Stage 11: Nema to "somewhere sandy"

Daily Updates from David on Patricia's progress in the Dakar Rally







Photo: The Bivouac: or "base-camp" - this small village is packed into planes and moved every day ...... 15 times ..... impressive stuff.


FROM DAVID: January 17 2007

(connection 256 km, special 0km, connection 0km)

Today was a "connection" day i.e. no Special Section - which means it was the next best thing to a rest day.

I have not heard from Patricia this evening - either her battery ran out on the satellite phone, or she was too busy being a TV star - as she appeared live on Eurosport (UK) tonight ! Eurosport UK seemed to be quite "adoptive" of her as pseudo-British, given she lives and works in the UK !!

Patricia was being very positive on camera, although her fingers looked a bit sore. Interestingly, they interviewed (10 seconds each!) all the leading bunch of female riders, and it would seem that all the girls are still in the rally i.e. no pull-outs - I presume that must mean they are better riders than the average male rider, or more sensible riders, or something. I will withhold any further comment on this observation, for fear of offending any men .....

Ludivine Puy is leading the ladies, but we have no further details at this stage on subsequent positions.

Tomorrow is a 250km special section, with some considerable navigational challenges along the way.

I hope to get one more report out to you tomorrow night, before I leave for Dakar early on Friday to join the welcoming party as the rally arrives there on Saturday.

I do apologise in advance if I fail to maintain the reports once in Dakar - that will be for one of two reasons:

1. I cannot get online to see the results or to send any emails - I'm not sure of the state of Senagalise telecommunications until I arrive!

2. My PC has been eaten by a camel and I am chasing it across the desert, with the hump

If either of the above occur, but you wish to follow Dakar's progress anyway - you have three options:

1. Watch Eurosport each evening - live coverage, repeated through the night

2. Go to www.eurosport.co.uk and look under "motorsports"

3. Go to www.dakar.com , where with a little effort you can track the progress of each competitor live each day.

The rally arrives in Dakar on Saturday, with the final "loop" on Sunday. We fly back Monday, so YOU WILL recieve a wrap up email on Tuesday.....meanwhile I will do my best to maintain normal service.