Entries by Participants

I joined the team in the south of France at the start of the exciting Catamaran crossing to Corsica on Panasha. The cyclist were exhausted but elated and quite rightly proud of their epic last day cycle of 175K. It was great to meet up with so many enthusiastic, positive and fun people and we were ready for phase three of the Mont Blanc to Mont Cinto epic.

We departed the following morning in fine weather and set sail due South East to Corsica for a thoroughly relaxing fourteen hours of sailing. Panasha is an amazing craft with so much more room than your average 60ft Yacht and you can even stand up both downstairs and up. It was great to just chill, talk to new members of the team and just enjoy the cruise. After five hours into the journey we were joined by a group of Dolphins who swam alongside, under and in front of Panasha for a good twenty minutes before plunging back into the depths of the deep blue Mediterranean sea. This was certainly the highlight of the crossing and something I will never forget. After a delicious feast prepared by Julia we set up a stag (look out system) into the early hours of the morning and arrived in calm waters and rested till we were joined by the road party.

The Kayak phase for me was the highlight of the expedition and having heard so much about the coast from Daron, I was really looking forward to experiencing all the amazing cliffs, coves and beeches. After a few hours of kit packing, checking and re checking we were off in our Flotilla of double and single sea Kayaks led by the stunning (Corsican Lass) and Jim from Ireland. The group was diverse with a wide range of experiences and after thirty minutes everyone settled into a comfortable and steady pace. The group crossed a couple of bays and rounding the main headland after four hours of continuous paddling we stopped off for a lunch break on a beautiful sandy beach. Panasha joined us and lunch was ferried to the shore. After a well earned rest the group continued on the more spectacular part of the day and we were soon gliding amongst some of the most stunning caves, coves and inlets that Corsica has to offer. We imagined what must have hidden in these very coves hundreds of years ago from Roman war ships to pirates of the high seas. The group led by Daron then headed further along the coast to a spectacular water fall set inside some challenging rock formations. One by one the group plucked up courage and we were all soon braving the swell and entering the base of the waterfall. A further forty minutes with more amazing views took us to our resting place for the first evening where Panasha was waiting patiently for the weary paddlers. Kayaks were stashed on the beach and we returned to our mother ship for a another slap up dinner provided by Corrie and Julia.

Reports of strong winds for day two confirmed that we should be off earlier than later and after much kit shuffling and kayak jumping the group was on its way including our in house Camera Man who shared a double with Jim. We followed the bay shore rather than crossing over due to the noticeable increased swell and every now and then the groups would disappear behind huge waves. The swell was picking up and we all wished we had left earlier. The group pressed on and after two hours we were following the coast into the ever increasing waves. Keeping the group together was proving more challenging than avoiding the dreaded capsize and as we rounded the coast we started to experience the double wammy wave system not only from the high seas but also rebounding off the cliffs. The group were now committed, there was no going back and there were no sandy beaches to rest or escape to. Everyone was totally focused on the NOW, every swell, every wave was examined and carefully negotiated. It was exhilarating, thrilling, tense and for those in singles slightly more uncomfortable and insecure. I had taken part in previous open sea challenges crossing the seven mile Straights of Lewis in the Hebrides and this was totally different. In Lewis the waves were coming from one direction and hear in Corsica we were experiencing confused, rough and intimidating seas. Our objective was the next headland were we would be spared the double wave bashing and we focused and encouraged each other. God knows how the inexperienced kayakers amongst the group felt!!

At last we rounded the headland and were now hurtling inward towards our rendezvous for the night. A sheltered bay with a defensive castle and a good dinner. We were now relaxing and the ricocheting waves had stopped and the worst was over. Suddenly a cry of Capsize was shouted!! Max was in and a rescue mission was despatched. Soon Max was back in and the group surfed the final two kilometres into base camp.

The wind was too strong for day three and an alternative plan was hatched. After a fascinating team discussion on the future of Active Earth and many other subjects of interest the group departed on foot for a stunning coastal walk to the bike pick up location. A quick 20 mile (mostly downhill) race took the team back to Panasha for a further evening of feasting and relaxation.

Day four involved a spectacular cycle challenge of 150K from base camp at Panasha to the base village of Mont Cinto. Jim, Richard and I stayed together as a group and the racers consisting of Daron, Mark, Max, Karyn gave the Tortoises a two hour head start and it was not long before they came hurtling past us only to be overtaken by us twenty seconds later to be overtaken again and left behind for good! The Scottish team had not prepared well for this leg and after turning a few heads in the local village soon realised that boxer shorts were not the recommended attire on such cycling missions. The route was stunning and many parts of the countryside resembled remote parts of Scotland where masses of deserted Sheilings (dwellings) could be sighted. We eventually met up with the rest of the group having been picked up in the dark approaching the final few miles. A great day in the Corsican Country.

Our final day involved the entire group heading off at a gentle pace to walk to the top of Mont Cinto. We soon split into small groups and after four hours of more spectacular mountain scenery we reached the top of the mountain. The team formed up for photographs and we headed back down as the weather started to close in. Eight hours and we were back at base and soon heading back to the Ajaccio for a slap up dinner.

The trip had been an extraordinary feat of logistics and organisation and despite the weather causing havoc on Mont Blanc and over the initial cycling phases the group had stuck together and shone through with flying colours. A great group of people were bought together and experiences were shared that will remain with us forever. The Active Earth Travel group, Daron and Corrie deserve a huge amount of praise for putting such an ambitious project together and pulling it off with no injuries or loss of life. As an event organiser I am only too aware of the opportunities for things to go wrong and the project was managed with skill and professionalism.

The Mont Blanc to Cinto Mission has confirmed in all our minds the importance of sharing outdoor experiences through challenges and what this brings to the individual and the group. We need to understand our environment better and by engaging with it we increase that understanding and respect for nature. This trip has served as a catalyst to move forward with the Active Earth Foundation so that we can now go out and do our part in creating awareness for peace and sustainability.

Well the Mount Blanc to Mont Cinto event is finally over and I have to say the last two epic days meant the first few back in London were a welcome recovery for the legs. I have now spent today on the website of the various Scottish events to see what's next so I can improve my fitness for the next Active Earth Challenge.

The whole team put on an excellent event, from back office logistics (Kyra) to on the spot variations, awesome food (Corrie and Juliette) and good company (the rest of you). The event provided a chance to meet many like minded people at various stages of their lives and all on both individual yet somewhat collective initiatives. I suppose for me this was the heart of the journey, a time for self reflection, a time to meet new and inspiring people and a time to make new connections and share ideas for a greater good.

Darron must be congratulated (although he may not wish it) for being the catalyst for this journey to have taken place. I am sure he feels it was well worthwhile and I know those who attended will all be eagerly awaiting the next opportunity.

Please, Please run the same event again. I know of many who wanted to take part but need a bit more warning to be able to get into shape. At least we can now prepare knowing there are a lot of "flat hills" in the alps.

Much Love

Rich B

I would like to thank Active Earth very much indeed for a great week in Corsica. The organisation was superb and I also enjoyed the company of the other participants on the same trip. I felt that the Active Earth staff were extremely competent and trustworthy and I would totally recommend them to anybody else interested in trying some adventurous pursuits. Thanks once again for a great week and I look forward to hopefully receiving another invitation to an Active Earth gathering.

Tony Wise

“This trip was a life changing and affirming experience, for me it was amazing to experience a group of individuals that were all so committed and passionate about a subject that is so crucially in need of more awareness, discussion and resolve. The nature of the conversation has made me reflect on my own life and look at ways that I am able to make my individual contribution. It has made me look at my priorities in life and question whether their order is sustainable and complimentary to a rise in my own individual consciousness. Peace and sustainability are big subjects, when we look at the data it is hard to not become depressed and overwhelmed but when we look at the people making a difference, their resilience, creativity and determination, there is hope. We need to start with ourselves where we know we can do something and then work outwards”.

Many thanks

Karyn

Thank you for all the organisation of an unforgetable classic event. Really enjoyed meeting the crew and getting stuck into some escapades together. My leg muscles are still in shock. Climb of Mount Cinto blew me away.

hi daron and kyra,

a big thanks to both of you, and off-course everyone else involved, for organising such a great challange and for the support and generosity that continued throughout, it was great!

the experience of being part of the whole trip with the exception of the mt blanc section, was really great and the sense of covering distance under ones own energy and using multiple methods of transport was satisfying and certainly created an atmosphere in-keeping with the overall theme of the trip.

where the aim of spreading awarness was concerned, i'd say the most significant awarness was within the group itself, a diverse group of people who came together and shared ideas and points of view. lets hope that developments come out of this and all who attended have a greater understanding of active earth and its approach to the issues disscussed. now it would be great to see if general awareness to people outside the immediate network could be gained, perhaps some articles to various magazines or by distribution of the dvd that will be made.

thanks again for the great time,

look forward to future active earth projects and challanges, paddy.
PADDY CAVE

From Jed Milroy,

The morning of the last day of Mont Blanc to Mont Cinto found the Active Earth crew in somewhat more unusual environs. The flaking paint and psychodelic murals of the Port Asco dormitory left some of the group thinking they were still dreaming.



After a quick breakfast of coffee and croissants we were heading up the trail. The weather looked good with blue skies and cloud capped summits. Spirits were high and plenty of animated discussion was punctuating the stunning ascent. Even as we approached the snow line broad shorts and trainers still seemed appropriate. After a breezy ascent yesterday David had decided to wear trousers today.



This was where the climbing really started scrambling over loose rock and snow towards the daunting ridge line which was mostly shrouded in cloud. Some of the group started to feel the effects of the four hours of climbing and the need for concentration was paramount due to loose scree and boulders.



After a slow climb we reached the ridge and traversed towards the summit. As we gathered the group on the anti-summit, a closeby clap of thunder quickly dampened the europhic atmosphere. Paddy was reminded of the grave warnings of the restauranteer in Asco who had forecast death and doom to anyone climbing Mont Cinto this weekend.



Yves, our resident mountain guide, made the call to turn back just 50m short of the summit. A difficult call but vital in the circumstances.

Meanwhile back in the refuge concern was mounting. Our faithful support crew (Corrie) had taken on the role of calming the local's panic that we were all doomed...

As Tony's concern for whether he would see his family again mounted, Ramseyes (Raja's brother) handed Yves a bible. As we began our descent, some of the hardier Active Earth media types stayed to snatch a brief interview to camera. Mark Beaumont, giddy with the altitude and a little numbed by the cold, found himself once again in an extreme interview situation.



The descent like Yves was beautiful yet slimy. Around 5ish the group arrived safely back to the refuge, which was by now full of concerned locals and hot chocolate.

Once again we were reminded that we must always respect Nature. The real achievement of the day was the team work in taking an international team of committed individuals with mixed skills and abilities from Germany, Lebanon, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, England and France on such a beautiful adventure journey Raising Awareness for Peace and Sustainability.

From Paddy Cave.

About 10 minutes after leaving Panasha, I took a wrong turn. The wrong turn took me over a stunning mountain col and I saw over a hundred dead boar skins decorating a farmer's fence.



On arrival in Calvi I realised that the slow group that I was trying to catch up must have made up some ground ahead of me so I set off immediately in pursuit, without stopping for food. About 100km later I arrived in Asco where the locals assured me that no cyclists had passed in a week. I realised that the slow group were not ahead of me. So after a cafe au lait and a lengthy warning about climbing mont cinto I made my way up the 15km climb to the gite.

Climbing over 1,000m provided a beautiful transition to Alpine Scenery. Arriving at the gite, spectacular peaks were framed by the clouds.



Meanwhile whilst I was clocking up the miles, the rest of the group took the scenic coastal route to calvi where they enjoyed a 3 course lunch spread over 2 hours 'which would explain why I did not see them on my pursuit'. After lunch and saying goodbye to perry the group enjoyed a beautiful section of road to Belgodere.



The group was pleased to have clocked up 80 scenic kilometres. David Fox-Pitt had undertaken the whole stretch in his M&S boxer shorts. Alongside David stood Jim Morrissey wearing a pair of budgie smugglers. As David broke into an impromptu Scottish jig, the locals gathered around to witness this unusual spectacle.



A quick look at the map and the watch spread confusion and panic with the realisation that there was still 70km and 1,300m of vertical left to do and it was gone 5 o'clock. Briefly the group motivation faltered and David wondered whether there was sufficient skin remaining on his rear end to last the day.

The group arrived finally at the gite between 10pm and 11.30pm for a welcome meal at the end of another cracking day!