Social Day

It's been a super social day. Nice to hang out with old friends and new.

We've just had dinner with Cyanosis and Mzansi - lots of ragging each other and laughs.

Everybody agrees that the organisation here has been friggin unbelievable. When the wind came up this morning in the wee hours they put Plan B into play. Trucks came to collect the kayaks and take them to Abu for tomorrows paddle.  They organised dinner for us (we would have been self sufficient on the island tonight). They also needed to arrange permits for a change in the paddle tomorrow. Communication with the racers is regular and we are always kept in the loop. Real good

Yesterday too when so many teams like us were diverted from the last checkpoint to the camp site in Mirfa, they arranged buses to pick us up in the dunes(gave us GPS co-ords for a pick up 3km away over the dunes). On the bus we got huge boxes with dinner for the trip and more dinner when we got here! On day 2 after the canyons we were given a packet with water, apple and banana. Always enough water. Very well organised and considerate of the racers needs.

So yesterday we trek 3km over the dunes from CP6 to a waiting bus. There must have been about 5 or 6 teams together(there were more still out there who had not yet made the CP). We hit the road and a normal size big bus is there. We were probably the 4th team to get on. We find seats, spread out and take shoes off. Mzansi are the last team on. Tim tries to tell the driver that they are the last team on and that he can go. The driver signals using hand signs and broken english that he is almost off work - tapping his watch. He drives down the hill about 300m and there are 2 smaller event buses(about 24 seater) and one event guy who flags our bus down. The driver stops and we all get off and onto the correct buses.

Turns out we had caught a random bus, probably for some workers out there. How crazy is that! Dirty smelly AR'ers climbing onto this dudes bus and he let us. Wonder what would have happened if the event buses had not been there. Where would he have driven us to? Nearest shower perhaps? We got lots of laughs from this one.

The bus leaves here for Abu at 5am tomorrow. Race starts at 9am. Teams will be finishing between 3pm and 4pm. We will only get maps in the morning.  The max distance including OP's will be around 40km.

Wind is still blowing. Friggin sand flying everywhere in the tent. Going to be buried in the morning. There is just no keeping it out.