Highland March 4 - Day One Report

[Yompa]

By the time you get round to reading this, the guys will be almost through with day two (assuming they've finally escaped from the Winking Owl) but here's a quick resume of day one...

The day dawned bright by cold down at TCS and sporting a wide variety of headgear, the marchers set off from the stadium at 8:20. Gringo had clearly had a bad hair day back at the cave whilst Gringo Jnr resembled some kind of failed rock star. Nessie appeared to have laid an EGG whilst the only 'normal' end to ender was Beatonio, although he of course had a stooky on his arm courtesy of a footballing accident a fortnight ago (probably explains why he seemed to be carrying the regimental flag for most of the day!!!!).

Along for the day the group had ITN Junior, a 'veteran' of days six, seven and eight last year, and the 'groupies'... Lauraness and C3 from the Familyness. Suffice to say at this stage that whilst the Charlie's Angels heargear made it through the day, the wings were well and truly clipped come Moy!

The early miles were uneventful as the regiment made it's way up the west side of the A9 (on the verge I might add) before coming under friendly fire at Bogbain from messrs Yompa, ITN Minor and Micro. Once the troop had crossed over the A9 at Daviot and descended the steps and made the river crossing over the Nairn, Minor and Micro joined in the march and walked the next wee while with the main body of troops. I say main body for Gringo Junior had long since shot of the front and wasn't to be seen again until the Tomatin Inn.

By the time everyone regrouped at the Inn around half one, the first reports of blisters came in over the wires. Lauraness and C3 were happy to use up almost half the bar supply of new beer mats to make purpose-built blister cushioning insoles whilst everyone was just happy to get some relief from the midday sun.

The post-Tomatin session was particularly unspectacular, except for a failed final ambush by Team Yompa and Minors (the troops were spotted and taken out by the Gringos not long after the latter had wasted most of their ammo on an unsuccessful attack on a fire-watch platform...

The girls, after a long (and for the most part happy) day in the sun, finally called it a day at 20 miles and climbed back aboard the bus. Everyone else made it to the finish, and special credit must go to ITN Minor, aged 8 who covered 12 miles and ITN Micro, aged 6 who did 8 miles. Indeed, both of the wee ones walked offroad from the German soldier at Slochd to the finish just past Sluggan Bridge on the road headed west out of Carrbridge.

The evening was spent in traditional HM fashion... reliving the highlights of the day over a communal scoff of pasta and stuff in the bunkhouse, followed by a bedraggled stagger by Beatonio and ITN Junior up the road to the Cairn Hotel in order to engage the locals on the pool table, the result of which is better left unstated by all accounts... ;o(

I can't finish this account with mentioning Caley D, or 'The General' as he has now been christened. Someone asked why we didn't have a 'General' ranking in our HM list and it was EGG, I believe, who suggested that it had probably been reserved for the the driver... General Dogsbody of the team. General, you were fantastic on day one. At a time when the troop were spread over a couple of miles, you did a great job of running to and fro, keeping tabs on everyone, and probably the best compliment the team can pay you is to say that no one would have guessed that you'd never driven for the regiment before.

[Interthenet Jnr]

I'm so badly sun burned . Beatonio and i got some wierd looks down at the pub from the locals, that didn't stop us though. 8)

[Interthenet Jnr]

Since i can't get onto the main HM thread i'll post it here. Got a call from beatonio saying he had fallen on his arm that had recently been broken. He was a few miles out in front of the rest but CaleyD managed to find him. He's in a sling but carrrying on.

[Scotty]

I split the Technical issues about the HM4 thread into a new thread in the Tech Support - Website forum

[Interthenet Jnr]

Got a few messages from the old man over the night. He is about in Kincraig now and in good spirits going well as far as i know. Glag to here it :) .

[L_G]

That is excellent. He told me a few weeks ago that he would have to be in Aviemore for breakfast, but obviously he has excelled himself. What a true nutter. Even thinking about a 24 hour walk makes me feel tired.

Good on you Yompa - pass on our best wishes next time you text.

[Guest Lauraness]

yay! go mad uncle yompa!!!

[CaleyJulz]

WOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MON UNCLE YOMPA

[Guest Lauraness]

sneaky photo evidence.....wot a lot of chin rubbing going on...

[Interthenet Jnr]

Like father like son with the gringo's. Loving CaleyD's fluffy white scarf thing :D

[Guest Lauraness]

yeh it was a rather fetching number

[Interthenet Jnr]

The old man is about 3 mile outside Blair Atholl and should make Pitlochry as planned.

[Scotty]

Seems to be a habit with these guys .......

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Interthenet Jnr]

:thumbsup: Oh my sides hurt

[L_G]

The old man is about 3 mile outside Blair Atholl and should make Pitlochry as planned.

He's doing well then. Fair play to him. Good luck for the rest of the trip. He can't be very far behind the others now then if they were leaving from Ballinluig this morning.

[Interthenet Jnr]

I would pay to see the looks on their faces as they see him a few hundred yards behind them. It would be a case of, "isn't he meant to be about 60 mile behind us"?

[L_G]

Where are team Gringo stopping tonight?

[Scotty]

Perth

routemap here ... http://hmssneck.com/ict/maps/hm4/hm4.htm

[Interthenet Jnr]

There in Newtonmore again tonight. Wouldn't be suprised if my dad passes them while they sleep. A haire and tortise situation maybe.

[Interthenet Jnr]

Message i got from my dad at 9:27 am:

"Ballinuig fell early, no resistance! currently 3 miles from dunkeld. Feet cut to ribbons but pain is only a four letter word. This message was brought to you by Red Bull, Savlon and Ibuprofen 600, pain management partners of Team Yompa. Remember the motto... Never give up. Never ever give up."

And the last one i got was 5 minutes ago:

"Slept last night. 5 miles north of almondbank. Only about 25 miles to go today now!"

He is also about 16 mile behind the others.

[L_G]

Well done to him. I must admit I could think of better ways of having fun, but I suppose 'whatever floats your boat' Well done Yompa. Hot on the heels of Team Gringo.

Never doubted him for a minute. A true Nutter.

[Interthenet Jnr]

It is strange the thinks that make my old man tick :shock: . I would never bet against him doing anything. He's too stuborn not to finish, not to mention determined.

[RiG]

Do you think the rest of the pack have picked up the pace to try and get away from him?

[maimie]

Last heard the advance party was at Glenfarg north of Kinross to be followed hotly by the Auld Yin at Bankfoot - blisters and all but no sign of stopping yet.. :thumbsup:

[Interthenet Jnr]

I got a txt about 2 hour ago saying he had got into bankfoot.