The big training weekend

4everfriends put the late May Bank Holiday to good use by taking to the hills and doing some training on the actual route they'll be following in July. As always lots of lessons have been learnt and here are the pictures to prove it.

While it may be sunny and calm down in the valleys, up on the Downs it can be a bit blowy ('icy gales' is how they described it). Here's Alison taking refuge in the storm tent.

Reminder to the Support Crew - make sure the walkers have got their hats and gloves on before you let them out after dark. And don't forget to wrap up warm yourselves! 

 And here are Aly and Heather (minus their hats and gloves - tut, tut) showing how excited they are to be doing their first night time walk.

Sleep deprivation can have an upsetting impact on the human body and brain, as the team discovered after their night of walking. 'It was like being drunk, we told silly stories and sang a lot.' And when the opportunity for a silly photo arose.....

And after an exhausting night's walking what better then a cooked breakfast? Here's Michelle cooking egg and bacon butties for the walkers while they rest up. Look at the wonderful view of the Downs behind them! A special mention to Sonia who's behind the camera. Not only did she do a great job in capturing all those happy faces but also did sterling work with Michelle in supporting the walkers.

Reminder to the Support Crew - camping stoves are hopeless when it's windy. It took an hour for Michelle and Sonia to boil a kettle. And make sure the walkers sit in an orderly manner and not huddle together like penguins otherwise you'll all be falling over each other and the equipment.

And to finish, here's a couple of photos of the team to show that despite the cold and lack of sleep, the team are still together - up on the Downs with tired legs and down by the sea at Bracklesham Bay.

 And last but not least, Michelle and Sonia, who were support crew for the training weekend, can still manage a smile at the end of the trip.