Monday 30 August

Hi, sorry about the delay.
First of all, Sunday - our first day and what a fun one it was. Went into a ditch once - thank you, N; got lost twice - thank you J; and got absolutely poured on for two hours in the worst traffic you can imagine - thank you, G*d.
It all started well. We left the Tamarind Tree hotel at 9.30 and made our way to Negombo Fort to receive our first instructions.

with me leading the way:

All went reasonably well until about 100km out when it didn't just rain, it torrented. By now we were on a very busy road with a lot of heavy traffic. And in Sri Lanka the buses and trucks take no prisoners, particularly if they are tuk-tuks. J was the sheet-white person in the front driving, H & N took to prayer, later saying it was one of the most terrifying journeys they'd ever been on. And not just because J was driving.

We finally got to Digaparnatha, very near the amazing Siguraya, at about 5.15 and fell into a beer.

As a result of the rain, there was a rainbow, have a look at it over Sigaraya and over the tuk-tuks:

By the way, we came 14th out of 28 that day. If a certain navigator hadn't got us lost twice, we would have been in the first ten.

Monday dawned just after we got up for the daily briefing, which wasat  6.30am. We were given a very nasty little riddle and told to go the answer for detailed instructions for the day. Luckily, the reception staff knew the answer and drew a map for us.

We ended up at a rock just next to Siguraya. It was about one-third the height and was where the priests made their home after the king had taken over their rock. One of the team had to climb to the top, be given a lotus blossom by a priest and taught a short prayer. He/she then returned to the bottom, taught the prayer to the rest of the team and together they made an offering of the flower and food to Buddha, whilst repeating the prayer to another priest. Luckily, the man for the job was amongst us. Step forward H, who then did a sterling job climbing up and crawling down. 

All this took nearly two hours, then off we went to Trincomalee (Trinco to the cognoscenti). We had a great run across the island through dozens of tiny villages where the children all smiled and waved.

and we bought petrol from little shops who sold it in old litre squash bottles!

We made good time to our destination, Nilavelli just north of Trinco, and arrived not too exhausted at 3.15. N was a hero and did most of the driving

After a decent pause, or beer as it is known, J went to the local UK military graveyard and delivered some pictures he and P had taken 6 years ago when they were last here. They were of the then graveyard caretaker, a splendid man in his seventies at least. It turned out that in the interim he had died, but J was able to give them to a tearful widow.

This evening there was a beach barbecue and a reminder that tomorrow's briefing session is 7am. We'll be under canvas tomorrow night so no blog for a couple of days. I know you'll be sorry about that.

Otherwise sad news of unrequited love. A girl I mentioned earlier has let it be known that I'm not her type, probably too mature for her, so we shall speak of it no more.

Toodle-pip for a couple of days.

Oliver

Sunday 29 August

Exhausting, terrifying and wet day. Did 220km when supposed to do 160 - good mapreading, J - and got in 11th out of 28. Now in centre of Sri Lanka near Siguraya (look it up). Using nobile for blog which is tough on paws. Got a picture of Robyn, though. Will update tomorrow from Trinco
And so to bed.

28 August - training day and a big disapointment

Hi, Oliver here
Quite a day. When we got here, to the Tamarind Tree hotel near the airport. we signed up for the training session and admired our pimped tuk-tuk.

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Then we went off for lunch and I finally got to get some air.

As for the training, Nigel did very well, putting his motor-cycling experience to good use; Jonathan was c**p and couldn't even find neutral (here's hoping he's a quick learner) and Harry learnt to start and stop it. Useful in a crisis, we thought.

Here's Nigel, hoping to make a few rupees as a local taxi, waiting for his first fare.

This is the view from the driver's seat.
After that farrago we headed for the pool and a 'well-earned' drink. The usual old excuse, really. However, there was some swimming. Then off to the introduction session and dinner.
An interesting number of tattoos on display round the pool. Jolly manly.
After general introductions and dinner we got to have a bit of a chat with the organisers. Look like good people with good green credentials. They stressed that speed is NOT the issue but that completing the challenges is what counts. I'm rather taken by Robyn, but she appears to have a thing going with one of the bosses, Juan.
They won't tell us what the daily challenges are until 9am each day, but we have been told to get certain pictures by the end of the challenge. These include:
- an eagle in flight
- one of us playing shot-put with elephant dung
- a  male peacock with full tail feathers
- a rice farmer in traditional 'amoude'
- us saying 'ayubowan' to a local complete with spread fingers.
Each team has been given a SIM card with all the other teams' and the organisers' numbers.
One of the prizes is for the team who raises the most for charity. We should be in with a chance on that one.

For me,one big disapointment today.' Tigger' turns out to be male and a human. Stupid boy, leading a bear on like that. But maybe there's Robyn , , ,
And tomorrow, we're off!
(I'll get a sneaky picture of Robyn so you can see what I mean.)
Oliver

Friday 27 August - late

Me again.
He just came rolling in, late again. Now I know how it is for Penny. Anyway, two bits of news. They couldn't be bothered to drag themselves a mile to the Hilton, so they ate here. A fab, he tells me, Asian Fusion restaurant called Tao. B*****d.

Look a bit fuzzy, don't they? It's not the photo, let me tell you.

Anyway, the other bit of news is that we have a new blog  follower, one 'Tigger', Could Tigger and I be friends? Does romance call? Is Tigger for real or someone stealing a decent fluffy-pet name? All will be revealed in later posts (I hope). Talk to me, Tigger, and for mercy's sake be female.

It will come as no surprise to those that know and love (?) him, but H got so excited after a couple of cocktails, wine and a few beers that he's signed up two local bar-bands and plans to . . .  something or other. That's when I lost the will to live.

Off early tomorrow - so g'night.

Oliver

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Friday 27 August

Hi, Oliver here.

Quiet day today. N & J left me behind while they were taken around Colombo by the ever-lovely Ranga. The man must be sainted, I tell you.
The highlight of their trip was a look around the main Buddhist temple in Colombo.

They did see some fab things, though, and then went and had a beer and lime juice at the Galle Face Hotel.

After that they came back to the hotel and found H

poolside. Cool shorts and getting redder by the minute! Apparently he was feeling a little jaded this morning so took it easy. These youngsters just can't take the pressure.

There were weddings all over the city today as, apparently, it is an auspicious date.Personally, I live a solitary life - just being stared at by the cat occasionally.

As I write they are all having a little resties prior to going out for an early dinner. At the Hilton. I ask you, are they never satisfied?

Tomorrow - it's kick-off. Learning to drive the tuk-tuk. Oh God, I wish I was back at home.

Oliver

Colombo, at last

Hi. My name's Oliver and I'm a teddy bear who was having a very comfortable time in Cheltenham when I was chosen to be the team's mascot. I didn't get any say in the matter. Bloody typical.

Anyway, after what seemed like an age in a suitcase, we arrived at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo and I am now where I ought to be - sitting pretty in a large bed.
At the airport we were met by Ranga, Jonathan's old friend, who drove us here and was a really nice person - I wish he was the one driving the tuk-tuk, I tell you. His children had written a card welcoming us all which was sweet of them. On the way to the hotel we also met the people who are organising the challenge. They seem pretty sane - thank God.
Whilst I've been having a well-earned rest J, N & H have been in the v smart restaurant at the hotel having more lobster than is good for them and being forced to check out the quality of the wine. Poor sods.
Tomorrow we (they) go shopping for all the things they forgot, then they plan to sit around the pool, checking out the beer, probably, until it's time to choose a restaurant for dinner. Tough going, eh?
On Saturday, though, the real thing starts. They learn to DRIVE the tuk-tuk and bring real peril to Sri Lanka's roads. Then the fun begins. I'll be keeping you up-to-date. Yes, me. I've been volunteered  for that job as well. I didn't get any say in that either. Like I said, bloody typical.
G'night.

Getting ready for the off

It's just dawning on us that we only have a few days to go and then we'll be on our way. Had the jabs, checked the insurance, pimped the tuk-tuk and tried to convince Harry that it's for real. Nigel has a list, as ever, Jonathan is in prayer mode (it was his stupid idea) and Harry is just cool about the whole thing. We've raised over £3K for Save the Children Sri Lanka and are feeling pretty pleased with ourselves and VERY proud of our donors. If you haven't, then go to www.justgiving.com/jonathan-nigel-harry and join in.

Next Saturday, 28 August, we'll be training to drive the little beast and on Sunday we'll be setting off on the first of the legs and the first of the 1,000km. We realise that, as it's a Sunday, you'll all be at church, so please remember us. We'll need all the help we can get.

Before we start, Nigel wants to thank Sheena, Harry wants to thank Mummy/Pam and Jonathan (as ever) wants to thank Penny for encouraging us to do this really silly thing. Chaps, blokes and men who are reading this - be jealous. Ladies, you can just wish your men were getting out of your way for a fortnight.

If everything goes as planned (huh) we'll be blogging as we go. If you want to add to our blog, and not too much jeering, please, we'd love to hear from you.

Jonathan