Peter Gold Adventures

One day in the lakes and a pink towel

After much debate, SOME went to the lakes and the old gits went to Tan Hill on their bone shakers.  As much as we missed them, Martin and Simon were in training for their Everest trip and Ollie was in training to see if he was 'up to the job'.  I was along to just try and keep up with me mates.....

Martin managed to get a day off from domestic intelligence and Simon was taking his usual Friday sales visit so they were shopping by around midday and quaffing local brew by late afternoon.  'We'll meet you in the New Dungeon Pete (mate)' said Martin.  So around 10:00pm I started my hunt for the boyzzzzz.

The hills were beckoning

Martin was up early, complete with hangover, kicking all of the tents at 6am telling us to get up.  Problem was, it was 4am and he was kicking someone else's tent so I left them fighting outside (Martin won as he is about 6 out of 10 on the overall Bettster ardness scale) but it did mean he was ready for anything the hills could throw at us.

Whilst we were still sleeping, Martin went off up into the hills for a quick warm-up and caught a couple of rabbits and then served us warm rabbit and bacon sandwiches with a fantastic cup of tea; all prepared on a fire he had built complete with spit.  Ollie was a bit pissed at him because he wanted to use his new jet boil system (came complete with stove attachment, steadying bit, hanger, fairy liquid container, wash bag, fake titanium lighting kit, goretex hat, woolly socks and tent) but Martin just kicked him and said 'Get out of bed, we're the Bowline, keep up or die you young t**t'.  Simon thought better about mentioning his new jet boil and new pink towel in fear of having to eat them with his food.

At around 5:30am we were off to the hills with no-one in site.  Great to be alone in such fantastic places.

We're the Bowline

S&M were not waiting for anyone and Ollie was not considered worthy yet as he did not have the team jacket so suffer he shall.

The nipple, the nipple

After about 6 hours hard slogging we had our first break.

The usual subject

Now that me and Ollie had at long last had a chance to catch up with the Bowline boyzzzz, we were able to join in the conversation, particularly as some of us had hoodzzzzz on our jackets that allowed for conversation as well as dryness!

S&M were debating the pro's and con's of baseball.  Simon was more of a thrower whereas Martin really was a catcher as he wouldn't like to see the hoop as he aimed and placed.  Simon did offer some suggestions to  Martin but then we lost sight of them as they moved so fast ahead of us.

Me and Olly were not quite up with the conversation but Simon suggested a great YouTube type site to look at with lots of baseball clips.  Ed would have been impressed at their commitment to talk about hardcore sports after already 18 hours in the hills with still a long way to go.

And before we knew it......

.....we were in the pub.

It had been a hard day, Ollie had failed his test, S&M had not waited for anyone and gone all the way back up the scree again just for fun whilst me and Ollie waited at the bottom (Ollie is asleep behind the rock).  They are 'ard geezers.....

No waiting as ever!

A hard night out with the Bowline

S&M had an easy day out; just the 12 hours and 9 peaks and they were rocking.  So it was back to Ambleside for a few more pink towels and for Simon to get a few more fivers for his girls.

Having bought out most of Ambleside we hit the pubs and clubs.  For his failure, Ollie had to drive so S&M forced down about 15 each before we went back to The Lapdancers.  Another 8 each with the girls, a few dances and fivers later and we were back at the campsite.  Luckily Martin's tent is big so the girls managed to squeeze in but did have to leave early when Simon fell asleep and pissed out 22 pints into his bag, which leaked all over the tent and onto Martin's new spanker.

I was in my own tent but did get hit by the downpour coming across the site - Simon of course blamed the rain but we all know better.

I went home but Simon had just one more purchase!

How big is that bag?

Packed my rucksack for the first time last night; bugger!  Have to do it again as usual to get it to where I need it.

I have also got a new Inov-8 bag which I have not tested yet - not a great idea so close to the race but the water idea looked so good I had to give it a try.  Picture to come soon!

The start point!

This is where we kind of start from!

View Larger Map

We then sail overnight to somewhere called Itapuama where we spend 2 days at 'base camp' before setting off back to here!

Jungle Marathon 2007 Leukaemia Research sponsorship

I am taking part in the Jungle Marathon in October 2007 and have decided to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

This charity was chosen for a very good reason; not because it is such a worthy charity but because of David Headworth. A normal bloke and pretty much like most people; hard working, soon to be married, first child on the way, enjoying an active healthy life – pretty ordinary.

Which is why I ask you to read on; because this could happen to any one of us at anytime. So anything we can do to help Leukaemia Research help people like David keep their belief, keep their dreams alive, keep the illness at bay; then we have at least done something and something is so much better than nothing.

And just in case you are not yet convinced, I will be running through the Amazon Jungle, across 200kms with 7 days worth of food and equipment, sleeping in a hammock, running up to 87kms in one day – you don’t of course have to join me but just sponsor me – PLEASE!

You can donate online now at: www.justgiving.com/petergold

But please also read David's story so far to fully appreciate why it is so important that I raise this money.