Le Jog 2008 - The Alternative Endurance Rally - The Travelling Marshal (Liz Winter)

Le Jog is well known in our household as my husband was a competitor last year and our son Chris who has been a competitor for the past 5 years. So when in January this year we volunteered to be travelling marshals on the event we did have some idea of what we would be letting ourselves in for.   Living on the far north east coast of East Anglia meant that, to start at Lands End we had to leave home on the Thursday before the event and stay overnight on route.    Lands End was spectacular, especially as it was very windy and rough.   It was good to see so many friends especially Harriet, John, Lynn, Peter, Bill, Graham, Jane and Geoff to name but a few, plus to put faces to voices, namely David McIntyre to whom I had spoken and emailed.

Saturday dawned, we had to leave before the Event commenced because our first point was the Wadebridge Test as finish marshals, a lovely sunny day all be it bitterly cold in the shade.   This was quite a fast test and from our vantage point we spotted quite a few who nearly or actually missed the final leg of the test, then loosing time having to retrace their route to get to the end of the test. From there we headed up to Magor, we had hoped to stop at the Bridgewater test but decided that if we wanted to get a hot meal we had to give it a miss.   From there we headed off into the Welsh countryside for our first Timing Point was on the Wentwood Regularity, this was the first time I had to get out the Ordnance Survey Maps.  We met a gritter lorry on the road long before our destination so guessed it would be icy.  I had marked my map as to the location and with the Chief Marshal’s   drawing of where the control was to be, we found ourselves high up at the top of a very steep hill overlooking Newport and Cardiff, we could even see the planes landing at Cardiff airport.  Our neighbours were a field of cows with their calves; they soon lost interest in what was happening.    It was below -2C and very icy, having set up, for our own safely we liberally spread salt over the approach to the control.   Having arrived with plenty of time so ready for the clock car; we were actually in position for three hours before the course closing car appeared.   This was when we realised that the Liege Clock is not the easiest thing to operate with frozen fingers! And writing with gloves on is a bit difficult.    From there whilst the rally continued into the night we made a mad dash up the A449 onto the M5 (thank goodness it is lit most of the way) to Preston where we had booked a hotel for the night, it was after one am before we arrived and collapsed into a warm comfortable bed for a few hours.   Sunday morning having de-iced the car, we set off again this time to man the Passage Control at the Three Peaks Filling Station in Ingleton, a most civilized venue.   Again we arrived with plenty of time to go into Ingleton for a welcome mug of tea, and the co-op sandwiches from the shop at the Filling Station were very good.   The duty manager had shut off the diesel pumps until 1 pm as supplies were running low, so as to conserve what he had for the Rally cars.   Both Peter Nedin and ourselves were very grateful for this thoughtful action.

Our next Timing Point was in the last Regularity before the overnight halt at Carlisle, we were on Scales Moor, and again I was pleased to have an Ordnance Survey Map of the area to get us into position without problems.    We were conscious that it is vital that as Marshals we find the correct place for the controls, the Chief Marshal sends out a small copy of a map with a drawing and Grid Ref but we still have to get there and be set up in the right place.   This was a cross roads of white roads in more then one sense, they were covered in frozen slush and ice.   We managed to park the car just off the crossroads but to operate the TP we had to stand on a frozen grass bank using the Give Way sign to steady ourselves when the cars came through. The conditions meant that most of the cars approached the control with care although we had spread salt on the road again for our safety.   Another freezing location with sub zero temperatures, plus wind chill added to our discomfort. We did get some spectators a local farmer, and what appeared to be all his children in the car, unfortunately he arrived a little late and only saw some of the last cars come through.    Having arrived here with about 20 minutes before the clock car we were very pleased to see the course closing car arrive on time, we had been there for 2 ¾ hours.    We arrived at our hotel in Carlisle about 2030, checked in very quickly and headed off to Rally HQ at the Swallow Top Hotel where there were rumours that a meal was available for a small charge.

Monday morning we had to be out early as our first Timing Point was in the Water of Ae Regularity, at Parkgate with the clock car due at 8.50 am. This time we had what at first appeared to be a good parking space outside a Telephone Exchange, we were all set up when the local BT engineer arrived and used the remainder of the space as he had work to do in the Exchange.   When the Lady from the house adjacent to the Exchange came out, I took the opportunity to explain what we were doing there and how long we would be around. She told me that 24 hours previously it had been a white out.   Shortly after the Clock car came through the Deputy Clerk of the Course phoned to say that there had been a route change and we were to give it to all competitors, having noted the details and prepared to give it to the competitors, only to receive another call to say the route was passable.  

From here we headed off north of Glasgow and on to the Rest and Be Thankful Test, a fuel stop at the Motorway services at Hamilton included a sandwich and coffee break.    We had a brief stop on the banks of Loch Lomond to stretch our legs before heading off up to the Test.   This was our first meeting with Colin and Brenda Goode they were running the test and we were at the finish.    Colin and Brenda had also been with the Rally since Cornwall and like us were carrying on into the night.    This was certainly an interesting afternoon, Peter and Lynn Nedin arrived to see the Test before heading off to the Supper Halt.   The Owner of the Glen and his Estate Manager had come to open up the gates and stayed to watch the action, they were not disappointed.    The weather threw everything at us whilst we were waiting for the crews to arrive.   We had a few spectators who had come to especially watch the rally come through.   

Whist the rally headed off toward Inveraray, we headed back down the mountain and on to the A82 west to Fort William, it took a couple of hours plus of solid motoring, on and through Glen Coe past Ben Nevis, although we did not see any of it.   Fort William was a welcome relief the control was open when we arrived there and the first cars were arriving for their supper halt.    Knowing we had to stay awake a large meal was not ideal for us so a bowl of soup was ideal.  

Not knowing how long it would take us to reach our next location, a Time Control on the Loch Ness Navigation Section. We again headed off allowing plenty of time; not knowing how far we had to travel to Evanton, fuel was the first requirement.   On the road we were passed by Colin and Brenda who were at a Time Control on the same section as ourselves.    It was a slow drive once we were off the main road as the conditions meant we had to be careful.    Shortly after we crossed the cattle grid, out of the darkness into the headlights came a wonderful Stag with a full set of antlers.    This Time Control was on the road junction right by some road works with traffic lights.   By now it was midnight on and the clock car was the first to arrive so we had sometime to wait for the rest of the field.   It was freezing cold   I decided that the only way to keep warm was to go the highland fling in the middle of the road, I certainly warmed up it was a good job there was not too much traffic about, or anyone else to see me.   Once the first car had been though, the rest slowly arrived over the next hour and a half.   By the time the course closing car had arrived we were glad to be on our way, little knowing that within a short space of time we would have to put the jeep into four wheel drive, because the road was frozen.     

The forecourt at Evanton service was like an ice rink, and even more in the car park by the café, it was sheet ice not a pleasant experience.   But here was hot food and  drink, much needed before we set off for our last Time Control.   

On the road again, we followed the A9 to Lothbeg.    We had to take care not to miss the junction for the road up Glen Loth where we were to man the first Time Control for that sector.    It was a long steady climb following the single track road along the side of the mountains. There was a sign stating that Road Clearing did not take place on this road.    The weather was getting worse, so we took care, two stags came through the headlights and in the distance on the edge of the forest we could see more deer.    It seemed to take ages before we found the bridge where our TC was to be set up.    The road took us over the bridge where we managed to turn the jeep round all be it an 6 point turn, the road was sheet ice I moved around on the grass verge for safety.    Under the bridge was a roar of a waterfall, (we must go back in daylight, but in better weather).   We parked up safely under the cliff face this time facing the road so we could shelter whilst we awaited the cars to arrive, as usual the first to come round the mountain after the clock and course opening cars, was Sue and Catherine in the Bentley ¾, still smiling, but how I don’t know the weather by now was extreme, driving snow, hail and rain and they were driving straight into it.   All told only 8 of the 25 finishers made it up Glen Loth, well done to all those who completed what was to be the final Navigation section.    I had to dry off the check sheet between cars over our car screen heater; we were able to shelter in our car using the approach of headlights to alert us that a competitor was approaching.    Once the Range Rover of Bill and Graham and the Course Closing car with Jane and Geoff had departed up the Glen, we made our way slowly and very carefully down the Glen back to the A9.   

We headed off to Lybster and a welcome breakfast although I could only manage a bowl of porridge and a cup of tea.    The crews were being given a longer break here as the final regularity had been cancelled because of the weather conditions.   Warmed and fed we got back into the car and set off for John O’Groats, yes I know we could easily have just headed for our hotel in Wick but we were going to the end too.   We had an additional reason for getting to John O’Groats ahead of most of the competitors as our son Chris with his navigator Charlie were one of those 8 cars that had completed the final navigation section.   We had to be there for them.    The road was terrible and care had to be taken, we got to within a short distance of John O’Groats to find the road was closed in front of us, sadly fatal traffic accident that had happened just an hour or so earlier, we turned round and found the detour marked by Hero, following two of the rally cars to the finish.  

We had made it to John O’Groats too, I felt quite exhilarated at what we had achieved, it had been a long three days, but an adventure I am glad I did not miss out on.     Following a welcome cup of tea with the Chris and Charlie we headed back to Wick and our hotel, where welcome sleep was punctuated with dreams of stags and deer in the headlights.