Day: May 10, 2006

A short day – a long stage.

7H00 Wake up, it’s still dark outside

7H15: Serge gets up – Breakfast prepared by Laure was eaten in the hotel room

7H45: Departure of Serge, Ludo and Laure

8H00: 12° Celsius, the sky is gray and gloomy – Start of the stage – hat, wind breaker, gloves are all necessary

10H00:  Fine rain and wind – added another jacket because it’s so cold

10H30: The rest of the team joins us

11H00: 8° Celsius – rain as well as an icy, unfavorable wind – change of soaking wet gloves.

13H00: A stop at the paddock – change of socks, plastic bags put on over socks – lunch break of soup, noodles and meat.

16H00:  The rain stooped – we removed the wind breakers, the gloves, the hat and the plastic foot covers.

17H00: weather brightens

18H00: 20° Celsius in the sunshine

19H30: The day ended for Serge, who went beyond the camp by 200 meters to reach the 75 kilometer mark (what zeal!) – a shower and e-mail to read

20H00: 18° Celsius – we ate outside: cucumber and tomato salad, mashed potatoes with canned pork (a Russian can of meat brought in Kirghistan), watermelon (given to us yesterday by some motorists).

21H00: 13° Celsius – Serge finished writing his e-mail

21H15: To bed.  It’s  still daylight.

Apparently, it almost never rains in this desert, so we have been lucky, we lived an exceptional day!!!!!!