Croeso i Gymru

With Tarahumara Chloë off to Columbia for two weeks on the 24th, this was to be our last opportunity to get some team training in before Trailwalker itself. We'd opted for two nights under canvas what with it being June, and in Britain, what could possibly go wrong?

Our destination was a toss up between Brecon and Dartmoor. The forecast for both in the week leading up was pretty much identical - hideous with spells of appalling. Brecon although promising to be all of one degree cooler, was an hour closer and two pounds a night cheaper, making it the clear winner. Off to Wales it was!

Support Crew Chris would be joining us on this one, and as he's more Midlands based, he agreed to meet us at the campsite. Leaving Oxford the forecast seemed to be stuff of fantasy, right up to the point we left Abergavenny. A few miles down the road we sighted Chris taking refuge from the deluge in his car just outside The Castle Inn. This pub was all too conveniently attached to our campsite (pronounced 'a-field'), and although there were tents to be put up, courtesy demanded we 'have a drink and see if the rain eases up'. One pint became two and dinner was taken in the pub, and wouldn't you know it the rain eased to a light drizzle. Jumping on this window in the weather, we tabled our beers behind the bar dashed outside and set up camp.

Returned to the pub to set out our plans for the walk the following day, the landlord was full of great routes and advice which we were extremely grateful for. We also met another group who were doing a walk for WaterAid, and (rather more sensibly) staying in the bunk house. They too were full of encouragement, though how comforting they expected us to find "we've never been out in weather like we had today" we were unsure. With a plan in our heads, and feeling adequately 'hydrated' we decided to turn in for the night and have a good day in on the hills in the morning.

Now getting an early start and seizing the day is very much part of the Team Tarahumara way, Chris and Dan however were not expecting to be seizing quite so much of the day. A 6am wake up call in the form of a flooded tent and a rapid evacuation to the car did not exactly set them up for the day.

After the vegan friendly breakfast feast was served up at a more reasonable hour, Chris and Dan dashed into Abergavenny to replace anything that hadn't been saved from the early morning dousing.

On their return the group saddled up and took off up into the hills. Now it was certainly wet and windy as we twisted and turned up to the summit but we pressed on. We were all quite surprised when we looked back at the photos and saw just how bad it had been!

Chloë, Dan. Chris, Haley and Rich

We managed to stay out on the hills for just over five hours, but is was biblical, estimates from locals later on had the winds up in the region of 70mph. We got back to base at around five and celebrated not loosing anyone with a few drinks before heading to the pub...for a few drinks.

After spending a good deal of time in the pub regaling the locals and serenading  with a very well received version on James' Sit Down we headed back to the tents to hit the sack, well that was what the majority of us thought anyway. As we approached the tents Chloë and Haley revealed a burnning desire for a night walk, so they'd know what to expect on Trailwalker. Try as he might, Dan was unable to convince them that it "would be exactly the same as walking in the day, just a bit darker", so back into the hills we went. Fortunately for all concerned it was quite a mild evening, the most fortunate for Chris for the only dry clothes he had were his jacket, a pair shorts, flip-flops and an umbrella. What was almost instantly clear was that navigation in the dark is a whole different game. We returned, again with full a compliment of walkers after a quick one hour circuit, all pleased we'd given it a go, and with a few lessons learned.


1. Chris is a smug drunken navigator.
2. Confidence is no substitute for a map.
3. If you're wearing a head torch do not expect people to be your friend after you've just blinded them.
4. A rendition of Summer nights is a fine way to round off an evening.  

Our daylight route. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192717998

Next Stop Petersfield.

Thank you Jack for your kind donation to the fund, you're a star

Tarahumara Quizathon Fantastico

On Tuesday 12th June The Cape of Good Hope played host to the Team Tarahumara pub quiz, an epic challenge testing ears, eyes, brains and taste buds; read on to discover how old Jon Bon Jovi was in the summer of 69, and how you can improve Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song...

When Team Tarahumara arrived at The Cape of Good Hope at 6 o'clock on Tuesday evening to set up the room for our quiz, we were prepared, but anxious none the less. Many people had made noises like they were going to show up, but we had no idea how many of those were going to show on the night. We ambitiously set up for 22 teams and waited...

How wrong we were to doubt! Friends, family and colleagues turned up on mass in support; so many people rocked up we struggled to fit them all in!

Once everyone had settled in and found a team Tarahumara's own MC Haley set the ball rolling with round one and a bit of general knowledge. Highlights of the first half included the taster round and the odd 'deliberate' mistake, including Question six: "What age was Bon Jovi in the summer of 69" which did raise at least one eyebrow! Mistake admitted (it was of course Bryan Adams singing the Summer of 69), we moved on to the more interactive rounds before the half time break.

The interval gave Team Tarahumara the opportunity to pedal more of their wares in the form of raffle tickets for a mega prize draw with prizes from our many many generous donors (listed below). The crowd were extremely generous and hungry for chances to win, it was very nearly a ticket sell out.

After the break came amongst other things, the most inspired round of the evening - the music round. In the style of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, MC Haley took centre stage with the musical intros round. All the intros were performed pitch perfect, to the delight of the gathered crowds, on her freshly purchased kazoo.

After the answers we given, and the scores counted, a triumphant 'Flotilla the Hun' were declared winners and they collected their spoils in the form of a hamper stuffed to bursting with goodies.

The final order of business was the much anticipated raffle draw. Rich fired up the fairy light on his top hat (no, really) and a representative from the winning quiz team pulled out the first winning ticket. Raffle prizes included meals at Le Kesh, Door 74 and Verde Pizzeria, Drinks at The Corridor, tickets for The Ultimate Picture Palace, vouchers for music at Truck Music Store and a trio of haircuts at Chameleon.

We want to say such a humungous thank you to all that came along to the quiz, and another massive thank you to all those lovely people and companies that sponsored or donated something to make the evening so enjoyable.

Thank you

Le Kesh

Door 74

Truck Music Store

Chameleon 

Summertown Wine Café

Verde Pizzeria

The Ultimate Picture Palace

The Corridor

G&D's Cowley

Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe

Thanks again to The Cape of Good Hope for providing us with an excellent venue.


Big, Big love

Team Tarahumara

Chloë, Dan, Haley and Rich