Below Belief

The Shelterbox Challenge, which takes place on the weekend of May 20/21st, is described as a unique team based adventure challenge that will push team work and endurance to the limit, and the charitable aim is to support Shelterbox. The charity deliver boxes containing the essential equipment and tools needed to provide shelter and warmth to those that need it most, in disaster areas around the world.
The shelterboxes themselves are an integral part of the challenge; teams of 4 need to work together to transport a shelterbox across Dartmoor National Park over a 2 day period. And what’s more they must survive using the contents of the shelterbox during the 2 days. (The boxes will be equipped with tents, cookers, fuel, ropes and dry bags.)

They must reach strategically located check points and in doing so overcome rivers, cliffs, woodland and vast expanses of Dartmoor moorland. The challenge will involve covering approx 30 miles whilst carrying/dragging/pushing everything you need to survive in a 30-40kg shelterbox.
Entry for the 2 day event is only £50 and competitors are asked to raise as much sponsorship as is possible for Shelterbox (minimum £250 per person or £1000 per team). On-line fundraising functionality is provided through the event website making the fundraising process as simple as possible.
The Shelterbox Challenge is open to mixed or single sex teams of 4 and endurancelife promise it will be challenging yet great fun. The event is being supported by the Royal Navy and will be held in the manner of all endurancelife’s events, so it will be fun, friendly will be followed by a large party!

ShelterBox Challenge

Sponsor me here

Hurrah! Thinking that we wouldn’t manage to get to ski this year was a bit depressing and since the building project is running a little behind and our week off “painting” isn’t going to be possible, we decided to take some much needed R&R and head for the slopes in Verbier for 4 days next week.

Who needs a painted flat – when you can but cutting some curves in the beautiful slopes of Switzerland… especially when it’s March, -15 degrees C and snowing this weekend.
We’re both dancing round our flat like lunatics. Rock on!

I had to come to Marseille with work for a couple of days – so we decided to make a weekend of it.

And a beautiful place it is.

Sunset over the Vieux Port (old port):

Our hotel and it’s “arty cow”:

A herb garden which gave us ideas for one back home:

And more vegetables:

Raised beds:

Art:

Silly men and their music:

Chocolates, ready for Easter

Cathedral etc:

The Grand Champ – some enormous fountain:

Fun with shadows:

The port:

Some old men and their trumpets:

From above:

Byzantine?

Windswept:

The corridor of our hotel… somewhat Miami Beach?

In April I’m attempting the Shelterbox Challenge – a 30 mile two-day hike with “physical challenges” with some mates from work.

As part of my (admittedly limited) preparation for this event, I decided to do a 17 mile walk across London. S kindly joined me (for all of the walk as it turned out) and we set off from Sheen in the morning intending to reach Bow (in East London) by around 6pm. I’m happy to say we succeeded and had a rather enjoyable day too.

We saw this amazing rainbow in St James Park:

And St Pauls cathedral from the river:

And one of our stupid challenges was to cross these railings at high-tide… cold and wet:

Tower Bridge:

And finally, reaching Bow Road station (our destination) at the end of the day:

Pint tasted good:

A tired T:

All in all – a thoroughly recommended walk. And no blisters.