Cadogans update

The engineering life

2012-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

Our John McCullough was interviewed for the Chartered Scientist website and asked to give insights into his career as an engineer (you can view the profile at http://www.charteredscientist.org/about-csci/profiles/dr-john-mccullough). There are some interesting pieces of information shared including a note of how his career has progressed in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, as well has his heart-felt desire for a time machine.

Sweat, Tears and Hypothermia - Alan's brief thoughts

2011-06-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the walk and was feeling good for all of it, not return of the dreaded Caley challenge blisters. I seemd to cope best with the muddy bits as i overtook about 50 others in the stretch to the last walking stage water stop, but then had the pleasure of waiting for 5 or 10 mins in a midgey infested wood for the rest of the team. Its is always the problem with these type of events, difficult for 5 different people to go at the same pace and its always a compromise to some extent....

I would have liked to have gone a lot sooner from the walk to bike transition - but again its a compromise.

Highlight of the cycle stages was seeing the cast of Deliverance herding their cattle. I'm sure I heard one of them saying "You're not from around here are you?" but didn't wait for the dreaded "Squeal. Squeal like a piggy....."

By the second stage I had naturally taken up postion behind the front of our team leaders but in front of the back marker (???!!) so did a lot of these stages on my own which was fine

The south loch road was much further than I thought it would be but that's probably down to the way I was feeling and the cold and wet. Not helped by unzipping my jacket to show the photographer the number then the zip breaking and allowing more cold and wet in!!

Would do it again if they move the event to summer.....

All For One And One For All

2011-06-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

The reflections of Roddy

So many happy memories!

Section 1 Drymen, walking. Crossed the start line with my team mates. All in high spirits. The Rob Roy Challenge! Very exciting. All For One And One For All, everyone agrees!

2 hours later, stride into Aberfoyle with Iain. Can more or less see the other 3 up ahead so we finish Section 1 together.

Section 2 Aberfoyle, walking. Just manage to finish my reviving soup when the others decide it’s time to leave. Burn the roof of my mouth but at least we all leave together. After all, it’s All For One And One For All.

Somehow we get separated along the way. Good old DJ. He runs ahead in case McIntyre and Carruthers have got into trouble … there’s a risk they’re going too fast. Iain and I follow team orders by maintaining a steady pace.

Callander hoves into view. Rest. Food. Change wet clothes. A welcome break.

Oh goody, Willie has kindly got my bike all ready for a fast getaway. Who’s side is he on?

Section 3 Callander, cycling. Let’s go! Cycling. We’ll eat up the miles now. Chain comes off. Let’s stop!

The rest of my team mates cycle off cheerfully into the distance. Iain kindly waits for me a few miles ahead although that may be because another RR Challenger is lying prostrate across the cycle path blocking his way. Doesn’t stop McIntyre, Jackson or Carruthers who, judging from the tyre tracks across the back of the injured cyclist, barely break rhythm.

Everything’s going well. We spread out. Probably best that everyone establishes their individual, optimum speed. My optimum seems to be a tad slower than the others. But I think as it’s in the team interest it’s still All For One And One For All. Near to Lochearnhead, we come to a VERY steep climb. Better to conserve energy … get off and push. Iain … you can’t possibly cycle all the way up! OK, you can. No, you carry on. It’s OK, see you later.

Very long climb up Glen Ogle. 5 straight miles. I’m sure through the heavy rain that I can see at least one of them in the distance.

The downhill section into Killin is muddy, slippy, wet and lonely. It’s alright, checkpoint coming. And Yes, there they are.

Section 5 Killin, cycling. Thank goodness. Time for a decent break. Hot drink. Change wet socks. Massage. Maybe some food. How are you others getting on? Haven’t seen much of you recently. Are you nearly ready to go? is the response I get. Hang on guys. What about a piss break? Jeez, they’re gone.

Now that’s below the belt. All For One And One For … One, it seems.

Final section. 17 miles. Lot of hills. Still pissing down. And there seems to be no doubt now that the strategy has changed. It’s an individual race. You’re on your own, mate.

You effing B’s. All For One And One For All … you can shove it. Rage –it’s a fantastic motivator. Keeps me going all the way to Kenmore. And along the way I come up with some fantastically abusive names for my erstwhile team mates.

Eventually. The finishing line. Thank the Lord. A man shoves a microphone at me and asks me which team I’m with. I could have answered The Mono-cyclists … Johnny Nae Mates … Flying Solo … but I keep to the party line.

Oh and there they are. They want a team photo. The smile for the camera is decidedly wooden.

And now for a nice long hot shower … but that's a story for another time.

[Check out the opening lines of Plaistow Patricia from New Boots and Panties by Ian Dury And The Blockheads released 30 September 1977 on You Tube and you’ll get a flavour for my feelings during the last 17 miles.]

Phew! - its over

2011-06-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to say that we all finally made it. Cold, soaking wet, tired, muddy, but we got there in the end. the midgies were out in force, but there were at least lots of water stops and plenty of people to cheer us on. Its a pity that the organisers couldnt organise better weather, but it is Scotland after all!

We do, however, feel that we should lay down for posterity a list of things that you should and shouldnt do should you attempt to undertake this challenge again:

Rule 1 - Dont get caught short. Its a bit embarassing, particularly if someone gets a photo...

Rule number 2 - If you finish tired and shattered, dont let anyone else know.

Rule number 3 - Establish a strong sense of espirit d'escorps in your team if you can. Failing that, make sure the MD starts out way behind you.

The person in red in the distance is not in our team!

Rule number 4 - men shouldnt wear tights

Rule number 5 - If posing with a medal, at least turn it the right way round!

Rule number 6 - Even if you are only half way through, feel free to relax and lie down

Rule number 7 - make sure Roddy packs the booze, Willie goes to the local hotel to get the ice and we can all toast a challenge just about negotiated

Putting it all together

2011-06-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Its been a pretty busy time for the Cadogans team recently. Unfortunately this has mostly related to work and has meant getting the team into one place to train for the big event has been a bit of a flop. Although everyone has been training, its been mostly solo apart from Roddy and Alan who cycled round Loch Katrine, though somehow Roddy missed the magnificient views and instead only saw Alan's backside disappearing up the hills in front of him! On the positive side, we have noted that this means we are unlikely to run out of topics of conversation on the 16 mile walk, although David Jackson has clarified that it should be possible to spend the time talking about something other than work. Roddy has a plan to discuss the physics of forward passes in rugby which should makes us all walk faster (away from him) and David Mc's views on social politics are unlikely to go unchallenged...

Cadogan trendy hat

It is, however, looking increasingly likely that communication may be a signfiicant issue as we were this afternoon all issued with what can only be described as a 'bee keepers' hat to keep off that wonderful old beast the Scottish 'midgie' (see right). The survivors of previous walking challenges have confidently stated that this is a necessary precaution against the 'wee beastie'. To some, this is considered a method of last resort. We'll see.

The crew have all either taken their bikes for a pukka service at an appropriate bike shop or stated that their mechanical enginering skills have been sufficient to do it themselves. They are otherwise known as 'the cheepskates' and any mechanical failures during the event will rest heavily on their hearts as well as being recounted to them regularly for a considerable period of time - they have been warned!

Willie

We now have our support crew and bus driver - Willie - who is a certified Civil Engineer. It is a worry that someone who is certified is driving our van, but needs must. Perhaps we should think of him a bit like Murdoch from the A-Team. It is good to have him on board, though not looking forward to seeing him and the van at 0645 at Glasgow Central on Saturday morning.

If you are a duck, then the weekend weather is going to be excellent. For those of us who are not quite as interested in sitting in water all day, its not looking quite as good. 'heavy rain' is forecast for most of the day, although Alan and Roddy have been batting about forecasts of whether the wind is going Easterly (good) or Westerly (bad). We can assume that the answer is somewhat indeterminate at the moment.

Iain's preparation for the event has been somewhat hampered, in a fantastic way, by his first child, Grace, being born a few weks ago. Apparently she is too young to have her pram towed behind Iain's bike round King's park...

Fundraising is currently going very well. We are more than half way towards reaching our goal of raising £2,000 for 3 charities - RSPCC, Sightsavers and Alzheimers Scotland.

If you wish to make a donation, please don't forget that you can do so at www.tinyurl.com/cadogans