Got a ride from a military chap all the way to the border of Argentina where I stood in line for forty minutes and was stamped in for ninety days without having to fill in any paperwork, was unbelievable, no paperwork , I think that's the first time ever I never had to fill out any paperwork to enter a country!
Then walked to the end of town and had no luck with a ride and had to decide whether to take a bus to Salta, which I did. Left at 3pm and was some spectacular scenery going down Route 42. Arrived at midnight at the bus station and needed to get out in front of the stage so I could see them go by and trying to explain this to buy a bus ticket was impossible. A Colombian girl who was on my bus asked if I need help and she asked a stranger who in turn phoned his niece and got the scoop where and which local bus to catch. They were so helpful and it took over a half an hour and told me not to leave the bus station until sunrise cause it was dangerous out there. So went and found a seat and propped up my backpack for a pillow and nodded off with the Colombian opposite me, keeping an eye on me, they are such nice folks down here. At five thirty I left, said goodbye and ducked out and the city was coming to life but it was still dark. Got the bus to the road to Salta and watched all the competitors leave as I waved my flag and thumb. Hennie and Gerrard came by and waved and so did a bunch of other SA riders and support vehicles for the Toyota's.
They were all through and I was almost through with my pursuit of them as I stood for three hours in the baking sun, not knowing how to proceed in order to stay in the race. A little girl came up to me and handed me a small packet of biscuits, I must have looked desperate and hungry which I was. I hadn't eaten since lunchtime the day before at the border. Gathering food is not easy the way I am doing it, what a great gesture and I tucked into them while the sweat rolled down my now balding head. How times have changed, or have they, I shouldn't be out here hitch hiking, sometimes I wonder about my mental health and a lot of other stupid things I do.
A bakkiie pulls over and I am ecstatic after almost going back to the bus station and regrouping the whole trip.
An Englisman, well girl, Lindsey picks me up and she is following the Dakar all the way to the finish line in Cordoba, and I was welcome to join her for the whole trip.
What a change of luck and fortune.
We got to a fuelling stage and saw a bunch of guys come in on bikes ,cars and trucks.
The scenery is stunning with the mountains and huge green valleys for miles on end.
Got to Belen and got my phone some data time which didn't help and some groceries and then asked the girl where I could find a shower, cause I was pretty ripe. She said to come back at 9pm and I could come to her house and have a shower, which I declined but she insisted. Came back at nine and we went with her to the house and had an incredible shower and changed into clean clothes, and then she offered us to stay there for the night which we could not. Had some tea and the Yannick gave us a 2 kilo bag of nut mix and we departed, what a beautiful girl, young on her own in her own house working two jobs and a heart of gold.
Some locals told us where to go for the best viewing for the next stage which was 240 km away , so off we drove arriving at 4am. We wild camped and my blow up mattress lasted for an hour and it was flat, but being so exhausted it didn't matter. Got up at six and went into the dunes.
STAGE 11 BELEN - CHILECITO 485KM. 17-1-18.
We followed the locals in and the I hiked into the dunes and ended up at a dry river crossing, up on a dune and could see them approaching down a dune a kilometer away and then drop down into the dry riverbed and then have come up and out which was a real challenge for all of the vehicles and then another kilometer up the dune after passing us. Was with about eight locals and soon we were all helping the riders pick up their bikes and guiding them on which route to take and helping the cars get out of the sand. It was action all the time, Poskitt dropped his bike at my feet, I had to run out of the way and the the SA, Donavan van Der Langenberg stopped when he saw me , exhausted, and thanked me for my support which surprised me and he chatted and then fired it up went on his way. Then Gerry van der Byl stopped down in the riverbed, deciding how to tackle it and I went down to him and he was beat, I showed the easy way up and he was in no hurry to go and told me it was so far a real tough stage, after some words of encouragement he was on his way.
Then the cars started coming by , the top guys just powering up the dune by us, Gils and Hennie witnessed my flag aloft and me yelling them on. The trucks were something else, some got stuck, they really trench out where they go so a car has no hope following them up the soft dunes. So great to watch these talented drivers navigate the dunes and dirt roads , absolute respect.
Watched the all the competitors come through and then followed the riverbed back to the car. The locals who I was with gave me water and some lunch, we were there for five hours and I didn't take any water and it was 38 deg. Celcius.
Lindsey stayed at the car and didn't see anything and was feeling ill, so we left for Chilecito. We're lucky to find a host for the night a real dandy again, and not cheap but being deprived of sleep daily helps sleeping in these dives. Having clean clothes are a problem especially on this section with my 3x3x3 clothing theory as we are on the move constantly, arrive late and leave at sparrow fart everyday.
STAGE 12 CHILECITO - SAN JUAN 735KM 18-01-18.
Today's bike stage was cancelled, nobody knows why. Drove over an incredible pass amongst all the support vehicles and stopped at a petrol station where a lot of teams had set up awaiting the cars. The bikes came in to refuel and they hung out for awhile as they were in no hurry to ride 500 km on tar.
We caught up with some action on a dirt road where the cars and trucks were racing on a special stage just before the liason.
We arrived at the bivouac at Zonda to watch all the guys come in, Hennie and Gerrard stopped and looked pretty worse for wear and said it was another brutal long day and invited me up to the bivouac.
I scored the fence to find a nice size hole where I entered through undetected under the cover of darkness. Saw Gerry van der Byl and he was very talkative and being the oldest South African ever to enter the Dakar and in last place was just super happy and just wanted to finish and was really concerned about the following day's special stage. Visited with the Dutch team where the two Americans that built the car from California would always find time to talk with me. Hennie and Gerrard were getting a massage and the car was stripped down already, rebuilding everything again. Gils car was all cleaned up and the Peugeots were all done, packing up for the night while some guys were still hours away.
Went to the food section and watched the days events on the TV, and they feed them really good food and wine and it was after midnight, amazing operation repeated everyday.
I went back to the bakkiie and we camped right there outside the bivouac amongst all the crazy fans who love to have their music full blast all night.
STAGE 13. SAN JUAN - CORDOBA 929 KM.
19-01-18.
Damn music, hardly slept on the hard ground so got up at 4:30 and watched all the bikers leave , one crashed and went off the road as he came out of the bivouac near us but luckily got going again. Gerry came buy and then David Thomas stopped by me and thanked me for all my support along the way, stalled his bike and then departed.
Poskitt came by, who is in second place in the Mall Motto class, now those guys are nuts!
We then departed as it was a long way to go to Cordoba. We stopped at the special stage which was a 124 km. and watched the cars flying by two feet from the fence where all the spectators stand and watch as they come by at 160 kph. It was crazy being so close with stones flying into the crowd and clouds of fine dust.
Gerry took six hours to do the stage and fell twice , his fears were real. What made it so tough was that it was riding in thick fine powder and they just sink in and hard to see when and where it gets thick.
After the stage the bikers were refueling at the petrol station and taking a rest as they cancelled the next stage for the bikers and they had a three hundred kilometer liason.
Poskitt was at the restaurant and he said it was a real tough stage and he was beat.
Was a long drive to Cordoba and went to the bivouac and then to a hotel 38 km away in Carlos Paz.
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