The Mission Across Wales [School Edition]
150km, 7 days, 25kg weight each
Practice was good
We had no idea what was to come
1st day long and hot
Already hard
The relationship jokes had already put one team on the edge of collapse
Luckily after the hours we were allowed to go in our phones to watch the euros final
Unfortunately rain and only one phone with data
Next day we retraced our stops
Which along with feeling Very sore did not leave excited for our covid induced 7 day exbidition
But got to swim in a river and go out to the town for food
Thus began the real challenge
1st day a long grind over the hills to get to an elevated campsite
The heat was real and running out of water a very possible issue
If we didn’t make it to the instructors we genuinely could get into trouble
Tough work but food and a port a loo - something mocked at the time but which would have been seriously useful later
Onto the next day another 20+ km slog
We met a lovely farmer who may or may not have given us some ice lollies
This day was smooth sailing
Ate lunch with the other team
Arrived at our supposed finish for our instructor to tell us we had to climb the over 700m high mountain before we got to our campsite
A perilous one as if the wind funnels up the valley it could make sleep almost impossible
As we were the only team going up here tonight it was also going to be a real test of our commradery
Thankfully I decided not to have a swim in the dangerously deep and cold water
Instead opting for some card games in the wind and for the first time using the wilds own facilities
Day three
Over half way
After the clouds poured into our canyon we were in high spirits setting off to summit the mountain we felt we had already conquered with a hope of seeing our finish line in the distance.
However it wasn’t all going to go to plan
As we reached the summit
Covered enntirely with cloud
My shoe laces snapped
Disasterours with nearly 50km left and a 20kg pack on my pack
Was it over
Solutions were raced around
Thankfully Ben packed a spare
That brightened the mood again
As did our chats with the locals and our accessor who’d camped out on the summit without our knowledge
Eventually as we passed along the ridge the cloud cleared allowing us to get our first glimpse of the sea, or eventual destination
A rapid descent of a rather steep hill and a long treck that involved meeting a unique friend a bit nicer than ones to come(lizard) eventually got us to our campsite many hours before the other teams
After setting our tents we went for our first wash in days in the nearby stream
The refreshing dip didn’t quite go as planned
Afterwards we noticed a number of small leaches attached to each of us
After washing head to toe this was slightly concerning
After some removals checks and double checks of some more important areas we relaxed
The other team arrived and set up their tents as we tucked into our dinner (it turned out they had hurt one of their legs so would be sharing our campsite after all to spare them an extra few kilometres
Now they wait began for the other team
Eventually they pulled up, after getting over taken by a meandering sheep on the way which I cannot deny did provide some amusement to the rest of us
After a brief catch up
They set off to their campsite still 2kms away
And after watching them get lost return and take a different route we finally watched them disappear over the hilllside
The views and the sunset with the other group were only under minded that evening by the warning of ticks given by Will the accessor
An early arranged wake up saw all both teams wake at a nice and early 4:20 am
Ready to smash out the day
Whilst the senery, shrouded by a low hanging mist that seemed to spill from the nearby lake were imenssly pretty
And our camp stove decided to turn an incredible shade of blue for the first time this morning was not all good news
We awoke to will, the only one of us who had refused to relieve himself outside suffering
The situation was desperate
We set off around 5am
The camera dying and with a fire to save our team mate
The pace was rapid and helped by the fact that approaching the coast meant downhill
It also meant coming into contact with civilisation
Unfortunately all rather closed at 7am
We kept up our pace and the kilometres flew by
We reached a large town and public toilets at 8 am
And after a rather intense morning were finally able to relax
Only 5 km to go now
A mere 30 minute jog on a good day lifted spirits to an extremely high level despite the fact that we had already been walking for a week and our 20kg packs weren’t feeling all that much lighter
A week of regimented stops left us weary so we made sure to take advantage of our speed for once
Chatting to the instructors and teams
Leaving the extremely comfortable town bench well over an hour later
Our final few kilometres didn’t provide too many obstacles
A very friendly dog, who had not been destroyed and later a farmer who also seemed very friendly led to us eventually reaching the beach
Getting what I think hope you’d ageee was a well earned ice cream and taking a dip with the jelly fish