Well, as many of you know, I did it! I got to the top! I started to write this blog on Wednesday 14th July and, I have to say, I really didn’t know what to write. The only thing I knew was I was in pain, and to be honest I hadn’t really enjoyed it.
Now it is Tuesday 10th August and looking back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing, because for the rest of my life I can say I have climbed
Let’s start at the beginning. Allison and Danielle (my sister and best friend) came over to our cottage at 5 in the morning. We were all very excited and very positive. This was it, the day for which I had been training, for a year.
We set off, had some photos by the first sign and thought of some songs we could sing to keep us going. OK, that was just Dani and me, I think Andy and Allison were still sleeping, but you get the gist of things - we were all very happy.
I stopped every half and hour or so, just to keep my energy levels up. Allison took photos of us all the way, Dani took videos of us and Andy took photos of the view as I couldn’t take it all in. All I could think about was walking.
We got to the lake by about 11 to 11.30 and sat down for half an hour and had lunch. I have to say I was feeling really good. I still had lots of energy and could see the top (or what I thought was the top) of the mountain. At one point I even said we could be at the top by 2pm. I was stupidly happy and still enjoying it. The worst was still to come.
So, as I said, we had our lunch and we were off again. We were all having lots of fun and we knew mum (Vivian), dad (Graham), Kevin (my brother), Lou (my sister-in-law) and Freddie (my 8 month old nephew) were going to catch up with us soon.
We walked over a water fall, had some more photos and then the path got really hard. It was just all gravel, which is when I started to struggle. When the rest of them caught up with us it gave me a really big push.
Because I was slower than everyone else and Kev was carrying Freddie, they had to go on ahead of us, which I understand I’m glad they came, as I said, they gave me a really big push when I needed it.
Mum and dad stayed with Andy, Dani, Allison and me. I can’t really describe how hard I was finding it at this point. I think I said to Andy quietly, “I’m not sure I can do this,” and Andy, being Andy, told me I was being stupid and to just keep walking and that I could do it. In my own words, “All I need to do is believe I can do it.”
The people who kept walking past were all very supportive and kept telling me that it wasn’t far now, which I believed, as I could still see the top. At this point, I needed help so I texted my friends saying, “Please help, half an hour to go, not sure if I can make it, can you believe in me?”
I just have to say thank you to all those who texted me before and who texted me then, because if it wasn’t for all of you believing in me, I know I would have turned around long before this point.
Kevin and Lou phoned us and said that they were very sorry but they needed to get Freddie down, he needed feeding. It took them over an hour to meet us, passing the other way. I thought because it was such a long while till we met them again it meant they waited a bit longer before they started walking. What I know now is that they started walking as soon as they phoned us. That’s how far away from the top we were!
When they got to us Kevin asked me if I wanted him to get Freddie down and then come back up with a tent so we could stay overnight. The only thing I could think of, and said to Kev, was that I just want this day to end, and if I stayed overnight this day is going to go on to two days. I’m not sure I could cope with that.
When we got to what we thought was the top, it wasn’t the top! There was another lip to climb - which I did. But then there was another one! I told everyone that I’d give up I couldn’t do it, there was really nothing left in me. By the way, it was past 2 pm. At this point my family told me not to give up and that if they needed to get me to the top, they would carry me.
I was really disappointed with myself - it had come to me giving up or being carried to the top! I carried on walking for a bit, but as I said there really wasn’t anything thing left in me. I couldn’t think straight. I think someone asked me if I was in pain and I had to say I didn’t know - everything was numb including my brain. I’m not sure if that was a good thing or not, in a way I’m glad I couldn’t feel anything because I don’t think I could have coped with the pain.
The decision of me walking or being carried to the top was taken out of my hands. Dad, Andy and Dani all carried me, stopping every now and again for a little rest and then on to the top.
Once we got over the last lip of the mountain it was flat, you had to walk around the ridge of the mountain and there was a man-made view point the other side. Once we got here I said, “That’s it. We’re at the top, that’s man-made and the challenge was to get to the top. I did it. Let’s go.” But once again my family said that I couldn’t give up now and so I walked round with help from Andy and Dad.
When talking about getting to the top I thought I was going to be very emotional, but I was so tired crying wasn’t an option, it was a waste of energy. In fact, there is a very good photo of Andy holding my hands up trying to celebrate with me looking like I’m dying.
Just so you can keep up with the timing we got to the top at 8.30pm that night, as I said before, nowhere near 2pm.
We stayed up there for about half an hour to an hour, had lots of photos taken and then decided to walk down. We all wanted to get past the waterfall before night fall, so we were all on a mission to get to that part of the path.
It didn’t get dark until 12 at night, but I just couldn’t walk any more and there was no way I was being carried again. So we found a little dip on the side of the mountain and we all sat down to relax. Mum and dad were sat together, Andy, Dani and me were sat together and Allison sat on her own.
Now, as I said, it was 12 at night, dark and starting to get cold. So Andy, Dani and me decide to play I spy with my little eye. We found this very funny and it is a story I will be telling for a while.
We started walking about an hour or so later, after we all had about half an hour’ sleep at the most. I found it hard, but it was nice thinking the end was near. All I could think about was having a bath and relaxing. By the way we did have some torches with us so we didn’t walk without any light.
We got on the nice path, which we were all looking forward to, but I needed to stop a lot. Every time I stopped everyone else stopped and slept as much as they could.
I was finding it really hard, but it was my challenge and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I was looking around and seeing how hard everyone else was finding it and all I could think was this is my fault. No one would have been there without me. I did say this to everyone and, without hitting me, everyone said they were very proud of me and they wouldn’t have missed it.
As we were walking down I got a text from Kev saying he can see us coming down and that Lou is on her way back up to meet us. So that gives me another big push.
I’m not sure if any of you have walked up
When Lou caught us up, she had got us all a hot Ribena which was the nicest thing in the world at that point and, on behalf of us all, thanks so much for that, we all really appreciated it.
Once we had all had a nice hot drink and relaxed, we were off again for the last little part of the walk. As you may know, we were all exhausted. We all had nothing left. We got to the bottom of the walk and there was a stile to get over! But hey, at least that really was the bottom and I never have to climb anything again. EVER.
So that was it, that was my journey, my challenge, my experience and that of my family and closest friend - to climb Ben
Looking back on it now, almost one month later, I loved every minute of it, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I will never do it again, but for the rest of my life I can say I climbed
It was around 11am when we stopped for lunch that I started to get all my supportive texts from everyone, and yes you guessed it here they all are :
Kevin
Hu two three four, keep it up two three four. Looking out for you, keep going.
Aunty Joy
Hello caroline hope all is well good luck and love from aunty joy and co xxx
Sain
Good luck don’t know whether you have made a start or how far up you are but you can do it. We are thinking of you GO CAZ I know you can do it! Xxx J
Julia
Hope the weather is good for you today, good luck Julia x
Donna
You can do it! Liz says ‘go for it Caroliny’x
Pam
Have you made a start yet? How long do you think it will take?
Ali
Come on Caz, you can do it! Keep going! Josh says come on Uncle Caz! Let me know how your doing!
Hayley
Just think you have climbed most of the way. I know you can do it. You’re the most determined person I know. I will be waiting for a text.
Pam
Keep going xxx
Aunty Joy
Hope all is well keep going aunty joy sorry can’t do capitals or full stops much love xxx
Tim
Hi Caz, Hope the climb is going well. Whishing you all the best of luck, you can do it! J
Pam
Keep going xxx
Aunty Joy
I understand all is going well keep it up xxx (Aunty Joy has been texting and calling mum as well)
Suana
Hi, hows it going. You must be nearly there now. Keep going you’ve done so well. We are all thinking of you. See you soon Love Susan, Alan and Dan xxx
Pam
Just read your web site again, keep going stinky xxx
Hell
Hey there, not sure if you would have reached the top or not. Keep going if you haven’t. Make sure to take some photos x
Pam
A few more yards and you can stop for afternoon tea. Come on Stinky you can do it, xxx
Aunty Joy
Not much further keep going love aunty joy xxx
Julia
Good luck – keep going – nearly there now! All very proud of you. Julia, Nick and Ellie x
We all wish you well keep going xxx
Pam
Are you getting close yet? I have every faith in you. Strike for the summit bonny lass xx
As I said before I was finding it very hard, and started to believe I couldn’t do it. Here is the text I sent to everyone around 6pm:
Hi, nearly there can see the top. ½ hr left to walk, but really need your help. Can’t quite believe in myself, but can you?
You guessed it here is all my replys
Donna
You can do it Caroline! We are all rooting for you. Look at what you have achived already and 1/2hr to go! Wow !!!!x
Hayley
Your doing really well. The top is in site can’t give up now. So proud of you! Just think of all the money you have raised and all the people you will prove wrong.
Hell
If it’s only half an hour then you definartely can. You’ve gone all this way so it’s only the last stretch.
Pam
I believe in you I always have. Go bonny lass. Think of all those calories you are burning xx
I think you are amazing well done xxx
Donna
How are you? (didn’t reply, still going)
Aunty Joy
Almost there well done aunty joy xxxx
Pam
Did you make it? X (not yet still going)
At 8.30pm I text everyone to let them know I made it to the top, here is what I said:
Hi, well I started at 5 this morning, and this is me at the top J. I have made it with a little help from my family and a big help from all of you. Thanks for all the text you have given me. All I need to do now is get back down. So once again, wish me luck and I will see you all soon, I hope J.
Hell
Cool, well done. Have a well deserved
Ali
Well done, I’m really proud of you! I knew you would do it though! Going down is the easy part it’ all down hill, but let me know when your back down J well done again J
Hayley
Proud of you! Can’t you get a cart back down.
Kevin
Well done Caroline keep on going.
Kevin
Oh the long and winding road, J chin up.
Sain
Brillant you have done it good for you! The hardest part is over! Your find the strength and get to the bottom good luck see you soon take care thinking of you xxx
Pam
Congratulations from several of the ladies that used to do English with you and of course me xxx
At about 10.30 on the Tuesday 13th when I was back down and runny my well deserved bath I text this to everyone:
Well, as you all know I got to the top of
Here are my replys
Ali
My god! You must be so proud of yourself are you aching?
Me
Aching isn’t the word for how I feel right now, but yes I’m happy with myself J
Ali
You should be well done!
Pam
MMMMmmm I did not think about coming down! Good job you did it!
Pauline
Well done, very proud of you. Makes me tired just thinking about it. Love Pauline
Shelly
Your amazing – CONGRATULATIONS! Love Shelly xx
Julia
OMG! What an achievement. You must be shattered now. Well done to you xx
Here are some of the texts my mum got
Congratulations K and L xxx
Rob
Hi Viv, That’s fantastic good for her and all the rest of you guys! Say a big well done from me J
How fantastic congrats. What an amazing girl. Love Rosy xx
Aunty Chris
That is brilliant. We are in awe. You must be so proud. Xxx
Now on the Wednesday as we were all about to go out and enjoy ourselves (without walking up a mountine) when I got this text:
Hi Caroline. My name is Mark. We passed you on
I replayed
Hi Mark it’s Caroline, I just have to say thanks so much for your support. We were walking for 29 hours, but yes I got the the top, and apart from a few aching muscles I got back down safely, Thanks again.
Then I got:
My god!! I found it hard. We stared at 11 and I think I was four up and three down. One of the guys we were with gave up about a third of the way up! I hope you know you’re an inspiration! All the best and good luck for the amazing future your going to have!
I have to say THANK YOU for all your support, I really couldn’t have done it without you all. But most of all I have to thank my family and best friend - not just for the support they have given me with this walk, but for the support they have given me my whole life.
If it wasn’t for my mum and dad, and all the positive thinking they have given Allison, Kevin and me, there is no way I could have been though all the life challenges that have been thrown at me, let alone the challenges I put my self though.
There is one person that I haven’t thanked and that’s Andy. I have only known Andy for 6 years, and we have only been going out for 4 years, but I know there is no way I would have ever got this far in my life without him. He is always possative, he looks after me (when I let him) but most of all, he believes in me, sometimes even when I don’t believe in myself. As many of you know, I’m getting married on Saturday, and I’m so proud to be able to say I’m going to be a Caroline Beckett and to have my family by my side.
So this is it this is the end of an eventful year. Hope you have enjoyed the ride, I know I have. Thanks again and I will write again if there are any other challenges, but believe me when I say it won’t be any time soon.
