My Journey To Dakar: rallye de tunisie

woke up at 430 to a strong gust - not from me - but not having put the flysheet on and only having the mosi netting up, I was blissfully unaware that a fine layer of sand was steadily building up!

it was clear when jago and I went for breakfast that it was unlikely we were going to race as the wind had picked up significantly and sand was whipping through the air.

jago's tent almost flattened by the wind!

having changed the dune day for a track day as a rest of the sandstorm, the shortened route was soon cancelled as well, but not before all the bike bar jago's had already set off in what can only be described as a bad dream..... a blizzard of sand and hot air, darkened skies, 10m visibility and gusts if wind that had you riding at odd angles! having completed the 44km liaison, the bikers were congragated in a very basic, open air, roadside cafe before being escorted by the national guard back to the bivouac!

patsy had brought down a 690 for kemal merkit, another legend having finished dakar 7 times out of 8 (he made it to day 13 on his first attempt!) which is all the more impressive when you realise he rode mal moto which means he did this unsupported, truly incredible!! not to mention he is 'slightly' older than me, i've got no excuses now!!

patsy and vito(?) from the orlen racing team, replacing the fuel injection system with a carburetor! this was no simple task, it had not been successfully done before, it required a different fly-wheel, we were in the middle of the tunis desert and in a sandstorm!!!