Welcome to the official blog for Raleigh India 12I | July - August 2012



Welcome to the Official Blog for Raleigh India 12J September - December 2012.



Wednesday 14 July 2010

It's all work, work, work

Four days into phase one, here's the latest from the groups:

Charlie 1

A campsite smothered in mud with rainwater seeping into tents. These are the challenging conditions that tenacious Charlie 1 have been working in. The team arrived at Koolal on a dry day, set up camp and feasted on fresh chapattis for dinner. Boisterous monkeys kept some of the Charlie crew awake during the night.  And then came the rain. Undettered the group began digging trenches; the community brought them fruit to lift their spirits. Today the rain eased off and the sun shone as our crack team finished digging the trenches two days ahead of schedule. Congratulations Charlies! This evening the group will add another string to their bow by teaching the local children.


Charlie 1 are given a warm welcome

Echo 2

Working in the heat of Huskurhadi, our eco-warriors cleared their campsite and established their home for the next few weeks. Endearingly, Echo 2 divulged that bashas were put up with varying levels of success. After a long tiring day in the sun the group relaxed by painting their mess tins. On Monday, celebrations were in full swing for Shona's birthday with fun and games aplenty. The trench digging and fencing is now underway and the team are cooling off with a daily swim.

Huskurhadi


Happy Birthday Shona!


Tango 3

Tango's trek began in sensational style with Scott announcing his intention to give up smoking in order to increase his lung capacity for fear of lagging. Now that's team spirit. The bus journey to Kerala took 1 ½ days to complete and involved an overnight stop in a dormitory in Tamil Nadu. The next day the group drove to the picturesque Silent Valley Tea Estate to begin their adventure. The first stage will be an arduous induction taking the group over the Misappulimala peak at 2,637m. This is reportedly the second highest mountain in south India and is just under double the height of the UK's highest peak Ben Nevis. In the wet, the team completed the trek to base camp and met a few leeches along the way. Yesterday, sources revealed that Helen had auditioned for the new PG Tips advert. Were Tango toying with us? The truth will out. Making their way to Anthony's Camp, everyone was in good form for survival day. The group built bashas, brushed up on orienteering and map reading, hunted for equipment and took a lesson in tribal dancing.


Women picking tea


During yesterday's radio check, the groups were introduced to "Come Pee With Me." A competition to determine which group has the most ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing long drop. I'll be watching how this pans out; no doubt the winning group will be flushed with success.

In other news, me and Jen are off to Kerala tomorrow to catch-up with Tango 3 for a few days. Meanwhile the field base team will be keeping you updated with the latest news.

Until next time,

Marie

16 comments:

  1. Hello Natalie's mum here again. Natalie is with Echo 2 in HUSKURHADI. Glad to hear you all had a safe journey, i know it's early days yet but i hope the project goes well. Looking forward to getting some pictures soon. Lots of love to you Mum and Dad x x x x

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  2. Glad you had good birthday Shona with all your new friends, hope the blisters are not too big what with all the fence building and digging at least you can have a swim at the end of the day. Good luck to you all, Shona's Mum

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  3. Hi again from Bermuda to Daniel, Kiana, Tayls, Ree, and Sach!

    Trekking first Daniel and Taylor!! My my aren't we boasty :) Quality...

    The school and elephant fencing projects look amazing... I am soo jealous!

    Nothing much happening here... I have a crazy story about the guy who stole my phone. When I downloaded blackberry messenger on my new phone, it linked to my old pin and pulled up the guy's picture, profile, friends, etc... Seriously! So yeah, he got arrested yesterday.

    Yep, so that's all the adventure I'll be having this summer :P so you all better take lots of pictures and remember all the funny long drop stories because I can't wait to hear them all!!!

    Byeeeee
    Kris
    xoxo

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  4. HELLO ITS NATALIES NUMBER ONE SISTER KARON
    HI LIL LOVEING WHAT YOU ARE ALL DOING YOU ALL SEEM TO BE HAVING SO MUCH FUN, HOPE THAT YOU ARE NOT MISSING ME TO MUCH LOL, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND HAVE BEEN TELLING EVERYONE IN WORK ABOUT IT TOO AND THEY ARE ALL FOLLOWING THE BLOG TOO, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, KEEP SAFE, AND LOVE YOU LOADS
    KARON X X X

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  5. Scotts mum Helen here , Well done Scott keep it going just think of all that fresh air .
    Proud of you xx

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  6. Scotts mum Helen here, Well done Scott , breath in all that fresh air , will do you good , keep it going you can do it ,
    proud of you

    Mum

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  7. Hi Natalie!

    Do you love it!!!!!

    Your mum showed me how to log on to see you, great to see you are settling in well... Stanley and Katie are missing you and send you a big hug!
    Enjoy every minute....

    Catherine xxxx

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  8. Hi Everyone! This message is for Daniel in Tango 3. I've been eagerly keeping updated on your travels. Looks brilliant so far! Good luck on the trek. All that time in the gym will serve a purpose now! I’m so proud of you. And good luck to everyone – hope you all enjoy this experience of a lifetime!
    Claudia - a loving sister

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  9. Blogging Bandit Maria - i have tracked u down!! Good to hear ur havin' some ripper out-of-office adventures in india. Do let me know ur email when u get the chance so i can stay in touch from shangers!
    dinky-di ;)

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  10. Sam here - message for Shady

    Wow Shady, sounding pretty intense! Water seeping into tents, in the monsoon, in the jungle - sounds interesting but your project sounds absolutely amazing!! At least your well prepped in water logged tents, peak district coming to mind :)

    All good here, been hot and now cold, starting to get to the bottom of the dirt left by the last tenants in our new house and making progress with making it look like a home. Love you so much and looking forward to having you back in London - big hug, Sam xxxxx

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  11. Hi Tango 3! - it's Louise's Mum, Helen here. It all sounds SO amazing! So impressed at all that you are tackling, and I am wishing you every success in achieving all your personal goals! Louise - I was reading the Geographical magazine at the dentist this morning, and there is an article about Alastair Humphreys walking the River Kaveri in Southern India! Are you anywhere near? I would so love to be getting out on a hike! Grandma is doing well in hospital. (She had a knee replacement on Tuesday, folks). She stood up yesterday, and is shuffling with zimmer frame to the bathroom today. She's in pain, but progressing well! Maybe next year she can tackle Misappulimala?! Lots of love to you, Louise, and good luck to you all! xxxx

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  12. Hey Stuart, Hope your having an amazing time still, miss you loads!!!
    love K
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  13. This message is for Mary in Tango 3.Hi Mary! It's Mum here again.Trekking eh? Sounds wonderful.The experience of a lifetime.Hope you don't have too many blisters!
    Take care,stay safe.Love to you and all of tango 3.Grandma and Grandpa send their love too.
    Mum xxxxx (Gilbert,George,Fievel and Poppy miss you!).

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  14. Hi annette. We have monsoon season going on here at moment. Mum and dad say hello. Ewans wires are out and his plaster is gone. He thinks you are going to bring him home a real elephant. 5K went well. Hope you are enjoying yourself, not dancing on too many tables ! little sis

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  15. Hey Helen in Tango 3! I hope you are having fun on your trek - I'm sure all that swimming and running has made you well prepared. I might have a job back at the High School in September so it looks like you'll have to put up with me when you get back! I'm addicted to this blog - lovely to see you in all the pictures. Hope my letter got through to you. PG tips?! Does that mean I get free tea for life? Thinking of you lots, Jim xx

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  16. Yo Jason/Charlie 1!
    Glad to see that you aren't missing the rain! Can't wait to see more pics. Have a great and useful time and keep notes so that you have loads of stories to tell. We are all praying for you. Keep safe. Theresa

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