Marcelo Nobrego, HR Director, RB Brazil

We woke up before sunrise to be able to beat the sun to the top of the imperial trail. This was a good idea as we were to quickly realize. Most of us where in respectful silence as we arrived at “Seu” Eduardo’s house the night before out of respect for what proved to be the most challenging leg of our journey.

The Imperial Trail was a very steep 4km winding climb over and around a massive rock that separated us from the Paty Valley. We again split up into three pace groups. The fastest group arriving at the top in amazing 40 minutes. Conquering this peak was reason for enthusiastic celebration. We took group photos and learning that the 400m high peak did not have a name Natham immediately claimed it for RB.

The way down was not less challenging as the fastest group decided to extreme trek down the rocky 12km that separated us from our prizes at Andarai Village. The landscape with it’s rock formations and vegetation characteristic of the Chapada was equally as beautiful as on the previous days. A “Holywood” style sign on the side of the mountain marked the entrance to Andarai and hence our finish line.

Andarai had just celebrated the Festa do Divino and the houses and main square were colorfully decorated. We were rewarded with generous portions of ice cream. Acai and Tapioca was the favorite combination. Besides tropical fruits such as Mangaba and Umbu there were more exotic flavors such as cashew nut, cachaça and rapadura. After ice cream, a quick van ride took us to Lagoa Azul an underground lake where fossils of giant sloths were recovered just 5 years ago. We took turns swimming in the pools and eating lunch.

Lunch held a couple of surprises. Besides the already known carne de sol and rice and beans combination, there was palma (a cactus) and bodó de frango (green banana and beef stew). Doyoung was brave to try the pimenta baiana. Not to be upstaged, Ahmed drank a Live bee with his Coca-Cola. From the pools we rode to Igatu (good water) where we were reunited with our lugagge and could take hot showers again. Though really an isolated village in the middle of the cerrado, Igatu also provided a few other big city ammenities such as phones, internet connection and TV.

The Igatu people were readying the village for São João and fireworks provided the background for dinner.
The restaurant was cleared of the dinner tables and quickly turned into a dance floor. A DJ with a mix of local and International music helped the Group have some deserved fun. We were almost at the end of our journey.

Liam Collens, Legal Advisor, CHQ

Having determined what was a must have and sacrificing what must go; my considerably smaller bag and I went to breakfast and later onto our next trail.  Today the group was heading towards a waterfall in the Chapada where we would eat lunch.  The terrain was far more soggy today, boots plunged into mud and people sliding around mossy rocks.  Faraz, Elvin, the guide Miguel and I constituted the front of the Scenic Group becoming increasingly further ahead of the others.

We saw the middle and faster group advancing towards us. This limb of the Scenic Group was competitive.  We would not be overtaken.  We upped the pace and tore through what had now become steep terrain and rainforest like conditions, weaving through vines and placing our faith with every step on tree roots to hold our weight – with mixed results.  We made it.  We were the first to the waterfall’s summit.

Collapsing to our chests, we edged towards the cliff and dangled our heads out into the sky 280 metres above the bouldered floor below. The glinting spray from the waterfall swirled up and around us, landing on our backs and covering our faces.  The others joined by this time, each in awe of the uninterrupted view of the valley below, taking turns to creep towards the cliff edge, others less confident having their photos taken. 

This mountain top has around 12 waterfalls during the rainy season so we walked around to another  side revealing a rainbow where we had dangled our heads.  Eagles were circling in the sky, one with something within its clutches. There was a real sense of occasion among the Group being rewarded for the day’s hard work and the many months previous of training and fundraising. Andraea and I nervously watched some brave it closer to the edge to have their photos taken.

Faraz, Tami and I raced down the hill to get to the house against blisters and knee pains passing more wild mules.  This was a very simple, modest home with annexes converted into bedrooms adjoining the main house. The house, surrounded by flowers, banana trees and chilli plants, faced the mountain we would trek the following day .

Someone killed a large spider they found by their bed.  Without electricity, we used a candle to collect our things and queued (of course) for a cold shower in a small, grey concrete room which also housed the toilet.  Used toilet paper was to be placed in an exposed bin in the room.  Everything here would be soaked by the shower’s cold water.  Yelps and deep breaths rose out of the shower room as people first made contact with the water.  You could see some were out of their comfort zone, as one guy put it, about 4 and a half stars outside of his comfort zone.

The host family were kind and, again, a dinner table groaned with local food lovingly prepared by the family who trek 2 hours each way by mule to collect food from the nearest town.  Salted dried beef, beans, rice, salads and (even!!) a super sweet dessert of caramelised bananas was passed around in an old jar.  The table only accommodated half the group at a time so we ate in shifts listening to our briefing for the following day.

Dinner and the trek’s soporific effect sent me to bed early (again) after sharing jokes with the group under the stars.  Two of the guys decided to sleep outside in hammocks braving colder weather, in the company of stars, mosquitoes and who knows what else.

Andrea Dawson Shepherd, SVP Corporate Communications, CHQ

I was right to be terrified. I did a great impression of a mountain goat as I shot up and down the mountain.  It was a real challenge. I am so exhausted that I am going to bed in my hut room with no electricity, no hot water, but a great dinner. It is only 7.45 pm .

Liam Collens, Legal Advisor, CHQ

After a hysterical night in charming Lencois, I prepared both mentally and physically for what would be the first real day of trekking.  The group was anxious to put tread to trail, fill camelpaks and embark on what we had been preparing for.

There was a clear contagious and intoxicating enthusiasm within the team. I was still trying to remember names and soaking in the reality of being in remote, lush Brazil.  The two hour journey by van to the beginning of the trail allowed for further time to bond with the diverse team. Out of the three teams, we were the Scenic Group – which I named because a) I wanted to take copious amounts of photos and b) the title Slow Group was a touch disparaging.

We drove through isolated villages passing stray dogs lethargic in the heat.  The landscape varied; my presumption that it would all be dense tropical jungle proved wrong today and throughout the trip.  Our trek started through tall prairie- like grass walking towards a rocky, craggy, steep climb roughly 400 metres.  Negotiating rocks and roots, we crept towards the top stopping for “photo opportunities” (aka water).  Scenic Group’s efforts were rewarded with an enviable view of the prairie we walked through, lakes and rivers.  Spirits were high; first climb complete.   Lots of photos capturing a breath-taking view jewelled with glistening, smily, breathless people.  We continued to walk along this plateau ridge which we were told extends for roughly 80km.  Stopping for “photos”, we pushed on wide eyed through grass, rocks and soggy terrain.

We stopped for lunch at a rock bed complete with a mini waterfall leading into a pool.  The group had lunch, joked and some changed for swimming in the cool pool.  Marcos played Bob Marley through a portable speaker which amused me – a West Indian guy found himself in a group of 30+ people in a Brazilian national park, eating sandwiches and listening to Three Little Birds.

Many took the opportunity for a “Private Bush”.  We continued onwards towards our next night’s sleep through striking scenery of mountains and rivers – hushing not to disturb beehives occupied by short tempered bees and passing wild mules.  The descent towards our Poussada took us through villages.  People watched this large group with backpacks and cameras taking pictures of their daily lives, their simple well-kept homes nesting in brilliant deep copper coloured clay.  After our stretch and debrief, we were handed keys to our rooms, some people sharing (I had my own room!!) and meandering through the labyrinth that was the Poussada’s gardens.  Andraea is staying in a tree house which I thought was pretty cool.   Dinner was a cornucopia of local food, all delicious.  People compared blisters, knee aches – much Nuromol was consumed!  Mentally we prepared ourselves for the next day.  I left for bed early as we had to decant our clothes and anything else we needed for the next few nights into an orange sack about as large as a supermarket plastic bag.  We would not see our main bags until the last day.

Andrea Dawson Shepherd, SVP Corporate Communications, CHQ

Ok so now we are entering the true wilderness – no Internet or phones.  We’ve split into three groups fast, less fast and recorders who are going to do all the filming and photography of this amazing place.  I’ve got the fast group as one ‘leader’ needs to be with each. I am terrified! Last night I slept in a tree house – really! Weird but a fantastic experience.

Day 2 – Salvador to Lencois

We left the rain behind us as we set off on our 7 hour bus journey from Salvador city to Lencois. Within a few hours the landscape changed dramatically to forest, palm trees, cacti, grass plains and river valleys. Slowed down by an unusually long vehicle transporting part of a wind turbine we had a short pit stop at itaberaba to grab a cold drink and a pao de queijo (essential cheese bread). Lencois, a picturesque town with cobbled streets, was covered in flags ready for the festival on 19 June.
After lunch we headed over to walk up father ignacios hill – a 200 metre climb with stunning 360 degree views of chapada diamantina national park. Our first group photo at the top and certainly won’t be the last!
Energy levels are high, everyone seems relaxed, and its great to finally stretch our legs. As we walked down the hill the sun began to set casting a crimson shadow on the flat top mountains. This place is magical and we haven’t started the proper trekking yet!

Day 3 – Jumping off a cliff into a river

I have asked Michael Kaschke to share his thoughts on day 3. “We had a great day crossing the Capao valley between Lencois and Capao village. After a short bus drive which ended close to the Pao Ignacio (which we climbed yesterday) we started our 7 hour tour in perfect whether conditions – sun, blue sky with some clouds and a pleasant wind. The Pao Ignacio to our back, the “3 sisters” to our left, we crossed the savanna of the Capao valley. Our path went through grass, bushes and the vegetation was getting richer remebling more a tropical forest, the closer we came to the small rivers which cross the valley. We had lunch break next to one of those rivers and about half of us jumped from a cliff into it and swam in the water. The red colour is due to the water extracting red colorants from the vegetation while it flows down from the mountains. One of the highlights of the second part of the tour was that we saw a red insect eating plant which they call “drosera”.

Everyone clapped as the plane landed. I felt the 28 degree heat and knew I had arrived in Brazil. After over a year of planning, the rb global challenge was now a reality!

News came through that Ricardo Pedro (RB Portugal) had hit his £25,000 target – the highest amount ever raised by an rb global challenger! When I asked him why he set the bar so high he said “I really hope that this achievement encourages others in the next editions of the Global Challenge to beat this amount, because in the end, that is what really matters! Making the most out of this initiatives to help children around the world!”

I continue to be inspired by the amazing spirit and culture at rb. I know we will smash our overall £300,000 target once all the funds are in. This is just one element of the challenge. The second part will see 33 of us complete a gruelling 71 km trek in chapada’s breathtakingly  scenic national park.

A few hiccups appeared at the start – visa issues, flights over booked, flights cancelled due to a Chilean volcano erupting causing another dreaded “ash” cloud!! 64 challengers travelling from 33 countries would provide a cocktail of nationalities and a few minor logistical hurdles.

The trekkers have now nearly all arrived. Vasiliy the Russian was the first – bearing gifts of 4 dried fish which we duly had to try on our first night washed down with cold Brazilian beer. The taste was better than the pungent smell! Puneet from Turkey will be the last to arrive tomorrow and he will meet us in Lencois.

Dettol branded t-shirts and hats have all been given out along with repellex and blister plasters. We are all ready to go. Vamos as they say in portugese!