Christmas has engulfed Field base in celebration of the Venturers and PMs return this morning. With tinsel everywhere and the Christmas tunes blaring out, we were so excited to welcome them all back from their final phase.
It's a bitter sweet time though, as although we're all so excited to see everyone and catch up with their news, it's all tinged with the sad reality that the Raleigh 10K expedition is coming to a close. But not before we celebrate and party in style!
It's final skit night tonight where each group will entertain, amuse and most likely sing a theatrical account of their phase. Then tomorrow we're up at dawn for the Fun Run before a day of wash-up and reviews topped off with the big leaving party complete with Golden Ganesh Awards.
I'll be inviting some Guest Blogs from the PMs over the next few days to summarise their final phase and describe their achievements.
Thanks also to everyone who's sponsored the Fun Run, over £700 has been raised so far! All the money will go towards Raleigh projects in India like the ones the 10K expedition have been working on. If you'd like to sponsor someone please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Raleigh-India-Fun-Run
Merry Christmas One and all!
Polly C x
Showing posts with label Tango Six. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tango Six. Show all posts
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Friday 10 December 2010
Group Round Up - The Final Countdown
Myself, Polly B and Anna head out on The Loop tomorrow where we'll be swinging by Tango 6 to collect Del who's been out there with them this last week and then heading up to Charlie One for the opening ceremony of their houses.
Before we depart, here's a round up of all that's happening on the project sites:
The houses are nearly all complete as the group have been hard at work plastering, flooring and putting in windows. They've also been flexing their creative side designing a mural to leave a lasting legacy in the village.
Charlie Two
All twelve eco-santitation units have been built and their delightfully green coloured toilet pans fitted. It's just the painting and the finishing touches they've got left to do now.
Echo Three
Still slogging it out hard and loving it in the trench the group have also continued erecting more fencing. The group will be taking a well earned break today and go to visit the local Golden temple for a bit of culture.
Tango Five have been absoultely loving it out there in the wilderness. Yesterday they enjoyed an amazing trek through tea plantations and today is the biggy, the 26km trek. We wish them luck!
Tango Six
Tango Six have too been loving it, with blue skies above them and barely any leeches in sight they're having an amazing time. Yesterday they had a 50km cycle route which they loved and today they've got a gentle 14km walk with the reward to me, Polly B and Anna waiting to greet them at the end of it!
All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Phase One Alpha Groups - we're coming to getcha!
It's unbelivable how quickly time has gone by, as tomorrow Phase One comes to a close. In the morning all the Alpha groups will return to Fieldbase for Changeover One. Tonight over Comms the groups have told us how they're spending their final hours together ...
Charlie One were visited today by Mr R from CTRD who came to give them a talk and thank them for all their hard work. They then celebrated this afternoon with their local community who warmed their hearts with their gratefulness.
Tango Six are celebrating tonight with their 'Tango Six Oscars' complete with black tie dress code and a candle lit dinner - swanky!
Here at Field base we've had a good old tidy up and will be tucking into a Roast dinner to relax tonight ahead of the craziness as everyone descends back to us over Changeover.
We wish them all a safe journey tomorrow and can't wait to welcome them back and hear all their tales of adventure, hard work and achievement.
Charlie One were visited today by Mr R from CTRD who came to give them a talk and thank them for all their hard work. They then celebrated this afternoon with their local community who warmed their hearts with their gratefulness.
Echo Three had a goodbye party this afternoon with their local village at their campsite, where they offically declared the part of elephant proof solar powered fence they have erected open with a tape cutting ceremony.
Echo Four are delighted to have completed their last day of digging and will be relaxing tonight ahead of an early morning start.
Tango Five have already started their journey bck to Field base and have the luxury of spending tonight in a Hotel where they will feast in style!
Tango Six are celebrating tonight with their 'Tango Six Oscars' complete with black tie dress code and a candle lit dinner - swanky!
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| Field base - The calm before the storm .... |
All text and photos by Polly Carpenter (unless stated otherwise).
Friday 22 October 2010
Trekking with the Tangos
Just six days ago I deployed with Tango Six on the brand new Demon Trek, so named not for its nastiness but rather for the local name given to one of the several peaks the group will summit over the 18 day phase.
The Demon adventure circumnavigates the region of Wayanad in the north of Kerala. Known for spices and its incredible scenery, Wayanad is a well kept secret of this popular tourist state. In fact, Muddy Boots, Raleigh’s project partner, are one of the first adventure companies to begin working in the area and as such we are visiting places few have seen before.
The first day was tough, our packs were at their heaviest, our bodies at their least experienced, it is to the credit of the team that we made it to the top of Brahmagiri hill, a peak of 2100m. Monday was also our first taste of leeches, an animal which despite having 32 brains failed to win the admiration or respect of Tango 6. The very fashionable leech socks did however provide protection and we continued on undettered, crossing over the grasslands and ridges before dropping down through the forest to Kerela.
An early morning wake up call for birthday boy Kane was followed by a Hindu blessing at the 1500 year old Thirunelly Temple, before we began winding our way through the stunning paddy fields and coffee and banana plantations. Lunch by the river followed by a steep uphill brought us to our campsite and our birthday celebrations began around the campfire.
And then came the cycling, and wow what an amazing experience. Begining in the paddy fields, we continued on through the most stunning forest, the tough uphill rewarded by some incredible down hills leaving everyone on a high. A taste of Indian townships an incredibly spicy lunch and we finished our final section deep in the heart of tea country. Amazing!
A massive thank you to Polly who was not only a brilliant member of the trek but also took over 2000 stunning photos.
Anna - Guest Blogger
All photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).
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| The spectacular Irupu Falls marks the beginning |
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| And they are away |
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| Sam lends Jen a helping hand After an incredibly intense packing session where Tango 6 were tasked with packing 3 weeks’ worth of pasta, noodles, porridge and peanut crunch, we headed out in the early hours of Sunday morning. First stop was the Kuruva Islands, a 900acre collection of some 64 islands in the Kabini where we practised our river crossing skills no less than 7 times. A delicious Keralan lunch served on banana leaves and we were on our way to camp before heading up over the Western Ghats. |
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| The Western Ghats in all their glory |
The first day was tough, our packs were at their heaviest, our bodies at their least experienced, it is to the credit of the team that we made it to the top of Brahmagiri hill, a peak of 2100m. Monday was also our first taste of leeches, an animal which despite having 32 brains failed to win the admiration or respect of Tango 6. The very fashionable leech socks did however provide protection and we continued on undettered, crossing over the grasslands and ridges before dropping down through the forest to Kerela.
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| Regu takes a time to enjoy the view |
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| No view but still happy to have conquered Brahmagiri |
An early morning wake up call for birthday boy Kane was followed by a Hindu blessing at the 1500 year old Thirunelly Temple, before we began winding our way through the stunning paddy fields and coffee and banana plantations. Lunch by the river followed by a steep uphill brought us to our campsite and our birthday celebrations began around the campfire.
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| Birthday boy Kane - an 18th celebration he is unlikely to forget |
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| Post lunch siesta |
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Ian receives a blessing from our Muddy Boots guide (hero) Ram   |
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| Camping amongst the coffee |
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| Preparing to carb up - Anna, Reg, Liv, Sarah and Dr Phil |
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Practically the Tour de France     I may be gushing, but I am still bouncing after my mini adventure. I have lived in India for over a year now, and yet the beauty of this country never fails to take my breath away. Equally, I have worked with countless Raleigh groups and the determination, team work and sense of achievement displayed by each and every person never fails to inspire me. Full credit to project managers Olly, Phil and Rachel who are doing an excellent job in supporting what is a remarkable group of venturers from four different countries. Tango Six supporters you should be very proud of your people, they are doing brilliantly! |
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| Katie enjoys a well deserved local lunch |
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| Olly - mountain leader and allround great guy |
Anna - Guest Blogger
All photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).
Sunday 17 October 2010
Phase One Deployment
Friday at field base saw the five alpha groups start the arduous job of collecting their mountains of kit and food supplies from the logistics store. With the assistance of their Project Managers the teams packed everything they needed to live and work for the next 18 days onto waiting buses. The trekking groups had an even harder job of deciding what they will need to carry on their backs. Everything having to pass the scrutiny of Olly and Lynne the Mountain Leaders, acting as hard task masters as their first food drop will be in five days.
In the evening the venturers were treated to a great slide show presentation showing just how much they had done over the last five days and leaving them in awe of what they will experience in the next nine weeks.
As Saturday dawned the air was full of excitement, and the sound of a few early moring yawns, as everyone woke to say their final goodbyes before heading off to their various project sites. By 8:30 field base was left with an eerie silence as the sixty eight venturers and PM's left along with Anna, Polly and Polly from the office, who headed out on their first loop with the groups.
For field base the morning offered a chance to catch our breath after the last week, and enjoy a gratefully received breakfast of bacon and eggs from Country Director Mark.
As the day progressed Charlie One reached their project site in Uluvada and had a welcome meeting with the village, who have been waiting with anticipation for the groups arrival. They have now set up camp.
Echos Three and Four have made a start on the construction on their camps with bashers springing up and tree houses being built by project partners for elephant watch. Everyone had a fabulous nights sleep under clear and starry skys with Laura Burnett even spotting a shooting star!
Tango Six have started their trek, fording seven rivers on their first day and having a well earned peaceful night's rest. Whilst Tango Five will be continuing the journey to their starting point this morning after spending the night in a dorm along the way. Venturer Robbie Dwyer successfully solving the field base riddle that had been set to both Tango groups.
Two men are walking in the arctic when they discover the body of a dead man. One man says to the other "That's the body of Adam, the first ever man". How did he know this?
By Doug Meehan and Susan Pollock - Guest bloggers
Photos by Doug Meehan, available for all events and occasions in the Mysore area
As Saturday dawned the air was full of excitement, and the sound of a few early moring yawns, as everyone woke to say their final goodbyes before heading off to their various project sites. By 8:30 field base was left with an eerie silence as the sixty eight venturers and PM's left along with Anna, Polly and Polly from the office, who headed out on their first loop with the groups.
For field base the morning offered a chance to catch our breath after the last week, and enjoy a gratefully received breakfast of bacon and eggs from Country Director Mark.
As the day progressed Charlie One reached their project site in Uluvada and had a welcome meeting with the village, who have been waiting with anticipation for the groups arrival. They have now set up camp.
Echos Three and Four have made a start on the construction on their camps with bashers springing up and tree houses being built by project partners for elephant watch. Everyone had a fabulous nights sleep under clear and starry skys with Laura Burnett even spotting a shooting star!
Tango Six have started their trek, fording seven rivers on their first day and having a well earned peaceful night's rest. Whilst Tango Five will be continuing the journey to their starting point this morning after spending the night in a dorm along the way. Venturer Robbie Dwyer successfully solving the field base riddle that had been set to both Tango groups.
Two men are walking in the arctic when they discover the body of a dead man. One man says to the other "That's the body of Adam, the first ever man". How did he know this?
By Doug Meehan and Susan Pollock - Guest bloggers
Photos by Doug Meehan, available for all events and occasions in the Mysore area
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