Day 4-5 The Long March

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Day 5 Dawned A cool morning , everybody quiet and wondering how the day was going to treat them.

For me Breakfast a packet of Hot porridge, then packed ready for the start. I feel quite strong after recovering from the little illness, day 3 . I am ready for the challenge 75 kms the Long March...



The first two stages were reasonably flat which I managed at a fast march, expecting not to break into a shuffle till after stage 4 and maybe peel off a few of those broken down

From stage 2 to 4, 20 odd kms was all uphill , the last 8 kms a murderous slope. Testing , gasping but making it.

Checkpoint 4 being the highest point of the race, on top of a cold wind swept hill. Wow A great View and such a relief once at the top



For the last 10 kms or so the weather deteriorated , it's been on and off wind and rain, coat on coat off, bit of an annoying nuisance but you've got to stay dry and warm.



From check point 4 to 5 was a constant steady downhill shuffle and made it into stage 5 at 97^th, slow but i felt in good shape for the next 25 kms, only to find out this race stage had been shut down, and those of us that made it to this spot were to continue for another 6 kms and be picked up by bus.



So the Long march of 75 kms became 56 kms,

Was very disappointed this to me was the ultimate challenge of the race, we ambled down to the bus area, transported to a village where we were packed into a few local houses to keep warm, it was by now raining quite hard and almost blizzard conditions on the mountain tops, so the staff they were busy rescuing people from these areas still on the course while we waited.



There's nothing like a bit of a disaster sometimes to bring people together ,everybody was in good frame of mind, there was some outright hilarity, there are some lovely ratbags in the world who can lighten any or most situations



The staff did a great job, and managed to get everybody down ,some very cold and wet, but no hyperthermia. We were driven to a summer Ger camp, because the weather was so bad they couldn't set up our usual tents, so it was straight into the sleeping bags, cup of hot water and a hammer bar, extra blankets, toasty and slept well.



Today is the usual, after the long one , hanging around waiting ,resting, restoring the energy ready for the 14 km sprint of the final day, a nice sleep in, they treated us to a beautiful lunch, bit of a walk round The Lake, lots of little gossips and back into the sleeping bag keeping warm and cozy.

Lying in 78th place

I Am feeling good, stocking up the body with extra food , let's see if I can lift it a bit tomorrow.

Due to the weather and satellite issues this may find you all a day or two behind, we are all in good spirits.

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Comments

[Bron]

smiles all round
you are now the chat of the uni. Very proud and I am quietly envious

[Andrew Cook]

Awesome stuff!
G'day Bo - wow, you are rocking it, never giving up. Really amazed to read your blog at how you plan and stick with it. Good luck with the final stretches! Cheers, Andrew Cook

[Angie Millar]

GO!
Hey Uncle Bo, Go you! love that you have some ratbags with you. Lots of love xxxx Millars xxxx