The Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside

In temperatures between 25 and 27 celcius the team covered four more legs of the course on Sunday 11th May 2008.
Starting at Washington (after a cup of tea provided by Doug and the support team) we made our way up the biggest climb on the course, which is some 230 metres high. It may interest you to know that a mountain biker passed us at the beginning of the climb but only reached the summit about ten yards ahead of us. We don’t hang around you know. Once we reached the summit, the remainder of the walk was fairly uneventful, although Terry and Rob could not resist the temptation to make the obvious remarks whenever we passed a flock of sheep. Rob even referred to them as a “Welsh brothel” which was hardly complimenatary to a Welshman. Nevertheless we arrived at the next checkpoint in 1 hour 55 minutes, a distance of 10 Km. The back up team were there with a nice cuppa and we were able to take on more drinks, change our shirts and socks and we were soon back on the road to Botolphs.
The first part of this leg was quite easy as it followed the course of a river before we had to climb yet another hill, this time just 200 metres high. Once we at the top we could enjoy a cool breeze and most of the way to the next checkpoint was downhill. We covered the 9.4 Km in1 hour 48 minutes. Here we enjoyed some leek and potato soup provided by Doug and Ann, and we even enjoyed the sight of Peter Burfoot doing the washing up. As we finished the leg we were following a path which was shielded from the road by some hedges when we heard some loud “Cooing” noises coming from the other side of the hedge. Terry immediately thought it was Pat Burfoot and started “cooing” back, only to find it was some farm hands trying to round up some sheep that had strayed. Trust Terry to put a spanner in the works.
Duly refreshed we embarked on the next leg from Devils Dyke to Jack and Jill. Two more big hills on this leg both around 200 metres high. We coped with them quite well and were able to enjoy the scenery more. We could see right through to the coast as well as the other breathtaking views. Jack and Jill were two windmills which sit at the top of the hill. We met the back up team at Jill and enjoyed a nice cuppa courtesey of Doug who had obtained it from the mill shop. Thanks Doug, it went down a treat. That leg was only 6.9 Km and we had covered it in just over an hour. We decided to chance our arm on a fourth leg, as this one is likely to be encountered in the dark when we do it for real. Thankfully, the heat was having little effect, although Gerry had the misfortune to pick up a couple of blisters.
From Jack and Jill, we set off for The Old Racecourse which as it turned out was fairly innocuous. No major hills, as we were already up around 200 metres and the 1st part of the walk was steadily downhill. More sheep (together with the usual insults), plenty of cows and horses and we even found time to direct some ladies who had managed to lose their bearings. I’m not sure that Terry had put them on the right road or not (only joking) but they seemed to be quite happy for the help. It’s a good job they don’t know him like we do. After this we kept up a steady pace as we passed the racecourse and the various hurdles, there were plenty of rabbits to be seen all over the place, but it was good to spot Doug and his team waiting for us at the end of a long day. We were in much better shape than we have experienced on previous trips. Our fitness levels have improved enormously. The support team were there to feed us, this time with corned beef and baked beans, followed by pineapple. It was wonderful.
It was a good team excercise and proof that our hours of training are paying off. Doug and Ann, as usual did a great job of looking after us, ably supported by Peter and Pat Burfoot and Terry’s wife Lyn. And lets not forget Rob’s wife Mikaila and little Jessica who again gave us terrific support. Thank you one and all. We’re now planning our next visit to the Downs, which is likely to take place sometime over the weekend of 31st May/1st June. This one we will be doing in the dark. I do hope Terry can read in the dark, better start eating plenty of carrots !!
The picture below shows some lovely scenery and from left to right Gerry, Rob and nearest the sheep …… David – Baaaaaa !!

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