Training Log Archive: Vaala

Didn't get off to a good start (typical TWALK I guess!) where we all blundered around for ages not finding anything and then even with the recorders we had trouble rounding up the troupes but things improved once we broke away from the bulk of the teams. Got torn to shreds getting down to #5 which was entertaining but then got a wasp sting at the back of my knee coming out of this control and it was pretty uncomfortable for a while. The clues weren't very cryptic at all on this leg and they seemed to be pretty easy (after the first couple) which was frustrating as we'd just get there and suddenly we were off to the next one as those in front had already found it. Emily and I were complaining about how it was getting rather unfun just trailing along after everyone else. I did enjoy leading people astray at #13 though where the rock was marked lower down on the map but I wanted to check the top rock bit anyway and found it right away. Slunk off looking dejected and got a couple of teams coming down after us not checking the rock as they didn't hear our usual piping.

C • Impressive 10

All 10 of us again. Tim's idea of doing the loop in reverse (apart from #13 which we picked up at the end with the idea of trying to get away from Jamie's team) worked out pretty good. Had some hairy moments (for me) sidling along a really steep, rocky hillside to #8 but made it without freaking out too much. Glad it was still light at this point. After meeting the fairies who were going the other way we had to wade through a horribly cold swamp. Thank god it wasn't the middle of the night or frosty. I felt like my legs were icicles for a little while after that. Went pretty good with finding controls (mostly) on this leg although #2 was not so good.

Still all 10 of us. New shoes for this leg which was like a new lease on life and I was feeling super cheerful until #2 which was quite possibly the stupidest TWALK control I've seen. The clue seemed simple enough (wheely tired) but when we got there it was like a field of hundreds of tyres. I almost just burst out laughing (it was either that or cry!). We spent half an hour searching with no luck (Rhys put it into perspective when he said that between the 10 of us we'd been looking for 5 hours plus Jamie's team were also looking with no luck). The next couple we were pretty much hanging out with Jamie and co trudging up to the saddle. Coming down again and then sidling round for what seemed like hours was so uncomfortable and I was so painfully slow I hit a rather miserable patch and was feeling like I was slowing everyone down but after a bit of a sit down at #6 I felt a lot better. Glad to get back to the Hash House though.