Burma Border Ben
July 2006
Burma Border Ben Events
NIGHTSTRIDER
Diary - Back on the Border

June 2006
Walk 16 - The Whole of the Thames
Walk 15 - The Vea Lally
Walk 14 - The Lea Valley
Walk 13 - We finally reach Portsmouth

May 2006
Walk 12 - East End Exploration
Walk 11 - Winchester Woes

April 2006
Walk 10 - Leith Hill Revisited
Walk 9 - Saint Swithun's way
Walk 8 - The Thames Trail

March 2006
Walk 7 - A Made Up Adventure
Walk 6 - Boxhill Bone Shaker

February 2006
Walk 5- High Chart Challenge
Walk 4 - East End Exploration
Walk 3 - Surbiton Striding

January 2006
Walk 2 - Richmond & Wimbledon Parks
Walk 1 - The Thames Trail

May 2005
Diary - The Home Straight

April 2005
Diary - Sun, Moon, Stars
Diary - Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
Diary - Ben Time
Diary - Sweet Nourishing Gruel
Diary - A Picture Postcard
Diary - Ma Sandar's View

March 2005
Diary - Grange Hill Days
Diary - BBBBBBBB
Diary - Burma Border Survival Guide
Diary - the End of Exam Picnic
Diary - All Change Please

February 2005
Diary - The Whistle Stop Cafe
Diary - That Aint No Fortune Cookie
Diary - Sleeping with the Enemy
Diary - Sweet Valley High
Diary - Border Buddies
Diary - Food Glorious Food

January 2005
Diary - Goodbye Bainton
Diary - Amid the Chaos of the Day
Diary - Top of the Thailand Pops
Diary - Father Christmas Goes on Holiday

December 2004
Diary - Linguadrama
Diary - Happy Mae La Oon Camper

November 2004
Diary - That Feint Sour Panic
Diary - Lizard Life
Diary - Chiang Mai Hello and Goodbye
Diary - Two Hours and Counting

October 2004
Diary - My Last Day
Diary - Flights, Visas and Jabba the Painful
Diary - The Party
Party - The Burma Ball

Walk 5- High Chart Challenge

SUNDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2006

Oh what a lovely walk!

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The bright eyed, bushy-tailed nightstriders ready to stride! Nice balaclava, Ben! Nice crouching style, Anna!

Synopsis

This one included snow, walking, thick & very wet mud, a lot of walking, the scaling of very steep banks, some expert navigation, a quarry, some bulls, mr Benn, slipping over, the M25, more walking (up steps) and one too many tired limbs.

By the end we realised we'd walked pretty much-ish the whole of the North Downs Way so that was tres satisfying.

A big special well done goes to Anna and Kate who joined the striding team for the very first time and trudged a full 17 miles to boot! A sterling effort and one worthy of this week's Nightstrider Gold Star.

Below are some pics from the day so you can see the wholesome fun unfolding before your very eyes! Enjoy!

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Passing Battersea on the early morn train to the start...


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The nightstriders encounter hidden caves with ancient pantings all around early into the walk


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Gathering for a downhill bit...


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Striding through the bracken mid walk. Nice striding style, Anna!


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After negotiating barbed wire and warning extreme danger signs, the team ate lunch overlooking a picturesque quarry. This shot sees the cheersome lot post-lunch. Anna is sleeping off the effects already!

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Crossing the everlasting field of mud as the weather brightens...


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All kitt-ed up, napsacks ready for every eventuality...

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Climbing the final stairway...


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Wheeeeeeeee! Nightstriders gallantly descend a reeeeeeeeaaaaaaally steep hill-come-sheer-drop-cliff-face!


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Anna and her stick. Inseperable.


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Heading back to the start after a magical, bracing walk around the little village of Oxted...


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Made it! The exhausted but clearly extatic team back at the start, with more than 25km in those legs and 25kg of mud on those clothes. Well done one and all!

MT