When an end is really a beginning...

(above: Sofia "Sofa" Maudslay is comforted by PM Liz Allen at the conclusion of Raleigh 09C.)

Hear that?

That silence is the vacuum created by 70 absent venturers, all of have fled field base for the next step of their adventures.

Now, before your Blog Boss waxes lyrical on the human condition and all things ending and beginning, let's put some minds at ease: The entire 09C cohort have left Raleigh safety after an amazing washup party and many (many) tearful farewells.

The BA 118 flight back to the UK carrying 13 venturers left from Bangalore airport on time (at something like 5am this morning. Ouch) and everyone else spent their first night unguarded by project managers in Mysore.

So with the knowledge that everyone left Raleigh safe and happy, read on!

(Below: Host country venturer Mani gets a bear hug from Emily Jenkinson)

Here's a quick analysis of the 09C expedition:

- 12,000km trekked in Kerala

- 45 eco-sanitation units built for every family in Kalaiahnahalla

- 14 homes built for those who previously did not have them in Kappikadu

- 800 residents in and around Anaikatty village protected by elephants

- And elephants in Bandipur national park protected from people with an anti-poaching camp!

- 500 copies of the expedition magazine printed

- 115,000 words written on the blog in 34 posts and 948 comments

- 6000 photographs taken (by the photographer and helpers)

- 113 rolls of zinc oxide tape were used, along with...

- 600 rolls of toilet paper!

- Four lost trangia handles

- 150 tins of tuna

- 100 destroyed tent pegs...

- And the sanity of one public relations officer.

Washup started with the venturers rolling in to field base on their buses from their respective camp sites after a string of inauguration ceremonies to officially open the work of Raleigh India.

On the first night, we watched a slide show of photographer Ann Taylor's beautiful images, which was carefully put together by host Country Venturer coordinator Vijay. The show was an emotional roller-coaster which captured the highs and (far less frequent) lows of expedition life, featuring everything from photographs of Holly Gottlieb's huge blisters during trek to Guna's spectacular dance moves.

On Saturday, the venturers cleaned themselves (we promise!), field base and their kit before gearing up for a fashion parade.

Each alpha group were asked to create costumes to fit three categories: work wear, traditional dress and formal wear...

...there are three billion words in the English language and quite frankly, I can't think of any to describe the fashion that went on show so instead, check out the pictures and let us know how you would describe it!

Alpha 1 represented by: William Jaggard, Leanne Moses, Claire de Vries, Eveline Bloemandal, Charlie Howell and Tom de Wilton

Alpha 2 represented by: Hobby, Rosanna Townsend, Anuta Pardeshi, Remi Bumstead, Tjebbe Lodeizen, Angel Jordan-Akiwumi and Parthi

Alpha 3, represented by Alex Langman, Tilly Wallace, Hamish Roberts, Ella Dryden, Becca Musgrave and Gavin Harrop

Alpha 4 represented by Mubarak, Sarah Khalil, Jo Morton, Ricardo Davis, Seb Bush-Hipwood, Alli Legge, James Windsor-Clive and Guna

The parade was ably compered by field base's most glamorous pairing, Deputy Programme Manager Danielle Esterhuysen and medic Andrew Cox who almost stole the show, if not for James Windsor-Clive's stunning catwalk entry, the pricefetched for auctioning Ricardo and Hamish's great attempt at being dapper.

A huge chicken barbecue was followed by an emotional round of speeches and thank yous, particularly for India Country Director Gavin Shelton, who announced that Raleigh 09C would be his last expedition.

(Above: Gavin addressing the 09C cohort for the last time.)

Gavin received a book of memories, photographs and notes from his friends, family, past and present venturers and volunteer managers, and was thanked with a standing ovation from the crowd.

(Below: Tjebbe Lodeizen, Zoe Hamersley, Jo Morton and Ed Kneale lead a standing ovation in recognition of Gavin's 18 months establishing and steering Raleigh India.)

The following day - Sunday - bought more emotion as the venturers packed their bags and prepared for life after Raleigh.

Our eight host country venturers were the first to wave goodbye and there were many tears as Guna spoke to the entire cohort, saying just how much he had gained from being part of Faleigh India.

(Below: Akhil, Mubarak, Sumith, Mani, Guna, Sreejith, Mukesh and Parthi loading up the Bravo vehicle to head home)

And before we knew it, it was time for everyone else to board the bus to Mysore or Bangalore in a ceremony that had a touch of finality about it as hugs were shared and tears were shed.

And that, in the words of Jim Morrison, is the end, my friend.

I've had a few comments wanting more photographs so I'm going to do the contemporary thing and suggest if you want more from Raleigh India, you can join the Facebook group. Search for "India 09C" and it should be pretty easy to find, you'll see lots of familiar faces in the members from the photographs on this blog and with luck everyone will start loading their photographs there over the coming weeks.

Tomorrow is the last day for the staff here at fieldbase. Tomorrow night the entire gang will board a train to Mangalore to unwind from 14 weeks of fieldbase and project.

And just to prove how much I don't really want this to end... expect the final post... tomorrow.