dakar stage: rest day

day 16 - 8th january 2012
copiapo


having arrived at the bivouac at about 12pm on rest day, i was feeling ok, the sun was up, it was relatively cool and the elation of getting in and still being in the rally kept the energy levels up.

john was on hand with the camera.....



once the basic admin had been sorted, jago and i went off for lunch. it was our first chance to reflect on the previous few days events, particularly the night jago was pulled out of the race; that was the end of stage 5 and i'd since ridden stages 6 & 7, spent a night in the dunes and come in on day 8 of the dakar. i think we were both relieved in a funny way to talk about what had happened and share a few thoughts....looking to the future.....and his next adventure!

jago's family had already arrived in lima, so having spent 3 days with the support team, jago headed off in pursuit of the local airport. i decided to get my head down for an hour of two. easier said than done as the bivouac was in full swing, support teams making the most of the extra time to work on bikes, quads, cars and trucks, generators rumbling, traffic in and out of the bivouac, visitors wandering around, the red bull tent blasting out music and simply 3000 people talking or shouting. too hot for a tent, i lay down on patsy's cushion/ bed under the awning.

first hour went by pleasantly, but woke up to speak with mcn's guy martin to talk about the first week of the dakar and the previous night in the dunes. i had not realised quite what a story this had become, topped with eurosport's 'dune shot'! then chris evans popped over to see how the team were doing. great to have their words of encouragement too.

i should have been knackered, but the excitement of finishing the stage and having a break kept me going. it was also very strange to have so little to do having been so busy! patsy soon sorted me out by telling me to get my head down...again! fine, so i did. i slept well, but what i did not count on was the sun moving across the sky and casting it's intense uv rays on my arms and back.....yep, my fair english skin fried!

the last few hours past by calmly, but after some more food, apprehension set in as the nightly briefing, and roadbook preparation brought back the harsh reality of the dakar; i was after all, only half way!

the day was a chance to take a deep breath before the next 7 days onslaught.