The end is nigh!

10 weeks on expedition in India has flown by and the last couple of days have been full of goodbyes, washing dirty kit and travelling back to field base for the final time. The groups all arrived back this morning in high spirits and ready to spend their last couple of days with all the friends  they have made on expedition.

Yesterday staff from field base set off in three different directions to visit the groups at their closing ceremonies. All the villages that the groups have worked for over the last phase thanked them for all their hard work over the last couple of weeks. The alpha groups have all been overwhelmed with the hospitality friendliness and generosity the villages have shown them while they have been there and this is also their chance to thank everyone for that.

Here are a few photos from their closing ceremonies from Echo 4 and Charlie 1.

 

Sarah (PM) being dressed in a sari

Yasmin looking very glamorous and ready to go

Elvis

Tabby and Sam

Tom with one of the project partners from MYKAPS

Packing down Echo 4

Big smile from Ram

Ollie and Struan 

The groups are all happy to be back and Tango 5 brought a surprise back for Mark in the form of three leeches. He had set the a challenge before they left on trek that if they returned with a live leech they would win a large pepperoni pizza. Devon was very quick to cash in on his prize.

Once kit had been clean and maybe some clean clothes had been thrown on everyone headed into Mysore for the final time – hopefully they will have returned with some presents for all you friends and family they have left behind at home for 10 weeks. 

Echo 4 arrive back from the trenches

Ben fresh off the bus from Charlie 1

Shaq and Dwayne - always together 

Kai with his trekking tent

Lauren getting a big welcome back hug from Lindsay (PM)

Siva and Manpreet reading her birthday  blog messages

Mark handing Devon his prize

Leech!!!

Everyone one will be up at 5:30am tomorrow morning to be led in a Miss Motivator session by the lovely Emma, who will prepare everyone for their 5 or 10K run which will be commencing at 6:00am. We will be back online tomorrow to let you know how are runners did and by the sounds of it we will have some funny fancy dress pictures to post. If you haven’t already it is not to late to sponsor them.