Well that was an adventure!!!!!

We had an interesting evening last night. Due to the train from Ollyantamtambo to Aquas Caliente being fully booked we had to spilt the group and have 10 people on the 1210hrs train and 5 people on the 1828hrs train. I hate spilting the team as it means the control freak in me is compromised.

I went with the first group and Susan and John Paul Stayed behind with the remaining 3 students. This meant that in the event of a problem with the second train we had plenty of staff with the students to help sort any problems. I was worried about cancelled trains etc but did not expect what happened at all!!

When my advance party arrived in town it was at a brilliantly atmospheric station with platforms packed with people eating outside the resturants that lined the whole area. We were fed into the main square where we sorted our selves out to book tickets and accomodation etc.

The arrangement was that we´d meet the rearguard off the train with food and beds sorted. How were we supposed to know there are 2 (!!!!) stations in the tiny tourist town. While we were waiting at one place the guys were dropped off at another station in what felt like the backwaters of the town. Initially they thought it was me playing a joke. After a while they guessed / hoped it wasn´t and started to sort themselves out and also contactd the Opsroom to let them know the sketch.

When the next train came in to where myself and the advance party were waiting and the guys weren´t on the train (I thought its was theirs delayed) I realised something was amis and contacted the Opsroom. This meant I knew that Susan and John Paul were in town and safe, I left details of a meeting point with the Opsroom staff for when John Paul next rang in and sent my advance party out on laps to look for them.

One of the teams went into the hostel asking around and found them within the hour and the teams was reunited and complete again.

It was a good experience for all concerned. The planning of staffing the 2 groups was proven to be robust and the Opsroom contact plan worked like a dream. Classic exped problem solving and one of the reasons were here. If it all runs too smoothly it would be dull

Ian