17th Blantyre Three Peaks Walk. Sunday, 1 July 2001
The annual Three
Peaks Walk was led by Gordon Benbow with Deli and Shelley Milstein providing
back-up refreshments. There was a record entry on the starting line — 38 would
you believe it?
Up at three in the
morning, waking up Shaya Bosman and his 12 scouts and brewing up, was not my
idea of a lie-in but then again I was leading the famous Three Peaks Walk.
I had an idea that
this year we might have a lot of people but I never expected the 34 starters we
got.
By 5.15am we were off
from Blantyre Sports Club and soon the seven Spanish were trailing at the back.
The Three Peaks is not the walk to wait for people and this is a drawback I
admit because people can get injured and lost etc, BUT you won't get round the
three peaks unless you get a move on. The Spanish contingent were happy with
just Michiru so muchas gracias amigos por su participacion. Proximo anno?
I was glad to be
leading the walk except that I hadn't done Michiru and Ndirande for four years
and never done Soche, my last attempt being stopped due to food poisoning. I
was very grateful to have young Ryan Murphy on the trip as he had done it last
year and Martin had said he would remember the way. After one wrong turning we
needed an old hand at the three peaks to come to our rescue. Good old Karl
Bruessow. He led the Michiru peak bit and part of the Ndirande walk. Thanks,
Karl — we would have been stuck without you.
A welcome tea stop at
Michiru, goodbye to the Robbs and hello to Tino and Andreas Sellas, Peter
Morley, Brian and Innocent — two Malawian friends of mine. Off to Ndirande and
bursting with confidence I led the way (having cycled this part of the route
just a few days before). It is always a lovely part of the walk, going through
villages, seeing the locals busy at work with the brick making, the sights,
sounds, and smells a feast on the senses. Too soon we were crossing the Chileka
Road and arriving at the Johnstons' House where we were kindly given some juice
and biccies. Thanks very much to them for sharing their home with us. Shame
Demelza (marshal) never arrived!
Through the bush and
up the gully no problems to us, although Tino and Andreas wisely missed out the
peak. On top of the highest of the three peaks was great. The Michiru peak has
wonderful views but the 360-degree view from Ndirande was awesome, seeing all
the bits of Blantyre, and its surrounds. Getting down to the radio mast proved
to be a nightmare, getting lost in the nettles and other stingy things. Like
others I was getting very p--d off but I had to feel sorry for Karl who fell
straight into a large bunch of nettles. Thank God for a cup of tea off Demelza
(who this time had managed not to get lost but find instead another hiker to
join us instead — Suzanne) and hello to baby Paschwa and goodbye Peter, Brian
and several others.
Two down and one to
go. It was down using a local and a little short cut that actually made us walk
an extra kilometre before and we made the dam and a welcome from Shelley. One
more addition to the party and we were straight off, raring away to Soche
secondary school where we met the cycle party of Simon, Brian and Maggie.
Before long, 35 minutes actually, we were on top of Soche and enjoying the
views. As expected I got a little lost going down and dragged a dozen people
with me. Another extra 2km and a long walk back to Blantyre Sports Club.
Nineteen people made
the whole thing including two 13-year-old girls, young Ed Borgstein, Ryan and
Peet Van Hassen. A great trip, a wonderful day — long may it continue and a
record for walkers — 42 in all?
Many thanks to my
darling partner Demelza for being the marshal, making tea, and looking after
Paschwa simultaneously, taking loads of people down Ndirande and losing our exhaust
in the process and being on the road from 6am to 7pm without a trip home. It is
a valuable and much needed role in the event so thanks a trillion — I owe you a
meal — yes, OK, I'll pay for you too.
This article was
originally written for and published in the MMC newsletter
Click here for an account of last year's meet.
©
WDYFO, 2001