The
large Orange racing lorry was hard to miss as
it sat in Merzouga centre. Charly and Elisabete
in rally kit and bright orange helmets as photographers
snapped away, looking for the perfect shot. Lisa
had headed back to the auberge but I couldn't
help but go and say hello. As I pulled up alongside,
Elisabete smiled down from the drivers side and
Charly walked round from the co-pilots seat and
surprised me with a "'ello mate, how's it
going". The Trifene-Renault team had been
using the Erg Chebbi as a training area in preparation
for the 2004 Paris-Dakar Rally starting in January.
The
team were heading back to 'Tombuctu', a hotel/auberge
3 km up the road. "Are you guys around for
a drink this evening", I asked Charly,hopefully?
Yeah, come round. So at 5:30pm just before sun
down we headed off to Tombuctu. The team were
still out in the dunes trying to get intentionally
lost, in order to test the navigation and road
books. We spent the next hour with the media team,
Sandra (journalist), Duarte (photographer), Anna
(journalist), Pedro (press Manager) and Jose (photos),
great company who made us feel welcome. Charly,
Elisabete and Angel pitched up a little a later
and we were invited to dine with them by George
the team manager. We didn't need to be asked twice.
The time flew with good food, plenty of laughter
and Charly providing us crucial information about
our upcoming Mauritania crossing. As the evening
came to a close, Charly generously offered to
meet us at 7am the next morning in order to improve
our sand riding. This was more than we could have
hoped for at the start of the evening. We were
surprised but of course delighted.
The
next morning was spent under Charly's guidance,
getting stuck, throwing the bikes over, flying
up and down dunes, scary ourselves silly and finally
things beginning to click. Lisa was heard to 'squeal'
with delight. By the end of the morning, we were
knackered but our confidence and riding had been
totally transformed. We still have a long, long
way to go before sand becomes easy (if it ever
does?) but the advice and techniques we've been
taught have provided us with a wonderful start. |
