Tri- Level Coaching Fundraising
‘The Gorge Walk Event’
For
The coaches “ Walked the Talk.”
We survived our Gorge challenge day
Thank you all for your kind donations!
Here we are waiting near the Storey Arms Activity Centre on the A470 in the Brecon Beacons for our pick up for the gorge walking event.
None of us knew what to expect on the day, so the anticipation of the challenges ahead really brought us together as a team. It was a really hot day and a mix of excitement and apprehension seemed to be the prevalent emotions.
When they turned up we followed them to the Neath Valley close to the Dan-yr Ogof caves where we were to join others in a day of gorge walking, climbing, scrambling, pot-holing, leaping and swimming.
Here we got kitted and booted, nice and dry and clean at this stage!
We had 2 extra people on our journey, starting from the top on the right Steve (Ex army and fire man), Robert Latham, Jay Kerai (Bharti’s Son, one of our youngest Coaches) Fiona James, Chris (Our guide) Bharti Kerai, Jos Williams.
Luckily, the weather conditions were superb for we were told that we would get very hot and very wet!
We were advised not to take cameras! At which we all decided to take a closer look at what we needed to carry! This being just our lunches.
We watched the group ahead and then followed up, under and through waterfalls… honest!
Jos quite liked the climbing as the challenge was not to slip and get wet. You can imagine how long this state of dryness lasted. After we all had suitably wet feet and had negotiated our first section of the gorge we were horrified to find that the next challenge was to balance precariously in front of a small waterfall, and stick our heads ( helmet and all ) through the running water into a cavity behind where we could breathe.
After this we knew what to expect from the rest of the day. As a matter of fact it was tremendous fun and sometimes physically and mentally challenging. A great spirit and camaraderie ensued with all of us egging each other on and offering support when and where required.
We soon came across many challenges to get us out of our “comfort zones.”
As we traversed along rock walls, jumping across boulders, climbing waterfalls, exploring dark holes in the ground, one which was called the "WormHole" this is self explanatory, yes it was dark! Not only did we have to climb up we then had to crawl down head first, yes, head first!!!
At a 45% angle.
This was a major challenge for Fiona, when Chris our guide for the day “said leave your dignity at the bottom of the worm hole” the trembling started, but with the help of Bharti at the top and Jos at the bottom Fiona, faced her fear and did it anyway. Although not very lady like, wet and bruised!!
Jos had to laugh when we were potholing through the “Wormhole.” The upward traverse is quite steep and slippery and both Bharti and Fiona were ahead of Jos. Fiona and Bharti bottlenecked and Jos soon got right in behind them, with quite a slight young chap bringing up the rear. “My God” where Jos’s thoughts, if Bharti slips into Fiona and she in turn comes sliding towards me, then the young man in the rear is going to have more than his hands full with three founder members of Tri-level coaching landing as one in his lap. As it turned out we all were spared any blushes and negotiated the challenge safely.
Crawling under waterfalls to find that there was only one way down…. Bharti was not impressed, her fear of water was almost too much! Robert coached her through jumping off a 10ft cliff… which she did and then got a huge hug from son Jay. This too was an experience.
This was very special for Fiona as she hadn’t realised how much of a fear this was for Bharti and being able to be part of her special moment was a memory to be treasured.
There were some difficult moments like swimming over the pool and then hauling oneself out up a sheer and slippery waterfall but I am glad to say that we all performed with vigour and a passion and self belief that did us all credit.
Fiona had a fireman’s lift to traverse up the water fall this was really challenging was painful and I have the bruises to prove it, a big thanks to Fireman Steve from Port Talbot he was a star as were we all.
Robert said, "Facing individual fears for me focussed on two elements in particular. Crawling through confined spaces, “The Wormhole”, and jumping off high places into water.
The end of the gorge walk adventure is where most people get really wet and take the plunge, Loonies Leap - choose the 10ft or the 28ft leap!
From there it's a short wet walk back to the minibus, where warm clothes wait.
Crawling through the undergrowth and clambering along rock faces though physically challenging did not raise any anxieties. True to form the main elements were getting very wet and dirty, having loads of fun and sharing this experience with friends and colleagues.
Overall, thinking about the day's experience, words like quirky, challenging, tiring and satisfying spring to mind. With lots of learning about ourself, fellow coaches and some new found friends.
Any ideas for our next challenge!!
No worm eating please!!