Gobi March (China)


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Pretentious Naval Gazing

23-Jun-2009 05:23:47 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

As it's raining cats and dogs in Boracay I thought I would whack down some of my post Gobi thoughts and reflections. Since finishing on Saturday I have been lucky enough not to have to return to work so I have tried to get my head around how I feel about what we all accomplished. Funnily enough, when you are sat in the middle of the Gobi each day, repairing your broken feet, eating some rubbish freeze dried food, crapping on your leg etc, all you think about if getting to the finish. All that mattered to me for six months was completing the race but once I got there I found I didn't really care.

For six months I envisaged breaking down in tears at the finish, broken and yet truimphant but now I have finished all I think about it the journey and the people. The medal doesn't matter to me, being given it by Chris on the finish line does. The long hours of hiking through intense pain doesn't register, the moments spent with fellow competitiors and new friends having a laugh, sharing life experiences and stories does. I spoke with many many people who had great stories to share but several people and their experiences had a profound effect on me and I hope I can learn from them.

My new friend Dave the vet, fastest walker in the east. One of lifes good guys and got me through the long day. I feel like I know him well already as we chatted about some pretty personal stuff as we went through the highs and lows of the long day. Also a superb pharmacist. Looking forward to our seafood dinner already.

Blair, New Zealands energiser bunny, I hope we keep in touch. Probably the most humble fellow in the race, always asking how others were getting on and offering encouragement whilst quietly caning the crap out of the race. When others were sitting fixing their feet after arduous stages, Blair would be walking to the top of the next mountain to take pictures, or walking into the next village to watch how they farm their crops and teaching their children. An inspirational character and proud dad. Probably best summed up by his quest to find a trumpet on completion of the race. Jogging around Kashgar making 'trumpet' gestures and noises to bewildered local townspeople. He was successful as ever.

Mitchel and Aric. What an experience for a father to share with his son and what a way to go about it. Not only were they both constantly upbeat but for a 20 year old to see what we saw and go through what we went through with his dad was the stand out experience for me in the race. Driving each other on when times were tough, picking each other up and dusting each other off during their worst moments. Their closeness at times was touching and for me, the fact a 20 year old wants to do this with his dad was testament to the strength of their relationship. I would chew my right arm off to have the chance to do something like this with my dad or brother. They also found me and Chris funny which I liked.

May from Japan showed that you can be hot and have real depth and guts, walking on a shot knee and feet and every time I asked if she was ok she would give me a big grin and say she was fine and ask if I was ok. Lovely... and very hot... did I mention that?

The Saffers Kimberly and Simone who raise huge amounts for charity, not surprising as they are too tough to say no to. They also gave Chris lots of hugs which helped keep his 'spirits' up.

And Liz and Fiona, desert troopers who kept carrying on carrying on. Such resolve. Ross asked me to make a comment on camera for his video, but I'm more of a reflector so didn't know what to say. Having had time to think about it I would have said if you transfer the determination, character, loyalty to friends and independance that you displayed everyday in the desert, in your every day life then you will be a great success at anything you want to achieve.

Finally, the aussies chicks, especially Sharon, who also showed their character and said to me that their friends all read my blog and would love to meet me. I like that a lot but mainly because it makes me feel more attractive to women;->

My tent mates, great fun, great personalities, great farters to a man (of course the ladies wouldn't do such a thing). Thanks for not stringing us up as Chris and his snoring reached previously unheard volumes and stay in touch.

So my big reflection was that the event is not life changing and the medal doesn't matter. Like so much of the rest of life it was about the journey and not the end result. We're all heading to the same place, it's about how you get there. I think. So final ometers:

Moreattractivetowomenometer: Popular with Philipinnos it would seem

Didn't die in the Gobi Desert.

Do they have Lizards in Australia or Atacama?

Comments (3)

Stage 5

19-Jun-2009 10:40:49 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

Well here I am, sat at the last station before it's all over and done with. Managed to scrape through the long stage last night. Again, it's called that because it is long and a stage. It was pretty much agony from start to finish as the old tootsies are a little sore. I drilled my blister before the off (first thing I have drilled in a while) and then it was 15 hours non stop from start to finish. Not quick, not slow, somewhere in the middle, I walked. Thye stage was made easier as I did the whole thing with a new friend Dave the vet, also fom honkers. I think we managed to talk for about 13 of the 15 hours and traded off on our highs and lows, helping each other through. Again, the scenery was truly stunning on the long stage, parts looked like a golf course, small villages, lots of police taking pictures of us as we walked past. Can't blame them though, we are in a restricted zone and I looked hot.

I have been in a bit of pain this afternoon as I trod on a twig. It doesn't sound much but the other end of the twig pierced the big toe on my laft foot and ripped the blister off under the nail. Following several tears and the C word I headed to the medics who made me clean it myself before bandaging me up. Honestly, I was joking about the tears, I just had something in my eye... saline solution.

On a positive note I saw more lizards on the long stage. A couple of nice lizards, perhaps even different types. Lots. Grey. I was happy.

We only have the 10k to go before we head home. I'm not sure how I feel about that, it is a strange and intense experience doing these races and the idea of running on my newly flayed toe doesn't fill me with cheer. Gobi coming to an end feels a bit like when you know you are heading home from a school trip and you don't know what the rest of the school holidays has in store. I have met some great people, seen some amazing sights, experienced some tough times, craved a can of coke, drilled my own toe with a syringe (many times) and crapped on my own leg. Not an average week by any means.

I haven't mentioned Chris much this week, it was his race too, he did a great job getting as far as he did. The first day was the longest hike he'd ever done due to injury. He then did that four days in a row on awful blisters before injuries got the better of him. He did bloody well, believe me, my blogs are stupid but this hurts like buggery. I imagine.

Moreattractivetowomenometer: A cool american fella who I chat to looked at my foot and said 'Duuuuude, the moreattractivetowomenometer is doooown'. I don't think that is a positive.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertometer: No chance. I chewed it up and shat it.

Will do a post race report if:

1. I can be arsed
2. My toe doesn't fall off

Thanks for the notes of encouragement as we went along, I'll remember who took the time to write something as it truly helps you get through when you want to quit.

xx

Comments (10)

stage 4

17-Jun-2009 08:34:41 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

I sit here writing this in a sandstorm, which is novel. Quality music has been restored to the cyber tent and I am back in the land of rock, mid to late eighties I'd say but I am no expert in such things. I've just got in from the hilly day. It was very challenging and I fear we'll have a few casualties so fingers crossed everyone gets in ok. Temperatures are back up in the high thirties and although there is a strong breeze it takes it out of the legs. It took me about 8 hours and I think I came in 43rd which shows how much it has slowed the field down. On some of the hills I was huffing and puffing so badly I was in danger of blowing your house down (I may have used this joke yesterday, apologies, I am tired). Big hills, high temperatures, altitude= Buggered.

My race report. I walked. I came 43rd. The race felt longer than 40 odd k. My legs hurt.

But not as much as me feet. I think I'll have to take care of the feet this evening, if my blisters get any bigger they are in danger of being shot down by the Chinese airforce. However, I can't complain as blisters are the only friction burns I am suffering from. My months of experimentation with an assortment of lubricants has paid dividends. Hopefully the girls in Wan Chai understand.

On a serious note, for once, the course today was beautiful. It was how I expected the Gobi to be. Hugely challenging, walking over mountains, standing at Shiptons Arch, sweeping desert vistas. That's what it's all about.

Moreattractivetowomenometer: I was given 5 mini peperamis by my tent mate earlier. Never have I been so keen to receive multiple sausage. They were also small which served to give me more confidence in my ability.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertometer: I have a funny skin thing on my leg. Can you die from dermatitis?

We are on buses at 6.45 to the start of the long day. Looking forward to it as I have asked the medic for painkillers that could take down a horse. I plan to float round like the dainty soul I am.

Comments (12)

Stage 3

16-Jun-2009 08:58:08 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

They call the gobi the windy desert, the parameters of wich are being redefined each morning with our very own Dawn chorus. The large intake of carbs, protein and eloectrolytes is having its way with all of us. We seem to awake to the baked bean schene from Blazing Saddles. I think we managed to lift our tent of the ground a few times this morning. Not good in general but it definitely helps with the hills.

We;ve seen a marked change in weather today, come on, I am a brit, I have to give a weather update. Yesterday we experienced highs of 44 degrees C but today its cloudy and in the mid twenties. This is good for me as being a typical brit on tour I managed to get burned to a crisp yesterday. All I need is the hankie to tie around my head to complete the look. It was an interesting day today, think is was called the farm day, because we passed through some farm land. I can see a pattern developing in the naming convention. I wasn't overly impressed with todays route as we went in and out of water and my blisters are already pretty epic. I seem to have escaped any more harm today though and apart from the pleasure of redrilling my big toe nail it's all good, if a tad sore. My race report- walked with Chris to the first two long checkpoints, walked some more by myself. It was good. I got wet. It wasn't that hot. I am still happy (although as ever I look miserable).

I said yesterday I would kill for a can of coke, todays thougts centred around beer. As I was wandering up the last 8/9 k climb to camp (we are now officially at altitude, always good for an asthmatic I have heard) all I could think about was having a cold lager outside stormies listening to some 80's and 90's classics. I would probably torture most of you for a beer right now, no quick coke type death today. The music has been pretty good here so far but today there is some housy type crap being played in the background. Not sure it is epic enough for the views we're seeing out here. When I gety back I am going to drink lan kwai fong dry... not a very inspiring thing to write but there you go. That's my deepest thought of the day.

Generally I am having the time of my life in a weird way. Not much happens, we just get up walk and run and eat and go to sleep but the vast nothingness outhere is so impressive and they really do have a lot of rocks in the gobi. If you're a fan of rocks you should get yourself out here, they are everywhere. Grey ones, black ones, gray ones, black ones... honestly, it;s really rocky. It doesn't look as good as when its on the telly but maybe that's because it's being seen through my eyes, who knows. I haven't seen the night sky yet, apparently it's pretty inspiring so I am going to sit mysekf down with a nice camomile tea and wait to see it tonight. Imagine if I didn't have tea, no one would be safe.

Moreattractivetowomenometer- I am in the same clothes I was in at te start and I got a bit of poo on my leg earlier. I aven't perfected Frosties Sumo tecnique yet but I am getting there.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertometer- Frosties snoring has abated. We may get through this alive.

I didn't see many lizards today. I am a little disappointed. There's always tomorrow.

We can get comments onblogs and e-mails for those of you who have asked. We have the hilly day tomorrow we get to see heavens gate, or shiptons arc as it is known. I imagine the day is called someting eaven related but I can't be arsed to read my course notes.

Hope everyone is well and happy.

Comments (9)

Stage 2

15-Jun-2009 07:19:44 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

Daay Twoo in the Goobi Dessert, sorry still got that big brother thing going on. Today was another great day in the gobi, also known as gods quarry. I don;t know the geologiocal basis for it but its a rocky bugger. It was the Mars stage today, so it was dusty and red... probably not much of a surprise really. Red, dusty, rocky, red... some more dust and a bit more red. Like Mars. I walked it all but did it fairly swiftly, finished in six and a quarter hours or so.maybe a bit more. As I flew along I felt like I was doing it for the fat lads. Come on, Maccy D's, Maccy D's!! Speaking of which I had a bit of a result last night as someone was binning some stuff so I got a free dinner. Love it.

I did todays stage by myself as I wanted to see what sort of time I couold do and mainly it went well. It is still a race, still in a desert, I walked again. It was good.

On the spiritual front, being in such a vast beautiful and lonely expanse makes you ask a few questions about life... like when can I get a coke... a really cold can of coke. With little beads of condensation running down it. Whoever reads this I love you but I would kill you in an instant for a cold can of coke (even you mum).

I just had my first trip to the docs just now, he put a safety pin through a blister and threaded it to drain the fluid. Then the macabre git put a safety pin through my nail to drain some blood. I am not convinced medicine has changed a great deal since the battle fields of old. Mostly people are ok though, my blisters don;t seem to have upset them too much. I am sure it is because they haven;t realised how muchh pain I am in.

We;re currently camped out in a field, quite green and pleasant but it is stinkingly hot today. Speaking of camping, as I was walking today I starting humming 'In the Gobi' to the tune of in the Navy. A couple of times, I was singing away. Not sure what this says about my attractiveness rating.

I saw some more lizards today. I had the same special reaction.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobiometer- Depends if that doc gets his hands on me again (actually he was great, tanks doc)

Moreattractivetowomenometer- I have thread hanging outside of my heel and blood and puss coming from the centre of my big toe. Macho.

Lizard!!

Comments (6)

Stage 1

14-Jun-2009 09:03:32 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

Having a lovely time, HI MUM!!

Just kidding of course, I do love a good blog and sitting here typing on a dusty street surrounded by the village children in the middle of the Gobi with Piano Man by Billy Joel playing in the background ranks as my all time bestest blogging experience.

It has been a bit of a rollercoaster few days so far. Since we departed HK airport early Friday morning for a further two interconnecting flights to Kashgar, or Kashie as us hardcore slightly less fat by the day, ultra types call it, I have met more people than you can shake a very large stick at. Its a bit like a fitness freshers week with the beer replaced by electrolyte. It is a kit freaks dream. Imagine being able to ask a hundred and thirty people what rucksack they are using.Example conversation:

hello

hello

Where are you from..

Hong Kong

Cool

What rucksack are you using

Raidlight

Cool, me too.

Cool.

I love it. Everyone here is suitably more impressive and knowledgeable than I. It;s quite an eclectic mix, ok it isn;t really. People generally fall into three categories, bankers, attorneys (I believe this is american for lawyer but I am not sure still) and armed forces (hinting at mysterious careers in far off places). Its a lot of fun actually, everyone here seems decent, chatty and helpful. I am assuming that this is because I am clearly not a threat.

So, the race. Day 1 was fun. We walked. We finished back of the mid order. Others were faster. No blisters yet. All expected really and nothing to write home about.

So, the desert. Without doubt the most amazing place I have ever been and I feel so gratefull to be able to be here anbd take part. Its bloody hot, probably not a surprise, part of it being a desert and all. It;s bloody dry, again no biggy. But it is more beautiful than I could have imagined. Stage one started through a canyon with a bit of a stream/ river flowng through that we crossed several times. Cliffs rising each side in a sort of reddy rock and stone. Very grand. Then we followed sopne trails and dirt roads across a long plain with distant view of snow capped mountains. I am like a small child, every tije I saw a lizard I;d shout "Lizard". Not the most imaginative thing but definitely factually correct.Generally I am a fairly sober type, dull some might say, but out here I feel possessed with a kind of child like joy. The same as Attenborough sounds when commentatinging on the wild, except less distinguished and shouting "Lizard"... a lot.

I am carrying one of the quotes from previous blogs but I won;t need it. It is the most inspiring place I have ever been, and if I can finish I will. Come to the Gobi, we had a talk from the tourist fella from the commie party who wants to encourage more people to come here so I thought I would back him up. He had a nice hat and a shiny belt so I think he could be trusted.

Anyway, there are too many things to comment on, there are too many experiences to recall, too many people to talk aboput and it is only day 1 in the Gobi desert. As I wrote that it was said by the guy from Big Brother... Daaaay won, in the Gooobi Desart (geordie I believe). I think future blogs will be in the style of big brother. Day one in the Gobi Desert... Nick, is quite tired but having a lovely time. He comes to taalk to big Gooobi... been a long day sorry.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesert- if Chris snores any louder our tent mates are going to string us up. Frosty is absolutely world class. You can;t coach that.

Moreattractivetowomenometer- I had my first crap in the desert today. I got a bit on my hand.

On a side note, there is a chinese fella here who couldn;t afford to enter. His mates are taking water to him and he is running unofficially. He beat the winner by 20 minutes. 42k cross country in 3.10. There is nothing to say about that.

"LIZARD!!"

Comments (4)

I know, I know

09-Jun-2009 10:20:54 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

that I said the last blog would be the last one, but bloody hell, what a week. I am not sure whether everyone has these sort of dramas of if I am just particularly useless, I suspect it is the latter, but I only got trainers sorted yesterday and nothing fits in my Raidlight. Thirty litres, my arse, as the great Jim Royal would say. And where the hell do you buy safety pins in Hong Kong? So with two days until departure, well one a half now, I have nothing finalised. No patches on my shirts, brand new shoes, not broken in, and a headache.

And it is the best thing ever!!!

I am enjoyinhg every moment of applying the worlds most disorganised techniques to completed a multi day stage event. The great Rob J once wrote about the new and useless people (not in those terms but we all knew) who have everything splayed about the tent, not knowing where anything is and being generally useless... that is going to be me! I am in a tent with a bunch of military types by the look of things and I think they are going to be appalled by the level of total disorganisation I have displayed this week. I'll probably get lynched (and yet again my mother would be ashamed, I'll probably have dirty pants), but I am loving it. So much to think about, still so much to do, flying to the Gobi desert, what a bloody adventure!

My new trainers are a particular worry as they have sold out in Hong Kong of the trainers I have trained in. I am a tad concerned about having never worn them, a tad concerned about the effect this will have on my legs and feet... but utterly appalled by their colour. Bright red for heavens sake, who wears bright red shoes? Ronaldo did but he had something to brag about, my step over is crap. I am going to be drawing all sorts of attention to myself and I'll be rubbish. Chris reckons I think I am Superman and asked where the rest of my outfit was, he said he laughed so much a bit of wee came out (git). I think Noddy is more appropriate, but I have big ears so it's a little controversial...

Also, now I have stopped training all I do is eat. Is this normal? I'll be fat again by the time we get there, my ometer ratings will be down, but my word these Singapore Noodles taste goood!

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertometer: I am going to be strung up for being useless. If I get there at all, we've got three flights to negotiate yet!

Moreattractivetowomenometer: See the responses to the blog. Back of the net! Lets hope they are a feeder so we can both be happy.

Right, lunch over, one and a half days to go. I want to write something macho and Hemingway-like but I am bricking it.

Comments (3)

And now...

07-Jun-2009 10:58:59 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

The end is near, it's time to face... well, not the final curtain hopefully but definitely the final training. It's hard to believe it's coming to an end and the Gobi March is upon us. I have finished training in suitably dramatic style by splitting the sole on my Asics Trail runners and being trainerless in the run up to the race itself. I'm not too worried, I have rough idea of what works and what really doesn't, as I've been through 5 different pairs of shoes in the last four months. Going into such an event with new shoes is certainly not ideal, so I'll probably add a final training session and look a bit odd round the office for the next few days as I try and break them in a little. As a man who suffers severe blisters my feet are going to look like something pulled from an egyptian tomb (plus lube... gruesome) so hopefully my experiences in the heat and humidity of honkers will get me through. Can you believe that I am meeting a friend who did Namibia, in a public cafe, for a practice taping session? Some of the things I get up to these days worry even myself.

Yesterday I did half the Hong Kong trail with a new friend, Kathryn, who is also doing Gobi. It was a fairly easy pace and we wandered along chatting about kit and other such exciting things. I really do think I have become a little dull as I find talking about rucksacks, shoes, socks and Gaiters very exciting. Luckily when you hook up with other people who are doing the event they are in the same boat and seen to think it perfectly acceptable! My mum doesn't seem interested but I am working on it. Speaking of kit, I suffered one of the most traumatic kit related incidents of my life last week when Chris came round to grab some of his stuff he'd left at mine. He decided rather rashly to try on his new skins tights that had arrived with mine in the post. I am not sure if you have seen the Skins Ice tights but they have 'cooling' properties... I am not surprised they have cooling properties as the front patch around the groin is mesh... yes mesh. I am going to leave the rest to your imagination but I have never felt so uncomfortable in my own home.... think 'no pants'.

I wanted to write one blog about why I am doing the race and I am still a little undecided. Every time I try and write about it, it sounds a little like a script for an episode of Dawsons Creek. As I am no longer a teenager this is unacceptable, so I haven't posted it but will keep some of the thoughts together in case I am feeling emotional when in the Gobi.

Apart from breaking in the trainers, this is the last of it and as the next blog will be from Kashgar. I am pretty ovrewhelmed by the very idea that we'll be into day 2 by this time next week. Probably about the most exciting thing I have ever done.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertometer: Depends if I see Chris in those tights again

Moreattractivetowomenometer: Still not. It didn't work. However, I am happier, fitter and think the world is a more exciting place which means a lot.

My favourite

Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Winston Churchill

See some of you on Friday... gulp

Comments (6)

Lost on a Lantau hillside

01-Jun-2009 01:15:54 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]

Gobi March (China) 2009

Having let myself (mum, friends etc) down so thoroughly last week I recovered a little good feeling by training hard this weekend. It was my last weekend of back to back training as I begin to ease off before the Gobi and it consisted of a weighted walk on Saturday and a (disastrous) Action Asia event on Sunday.

I did a shortish walk on Saturday, just half of the Hong Kong trail (25k), in beautiful weather, as I wanted to be fresh for the race on Sunday. I carried weight for the first 10k but it was starting to bite into my shoulders so I decided to bin it, as I knew we had some tough Kayaking ahead of us on the Sunday. Really this walk was about seeing whether Chris's knee held up as he has been injured for the last 5 weeks or so. The good news is that he got round ok and we'll do the same again next Saturday before a week of chilling before the event. I guess there isn't much either of us can do to be fitter, probably best to just avoid injury and be fresh. I am sure it has been clear from the blogs but we'll be firmly within the 'non-gifted-slightly-chubby-enjoy-a-few-too-many-beers-and-the-odd-curry-but-still-willing-to-appear-in-public-in-compression-clothing' amateur section and walking the route. As this is my first event of this nature I will be really pleased if I can just finish, to prove to myself that I can do it. Anything more would be a bonus, anything less desperately disappointing but I guess you just don't know until you give it a shot.

'I'd rather live a day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep' (apply this to the story below... baa... baa)

So the race report from Sunday... we had an absolute shocker, actually funnily bad. It started well and after the first Kayaking stage we were slightly above the mid point I reckon. We hit the first hill quite hard and took about five teams on the first climb. At the top of the hill was where it all went Pete Tong. It pains me to say this, and believe me I know I am pretty crap at such events, but we believed someone when they said to us 'I know the race organiser and he told me to take this route...', so we followed. I know. STUPID. On a running stage stage that we should have nailed in about 45/50 minutes it took over an hour to reach the first checkpoint as we clambered through untouched terrain. My shins are cut to pieces, I have pulled a further 3 thorns from my palms this morning and I am in proper pain. We got to the first checkpoint about 50th out of 60 teams. That is how bad we were and only that good because another 10 pairs of muppets followed team muppet 1 and 2 down the thorny hillside. You've got to laugh. One of the organisers summed it up with very dry wit when he looked at us with blood drippng down our shins, coverred in dirt and all he said was 'Yes, it's not a good idea to go off-trail in Hong Kong'. Sage advice. Git.

To cap off what was frankly a bad morning out, I got home and had run out of antiseptic cream, all I had was some alcohol wipes I bought for the gobi. My tetanus (?) is not up to date and in my paranoia about infection I cleaned the wounds with alcohol. I think they probably heard my high pitched and not very masculine squeling three tower blocks away. Bloody hell, if you're a little odd and into pain give it a shot, it's brilliant, if you're normal and don't like said activities, nip to the shops down the road and buy proper creams.

And I got sunburnt. Ok enough moaning for today... but it was really bad... ok sorry:

Moreattractivetowomenometer: I have a big red face and neck, cuts all over my hands and shins and I am really bloody grumpy. I don't care.

Likelihoodofdyinginthegobidesertsometer: My wounds from the Lantau hills should have festered nicely by the Gobi . I think death on the first morning would aptly round off yesterdays performance.

Rob James, keep the blogs going, really informative and enjoy reading them- shame about the result last week... I have rewritten that three times but struggling to make it look sincere:-> Other experts, help, my fear is growing by the day and I want to know what go faster kit will make me less crap. GPS? Also, a couple of people have mentioned my blogs in theirs. I want to use this opportunity to point out that I am single for a reason. Face to face I am not very funny and a bit introspective. Just in case I am building anybody's expectations that I may be vaguely interesting or that they may like to speak to me while we are there.

Something for me and my team mate from Action Asia to consider

One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you. ~Dennis A. Peer

In case I haven't made the case effectively. We were crap and from this point on shall be known as Team Lemming, until we catapult ourselves off a cliff.