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| Mark gets to grips with his feet |
Unbeknown to us at this point, our Support crew thought something had happened between the team. Mark was sat inside the gazebo, Martin sat outside and Lee and Polly near the bonnet of the car. Had there been some sort of fall out? Had they argued? They were all quiet, subdued and very much in need of a boost.
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| Martin feeling fresher |
In the meantime, Martin declared to to the team that he needed to change his underpants. There being no convenient place to do this, Martin stated he didn't care and while Simon did his best to screen him with a towel and the team averted their gaze he soon felt the relief of dry pants and humour was once again restored to the group.
After further discussion about "Re-vazzing up" to deal with some of the chafing issues encountered, dry socks and clothes were donned and after some hot pasta, the team were feeling a lot better.
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| Ted heroically battles the mud |
How could he possibly stop now? It's amazing what a break, some food and dry clothes coupled with some motivational messages will do. The team knew what was coming next as we'd done Stages 6 and 7 in training. Mark decided to continue, turned to Kate and said "These next two stages are make or break."
With that, the team set off after a 51minute rest, out of the Checkpoint passing cars being pushed and towed by a tractor without whom most would still be there now.
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| The briefly celebrate the passing of 55km |
On entering the Checkpoint we decided to grab some hot soup and drink in the shelter of the tent as it had started raining again. We had no idea what the soup was but it was hot and tasty and just what we needed. It had taken us 2hrs 17minutes, 5 minutes faster than our schedule to get here. As our eyes adjusted to the low light we realised we were in the medical tent. An array of walking wounded sat around us on the cots set out with varying degrees of injury and then in the corner, two medics were crouched over an unconscious person who looked in a bad way. Not good.
Knowing we would need to walk the dodgy path alongside the river into Upper Beeding we decided to put on headtorches and hi-vis though it became apparent that only Mark had brought his and the rest were with the Support Crew - just as well they meeting us. Trudging across the waterlogged field we followed the path round and over the bridge, Mark in front illuminating and the team members on his heels behind. He feared if he stopped for any reason there would be a pile-up and someone would end up swimming so the pace was kept steady.
As we reached the point where the path diverts into the housing estate, a familiar voice said "You're doing very well guys, this way". It was Simon who hadn't realised it was us in the dark and he was doing his bit as an Oxfam volunteer. He then walked with us to the lay-by where the team had once again set up the gazebo to shelter from the rain. Kate informed us the BunLovingCriminals had passed by a little while back and we were pleased they were still a four. We took the opportunity to change socks, add glow sticks to the backpacks and for the rest of the team to put on their hi-vis and headtorches and we were soon off for the next sapping ascent to the top of Stage 7 to the sound of "The A-Team" theme music blaring from Martin's iPod.
The climb to the top in the dark seemed easier than we could remember. Perhaps it's because we could only see a few yards in front and we couldn't see the top other than the illuminated masts but we made steady progress. As we approached the top, it started to become apparent that something wasn't right with Mark's right foot. Having not suffered with blisters in training this was something new - hotspots. Deciding the best thing to do was to deal with it now rather than wait for Checkpoint 7, the team parked up in a gateway and helped remove the offending boot and find the blister plasters. What was heart warming was the concern shown by other passing teams who enquired if all was OK. Addressing one blister on the heel and one on the ball of the foot, the team were back on their way towards the distant glow on the horizon marking the illuminated checkpoint. As we did so, we passed numerous other teams now sat by the wayside addressing their feet, it seemed perhaps we'd encouraged others to do the same - perhaps this should be renamed Blister Hill?
Descending to Fulking Escarpment and back up the other side we turned and look back to see the twinkling snake of headtorches behind us, something we had had described to us but to see for ourselves was really quite something.
As we made the final ascent towards the Checkpoint the Support Crew informed us it was chaos there and they were struggling to park so advised we head straight for food. Getting closer to the checkpoint we were greeted to rapturous applause from the assembled volunteers, Gurkhas and officers - probably the biggest assembled welcome so far and a real euphoric feeling hit us. It had taken 2hrs 13minutes, 13 minutes longer than planned thanks to the blister stop and we were now only 1minute ahead of schedule overall. Our Support Crew grabbed our kit as we headed for hot pasta which was downed with gusto. as we left the food tent to head for our support car, we bumped in to JPTO's Olly on the way in. A quick exchange, "How are you all doing?" - "OK but Tom's not good - had the squits and is on Dioralyte but we're still a four". We'd all got this far, but would we get further?
With no room to set up the gazebo, the kit and chairs were set up alongside the car and we sat ourselves down to re-stock and re-sock. With the hurried blister repair undertaken part way up, Mark decided to strip off the damp tape once again and go without. Kate dried Mark's feet and applied some talc before addressing the blisters now evident on both feet in the softened skin. They weren't looking good with 30km still to go.
To be continued.....
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