Being Wise on Expedition.........The first 18 months....

One of our hard working freelancers read this poem out at our Christmas *Doo* in December - it is a great explanation of what it is to work for Expedition Wise!

It started by chance in 2011

One Caledonian Challenge was the event

My baptism of fire in the Highlands

The first experience with Expedition Wise was Heaven sent

Treating blisters by the dozen int' Ice Factor

Racer’s feet weren’t always in good shape

Teams of 4 in theory, sometimes 3,2 ,1

Not everyone abided by the red tape

Out of Kinlochleven on the staircase

Riding on a quad was brilliant fun

Walking through the night over Rannoch

And dancing at the finish at Tyndrum

Brian's 2011 party was a great one

Rocking on up to Rock House in Rock Place

There's also lots of rocks sculpted in the garden

And fab views to other crags with a rock face!

Steph had made vatt loads of piping chilli

Ang introduced me to alcoholic ginger beer

Wine and laughter flowed there all evening

And the video of the year was full of cheer

In 2012 the season was first about the 3 peaks

Ben Nevis, Sca Fell Pike and Snowdon in a line

Up and down we went in all the weathers

Slow, fast, snowy, midgy and sunny fine

With KPG's event we had a biblical deluge

Wasdale was evacuated from the valley not least

We slept in Tescos car park with croissants

The Llanberis Royal Victoria provided a feast

Then came Brave the Beacons in September

Based at Dolygaer in the trees

Alcohol arrived there by the carload

We all thought the challengers would be on their knees..

But no, the vino just spurred them on to do more

To kayak, bike and navigate with much glee

The weather and team spirit was fantastic

And they raised an amazing 50 grand for TCT

And so to the Brutal in Llanberis

A new event organised this year

3 levels of triathlon for competitors

The extreme filled the rest of us with fear

Ann and I ‘womaned’ a bike medic station

Brian said it was like the WI

Yet several mugs of tea later.....he left

And a cyclist emerged for a rubbing on his thigh

All through the night they whizzed past us

The extreme cyclists with their support crews in tow

Asking us how we were seemed the wrong way around

Some amazing professionalism they did show

And then the finish at 1am on Monday morning

Strong winds and driving rain for the finale

11 guys with stamina to die for

Who had all in 40 hours climbed their own Dinali

We have to don coordinated camouflage

Black, grey and orange with some high viz gear

The baseball caps are a perpetual challenge

My Masaai dangly earrings have become corporate wear

So being wise on expedition is essential

To keep healthy and stay safe on this journey

We look forward to 2013 with hope and optimism

For excitement and adventure are a successful life's key.