Arbroath man Andy Jarret and his friend Andy Milne from Portlethen are enjoying some well-earned rest and recuperation after completing a remarkable Summit to Sea challenge and raising well over £2500 for forces charities.
The two Andys Andy J is a journalist with D. C. Thomson and Andy M is a technical manager with Aberdeen firm Dril-Quip spent Saturday night camping near the summit of Scotland’s second-highest mountain Ben Macdhui before walking off the hill to the Cairngorm Centre, cycling from there to Advie and then paddling a two-man kayak all the way to the sea at Spey Bay.
The pair of keen outdoor activity enthusiasts had aimed to cover the 70-odd miles in around 16 hours but despite the weather conditions being a bit breezy and distinctly “chilly for June,” they actually completed their epic journey in a little over 12 hours.
The bulk of the money raised will go to Help for Heroes but a separate donation will be made direct to Arbroath-based 45 Commando Group to be used to support Harden Troop a sub-unit made up of Royal Marines who have been badly injured on operations and towards the cost of creating a new garden of contemplation at the base.
Andy J said, “There was still a lot of snow despite it being the Summer Solstice but, with earplugs in to drown out the howling wind, a reasonably comfortable night was spent under canvas in a hollow near the March Burn…
“We were met by friends and family at Spey Bay, where some well-deserved ‘medicinal’ whisky was dispensed, and we would like to thank them and everyone else who has supported us in cash or kind.”
The page at www.bmycharity.com/summit2sea will remain open for a while longer to allow others to contribute.