The Big Relay: May 2013

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Relay wildlife sightings

I was lucky enough to see a wide variety of wildlife on my legs and while I was manning the base early in the morning. At Strathyre, a red squirrel crossed the track in front of me; at Lochinver I watched two otters playing in the bay at low tide while on the sat ‘phone to Miles at 04.30 on Monday morning, at Loch Ailsh Donna and I saw a family of black-throated divers (parents and two tiny chicks) just a few metres from the shore as we were running; and on the drive back to Lochinver from that leg an osprey flew right across the windscreen so we could see the whites of its eyes. What a stunning country Scotland is. Kathy

It really was a big adventure

It's difficult to remember what exactly was in my mind back in January when I first thought running a 500 mile relay off road across Scotland might be a good idea. I mean really, 500 miles? All that running in the dark, getting no sleep and then getting up and doing it again? For 4 days? Surely that's impossible? And it would have been impossible without the enthusiasm, hard work, energy and sheer belief that we would do it from everyone that took part. I can't imagine a better team for such an immense undertaking. A huge thank you to the whole team, not just for doing it, but for making it so much fun.

I didn't take enough pictures, but here's one I like from the very last leg. We'd been crossing a bog for close to an hour at this point and if you look carefully you'll see that Donald is still smiling. Well, he's not crying anyway.

Dave

Sunset from Rhiconich Hotel - the perfect end to a perfect weekend. Now some sleep!

Kathy Dale CEnv FCIEEM MEECW

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Champagne all round! Ewan first in the queue!

Kathy Dale CEnv FCIEEM MEECW

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Waiting at the Kyle and trying to organise a boat for Donald and Dave as the tide drops away

Kathy Dale CEnv FCIEEM MEECW

Technical Specialist Ecology

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End of Leg 72

Kathy Dale CEnv FCIEEM MEECW

Technical Specialist Ecology

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Tuesday 28 May 2013

All hail the conquering heroes.

Dave & Donald arriving after completing the final leg. The only time the tracker could legitimately be right in measuring our progress in knots!

It's written in the sand.

Ewen & Sarah's fine handiwork @ the cape wrath ferry.

Conival looking majestic.

Heading away from conival and the trackless liquid soil of the glen.

What are you looking at?

The inchnadamph deer certainly have attitude!

speaks for itself

nearly there... head down and go for the line

it seemed to be taunting us

but the going wasn't the easiest

Leg 82

Dave still going

Miles Newman

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Dave going well up from Sandwood Bay

Joe finishes Blairmore Leg 81 on Sandwood Bay

Now for the cycle back out.

Andy proves Dave S wrong at Kyle of Durness

Dave S only ever saw Andy at night during the Relay so I photoshopped this image to show he is not a vampire.

Donald looking forward to one more challenge on Sandwood Bay

Dave H on Sandwood Bay ready for the last one

Donald and Dave H off to the start of the last Leg

The rain is starting and they're off to Sandwood Bay for one more Leg.

Ruth and Sarah finish Lochstack Lodge

They finish their last leg, number 78, watched by a somewhat casual Dave H

The welcoming party

The welcoming party celebrate Dave and Donald arriving on the right side of the Kyle ....... assisted by "John the Ferry"

No way home

After arriving at Cape Wrath around low tide, Dave and Donald will be too late for the regular ferry across the Kyle of Durness.
Kathy is attempting to organise a special ferry while Derek helpfully suggests hiring these lads waders and sending them across on the last boat.

Sent from my HTC

A path!

Having spend a lot off time on poor/no paths out was a pleasant surprise to have a good track all the way from kylestrome to lochmore lodge, much of it brand new... just for us??? Pete

Roddie raring to go

Nice place to wait for miles and David.

Monday 27 May 2013

Congratulations

Woohoo we've done it, it was an amazing experience and fantastic to be part of a great achievement :-)

Donna & Stewart x

Woohoo we've done it!!

Many congratulations to everyone who took part? it was a fantastic experience :-)

Congratulations!

Congratulations everybody - fantastic effort!

Tracker updated at approx 18:21. I hope you all make it back to cars at Durness without having to swim the Kyle of Durness. Safe journey home.

Last 5k

Go for it Dave & Donald, last 5 out of 800 to Cape Wrath. We're tracking you!
Thanks for the great challenge!

Warren & Pete

Sent from my iPhone

22km run, 9km bike ride, 1000m climb. 'The beast' has been tamed. Pete and Alan

Glen elchaig

Sunday 26 May 2013

Pansy

Pete thought dundonnell forest was stunning. Can't remember seeing any trees though :-)

The backside of the five sisters. Pete

Donald on the west coast and meantime on the east coast....

Pete

Al Sealy pushing through the beallach gorm with Pete last night.

Duncan waiting in the woodshed

Duncan waits for Joe and Ben to come down to Corriemulzie Lodge to change from Leg 68 to 69 to take the Relay to Oykel Bridge. We also expect a relieved Dave H and Roddy to cycle by shortly after finishing Leg 67.

Peter and Alan S

Leaving Kinlochewe to deal with the "Beast".

Lunch on Sunday

Folk milling around at the "lunch" base at Kinlochewe on Sunday. The Legs from here were all running late and the last runners, Dave and Roddy, are still not at Lochinver at the time of posting.

Marie at Glomach Falls

Phew! Tracker is back

Thank you tracker for starting recording again. Thought I'd lost contact. You were down for quite a spell.

Wildlife in Laggan toilet. Got a longer than expected wait here but at least the facilities are nice.

Sent from my HTC

Did Laggan know we were coming through?

Sent from my HTC

Did Laggan know we were coming through?

Sent from my HTC

blogging

It's taken until this afternoon to pluck up the courage to look at the tracker - what an amazing job you are all doing! Huge progress! Working out this blogging lark has been a bit of a nuisance but hopefully I have and can now communicate with you. I guess phone reception is a problem for most and that will reduce the number photos and blogs from now on. I'll be watching your progress with interest though. Relieved to hear that you are expecting reinforcements for Sunday. Keep up the good work.

Evelyn