As I type now, on Sat at12h50 (20h40 Oz time), McCain appear to be in the lead. Their tracking dot (grey) is ahead of Orion’s (navy). Merrell is in beige (the cluster of beige – outlying on is City Bike Depot team). The orienteering flag is CP15 (end of paddle). They’re heading to the top right of our screen.
At CP15 after the paddle, McCain are in second place. According to the CP split on the Team McCain Adventure Addicts page on the event website, they completed the river paddle faster than anyone else thus far (and likely to remain the fastest split; average time will probbaly increase as the slower teams come in).
Just arrived at Dimbula, which is the finish of the bike leg and is also the midcamp. Got there in time to see the McCain boys and girls head off on their 20km hike with their wheel barrow. This area has an annual wheelbarrow festival to celebrate the early pioneers.
All I can say is OMG! The last half hour has been undescribably frantic. The teams came in after trekking for almost 10Hrs. They have been stung shitless by a really nasty stinging tree. Treatment is hydrochloric acid and waxing. Our transition point resembled a hospital.
Checking on the team before I switch off my computer tonight I’m delighted to see them ranked in second place behind Orion Adventure after the paddle. Adding 8hrs to our time now means that McCain will be rafting on the Tully river after a darkzone sleep.
In the next few days Mandy Ramsden may be South Africa’s first women to summit the big Seven. Climbing with the New Zealand outfit, Adventure Consultants, she’s currently at Camp 2 and getting ready for a summit bid between 21 and 24 May.
With only a day to go until the start of Australian XPD, Team McCain Adventure Addicts are packed and ready to race. Tatum’s update, sent today, is below.
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