These were the words to describe part of the course on day 4 but that was merely the entrance. The day saw us break out as two teams, Crab & I and Geoff & Karil. Everyone was moving well and relatively strong after Day 4. Gave Karil & Geoff some words of encouragement and said we would meet at Camp 6. We started the technical 1^st section through the canyon jogging and walking covering the rocky floor at a good pace. The scenery was again spectacular with towering cliffs and overhangs often forming dark tunnels and narrow passages. Had to take full quota of water as there was only emergency rations at camp 1 as inaccessible to vehicles. We needed every drop as it was very hot for the first time running along the river bed after emerging from the closed in canyon. The next section was tough with steep climb over rocky course. Reminded me of the Gobi but steeper and rocks sharper. Crabs found the climbing tough with his knee graft causing issues. Felt bad forging ahead then getting a rest as Crabs soldiered on with his hips screaming and feet nothing but torn flesh and blisters. As we finished the river bed climb which was long and gruelling the climb turned from a steady uphill to switchbacks climbing a vertical 700m, very steep and tortuous. Crabs was in a world of hurt with blood pressure dropping and having to use his poles completely on his condral graft leg as the steep angle was perfect for catching it. Crabs insisted I go on and leave his bones for crow pickings which I did leaving him with his words of encouragement “If you die you die”.  I powered up the hill to checkpoint 5 where I prepared lights and clothing for the cold night march. No sign of Crabs so left further words of encouragement. “Jesus may love you but the Gobi Bear doesn’t”. Also left message for Karil and Geoff, “the worst is over” little did I know what was to come. Fuelled up and rested at Camp 6 with Crabs arriving half hour or so later. He made good time on the mainly downhill section, shattered but still in good spirits cursing Carlos the Jackal course designer. In passing I should mention that the view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking in the setting sun. Karil and Geoff arrived as we were about to take off for the last 31km through the night. Both were shattered, with feet and shoulders screaming. Gave them both a big hug and said “will meet you in camp”.  The steep climbing commenced immediately with a mixture of goat tracks, rocky terrain and dirt tracks. Carlos left his piece de resistance to the end. After battling rocks, howling bitterly cold winds and poorly marked trails as we stumbled our way home in feeble torchlight we were faced with another steep climb into Petra then told only 2km to camp but steep downhill over loose rocks in the dark. The most tortuous 2km of my life with me thinking some poles would be handy about now. Overall on the day there was 2074 metres of vertical ascent and 2017 metre of vertical descent a good days outing in anyone’s language. No words can really capture the 19.5 hours of rocks, spectacular scenery and body tested to its limits. We arrived victorious and sang our final song “I’m tired and want to go to bed”. Went to tent to find chaos raining and all spaces taken up. Too tired to look so blew up mattress and collapsed on the outside edge of tent. Apart from coughing my way through the desert it was the best physically I have come through as far as feet and food go. Only one toenail drilled and blister, a miracle really given the terrain and state of everyone else’s feet. Perhaps no poles is the answer. Karil and Geoff arrived just after dawn, what a superb effort. Both looked completely spent and bodies smashed but happy to have finally finished.

Have just read emails and Blogs which are great to read. Will try to respond individually when I get back to hotel.

“The Gobi Bear is dead long live the Jordan Jackal”

Love to all

Up Hills and Down Dales

The starlight was truly magnificent with the big dipper shining in all its glory as I got up early to prepare for the day. Everyone was in good spirits with Geoff sore but much freer to move. Apart from one slightly infected and badly blistered second right toe feet are remarkably good. The groin tear from the Gobi is flaring slightly but all in all feeling great. In fact the Gobi Bear is in serious trouble of putting on weight. Went to do the straps up this morning around the gut and had to loosen them to get it on!!!! This is a disaster of the highest proportions so gave away one of my meals to the medicos to keep them on my good side. I now have to sing a song to gain entry to the medical tent. Crabs went out solo today to stretch his legs and was a star finishing at 2:15 in 6h15min. I brought up the rear with Geoff leading our band of 3 and finished at 3:20. Karil is going strong but her glutes got a good workout today. Geoff is managing his ITB issues well and finished the day strong. Not sure of our plan of attack tomorrow as the first sections are rated difficult to very difficult with a lot of altitude to gain. Scenery continues to be beautiful with the desert in full bloom after the recent rain. It is truly amazing how quickly they grow. There is a carpet of purple and white flowers to walk across. The undulating sand dunes and rock features such as towering arches were the highlights today, although crawling through a storm pipe to get under the freeway seemed a bit extreme. Thanks once again for all the e-mails and blogs and special hello to Gabby for her great comments.

Big March tomorrow of nearly 90km so will need to mentally prepare for the challenge and try to hold the troops together as storms of all kinds are brewing.

Cheers to all

Mad scramble for the start and I was last as usual. Had to clean my crocks of excrement but these are the hazards of desert racing. Long wait as a cue formed to scramble down rocks in the gorge. While waiting some Koreans burst into song and so the singing battle continued until I finally brought out the big guns of Danny Boy. The pipes were resounding off the towering cliffs. It was a bit intimidating with all the Japanese and Korean video cameras going and asking for encores. A nice break from the grind of racing though. The scenery was even more spectacular today. As we emerged from the canyon the vista opened with herds of camels, Bedouin camps and giant pyramid like mountain of rock with walls of cascading basalt forming vast swirls and intricate patterns, very outworldish particularly with the red sand. We wove our way round these up and down numerous sand dunes. The going was slow as the ITB pain bit hard into Geoff’s leg and ate at his morale. As we entered checkpoint two he had had enough. Crabs and Karil went on and I stayed back to give some encouragement. Some stretching and massage along with a couple of Panadol and the words “just give it 30 more minutes” were enough to get him back on his feet. Chatted incessantly which I think drove him forward as he tried to get away. But in all seriousness it was a magnificent effort on his part to overcome the pain and mental fatigue. He made the last 20km getting stronger and striding better and finished in good spirits. A long and tiring day but Crabs and I keep singing into each checkpoint with the challenge always of coming up with a new song. Karil thinking Geoff was pulling out left us for dust and finished strongly.  Feet hurt of course but all quite tolerable. Sleeping arrangements continue to be tough with really not enough room for all of us. Big hurdle of third day over but the fourth day looks challenging. Thanks Pat, Wendy and Garry for the words of encouragement. Also a big thanks to those at MLC for their support, keep the Blogs and e-mails coming as great to read at the end of the day.

Who would have that the desert could be wet for two days and bloody freezing!

The Bedoin tents are certainly not water proof despite using the emergency blanket the constant water torture drip snuck its way down the mat to my hip. Woke up feeling like someone had jabbed a knife  into it. Fortunately the back was not too wet. Crabs had condensation wetting his and we started the race in the wet and wet. First day went fairly well except blisters got Geoff and caused him to hobble. This led to ITB and quad problems day 2. The last 10 km was wet and cold with light fading fast. Arrived in camp with everyone a little touchy. Crabs and Karil were strong and apart from rain it was a good first day. No cyber tent due to rain. Interlopers moved into our side of the tent as it descended a little into the Lord of the Flies so Crabs, Karil & Geoff had alternate accommodation which worked out well. I stayed in the tent as I was already set up and unleashed my secret weapon by sleeping on my back and snoring loudly. No sign of them day 2. Alina & Sam the race organisers worked like troupers to make everyone comfortable with blankets. Thank god the rain stopped.

Day two saw us hiking slowly due to Geoff’s painful leg. He battled on marvellously with lots of encouragement and advice from Crabs. The sun was out and it was a glorious morning walking between towering monoliths of basalt and sandstone. The scenery was spectacular from stage2. Crabs and I have continued our tradition of singing into each checkpoint. As the day progresses its harder to think of appropriate songs. Apart from a burning sore throat, painful hip, sore Achilles and L3 and R2 toes taking a hammering it is has been a lot of fun! Saw three dead camels and a fox on the trail and numerous beetles and lizards but disappointingly no scorpions or snakes probably frightened off by the singing. All arrived tired and sore into Camp 2 but in good spirits. Thanks for all the support and keep the blogs and donations coming.