Dolwyddelan Station to Capel Curig
4.2 Miles
So,the final leg and Take Five were still chasing a top ten place. At the beginning of the day the team had found out that they were in 10th and so far with no navigation mistakes and a fast pace for the first leg there was a conviction that we would make it one way or the other.
The afternoon route followed a similar path to one taken in a previous year, but the opening half was all uphill. Not steep, but grinding. It didnt help that at one point the check point marshall was chasing us as he had moved off the co ordinates where he was supposed to be. Still, this didnt deter Take Five as they pushed on. Choker took the opportunity eat some flies and then.... well.... choked. Either that or the tears were from the joy of walking uphill.
The rest of the team struck up a conversation and enjoyed themselves as Choker gasped and croaked in an attempt to answer the endless stream of questions sent her way.
Once over the brow of the hill Take Five assumed Kamikaze mode and hurled themselves down a twiting, uneven track at breakneck speed. In fact it was a miracle no-one did break their necks. Even Stumbles held it together long enough to reach the bottom alive. Then it was full speed to the pub Tyn-Y-Coed, the traditional last stop of the challenge.
Everyone felt that they'd given it their all and there was hope we had made the top ten. Alas, it was not to be. Eleventh!!! Amazingly frustrating, but Take Five were only a few minutes off tenth. Darn that bog. But it was still a great finish and the tered crew were pleased as punch. A substantial improvement on the 16th place of the previous year. As is often the case there is a sense of disappointment that the walking had come to an end. Despite the trials of the event and the fact everyone was tired, to a person the team wanted to continue. An indication of the team spirit that had accompanied everyone for the duration of the event.
