Training, trips and trekking...

In the words of Eric Clapton – holy mother! We have been busier than Wills and Kate’s wedding planners over the last few days as the induction training got into full swing. We’ve learnt everything from radio communications, first aid skills and map reading to how to get a portable gas cooker covered in rat dropping gleaming whilst wearing one ill-fitting marigold. All essential expedition skills I think you’ll agree.

Learning our key communications reports for when out on project sites through the art of dance.

First aid training but don't worry Celine was just faking it, she's fine really.

Becca kindly testing my first aid skills by falling really awkwardly.

Enjoying one of many amazing meals to keep us going through the training sessions.

Our neighbours in the next farm along.

Stu's feet were in trouble even before the trekking began. 

Then on Sunday night we got some time to go into Mysore for the evening to see the palace all lit up with 64,000 light bulbs, incredible! 

After a lovely meal out it was back to base to prepare for the upcoming two days of trekking. And so before the sun came up on Tuesday morning, we were all up, packed and had set off in two groups on the 25km trek in the blazing Indian heat.

Walking through the morning mist to try and get some mileage done before the sun came up.

The trek was much harder work than we’d anticipated due to the heat and the 25kg weight we were carrying. But it was also an amazing experience for us all as we were greeted so warmly by all the families in the villages we walked through. We exchanged dance moves with the children and there was even a proposal from one of the elders in the village to our Kate!

We saw some amazing things along the way and it was a great chance to get to get to know the local area as well as each other a bit better and there’s nothing like going to the loo behind a bush together to provide the ultimate bonding experience!

Many of us thought we’d caught a cracking tan until we discovered disappointingly that it was just dirt as it came off during the wet-wipe wash at the end of the day. After setting up camp, building the lav, food shelter and also the all important fire, we settled down to dinner and a good old chinwag round the fire before limping to bed ready for more trekking the next day over to the temple and the river.

Once we got back to field base yesterday afternoon it was time to clean all the gear we’d used, and in true Raleigh style we found a new fun way of cleaning tents – get Dan to stand with the tent over him and prod him with a soapy mop, so much fun. Again, whilst wearing just the one ill-fitting marigold.

Once all the cleaning was done, of the kit and our grubby selves then it was time to celebrate Cat’s 30^th birthday with beers, cake, pizza and pirate costumes aaarrr!

Now that there are about twenty of us here all working together, the banter is at epic levels so I thought we could use this blog to share some of the cracking quotes that the team have been coming out with. Many are not suitable for print but here’s a few that are:

Dave (Project manager) during dinner in Mysore

‘I went for my medical just before coming here and the nurse said, ’Wow you’re the fittest man I’ve tested in this job. But I only started yesterday...’

Dan (Project manager) setting of on trek in all the gear

‘I’m usually a sexy legend...’

Kathryn (Photographer) at the end of a training session

‘I think I’ve actually got ants in my pants...’

We’re hoping they escape sometime soon.

The arrival of the project managers caused a bit of a stir with the dorm pets as Kate and Wills were evacuated by some non-toad loving people and have been trying to return ever since. We keep hearing of sightings across field base as they attempt to return to their home in the shower, but they keep making the fatal mistake of taking a pit stop in someone’s shoe and so they get booted out again (see what I did there?) and the whole journey starts again.

Kate. Or Wills. Or Harry, as we can only tell them apart when they're all together.

Sid the cobra is still on his extended holiday and we got a postcard from Benidorm the other day, and Pete and Kerry the spiders have also done an eight-legged runner, probably to an OK magazine shoot or something, but we’re sure they’ll be back sitting on the loo roll again soon.

It’s an exciting day here today as the project managers find out which project they’re heading out to for Phase 1 of the expedition later so we’ll be back with all that news and more about the project managers themselves tomorrow. Right, I better go and check my walking boots for toads...