Raid Gauloises
Team Updates For CP14 (30/04)
Chris/Raid Gauloises / 30.04.2002
Carnival came to Assistance Point 1, at 18:34 precisely yesterday evening (29/04) when EMA Brazil came singing and dancing, blisters and all, into CP14.
EMA Brazil (13) Ranked 8 - Welcomed by an assistance camp, groggy from the pounding heat and effort of a day spent shifting teams in and out, the cruel rigours of the two days since Bac Ha seemed very remote. When the storm hit on the first night, EMA just walked through it and carried on at a steady pace. They took a two hour break for sleep during the downhill portion of the MTB section and got a little more rest taking it in turns to paddle during the subsequent canoeing section. They found the oppressive heat to their liking and insisted everything was going to plan as they tucked into a meal of pasta, rice, cheese and salami sandwiches. Geologistics (08) Ranked 17 - The team from Malaysia checked in at CP14 just after midnight on the 30th of April. The captain Peter Weinig was surprised to be suffering from severe blistering and slight dehydration symptoms but had recovered well after a visit to the doctor and 6 hours sleep. The only other occidental in the team, Claus Pederson, is combining well with the captain to share orienteering duties, ensuring the team keeps going but in the right direction. More than satisfied with their current position, they look so strong, both physically and mentally, that it’s difficult to imagine they had only one week to prepare this Raid Gauloises. Traveller/Joints in Motion (41) Ranked 18 - The team from Arkansas checked in at 22:30 (29/04) putting them in a very respectable 20th place and in a strong tactical position to climb a little higher in the ranking, especially considering that they are penalty free so far. Spirits were high though some team-members’ feet were beginning to smart. Overall, even though the race is very tough, after taking the time to sleep they felt extremely happy about their performance and overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. Confidence is high and they expect to fulfil their original ambition to finish and have fun doing it. Team Buff (30) Ranked 23 - They admit to having started perhaps a little too fast but they continued to trek through the night even when it began to rain hard and the GPS was giving them problems. Getting too wet and tired they decided to stop for 3hrs and rest. Though the rest of the trek went very well, through “fairy tale� scenery, they were pleased to bring the first stage to a close and catch up with their assistance. Mark Collins, the “Springbok� of the team had the “worst fall of his life� during the MTB section and hurt his neck in the process but coming into CP14, he admitted that the final trek seemed to have helped.
SleepMonsters
