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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2015
11
PostsAtacama Crossing (2015) blog posts from Geoff Kirk
11 October 2015 08:18 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Wrap-up
09 October 2015 02:21 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Big Smile, Really Big Grimace
Comments: Total (6) comments
nick Caldwell
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 11:48 pm
Geoff, What a man and what an achievement. Ais, Anya, Megan and Callum your husband/Dad is a superstar!! Cant wait to see you. Fantastic! Wales lost to Aussies, Scotland scrapped home against Samoa....Ireland v France Sunday night......
Kirsten Dewar
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 05:58 pm
Reading all you have achieved is definitely inspiring and looking at the pictures it looks unbelievably hard core...your will power and mental strength must be amazing as im sure your body is in bits at the minute!!Keep up the hard grafting and i look forward to hearing the stories from the whole adventure. Love from very proud niece! Kj x
Ricky P
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 01:50 pm
Fantastic Effort fella. Enjoy the last leg.
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 05:29 am
Another legend enters the frame! Simply brilliant Geoff and so very proud of what you've achieved! Can't start to get my head around 76km over salt flats and dunes but look fwd to hearing all about it. Was looking for finish times for both you and Ryan but nothing was posted yesterday so delighted to hear you brought each other home! Well done Geoff. You'll be dining off this over good bottles of red for years and rightly so! Enjoy the final few Km with your tent buddies ! Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!
adam ashe
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 04:57 am
well done and congrats....!!!! feeling and sense of achivement must be off the charts and beyond words.....enjoy(?!) the last stage and crossing that line and all that comes along with it
Adam
Ben Davies
Posted On: 10 Oct 2015 02:49 am
Well done!!! Fantastic effort Mr K...that beer and pizza is not far away now! Enjoy and look forward to hearing all the stories when you get back. Ben
07 October 2015 06:35 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Hi All
Survived another hot, arduous, fun, challenging, phenomenal day. 44km today, covered in 11.5 hours. I buddied up with a tent mate today to make the day easier on both of us. Hopefully the Long March tomorrow will be that much more bearable. We came really close to a cut-off time at the 3rd
Comments: Total (7) comments
Neville Ross
Posted On: 09 Oct 2015 10:45 pm
Geoff, fantastic effort mate, it's been great to follow your progress. Keep up the excellent work, 74k to go, how hard can that be! Nev
Nick Caldwell
Posted On: 09 Oct 2015 01:01 pm
Go Geoff, Glassman no more. Your cookin' with gas!! So...so far this week, we beat Greece to reach the Euros, & Rep of Ireland beat Germany...so now its your turn. Nail the 74k and make it a holy trinity for Ireland. we are all v proud of you.....keep going. Love Nico and Weevonne.
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 08:09 pm
Well done GK.....another day behind you and just 2 more to go! Outstanding buddy.....so impressed! Can't believe the day they have set you tomorrow but know you will power through! NI winning in the footy by the way.....one foot in the euros as 3-0 up against Greece! An easy quarter against Argentina in the rugby if you can squeeze past France! Anyway, back to tomorrow......go out there and smash it.....74km.....how hard can it be, huh?!? Well done fella.....you've done brilliantly so far.....just the slog tomorrow and it's the home straight......try and enjoy what you can! Wel impressed and total respect ! Jeremy.
Adam Ashe
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 03:24 pm
Awesome!!!... Inspired stuff!!!... Am loving following your the incredible journey you are on!!!... Massively impressed mate !!... Lots of love from us all!!... Power on !!!!
Adam
Adam Ashe
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 03:23 pm
Awesome!!!... Inspired stuff!!!... Am loving following your the incredible journey you are on!!!... Massively impressed mate !!... Lots of love from us all!!... Power on !!!!
Adam
Louise Hill
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 12:01 pm
Hi Geoff, Ryan said you're 'going strong' and that you're mentally tough and nailing it ;)) AND that you wouldn't give up!! watch out there's a hug from the stinky Manc coming you're way from yer missus! Keep going mate, I'm amazed everyday at the lot of you - such a personal achievement. The heat sounds brutal as did the salt flats, the water must be bittersweet as a relief on the muscles but tough to get wet feet in the sand - hope you don't have to many blisters.... you guys deserve a great meal out together and a popping bottle of bubbles to celebrate when you get home!! best of luck for the big day tomorrow Geoff, love the Hillbillies xxx
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 10:22 am
Relieved to hear you survived another day. Your time was much longer than previous days so I had feared the worst. Good luck for the long march....if you get through that you're home in a coach as they say in Norn Iron.
Keep her lit x
06 October 2015 06:58 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Apologies for the radio silence yesterday. I was pretty shattered, but in OK spirits.
First things first
Comments: Total (12) comments
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:54 am
sorry you got that 4 x Geoff! Any how keep up the great work.
I recommend you listen to some Snow Patrol, surely the right band for a race through the desert! Nev
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:47 am
Geoff - La Casa want to buy 10 bottles of F
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:46 am
Geoff - La Casa want to buy 10 bottles of F
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:45 am
Geoff - La Casa want to buy 10 bottles of F
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:44 am
Geoff - La Casa want to buy 10 bottles of F
Nev Ross
Posted On: 08 Oct 2015 01:43 am
Geoff - La Casa want to buy 10 bottles of F
steven barr
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 10:46 pm
Hi Geoff,
Glad to hear the body is holding up. Great work. Keep blogging, it sounds amazing. Steve
Ricky P
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 10:07 pm
Very impressed. Hope today went well, spirits remain good and body is holding up. Keep Blogging, I'm racing vicariously...
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 08:22 pm
Great update and helps make it real. Still wondering how you all know which way to go as I don't see any maps and there appears to be few markers.....you can tell me when you get back! Anyway sterling effort buddy......delighted the body is holding together......and you are just grinding it out....knew you would! SA have just put 10 tries past USA so top the group.....I suspect Wales' likely opponents in quarters. Keep going and see this thing through......super impressed! Well done GK!
Evo Caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 02:12 pm
Geofferson McHandsome!!! You made it to end of D3 yay!! That's fantastic. We're all rooting for you and thinking of you every step (literally) of the way. Such an incredible endeavour. So hard to believe you're actually there now, after months of talking about it over dinners, doggie visits, and that minor hiccup of a knee surgery. Seems like yesterday that you and Ais walked home from ours in the middle of the night...
What a rock star, that Glassman. We miss you heaps, and look forward to hugs and kisses on your return. Herbie's got his licking chops ready ;-) Hang in there. You can do it. Absolutely can do it.
Evo xx
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 10:56 am
Glad to hear you are in good spirits and still in one piece. Reading the other blogs day 2 sounded brutal so wasn't too surprised when I didn't hear from you. Thought you may have been in the medical tent :-) Or in dark demoralised corner....thankfully not.
I saw you and Ryan on the D3 start video and you didn't appear to be injured so that was good sign.
I've been following the team "5 legs never stop" truly remarkable. Also the Japanese team with the crazy wigs...they seem like a good laugh. Always in good spirits.
Gave David Sturgess a call earlier and all proceeding well to close on Friday....we are set to become homeowners.
Keep up the good work. Everyone asking how you are getting on and wishing you well.
Miss you x
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 10:55 am
Glad to hear you are in good spirits and still in one piece. Reading the other blogs day 2 sounded brutal so wasn't too surprised when I didn't hear from you. Thought you may have been in the medical tent :-) Or in dark demoralised corner....thankfully not.
I saw you and Ryan on the D3 start video and you didn't appear to be injured so that was good sign.
I've been following the team "5 legs never stop" truly remarkable. Also the Japanese team with the crazy wigs...they seem like a good laugh. Always in good spirits.
Gave David Sturgess a call earlier and all proceeding well to close on Friday....we are set to become homeowners.
Keep up the good work. Everyone asking how you are getting on and wishing you well.
Miss you x
04 October 2015 08:06 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
The 'moderate'day was certainly tough for yours truly.
Overnight temperatures were down to -2'C or lower. Didn't make for a great night's sleep or prep for
Stage 1 - but I made the starting line. Some fascinating and challenging stages including ancient
Inca rock drawings in one of the canyons.
My playlist was suitably ironic at one point - crossing a barren 5km stretch with songs coming on about hot sun and sand. The preferred part of the list was Manic St P.
On that topic - congratulations to my Welsh andAussie friends. Commiserations to my English buddies (genuine) - I don't fall into the ABE catgory of rugby fan.
Love to Ais, Anya, Megan and Callum -
Comments: Total (15) comments
Louise Hill
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 04:19 am
Hi Geoff, my god WELL DONE for getting so far!!! I hope you're holding up - we are feeling super proud of you!!! Its such an amazing achievement to even finish the thing, so KEEP GOING and pace yourself, thinking of you all every day love the Hillbillies xx
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 06 Oct 2015 08:30 pm
Just seen your race result from day 2 - outstanding ! Well done fella-well impressed and climbing the list nicely! Hope the dunes are being kind to those knees of yours! Push on -half way will come and go tomorrow then you are nearer the end than the start !!😜
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 06 Oct 2015 08:15 pm
Hey fella -looking out for your blog....hope you are close to completing day 2 without too much strife. Sounds from Ryan like a tough day.....hang in there buddy and push on....you can do this and have the mental strength to see it through.......stay strong and push through! Look forward to hearing how you got on today! Cheers. Jeremy
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 06 Oct 2015 10:00 am
Looks like day 2 went well :-)Looking forward to reading the blog. Hope you're holding up well x
Kathryn Silsby
Posted On: 06 Oct 2015 03:31 am
Woo hoo! Way to go on the first day!
Hwee Par
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 02:55 pm
Great. Keep strong for the whole course! 👍
adam ashe
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 01:53 pm
mate congrats on the first stage!!!!....well done!!!...hope you pulled up ok....and can celebrate the Irish win...English loss(just alittle for me!!)...and ponder Liverpool post Brendan...!!!..gods speed for Stage 2!!...
Angela McDonald
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 12:20 pm
Great job with day 1 behind you! Stay strong and remember to have fun and enjoy it!
Angela McDonald
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 12:19 pm
Great job with day 1 behind you! Stay strong and remember to have fun and enjoy it!
Angela McDonald
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 12:18 pm
Great job with day 1 behind you! Stay strong and remember to have fun and enjoy it!
Angela McDonald
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 12:17 pm
Great job with day 1 behind you! Stay strong and remember to have fun and enjoy it!
Angela McDonald
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 12:16 pm
Great job with day 1 behind you! Stay strong and remember to have fun and enjoy it!
Megan Kirk
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 11:59 am
hi dada hope you will have a great day tomorrow! miss you so much!
love megan
Mike Kerr
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 09:48 am
Good man! Keep it up. Ireland were pretty ordinary against Italy last night, but got the job done (just). Hopefully that was their 'poor performance' as they'll need to be much better against France on Sunday.
Mike Kerr
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 09:47 am
Good man! Keep it up. Ireland were pretty ordinary against Italy last night, but got the job done (just). Hopefully that was their 'poor performance' as they'll need to be much better against France on Sunday.
03 October 2015 02:00 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Bonus post from Camp 1
We had a fairly relaxed registration process this morning. All very organised with little to no drama (so far).
I did almost leave my watch at the hotel, but thankfully my brain woke up in time despite only 3 hrs sleep courtesy of my jetlag.
It was a nice drive up which quickly turned beautiful when weturned off the road, up a dirt track and into the Arcoiris Valley
(RainbowValley). The rainbows are in the rock faces that line the route up. Crazy mix of colours from the variety of minerals
Comments: Total (3) comments
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 05:27 am
Well done on completing Stage 1 Geoff! Hope the knees are holding up and you are feeling fit! Ireland scraped home against Italy......need to beat France now to avoid the kiwis....! Say hi to Ryan and well done on his 14th place....impressive stuff! Hope you get a good nights sleep! Jeremy
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 03:29 am
Saw you on the starting video at .19 secs in. Showed it to the kids....they are excited. I know you've survived day one. By the look of how heavily you were wrapped up I guess it's freezing cold over night. Checking regularly to see if there is any update from you on how stage one went x
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 05 Oct 2015 03:28 am
Saw you on the starting video at .19 secs in. Showed it to the kids....they are excited. I know you've survived day one. By the look of how heavily you were wrapped up I guess it's freezing cold over night. Checking regularly to see if there is any update from you on how stage one went x
03 October 2015 01:59 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Arrival in Chile
Chile
Comments: Total (11) comments
Dilpa Sthankiya
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 02:09 pm
Looks like a great start Captain - just saw the RTP video of the kick off! Looking forward to reading all about Day 1. Well deserved expedition meal tonight :-) Dilps
Dilpa Sthankiya
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 02:08 pm
Looks like a great start Captain - just saw the RTP video of the kick off! Looking forward to reading all about Day 1. Well deserved expedition meal tonight :-) Dilps
Kathryn Silsby
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 01:05 pm
Good luck! We're cheering you on from the Philippines!
Aisling McGivern
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 10:42 am
Sitting here with Callum looking at the pre-race photos. The race starts in 20 mins. We are thinking about you. All that hard work around McRitchie, across the catalan mountains and in the gym will payoff. LOOK AFTER YOUR FEET :-) We love you!
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:58 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:57 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:56 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:55 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:54 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Nick Flynn
Posted On: 04 Oct 2015 03:53 am
Mate I hope you are well and getting ready for it! I hope you caught the Rugby this morning!!!! OUCH!!! Good luck! Cheers Nick
Jeremy Speirs
Posted On: 03 Oct 2015 04:35 pm
Remain in awe of your spirit and determination to take this challenge on! Wishing you much strength and resilience in the coming days......I know your character will get you through this! Good luck buddy....hope Ryan doesn't get too cuddly in the nightimes!! Thinking of you both in the coming week...stay strong, and enjoy as best you can! Amazing achievement just to get to the start line .....see it through mate,...I know you will! Jeremy
14 September 2015 01:47 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
I've finally managed to sort out a suitable
Comments: Total (7) comments
nick caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 01:57 pm
Hey Geoff, Good blog, sounds wonderful and frightening all at the same time, Hang in there, you are a winner already.
How are your feet? Are the rations enough or are to expect an even leaner version of you when you come back home. Love you lots. DLTBGUD. Nico
nick caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 01:56 pm
Hey Geoff, Good blog, sounds wonderful and frightening all at the same time, Hang in there, you are a winner already.
How are your feet? Are the rations enough or are to expect an even leaner version of you when you come back home. Love you lots. DLTBGUD. Nico
nick caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 01:55 pm
Hey Geoff, Good blog, sounds wonderful and frightening all at the same time, Hang in there, you are a winner already.
How are your feet? Are the rations enough or are to expect an even leaner version of you when you come back home. Love you lots. DLTBGUD. Nico
nick caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 01:54 pm
Hey Geoff, Good blog, sounds wonderful and frightening all at the same time, Hang in there, you are a winner already.
How are your feet? Are the rations enough or are to expect an even leaner version of you when you come back home. Love you lots. DLTBGUD. Nico
nick caldwell
Posted On: 07 Oct 2015 01:53 pm
Hey Geoff, Good blog, sounds wonderful and frightening all at the same time, Hang in there, you are a winner already.
How are your feet? Are the rations enough or are to expect an even leaner version of you when you come back home. Love you lots. DLTBGUD. Nico
Geoff Kirk
Posted On: 18 Sep 2015 03:23 pm
There's a first time for everything, Rebecca! Your lads might get something stuck in their throat in what might be Richie's last match...
Rebecca Sinclair
Posted On: 15 Sep 2015 12:21 pm
Ireland beating the All Blacks?! Ha! You're dreaming!
08 September 2015 11:04 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Given the extortionate
Comments: Total (0) comments
13 August 2015 06:27 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
I've been through a lot of varied training, which has kept things fresh - including a 120km cycle to help prepare for a 400+km cycle ride for charity from Kuala Lumpur back down to Singapore in November. As if the Atacama Crossing wasn't enough. Maybe I should find some shark-infested waters to swim through to complete
Comments: Total (0) comments
22 July 2015 05:34 am (GMT+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
More than midway through my race preparation, with some great weeks and some dodgy weeks behind me. It was interesting keeping track of the Gobi event; and I'll be tuning into the Ecuador Roving Race - particularly to keep tabs on my mate Ben Davies (and the trials & tribulations of life as a 4Deserts
Comments: Total (2) comments
Rebecca Sinclair
Posted On: 24 Jul 2015 01:52 am
Hey there. I'm also training for Atacama here in Singapore. I noticed our further connection of Belfast. I moved from County Down to Singapore 2 years ago! Anyhow may see you slogging it out around Macritchie.Hope the trainings going ok.
Rebecca Sinclair
Posted On: 24 Jul 2015 01:51 am
Hey there. I'm also training for Atacama here in Singapore. I noticed our further connection of Belfast. I moved from County Down to Singapore 2 years ago! Anyhow may see you slogging it out around Macritchie.Hope the trainings going ok.
Comments: Total (0) comments