Saturday 25th August 2007
T's Diary...What a day! It feels like I have been in the car forever. I was kind of in awe as we weaved our way around Wales today, I really had no idea that it was such a beautiful country. Everywhere I looked was rolling hills, streams, sunshine and...erm...lots of sheep!
I will never forget us pulling up in a tiny little welsh town by the name of Llanguilo. It appeared to have just one shop which doubled as the local pub! I needed to stretch my legs so me, my ballgown and walking sticks began to hobble along the road in this little village. I stood for a moment to admire the view and saw a lady heading towards me, prepared with my 'Good Morning' she replied and then said 'You look really beautiful'. Now, I don't speak welsh but hoped that I had heard her right! I'm more of the jeans and t-shirt type of girl and dresses are something I have only been seen in on very, very rare occasions. This event was probably the most public of those occasions so to have somebody I had never seen before remark on how I looked really made me feel...special I suppose! Thanks to the lady in the little welsh village on the way to Llangurig!
As well as seeing some great places I've also met some great people! Once we left Worcester we didn't see many of the other entrants till dinner...apart from the RAF boys! They have been great entertainment and I can't wait to see what they'll do next! The evening allowed us the chance to talk to some of the other participants too and get to know a bit about what had brought them here.
I had a really lovely conversation with Natalie, the camera lady, after dinner. Just a simple question lead to the exchange of stories and those are the moments that change lives. I'd like to say thanks to Natalie for listening, asking questions and sharing some of her evening with me.
It's very late here now and as I write this my thoughts can't keep from straying back to the reason we are here. Rose. Team SMARTies has had a tough day but whatever has happened I am proud that Andrew has got through and that we have been able to continue to do what we set out to do all those months ago...to share Rose with those we meet on our travels...
Andrew's Diary...After a reasonable nights sleep the alarm went off at some ungodly hour and quick as a flash I was up, washed, dressed and began packing the car.
There was a light mist and the car needed demisting but sadly the control arm broke so I had to open the roof (shame) and just after 07:00am off we set wondering just what the BritBall run 2007 had in store for us. Turning a bend I hastily stopped the car to save us ploughing into 100+ Hunt Hounds going for their morning walk. They made a path for us and as we slowly drove through them a couple of the hounds peered into the window (ickle brcX is quite low).
Some 10 minutes later we arrived at the start and were welcomed by Batman who directed us toward Spiderman and our parking spot and the other cars. After a few brief introductions to the Flintstones, Blues Brothers, RAF Guys, KillerViral and the others we set off to the navigators briefing (I went to save Talj making the longish walk).
Now came the time Talj and I had looked forward to since Christmas, the start of BritBall Run 2007. Stage one was a simple(ish) line by line set of directions taking us to our first checkpoint at Worcester. There were some great roads and we were soon behind Team Alfa and the Evo (all 3 of us sensibly overtaking at safe points) and it was here that I caught the first glimpse of the 3 foot flames popping out of the Evo's exhaust.
A 10 minute break at checkpoint 1 and, armed with our next destination off we set with both TomTom and NavMan turned on. BBR is won and lost on total mileage so we took TomToms shortest route and went down some very narrow lanes and I did get a little worried a couple of times when the grass in the middle of the lane was hitting the underneath of the car. TT and Navamn were not on the same wavelength and each wanted to go different directions at each junction. As we got to our destination it was all eyes peeled for an Obelisk and the answer to the next destination. I pulled over and wandered into a graveyard to check out one that I'd seen but it soon seemed obvious that I was in the wrong place. 1st point to Talj as she had mentioned this might not be the right spot and less than 500 yards up the road we found it. We were parked opposite a pub and outside was a bemused man who had seen most of the other cars pass through and wanted to know what I was driving as he'd never seen one before (he must have missed Killer viral as they were ahead of us).
Just as we were leaving there was a tap on the window, it was the RAF guys (who had also popped into the graveyard). They did the same route as us - in an Esprit!
We were now off to Aberaeron via Aberystwyth (to pick up some hunt items) and this time set TT to the fastest route (the mountain roads looked dangerous). More great roads before stopping at a garage to see what goodies I could find. I walked into the shop and asked if they sold postcards "no" came the reply "but you'll find the leeks over there" and she followed me passing me other items I needed along the way. Just before we left Aberystwyth I pulled up outside a post office in search of the Post Card and another 10 points. The nice old lady started by saying she didn't sell postacards "there is no call for them in this shop" but then remembered she had a couple tucked away. As I paid she asked if I was going to a wedding and said she had just had a nice pair of vicars in the shop and I laughed and asked if they were driving a big yellow sports car (another Esprit).
As we approached Aberaeron the sea mist rolled in and we found ourselves behind the Blues Brothers in their rather tasty AC Cobra (a full 5 litres more engine than we had), they must have been very 'cool' lol. We were soon parked in the harbour and though I hate to say it, Talj's disabled badge was a godsend! The next clue was a house number that could be seen from a bridge so off I wandered whilst Talj stretched her legs. As my eyesight isn't that good I took the camcorder hoping to zoom into the house number. I got on the walkie talkie to see if any other BBR'ers were around and got chating to one of the Blues Brothers "there is no number on the door" he said. Funny I thought, there is nobody outside the house "where are you I said" just as a women touched me on the shoulder, turned me round and said "he's over there".
It was now mid afternoon, the next destination was to be Hereford and across brecon. We left the coast to find somewhere to eat lunch and found a nice layby with tables at the roadside. We did get some funny looks from motorists as an old guy in Top Hat and Tails sat eating lunch at the side of the road with a young lady in a ballgown. The drive thus far today had taken in some stunning roads and scenery and this part was to be no different - absolutely breathtaking! It was kind of Surreal when we were stopped to let a large road cycle race pass by.
In Hereford I got a VAT receipt for a 10 pence bag of sweets then we headed to our bed for the night somewhere near Solihull. We arrived at the Hotel at 19:30, 10 1/2 hours and 326 miles after setting off. Being a bad person I left Talj in the car to make a couple of calls whilst I headed straight for the 2 cases of lager in the carpark and a chat about the days events with the other cars.
During our steak dinner Talj had to do a memory test and after some more chats we headed to bed - in fifth place, very tired but pretty happy with the result.
It seems only right on such a big day for us that we remember the reason we began fundraising in the first place. Rose is never far from my thoughts and is a constant source of inspiration in all the work I do for both RoseBuddies and the information website.
