Trek Fit!

It is Jo here again and as promised I have returned from trekking  to show you the photographs and tell the much awaited stories from the Tango groups. I am pleased to say I survived and I had the most amazing time. What fantastic groups and I was bowled over by the mind blowing scenery. It was definitely worth all the hard work!

Tango 6 ........

Day one, ok, back packs on, first steps and cue the rain!  Rivers of water run down the mountains and we are given our first insight as to what the monsoon season will be like.  Below you can see Lauren enjoying the rain as it is a welcome break from the intense heat.

Although the novelty soon wears off and we are left drying our boots and kit around the camp fire later and we feel a little bit chilly for the first time in India. The first signs that this trek is not going to be a walk in the park!

The experience is beautifully summed up by Sam Downes who has kindly shared his poem with us all :-

There is a burden on the shoulders,

Kilograms of exhaustion,

Physical, mental,

Stressful and painful,

Yet still we must trek onwards,

Up Masapula, down through the rain.

Rations are tiny,

Our stomachs empty,

We push through the air.

But how fantastic the mountains we see,

The rivers, rocks, sights and stops,

People, parota,

Reward and chai,

Beauty is painful, worth every hurt?

No, time to live it, down through the rain.

Day 2 there is excitement in the air as we glance upwards at the intimidating and looming mountain that we are all about to climb. We have heard about the second highest peak outside of Himalaya's from the previous Tango 6 group.

Here it is in all its glory and it is hot again - marvellous!

Along the way the guides show us the Nilgiri Tahr which are the rare mountain goats on the verge of extinction and which are only found in Kerala. The goats are less than impressed by our intrusion and they continue to munch grass with not so much as a movement or blink of the eye to welcome us to the mountain. The guide also cannot hide his delight as he comes across a blooming, blue, kurinji flower. These flowers are special as they only flower once every 12 years and they are not supposed to bloom again until 2018. So to see a rather early flower is an additional treat to the blue hazy mountain that lies before us.

One foot in front of the other, feeling the burn, onwards for what seems like hours and eventually we make progress and finally we summit!

An euphoric photograph of the group as we conquer the mountain! It was tough but we were tougher on the day and it was a good result for us all.

You always forget that you need to leave a bit of energy for the downward stretch and the descent is not as spritely as we have been walking for 8 hours.  Our feet are throbbing, toe nails hit the front of our boots. This walking malarkey is becoming tiresome and challenging. We are told that if we make good time we can go to the tea factory so we have incentive to plough on despite our tired limbs and weary bodies under the strain of the increasing weight of our ruck sacks.

The tea plantations soften the pain and every time you lift your head to take in the vast beautiful surroundings it makes it all worthwhile.

 We make the tea factory and as fascinating as the production of the tea is, nothing is as sweet as  finishing the day with a nice cuppa!

Days 3 and 4......are spent at Lakeside but no shopping at this one only stunning scenery and bamboo races are on offer here!

Fierce competition as the girls take on the boys at building a raft and racing them to the otherside of the lake.

The girls set to work and are quick to make their raft.

The boys not as quick but are looking pretty.

A lot of hot air filling the boys tyres as the teams taunt each other as to who will be victorious!

So will it be the boys ....looking mean .........

Or will it be the girls .....looking demure...........

It's official the girls are better than the boys and despite all the hard rowing from the boys the girls make it to the otherside first. Well done the girls!

So sadly the time comes to leave Tango 6 and I will leave you with a photograph of the glamorous Tango 6 Project Managers.

Tango 7

The group are trekking through Kerala but they are doing the route in reverse to Tango 6 so they still have the big beast of a mountain to climb. They have however been trekking as much as 28 kilometres in one day so they have been walking just as hard.

Tango 7 want to impart some of their hard earned wisdom that they have gathered so far on their trek through Kerala.

Juliet:- When faced with 28k to walk in one day ...just keep talking

Annie:- Eat crushed up bourbons and condensed milk together to keep you going

Nick:- When nature calls use the trowel not your hands

Benn:- Use the map and jolly well man up

Bella:- Wear your high wasted shorts with pride and adopt a sturdy stick for the tough bits

Satish:- Sleep a lot!

Girish:- Just enjoy the mountains

Hattie :- Two snacks a day will keep hunger at bay

James H:- Do not open sweets with a sharp knife unless you want a bloody finger for the next 3 days

James B:- Go "au natural" under your lungi

Nevin:- Mosquitoes, leeches, cockroaches - I don't give a **** (read monkies) kill them all!

Alice:- Unlike Benn use every opportunity to wash, - wet wipes, ponds, bucket showers

Charles:- Carry less weight than the girls

Harry:- Just don't trek!!!

 As I now consider myself a seasoned trekker my advice would be....whatever nasty clothing is necessary and in the absence of being able to wear heels it is important to always make sure you have your sunnies to add some glamour to the occassion!

Tango 6 have also been treated to the amazing scenery and tea plantations ......