Page 30 of The Trip of a Lifetime

Martha laughed but Erin didn’t.

‘Hardly good sportswoman-like behaviour,’ she said.

‘Here,’ Tara said, handing out a bag of chocolate to Erin. ‘We’re in a race and this is all you’ll get from me.’

‘I’d have done the same,’ Martha said. ‘So how is your race going so far?’

‘Honestly, I think I’m too old for this,’ Priya said. ‘I’m so glad we have thirty-six hours in the next hotel. I want to sleep, eat and get some clothes washed.’

‘Just need to get there first,’ Erin said. ‘And then I’m going to do the same.’

‘Have you seen any of the others?’ Martha asked.

‘Femi and Liz are in the taxi in front of the bus,’ Priya said. ‘That’s going to cost them.’

‘It means they’ll get there way before us. I’m not sure how many stops this bus makes but the taxi won’t be stopping for anything,’ said Erin. ‘I thought we were doing so well.’

‘Better than poor Don,’ Tara said. ‘I was sorry to see them out of the race.’

‘Same,’ said Martha.

‘Does make it easier with one team down, though,’ Priya said, and her daughter gave her a hard stare. ‘What? It’s true.’

‘Any sign of the other two men?’ Martha asked.

Erin could hear her grandmother try to play down her interest in the answer to that question, but Erin wasn’t fooled.

‘Haven’t seen anything of them since we left Prince Rupert,’ Tara said. ‘No idea how they’re doing, and our camera woman isn’t saying anything.’

‘Ours the same. Mouths zipped,’ Erin said.

At that moment, Noah and Priya’s camera woman were deep in discussion. Erin leaned forward in her seat to see what she could hear. The first word she heard was Harrison and then something about a breakdown. Whatever vehicle they were in was stuck outside Edmonton. Erin reached into her rucksack and pulled out her journal then she ripped a page from the back and scribbled a note before handing it to Martha.

Harrison and Sam have broken down outside Edmonton!!!

‘Excellent,’ Martha whispered. ‘That has completely made my day.’

15

MARTHA

As soon as we stepped down off the bus the tracker began to ping with an incoming message.

When you arrive in Banff head to the gondola

‘Right,’ I said. ‘Looks like we’re going up the mountain.’

‘I’m not a big fan of heights,’ said Erin, looking very apprehensive.

‘No choice, darling. We have to do it. You can close your eyes but you’ll probably miss a great view.’

She took a long breath and said, ‘I’ll be fine.’

‘Well done you.’

Priya and Tara had taken a few steps away to read their own tracker, their producer and camera operator appearing next to them, ready to capture the gripping part of this final leg of the journey. I was aware that this was really going to be a two-on-two race to the top. I wasn’t prepared to hang around, especially as Femi and Liz were probably already at the checkpoint. My knee was aching and if we could get a lift, a head start, anything, I’d be grateful. Cally and Noah were hovering too.

‘I’ll definitely be going up on the gondola with you,’ Cally said. ‘The view from the top is supposed to be amazing.’