Adventure Quest Africa
In Support of an African Adventure
David Ogden - Team Manager of \'International Adventurers\' / 30.07.2002
July 7th – 9th: Arrived in a wet and stormy Capetown to be met by Grant, who along with his wife Julia and myself were to be the support team for ‘Team International Adventurers’ at Adventure Quest, South Africa’s premier race and a world championship qualifier. They were very excited by the prospect, now the race was fast approaching.
We had to buy some equipment boxes and other bits for the team before loading up Grant’s Landrover but had time for the trip up Table Mountain, which was quite spectacular. We wandered around taking in the views of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, together with the city.
July 10th :Departure day for everyone, with Andy Tubbs leaving San Francisco to meet up with Jody Le Par (our other U.S. team member) in Atlanta. They are joined by Kristel Dorion, who was travelling from Guatemala, for their onward trip via Capetown to Port Elizabeth. Primus Lambert in the meantime was leaving Bristol to travel via London and Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth. The support crew had an easier journey following the famous Garden Route along the southern coast of Africa to Port Elizabeth. The Journey took most of the day and we arrive in the early evening to find the town had been struck by hurricane force winds the previous night. Many trees and buildings had been damaged and electricity was still out in parts of the town.
July 11th : A bright sunny day. First stop a marine supplier to purchase mini-flares, and then it was off to the airport to meet Primus, who was due to arrive first, and pick up a hire car. Things didn’t quite go to plan! First Primus missed his connection in Johannesburg, so we awaited the arrival of the three others via Capetown. We contacted Capetown to check they had made their connection, but their flight from Atlanta had not landed! So we were pleasantly surprised when all 4 arrived on the plane from Johannesburg - apparently the Capetown flight was diverted due to storms.Grant had rented a lockup near the airport, so we transported all the luggage there and assembled 2 bikes, which were fastened to the rack at the back of the Defender. We then loaded up and went shopping for food and last minute bits of equipment. Finally we all went out together for a team meal to get to know one another.
July 12th: Today we headed into the interior and our destination - Mountain Zebra Park near Cradock. The countryside became more mountainous and the weather colder as we approached Cradock. The park where the race started and finished was down a gravel road and home to Mountain Zebra and Black Rhinos. We checked in and started the serious business of sorting out equipment and getting our last good night’s sleep. (We’d reserved 2 lodges so we all had a bed.)
July 13th Race Registration and Briefing: The first task in the morning was to move into one lodge, which meant the support team would be sleeping on the floor! The team continued sorting their equipment and packing food into zip locks. I collected registration forms and completed them, the compulsory equipment was checked and the whole team were talked through the procedures to be used during the rope sections, all before the race briefing at 1600 hours.
This year’s race was the first where International teams were competing but unfortunately the Columbian team withdrew before the start leaving only a Brazilian team and us to carry the International banner. A detailed explanation was given on how to negotiate the Fish River during the kayak stage and there was some concern about the lack of rescue teams. The start was announced for 0400 the following morning and the team returned to our lodge where Primus and Kristel set about marking up the maps, whilst Jody and Andy checked over the equipment for the first two legs, trekking and mountain biking. Grant and Julia concentrated on packing support equipment ready for departure the next day. We had a break for dinner after which I started to recheck the maps prior to Grant and Julia encasing them in Fablon. Before settling down for our (brief) sleep packs were made ready for the start. The team was set to go!
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