Moonwalk

Busy work time coming up!  Get my kit packed for four days away.  A quick phone call and I've got a lift organised so the following morning I'm on the bus to Elgin and on through to Inverness, a large double shot latte provided enough of a fix to see me through the next few hours, in the meantime I waited while Mark  completed the final exam of his nursing access course!  About forty minutes later a text "I've finished, where are you?".  I swallowed off the last of my coffee and shouldered my ruck sack, walked across the bus station yard  to the library and a couple of minutes later Mark pulled up, as soon as I'm on board we're off on our way to Fort William.  With the increase of tourist traffic and the road works on the A82 it was a good two and a half hour journey to Mark's, time for a wash and brush up, load the car with Mark's family, Nic, Ashleigh and Bethany and down the road to the Stronlossit for a 'completion of exams' meal (with the obligatory glasses of red!).
Morning and not at all bleary eyed, a shave, a coffee and pack up to go and help Ellie, Paul's wife and the lynch pin of the Rescue Medics coordination for the equipment transfer to the Moonwalk base in Edinburgh. 13:00, a final vehicle check and we were off along the Laggan road and then south on the A9, a fuel and coffee stop near Perth and we were away again.  Around 17:00 the big pink Moonwalk marquee was visible   in the distance above the roof tops, another five minutes and we were being flagged through the perimeter fence by a security guard.  The medical tent was still having lights rigged up by the sparks team, but along with Paul who had been there all week providing medical cover for the rigging teams, admin and security, got the Sprinter ambulance unloaded, attractive items (any drugs, defibrillators etc.) were stowed in Paul's caravan and the empty vehicle used by Mark and myself to get to a nearby Travel lodge where we were booked in for the next two nights.

The Moonwalk marquee (medical tent front right)

The Moonwalk is held in aid of breast cancer, the walkers, mainly women, although many men take up the challenge as well, raise sponsorship for doing a marathon length walk, or 'The Half Moon', a half marathon course.  This year there were supposed to be in the region of 6,000 participants.
The following day (Friday) and most of Saturday Mark and I would be rigging the medical tent with screens to form a 'field hospital' with two resus bays and four examination / treatment bays, a control station and a waiting / resting area, but first things first, a drink then food followed by another drink(s).  It had been a longish day and would be followed by another one, while the Saturday would be even longer!!  So, back to't Lodge and bed!