Baja Travesia

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From the Pacific to the Sierras

Karen Lundgren / 28.03.2007

Five a.m. in the tiny town of San Vicente. The roosters are telling us it’s time to get up and we keep telling them we’re up, but they don’t care and they just keep crowing. Three teams passed through this transition area in the darkness. Team DART/Nuun continues to increase their lead over Kayak Lake Mead. It’s the veteran’s vs. the family – guess we’ll get to see if blood really is thicker than water.

DART/Nuun arrived at 11:00 p.m. and quickly transitioned from the dark lonely five hour hike leg where there were only unmanned checkpoints hanging in the brush and cactus. At the transition they were quick to change to their bike gear, but found they had a flat tire upon their departure. A quick change and they were on their way for the biggest bike leg of the race, 58 k.

Team Kayak Lake Mead had some navigation problems and arrived 1 hour 20 minutes behind, but they were still charging ahead and looking forward to the tough bike section.

Northern CA Team BAARBD Wire continued in the hunt in third place with plenty of time to catch up.

Team Hype was fueling up at CP5 with some hot food preparing for a chilly night. They continue as the 4th place team.

Dancing Pandas continued moving forward and they were happy and enjoying themselves as they prepared for the hike leg to CP6. But remember their time does not yet include the paddle leg they were forced for forego as the ocean was closed to small craft.

Just behind the Pandas, Teams Wild Burros!, Helly Hanson/Momar and Sahwii are continuing the course unranked but moving quite well. There will definitely be a race of the unranked teams to the finish.

Racing with Giants psyched and very happy with their progress. That attitude is going to get them to the finish line in San Felipe for sure.

Team Stride had some difficulties at the end of the kayak leg and had to walk to the checkpoint for the last 1km. This put them back off the lead, but they are strong bikers and we certainly expect a comeback, especially under the lead of their navigator, Luis Canseco from Mexico City.

The Venomous Ducks lost their boat just 500 m from the transition area and swam to the beach instead of paddling. The Navy has recovered their boat and they will have it in time for the final paddle leg in San Felipe.

Lowrance is back in the race after a short stay on a beautiful white sand beach and a quick drive to the transition area. They are continuing unranked but traveling quickly and gaining momentum. Just behind Lowrance is Baja Total Fitness led by Mayte Aranalde and Brazillian Jorge Albuquerque.

Team Equinox is also continuing as an unranked team after foregoing the last paddle section. Kristine Gillis looked strong and rested as she led her team towards the sierras.

Team Scrat, Deb and Blake looked unscathed and ready to continue as they waited for their exhausted teammate Alberto to take a short nap. They wanted to be ready for the big hike and that lay just around the corner for them and perhaps even wait for a little daylight to make the navigation easier.

Barely Legal brought up the end of the pack, passing Team Scrat in the transition area. The youngest team in the race, they were maintaining a good pace and a good attitude as they walked from the transition area making jokes and remarking about what still lay ahead.

Team Thin Air remains in Ensenada and we are waiting for their return to the race course. Teams Dart/Nuun too/NW Kayaks and Exodus were still between their little vacation home in Los Arbolitos and Ensenada. They should return to the race course soon. Charlie, the crew of Exodus and father of team member Ryan Ognibene was off to meet with the team and see how and where he could get them back on the course.

Okay, I think that’s everybody. Three teams through CP9.
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