tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.comments2023-04-05T14:54:34.261+01:00Wanders, Wonders, Worries and WhingesRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716596669759728979noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-90671897345897328232017-11-22T21:01:28.169+00:002017-11-22T21:01:28.169+00:00One of the best blogs I have read. Fairly cracked ...One of the best blogs I have read. Fairly cracked me up in parts.<br />Cheers, ScottAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143393721697077611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-71240243417129607762017-01-02T00:18:52.226+00:002017-01-02T00:18:52.226+00:00Thank you for the kind words, I just re-read this...Thank you for the kind words, I just re-read this page, brings it all back. I loved every minute of both trips, TGOC is an amazing event, i wasn't sure how I would take to it, but the challengers make a great walk into a pretty amazing experience. Can't wait to do it againRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716596669759728979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-41157603249902249762016-12-12T07:10:59.850+00:002016-12-12T07:10:59.850+00:00Really enjoyed your reports on your two trips. The...Really enjoyed your reports on your two trips. They made me laugh out loud more than a few times.aravistashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04874384163753654594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-55873073762143944052016-04-23T21:21:19.787+01:002016-04-23T21:21:19.787+01:00Well done the both of you, Susan especially - hope...Well done the both of you, Susan especially - hopefully you've not put her off and she'll be back.John Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07569413172924501491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-20480168108706775122016-04-23T16:27:30.336+01:002016-04-23T16:27:30.336+01:00Brilliant read, glad you finished writing it. I ca...Brilliant read, glad you finished writing it. I can sympathise with the painful feet, my first two Challenges my feet were shredded, well done for soldiering on!<br />Fab read, thank you.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089530928216314797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-30027256823110679762015-10-22T11:29:15.129+01:002015-10-22T11:29:15.129+01:00Most of the Challengers seemed to head to Ballater...Most of the Challengers seemed to head to Ballater this year - because the Fife Arms was closed for refurbishment. It'll be the same next year, I reckon. Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-72830322192409028872015-08-24T17:44:27.582+01:002015-08-24T17:44:27.582+01:00Yes, we've all been there. Knackered, with sor...Yes, we've all been there. Knackered, with sore feet and no motivation and then some joker tells you it's his "private" land.<br />Where did you bury the body?Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-91133911889723687242015-08-21T07:18:56.068+01:002015-08-21T07:18:56.068+01:00Thoroughly enjoying your adventures! Lovely write ...Thoroughly enjoying your adventures! Lovely write up, can feel the highs and the lows (and the pain, very familiar to me...) Looking forward to the next bit.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089530928216314797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-87674016014503331772015-08-21T00:17:18.845+01:002015-08-21T00:17:18.845+01:00Thanks again Alan. IF, if i was ever to do it agai...Thanks again Alan. IF, if i was ever to do it again, it will be well away from the the bike routes. She fairly impressed me, i would have pulled the plug in the same sitationRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716596669759728979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-80854373292317656092015-08-20T23:54:45.231+01:002015-08-20T23:54:45.231+01:00Cheers Fred, my "never doing it again" ...Cheers Fred, my "never doing it again" mantra is fading fast (again), that couple of days were a grind, but we now look back on it with a strange fondness/satisfaction.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716596669759728979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-7103580323405827122015-08-20T16:51:27.046+01:002015-08-20T16:51:27.046+01:00I would love to meet one of those trials bikers in...I would love to meet one of those trials bikers in the middle of sod-all. The entire area around Ft William is trashed every year immediately prior to the Challenge; I don't go that way anymore. They get funding from the Scottish Government to do this.<br />I love your write-ups; thy capture the moods so well! How Suz managed that mind-numbingly awful road along the loch with those blisters I do not know - she's made of better stuff then I.<br />:-)<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-72909761565773118812015-08-11T22:02:07.265+01:002015-08-11T22:02:07.265+01:00Well done - truly heroic. After the first days of ...Well done - truly heroic. After the first days of sunshine and joy, days 3 and 4 were sheer hell and anyone that persistent beyond deserves a medal( or a teeshirt) , Lovely write up Thanks. Brings it all back.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05800357885726464846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-85026084949954440372015-08-11T02:12:02.270+01:002015-08-11T02:12:02.270+01:00Cheers Alan,
Im sure it was your blog that made u...Cheers Alan,<br /><br />Im sure it was your blog that made us aim for the Lismore start, see somewhere we would probably never go to otherwise, well worth the ferry trip.<br /><br />Its a slow process, this blogging lark, i blame my jet set life style, others maybe refer to it as laziness, but I prefer my description. <br /><br />Think I might investigate speech typing for the next one, do it live on the hoof, although it would require severe censorship before being released into the public domain...Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716596669759728979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-90597173783110386812015-08-02T11:34:20.225+01:002015-08-02T11:34:20.225+01:00No comments?
Well, I enjoyed the read - thank you....No comments?<br />Well, I enjoyed the read - thank you.<br />:-)<br />I came this way a few years back with Phil Lambert & Andy Walker. It was Phil's 10th crossing and so he planned the route. We headed north for five and a half days before turning to head east. He's not been allowed route planning duties since then...<br />I'm looking forward to Part II, Richard.<br />:-)Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-35217883755950225512014-11-30T00:43:40.397+00:002014-11-30T00:43:40.397+00:00Spot on.Spot on.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-37764888915800948972014-11-24T20:15:30.284+00:002014-11-24T20:15:30.284+00:00Ha, good to hear from you Markus, good to hear yo...Ha, good to hear from you Markus, good to hear your doing fine, an absolute pleasure to meet you both, I think I would have had a wee sleep under that tree if you hadn't come around the corner. Please pass on my regards to PhillipRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366757544734617088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-35659160600228882942014-11-24T20:11:01.111+00:002014-11-24T20:11:01.111+00:00Thanks again Alan, hopefully. seems to be a few he...Thanks again Alan, hopefully. seems to be a few heading Ballater way, the barrel will be hoachingRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366757544734617088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-57676730357713153162014-11-19T08:09:28.597+00:002014-11-19T08:09:28.597+00:00Aye Sir,
that last stretch to the east coast felt...Aye Sir,<br /><br />that last stretch to the east coast felt more like walking the dusted roads to Stalingrad than to the sun-lit beergardens of Stonehaven. We looked like a rotten bunch. <br /><br />The crazy loons from Austria thoroughly enjoyed your company. You couldnĀ“t ask for a better companion. Scots wha hae!<br /><br />Will be back to Scotland next May but doing my own thing. Hope to join the Challenge again in 2016 (maybe in Philipps company) and to meet up with you again.<br /><br />CheerioMarkus Petterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06275956627941292060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-17962163513292874612014-11-18T22:07:26.587+00:002014-11-18T22:07:26.587+00:00I'll echo Louise's thoughts.
:-)
I really...I'll echo Louise's thoughts.<br />:-)<br />I really enjoyed this trip.<br />We might well bump into each other in Ballater.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-77078875731105256552014-11-18T20:07:03.688+00:002014-11-18T20:07:03.688+00:00I'll keep an eye out in Ballater then! ;-)I'll keep an eye out in Ballater then! ;-)Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023861265500569999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-31678477389606897492014-11-18T19:51:22.677+00:002014-11-18T19:51:22.677+00:00Thanks Louise, thought I had better finish it befo...Thanks Louise, thought I had better finish it before the year was done. Aye I had next years route planned a couple of months ago (living in hope), not bad considering this year was meant to be a one off for me, I didnt realise how much i was going to enjoy it and the people I met. If your anywhere in the vicinity of oban, Aviemore, Ballater or Stonehaven next May and you see a wee chap whingeing about sair feet be sure to say helloRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366757544734617088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-44989405467060238272014-11-18T09:54:32.278+00:002014-11-18T09:54:32.278+00:00Hi! Thoroughly enjoyed reading your Challenge writ...Hi! Thoroughly enjoyed reading your Challenge write, a great route and made me chuckle too. And you're in next year! Me too, perhaps I'll catch up with you somewhere...although I'm usually bringing up the rear somewhere. Good luck with your route planning, enjoy. Mine's done :-)Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023861265500569999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-9965200561272517212014-11-02T07:48:35.498+00:002014-11-02T07:48:35.498+00:00Cheek! I'll have you know that there are NEVER...Cheek! I'll have you know that there are NEVER lumps in my custard. FellBoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089687581260477621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-24121824685842852492014-10-28T18:56:48.304+00:002014-10-28T18:56:48.304+00:00Unfortunately sir, as much as I would like to assi...Unfortunately sir, as much as I would like to assist you in this matter, (you need to read that in a call centre type voice) , I'm afraid that history has already been written, and we all know that once it is written it becomes truth. On the bright side, in years to come future challengers will talk in hushed tones about the two whisky addled challengers who disapeared in the An Car woods. Its maybe time to think about who you want to play you in the movie....Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366757544734617088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627649443960485191.post-57630985536687894132014-10-28T18:23:18.839+00:002014-10-28T18:23:18.839+00:00Alan, Aye its been a bit of an epic write up, not ...Alan, Aye its been a bit of an epic write up, not helped by Google locking me out of blogger for a while, well im blaming them anyway. Next routes done, even though it was going to be a one off... just hoping to be selected now, somehow I hope to pass about 2 miles south of your tea party after an oban sprint startRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366757544734617088noreply@blogger.com