Slept badly – it had been windy and quite cold. But as soon as I pulled the sleeping bag closer I would get too hot and sweaty!! Hot/cold, hot/cold – bad night! Was feeling quite rough and a little sick so just as well I didn’t have to cope with my tent. I was slow. Everybody else in comparison seemed to be on a super early mission!! Anyway by the time I was nearly ready there were about 6 riders left and then Nick shouted that the trucks were leaving so we would all now get the same start time. This announcement made them immediately take off – whereas I was still a few minutes away from being ready. As it turned out the truck was still there by the time I left so that was a bit annoying as I could have badged out normally!!
Anyway I already know today is going to be long and difficult. I head out to the main road which is actually OK – downhill – a bit sandy, quite smooth. So off I go – a really nice little run for about 10km – I am on the look out for wildlife. We seem to be in the middle of nowhere. I slowly pass the earlier group and get to the point where I know Scott is ahead of me – Paul I had passed on the earlier descent. I catch up with Jorg, Adam and Tori and they tell me that Scott is absolutely flying – which I sgreat – no need to chase him. Then I saw the lunch truck on adifferent track to us – along with the local trucks. So I decide to try it – every now and then it became really soft and sandy and so brought you to a complete halt – but definitely seemed quicker than the corrugated main road. I then caught up with Jorg on the same track and we hit the main road – he then cut across to another sandy track but I didn’t quite make it so stayed on the road. He quickly disappeared into the distance which convinced me that it was quicker so next time I would do likewise. He was about 200m ahead when I saw him go one way then change his mind and retrace his steps – it looked like the sandy track zig zagged off in a different direction at this point and so he decided to go back on to the main road. I did the same. It was a terrible road with really deep corrugation and no lines for about 10km. We were about 50km into the day – not yet at lunch and already the day is wearing thin for me. It is difficult! Anyway we arrive at lunch and I am just enjoying my sandwich when Paul turns up – he tells us he stuck to the sandy road which turned out to be a short cut saving him at least 10 minutes. Paul was the only one who took it!! You win some – you lose some!! Shame as he I snow at lunch with us!
I leave the lunch stop hoping to get away from Paul – but that doesn’t happen! He is following and he keeps talking. Well you know what I am like when I am in a bit of a mood ……….. I do not talk - I am fed up! It is too long a day – my back hurts and as I am standing on my bike a lot my feet hurt – and my wrists are also aching!! Yes, Marie – Mr. Grumpy!! Just hating it – and wondering how Scott is going so well!!
We go through a few small villages – there are still a lot of villagers around all dressed up in their tribal gear and holding spears – really cool!!
We get back to the awful road again. Finally at about 95 km there is a rest stop. Paul is ahead of me as I had slowed for a power bar and I see him get off his bike and think he is going over to the sandy road. It is not till I get close that I see our water stash up in the trees. But I do not need to stop as I have plenty of water. Thinking it might give me the chance to get away from Paul. But no – he doesn’t actually stop in the end either and immediately is back on my wheel. I am so fed up – screaming inside my head. I want it to end. Get to 100, 105, 110 km – the road gets a little better and I am looking for the flag. We get to 115 km and a girl with a pink umbrella fools me for a moment. 116 km – then finally there it is at 117 km and along with the flag is the end of the dirt and the beginning of a brand new paved road!! We later learnt it marked the end of one district and the beginning of another!!
Finally at the end of the day I came in third along with Paul – Scott was first with Jorg second. For a day that I had hoped to take easy it ended up being a very, very hard one for me. Anyway I pitched my tent and just went and lay down – fell asleep for a couple of hours. I was exhausted – just seemed to me to be too long a day on dirt!!
The only trouble was that where I had put my tent was right in the pathway for the villagers to walk to get their water – so there was a constant flow of people all wanting to talk. It was fun to see the kids walking by in all their gear – but they would then be followed by kids in torn T shirts asking for money. I think every single child who passed by asked for money.
Eventually went off and had dinner and then changed tyres for tomorrow’s paved road. I am seriously tired and worried about how bad I feel after yesterday’s rest day. It is going to be a long week!!
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