Friday 8th July 2012
It was 11.55pm when Roger arrived at the Moot Hall to greet us before the start of what turned out to be quite a memorable BG Support. The plan was for us to support legs 1 & 2 with Roger Taylor and if we felt up to it, perhaps some of leg 3.
Midnight arrived and we were off, Skiddaw is the first summit and our first taste of what was to come, heavy rain and thick fog. We arrived bang on schedule and headed off over Blake hill and Hare Crag to cross the Cumbrian way before heading up to the second summit, Great Calva. The going was extremely heavy with so much water on the ground, the paths had become streams and knee deep bogs. Real energy sapping stuff but Roger was going well and staying positive.
We descended Great Calva and found our way to the River Caldew, this is where it all began to go wrong for Ronnie and i. The river was in spate and i have never seen it so swollen, we searched in vain for a safe place to cross, 2 teams just ahead of us had managed it and we could see their lights in the distance.
After much searching Roger managed to get across and crawl out of the river, however my attempts failed dismally. I can't swim and being faced with a fast moving river at 2.30am in pouring rain did nothing for my confidence. Ronnie was suffering equally so we urged Roger to go on without us and catch the team in front, safest for the nasty descent off Blencathra.
It was very disappointing for us, leaving your runner is not good and i was still carrying his bag. However, Roger had a schedule to keep to and we had already lost 10 minutes trying to cross the Caldew.
During next twenty minutes we tried several more times to cross the river but after a good dunking decided it was time to find a safe way off the hills. We found the path that skirts around Blencathra and set off running in an attempt to arrive at Threlkeld before Roger. By 3 am we were running on a good wide path and making good time. Ronnie's head torch did not fair so well and turned its self off, completely without warning. Hope vision 4. As i use cheepo Chinese torches i always carry a spare so problem solved, we ran on as fast as we could and arrived at Threlkeld in good time.
Finally i had time to think about our abortive attempts to cross the Caldew, stupid fools. 2 non swimmers in a fast moving, swollen river in the middle of the night. I told Ronnie i was quitting and to go on without me. Too much risk for one night and it was only 4.10 am. Roger and his fresh supports set off 10 minutes later with Ronnie and i following, letting down your runner twice is just not done.
Leg 2 went without incident and we left Roger heading off up Steel Fell on leg 3, his support crew following. Ronnie and i met up with Debbie, happy to be safe and ready for some sleep. It was a great run and one i will remember for a long time.
Roger went on to complete his Bob Graham Round round in 23hrs 55 minutes, he ran well and stayed positive. Well done Roger.
Here are some pictures i shamelessly pinched from Rogers Blog, i lost all mine when my phone got soaked in the Caldew. http://runningroger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/bob-graham-round-report.html
It was 11.55pm when Roger arrived at the Moot Hall to greet us before the start of what turned out to be quite a memorable BG Support. The plan was for us to support legs 1 & 2 with Roger Taylor and if we felt up to it, perhaps some of leg 3.
Midnight arrived and we were off, Skiddaw is the first summit and our first taste of what was to come, heavy rain and thick fog. We arrived bang on schedule and headed off over Blake hill and Hare Crag to cross the Cumbrian way before heading up to the second summit, Great Calva. The going was extremely heavy with so much water on the ground, the paths had become streams and knee deep bogs. Real energy sapping stuff but Roger was going well and staying positive.
We descended Great Calva and found our way to the River Caldew, this is where it all began to go wrong for Ronnie and i. The river was in spate and i have never seen it so swollen, we searched in vain for a safe place to cross, 2 teams just ahead of us had managed it and we could see their lights in the distance.
After much searching Roger managed to get across and crawl out of the river, however my attempts failed dismally. I can't swim and being faced with a fast moving river at 2.30am in pouring rain did nothing for my confidence. Ronnie was suffering equally so we urged Roger to go on without us and catch the team in front, safest for the nasty descent off Blencathra.
It was very disappointing for us, leaving your runner is not good and i was still carrying his bag. However, Roger had a schedule to keep to and we had already lost 10 minutes trying to cross the Caldew.
During next twenty minutes we tried several more times to cross the river but after a good dunking decided it was time to find a safe way off the hills. We found the path that skirts around Blencathra and set off running in an attempt to arrive at Threlkeld before Roger. By 3 am we were running on a good wide path and making good time. Ronnie's head torch did not fair so well and turned its self off, completely without warning. Hope vision 4. As i use cheepo Chinese torches i always carry a spare so problem solved, we ran on as fast as we could and arrived at Threlkeld in good time.
Finally i had time to think about our abortive attempts to cross the Caldew, stupid fools. 2 non swimmers in a fast moving, swollen river in the middle of the night. I told Ronnie i was quitting and to go on without me. Too much risk for one night and it was only 4.10 am. Roger and his fresh supports set off 10 minutes later with Ronnie and i following, letting down your runner twice is just not done.
Leg 2 went without incident and we left Roger heading off up Steel Fell on leg 3, his support crew following. Ronnie and i met up with Debbie, happy to be safe and ready for some sleep. It was a great run and one i will remember for a long time.
Roger went on to complete his Bob Graham Round round in 23hrs 55 minutes, he ran well and stayed positive. Well done Roger.
Here are some pictures i shamelessly pinched from Rogers Blog, i lost all mine when my phone got soaked in the Caldew. http://runningroger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/bob-graham-round-report.html
Roger and i - Midnight in Keswick
Descending to Grizdale Tarn
Roger and i ascending Fairfield
Roger and Ronnie descending Fairfield
Roger and crew heading up Steel Fell
Hi, hope all is well. Just found your blog. My round has definitely made for some good stories of how not to cross a river :)
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