Transorientale Rally update from Linley - 16 June 2008
Stage number: 4
Stage date: 15/06/2008
Start and arrival city : YELABOUGA to MRAKOVO
Special: Menzelinsk to Tumutuk
Total distance (special): 693km (124km)
Position: 23rd overall
Hi all, Linley here, Simon's gone to bed to prepare for another 5am start tomorrow.
He had a good day today. He is really enjoying it. He had a huge smile on his face following the 124km special stage. It's seems that Si was a bit "geographically challenged" today and took the leaders on a 40k detour. He's denying it obviously, so I haven't heard the full story yet, but all the guys that followed him are having a laugh about it so it must be true!
The weather has turned really hot. It is at least 30 degree. It has been a right stinker today. It's good in that all the kit is drying out from the torrential and flash floods we had a couple of days ago but it's bought me out in a nice heat rash, which isn't very pleasant when you're sat driving a truck for 12 hours a day.
The driving is quite challenging to say the least. The roads are just pot holes with a bit of tarmac between them and sometimes I'm down to only 40kph, coupled with desperate Russian driving and three abreast overtakes, you really do have to battle on and keep your concentration. We've had a shock go on the truck today, the road has been that bad in places. But the scenery and friendly people more than make up for the crap roads. The landscape is amazing, it reminds me of Alaska (in summer) or Canada. It's flat, vast plains with chocolate brown soil and big fir trees. I certainly want to come back and explore some more. And the people are so friendly. Everybody waves at you as your passing. Today one local we met saw how dirty the bikes were so he took us to his garage and opened it up for us so we could wash them down.
But if you think Simon and I have a hard job of it, Bernie and the rest of the mechanics are the real heroes. They've been working through every night and then try and sleep in the back of the truck when I'm driving. I don't know how they do it. They just put a mattress down in the back and collapse on it and then get bounced around for 12 hours and then kicked out to work all night on our vehicles. I think Si and I have it easy!
For more information, or to track Simon’s progress during the Transorientale Rally, please visit www.transorientale.com, Simon is riding number 5. The rally will also be screened daily on Motors TV.
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