Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At nightfall we all met up
again, and found that, because
I'd lost my bearings during the
afternoon, I had saved only a few
kilometres. Ming later told me
that they had seen me running in
the wrong direction in the desert,
but because it was too rugged for
them to leave the road to fetch
me and because there was no
mobile phone coverage they'd
had to watch helplessly as I ran
like a rabbit out of sight.
I sat on the step of the Win-
nebago to peel off my socks,
which were filled with sand
and pebbles, and was hit by a
wave of despair. I need to pull
back between 700 and 800 kilo-
metres, but, no matter how hard I try, how much I push myself, I'm
making no impression. I put my head in my hands and sat there for
some time. Heartbroken. Right then, my despair was as profound as at
any time on this damned run.
Then, as I always do, I pulled on my socks and shoes and started
to run. I had managed only 50 kilometres today so far, and I would run
30 more if it killed me. Ming ran beside me, and that buoyed my spirits.
We made the 30 kilometres.
My forehead, face, arms and legs are burned badly after today. I
have blisters all over me, particularly nasty ones on my hands from
clawing my way up the mountains. At least I remembered to plaster
zinc cream on my lips, to prevent further sunburn to my bottom lip,
which has been an open wound for months now. I am very worried
that the sore will become cancerous.
Today has been hard on me, and hard on the crew. After such a
happy day yesterday, morale is again low. They work so hard and are
the best people, and when things go wrong they hurt. I'm lucky to have
them. Tomorrow we will all head out again with a fresh and optimistic
attitude.
