The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
Wild Goose Chase
Anne-Marie Dunhill / 07.12.2009
Buff Thermacool has been having a difficult race, not performing to their usual high standards. During the night Albert Roca, after being plagued by cramps yesterday, had to race without his shorts because of severe chaffing, only putting them back on to come into check points. His misfortune caused great hilarity among his team mates. They are an hour behind the top ten and for this fast race they will be unable to close the gap, bar an incident. It is not certain weather the doctors will allow Kristin from the Swedish team Sweco to continue. The skin on several of her toes has scraped off and infection set in, a real pity as they had been advancing admirably in the classifications following her accident on the first day. Vibram Lafuma Sport 2000 is hungry for tomorrows section as they are only 15 min behind the top ten and the nearest team behind them is an hour away.
Much to our surprise a portion of the international press turned out to be the main story of this day of rest. The Abu Dhabi 4x4 Club took out three different groups again today to track the teams. After uploading large quantities of photos at the hotel the last group headed out into the Liwa desert looking for racers. Far into the trek one of the Jeeps on the convoy burst a tire and embedded itself into the sand. The others formed a half circle around it to provide shade and the drivers quickly went to repair work. It soon became apparent that it was impossible to fix and a gentleman hiked up a dune to try and get reception to call for assistance. The rest of us hunkered down in the sparse shade provided by the cars and waited. And waited. And waited; missing teams and wondering where this one was going and if we would be spending the night on the spot. It is important to know that in the desert, once the sun sets no motorized vehicle moves. Period. After six hours the calvary arrived, six jeeps popping over the dunes from all different directions. It was a fascinating experience, a tiny taste the conditions the racers were going through and also a glimpse into another culture where no one is ever left behind for any reason. One team passed us, ADCO Australia, Maria pushing the boys hard when they stopped for five minutes to share our shade, standing in the sun and saying it would make no difference, they had to push on.
That being said many apologies for this short report, they are packing up the satellite link and everyone is going to bed in the bivouac. Tomorrow will be a hard fast mountain biking section through the desert beginning at 07:00
SleepMonsters
