The fat brown envelope arrived from Roger.
What's interesting about it is that it includes the names, location, how many challenges the lucky participants have done, and their age.
Scanning through the list many names jump out; Christine Roche, editor of the BPC's newsletter, Darren Christie, and Geoff Gafford. All three I've spent time on the trail with so I'm looking forward to catching up with them along the way. Alan Sloman, Phil @ Doodlecat and Martin Banfield (phreerunner) are outdoor bloggers that I've gotten to know. Alan and Phil's antics in the challenge are legendary - if they'll allow me to state that - and I'm looking forward to being a whitness to whatever they get up to next year. George Griffin, another blogger I've gotten to know, had a run of bad luck with his last few applications but has been given a chance to make up for it and is also down on the list.
And then there's Colin Ibbotson and Shirley Worrell. I've been following Colin's radical approach to kit with interest on Andy Howell's website. (Andy didn't make the first cut but is 18th on the waiting list so is almost certain to fnd his way on.) Shirl did a series of Podcast on this years Challenge that kept a smile on my face as I communted to and from work. Shirl has just finished posting her experiences on the Challenge on her blog, where you can also download the podcasts too. Essential reading for a never before Challenger like myself.
From across the pond, Philip Werner @ sectionhiker.com has secured a space and who I've gotten to know over the summer, so it will be good to met in an actual rather than virtually sense.
Also from the US Henry Shires deserves a mention, Henry is one of the US cottage industry manufacturers of tarp tents. I ordered one of the newly modified Scarp 1 tents from him last night, which I plan to use on the crossing. I hope to meet him somewhere along the way and perhaps if he'll allow do a 60 second interview with him.
5 comments:
Well then Baz - Will you be blogging on the way across?
:-)
What's it worth for me not too ;)
Well done, Baz. Those who don't make it will have a great time following the bloggers as they worm their way across Scotland.
You'll find it a breeze after the Picos.
Regarding the run of bad luck you mentioned, I thought if you were unsuccessful one year you were prioritized the following year.
Martin, I hope so! But the weather isn't likely to be that good :(
Geoff, That's what I thought but Darren told me otherwise...
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