Team Blogs from the Field:
CP8 – That was the worst leg I have ever done!!! 47km of no track, rain forest with the stinging tree. I have never been in so much pain, then your glands swell up and your leg goes numb with pain..but.. its over. They treated it with hydrochloric acid – now you understand… and waxing. I still want to cry it was so bad! All teams bunched up, moved very slowly, we are all in now getting fixed up and on our way to ride 140km. FAAAAAAAAAAAK!! That is all I really have to say… at this rate I may need to have children. PS the rafting was incredible!
CP 5 – Hey guys, so we are at the end of the bike leg and now it’s a dark zone – 5 teams in, have to be up at the rafts at 6am. Orion and Blackheart start at 6h30 and us 6h35 with CBD. This was the fastest bike leg ever, tar and a bunch ride the whole way. Have you ever??? In a AR race? J We not complaining we know whats coming. The boys are all good, ian is powering like a machine, smelly is making many smellys and Tweet is already burping fusion. Me – im just Hobs, Relieved the bike leg was so easy and really looking forward to the rafting. The race only starts after that…..
Over and out from us.xxx Ps Sakkie is still taking man pills!!!
CP 5 – Awesome 6 hr sleep on concrete – Now off to go rafting…
Email from Nikki (20 May, 13h04 SA time)
First time I have had a gap to send a mail. Comms not great.
The team started at Dunk Island with a run around the island, they then paddled out to some other islands, snorkeled to some points, and then paddled to mission beach on the mainland. They then hopped on their bikes for around a 100km ride up to the Tully River gorge, passing through the town of Tully.
The nav in the first section was pretty intense through the cane and banana fields. The last section was pretty basic. They reached the dark zone and camped up at the Tully reserve camping ground.
They started rafting just before 7am. Absolutely amazing piece of river. I got to go in one of the boats at the end as a paddle mate for one of the teams, which was absolutely amazing! Just breathtaking scenery!
They then started what was to be probably the worst and hardest trekking leg that any of the teams have ever done. They got nailed by the really nasty and poisonous stinging tree. The transition zone has been like a war hospital. The treatment is with hydrochloric acid and waxing. There was not a single competitor who was not crying and screaming from the pain; a couple of them passed out from the pain. It was chaos! Way worse than the organisers ever thought it would be and we are now stocking up on more acid and waxing strips and have ourselves pretty organised!
The team came in with the front group and left in 3rd place around 30min behind the front team. They are all broken, each and every team member from all the teams. I am sure that once they get out on the bikes they will feel a bit better! They are
still strong though and in as good a spirits as can be expected.
Gotta go. More teams and casualties coming in!
Nikki
- Post on SleepMonsters by Geoff Hunt on stinging tree and competitors
- Article on stinging tree on event website
Feel like i am working at a war hospital! Poor Hobbit. She had it the worst. I felt like crying…. Nix
SMS Update sent at by Nikki at 12:27pm – 20-05-2010 (SA time)
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. Every team member cried, screamed, some fainted! It was crazy. McCain have left in third, all the teams are a bit broken. Blackheart first, Orion second, McCain third. Nix
Sent by Nikki at 05:27 this morning.
Wow, what an awesome start to the day. White water rafting down the Tully river gorge. I also got to go, fabulous! Team looking good, still in forth after rafting. Now doing long hike through rain forest over misty mountains to Ravenshoe. Love to you all, Nikki