Training, trekking and crème brûlée

Last week we were put through our paces as we underwent an intensive training schedule, sharpening our skills in field communications, map reading and first aid to mention just a few. By Friday, we were all set for a day of trek training. With alarms set for 4am, we bounced out of our sleeping bags and helped attach each other to rucksacks. Split into two groups - with a 10 minute interval between us  - we set off on a 26km trek with a spring in our step. Group two dubbed themselves Tortoise 2, as they surmised that group one would call themselves Tortoise 1. Unfortunately, group telepathy settings weren't working that morning. Thankfully the GPS was...

And they're off!

Amusing the villagers en route

As the day wore on blisters bloomed and shoulders sagged but through it all the team spirit was exemplary. The care, consideration and encouragement shown to each other was a beautiful thing to behold. An army marches on their stomach and happily a bakery marked our halfway resting point. We'd heard good things about egg puffs from Pete and Robin, who had previously recced the route, so we took the opportunity to sample one, two and then three and indeed they were good.

That's the spirit, Geoff!

Julie and Anita enjoy a quick break

Shane reading a recipe for egg puffs

Proving that it's not about the destination; it's about the journey, Tortoise 2 added an extra 5km to the route. Another interpretation is that they got lost. After ten hours of trekking (a bit longer for Tortoise 2), we reached our destination: Uday's chicken farm! Tired but elated a sense of achievement was shared by all. Camp was arranged quickly as dusk fell - as quickly as aching bodies can muster - before our next training session in camp craft commenced.

A Scotsman (Nick) and a pot of porridge

Nice branding, Louise!

Next morning we left camp to take our swimming tests at a picturesque spot beside a temple. Feeling refreshed we returned to field base for some downtime. Our thoughts turned to the big event of the evening: the announcement of project allocations. Who would be teamed with who? Would snorers be teamed with fellow snorers? Butterflies fluttered in tummies; making a change from the familiar pangs of diarrhoea. Later, looking groomed and lovely, we dined at Parklane Hotel in Mysore where all was revealed during dessert in the form of crème brûlée. Craftily plunged into it's custardy gloop were cocktail sticks with notes attached revealing the allocations. The project managers eyed their crème brûlée nervously before seizing the cocktail sticks. Destiny was in their hands...

                                       Clare holds aloft her crème brûlée

                                     Julie and Geoff digest the day's events

                                             The team and crème brûlée

                                             

Next time: Find out whether the project managers got their just desserts...