Oh, I see – is that really the cause?

I'll only tell you if you send me a free magazine.

"History repeats itself . . . first as tragedy, then as farce"
Karl Marx - Der 18te Brumaire des Louis Napoleon, 1852

There was a thread on this topic back in November 2011. Read it here

&

“You must be aware that the reward for labour, and quantity of labour, are quite disparate things.”

I would love to submit mine, but as I didn't finish, p'raps not!!

The Great Outdoors Magazine has been in touch to let us know that they have a few freebies available for those whose reports and/or photographs are chosen for the October issue's 2013 Challenge coverage.

Any material can be sent to acting editor Daniel at daniel.neilson@tgomagazine.co.uk.

Goodies – to be dished out at random – include compasses, vauDe day packs, & Lifeventure towels… (no subs, I'm afraid, John, but perhaps there will be next time you do a crossing…)

Many thanks, Daniel & team!

And thanks to all who have sent material in thus far.

John (and TGO if they're reading this), that's great news. I wish I'd done the Challenge now. (Maybe not given the weather).

Louise, I'd submit something. Your reason for having to drop out might make good reading.

Submit it Louise. Too many folk read fluffy reports, and assume it is easy. They need your perspective as well. I think you have to do it.
Go for it lass

You are a nice bunch. Okay, I'll give it a go :-)

"Too many folk read fluffy reports, and assume it is easy."

This is very true Andrew, too true. Very good point.

Louise, don't let that stop you… there are many aspects to the Challenge and for so many folks it doesn't necessarily end with reaching the east coast.

One year the mag printed a report from a Challenger's partner left at home while he crossed the country. A very different perspective!

My crossing are always a bit fluffy.....

But even yer vastly experienced TGO Challengers may not necessarily reach the East Coast - apart from my own efforts, of course, its never a foregone conclusion and there's Lots Of Things To Go Wrong - so having reports from peeps who's TGO Challenge ended somewhat in advance of the North sea, for whatever reason, could be a really good thing. I myself was almost kidnapped by HM Coastguard in Knoydart and only saved by Colin Tock holding on to a leg as the red and white chopper thing (apols for the technical talk here) took off.

Having to retire can be a a depressingly emotional experience and not only would having a report or two from retirees give potential applicants a better idea of how tough a TGO can be ( not mine - all mine are really easy...) - but might also be some comfort to the batterred emotions of some of those who had to pull out but really really didn't want to.

I didn't want to pull out in 2004, but those lovely RAF helicopter people made me. Which in all honesty was spot on, what with my leg being broken.
And I was utterly gutted.
Not because of the broken leg, because they heal.
But because of all the effort, planning and disappointment.
Especially after I had thwarted the slug invasion the previous night.

Mike/Simple Pieman,

It all seems so long ago now. But even after 37 years in the North Sea helicopter industry it was still a bit hairy dangling from the leg (correct term is oleo) of the CHC Scotia- operated Coastguard Rescue Sikorsky S-92a G-CGMU (c/n 92-0034) from 1500 feet in a desperate attempt to stop HMCG whisking you off to Broadford Hospital along with Dawn and out of the Challenge. Still it was nothing more than any other vetta would have done in the circumstances and what John and Roger would have expected..... the service is since undertaken by Bristow Helicopters, unfortunately also using Sikorsky S92s and not the wonderful, magnificent S61N-- cue eminent ex S61N driver and Challenge leg-end John Dingwall for a comment?

cj