water in a highly efficient and organised manner there was now limited food coming out of the kitchen tent in huge pans, to one central dining tent with no seats.  It was cramped, people had to make best use of cups, plates and bowls, share utensils and take smaller portions.  The water was not bottled, it was cold and needed treating.

Things were not as comfortable as they had been, however things were ok.

From the moment we reached crater camp my thinking process was a simple.  Was I ok?  Could I get down the mountain on foot feeling like this?  Was I able to help and support my team mates and porters, at the least recognise if they were in trouble or needed help? Being honest on a mountain is one of the most important things you can do.  To realise when it’s time to go down can be the difference between living or not.

Later in the day, porters started to leave the camp.  Quick reactions from the organisers, who realised it was because they were concerned they wouldn’t be paid meant reassurance was given and that afternoon the remaining porters sang and danced and united by our struggles in camp the mood shifted.  We returned to Stella point, however there was no flying to be had.  Another evening in Crater Camp, no re supply came but we did eat and we had water.  People were becoming anxious.  In these situations I think it’s vitally important to act according to the reality of the situation and not the hope that things will work out.

Day 9… I was up before 5am collecting water bottles from tents for refills with the doctors and trying to ensure everyone had something.  I felt that resources were on the edge and if a window to fly didn’t happen this morning, I would most likely head down the mountain on foot.  We headed to Stella point.  The weather looked bad, it was really the huge lenticular clouds that made my decision easy – I would not be flying.

The next few minutes were tough.  Any mountaineer who has to turn back from a summit or any paraglider pilot who has to make the choice not to fly, especially when you are so close to your goal; one that you’ve spent months even years preparing for, when you are not only financially commentated, but mentally an emotionally committed too will know this is a difficult call to make.

We had the option to stay one more night, the plan was always that we would have three days to use as a weather window to fly.  This was only day two.  Perhaps the weather would change?  Probably I could do another night in crater camp?  I was going in circles in my head.

Then we heard the helicopter, it took some time and clearly a lot of skill but we got a water and snickers bar drop!  There wasn’t loads but there was enough for everyone to have something.  People and porters were using the drop as fuel for their journey down.

I couldn’t escape the thought things didn’t feel right.  Despite best efforts to restore order in Crater Camp things were not happening and resources were stretched.  The weather too wasn’t playing ball.  It was time to go down.

Most of the team made the same call.  The doctors and the safety team too.  Just a handful of pilots remained on the mountain, at their own risk.  They made the choice to camp lower and return high the following day to attempt to fly.

I had the pleasure of walking/running down! Mt Kilimanjaro with Mike Kung.

We made the gate in good time and waited for the others who were coming down.  United by our summit success and struggles at the top there was a good feeling amongst the team.  Everyone was ok.

The next day we received news that the remining pilots, except Babu Sunuwar were heading down on foot.  It was not flyable and Babu was reported to be staying another night.

Just hours later I heard the words, “Babu has landed!”

Everyone was safely off the mountain and Wings had flown!

Of course lots of people had a lot to say about the events that had unfolded.  That evening we heard from Babu in the team debrief.  He talked about taking off in 70mph, high rotary winds and crashing to the ground several times before he successfully flew out from the mountain into thick cloud which he then navigated through using glimpses of the sun and eventually found the landing field.  He had taken off with an African Guide who had never flown before.

Under these circumstances, I, along with most other pilots would have made the choice not to fly.

As a Wings of Kilimanjaro team member, as a mountaineer and a paraglider pilot, as someone who embraces adventure and takes risks myself, I accept that risk is relative to who you are and it’s up to the individual to take responsibility for his or her own actions.  I also respect the choices made by others.  In these situation you are within a team but always making your own choices.  I can not express enough how strongly I feel that we must take responsibility for our own self and our actions.

I think there will be a variety of conflicting accounts of what happened on the mountain.  For sure we all have our own version of events… and very likely different experiences.

In summary and just for the record here’s what I think.

Adrian and Paula McRae, with incredible vision, hard work, determination and enthusiasm dedicated the past three years of their lives to an event that saw the largest group of people ever summit Mt kilimanjaro successfully.  One amazing man, Babu Sunuwar, and his African guide, flew from the summit.  The project raised a huge amount of money for charities on the ground in Tanzania and is already making a much needed difference.  I am proud to have been a part of Wings of Kilimanjaro and have been delighted, impressed and inspired by the people I’ve met along the way.

If nothing great was attempted, nothing great would be achieved.  Thank goodness for people like Adrian and Paula…. and all the Wokkers!

With Babu on the mountain.