Team Blogg from CP 4 - Harrietville Thursday 3.08pm - Adrenamen Help!! Thursday 2:47pm - Where The Fukrwe Great mercyfull god what have we done!! the team has had a bit of a rough start Cam has a quickly matuing head cold, the weight of Gavs pack has his spine singing to a new tune and Lallys knees are about 2 years over due for a service but other than that the race goes on. We have all been having a hard time with the conditions the temp has been consistantly between 12' & 18' with steady rain falling since the starters flag dropped last night saw the three of us crashing out in a bus stop shelter at 2am when we finally sucame to the wet and cold. The 60km mountain sounded like fun but the rain has been never ending and they managed to include the worlds longest hill climb reducing every one to walking. Hi to everyone up there in mackay following the race sorry for the late arrival time, rest assured we are all ok. They have shortened the next walk so we are keen to get into it. Having a great time please send more dry clothes. Thurs 1437h - Box jellyFish Its cold, wet n horrible - nothing like Tsv and Cns. We had a great sleep last night - we shared a camping toilet block with team Rudolph ... they slept in one cubicle and we took the other ... their toilet leaked ours didnt!!! We have had our injuries ... a shin that needs stitching after a fall and two vomits (we can't blame Adrian's cooking ... it was the dehyds !!) we are about to go trekking and it seems we have breed overnight - Greg has joined us (at last !!) and we have picked up Mark and Jason from Rudolph ... finishing now as a team of 6 !!!! We have to run ... the southerners want the computer (the lost fellas from mackay !!) Thursday 14:27 - Big Fish Hi Caroline weather is very cold & wet & some solid pt!. However there are some beatiful places where they held the event. Miss you look forward to seeing you next week,, 14:21 Cyclepath: Big shout outs to lara, kelly, daniel and kyle! Cyn took a nasty fall last night and carried on through the night prior to dropping this afternoon. . The weather is nasty and elevation up and downs on questionable trails is making this a race of attrition............see you all soon....love team cyclepath Thurs 13:21 - Rudolph We've had an interesting start to the race to say the least. Our first trekking leg went well but unfortunately Hunter re-injured his ITB (leg), but has courageously perservered until now. Our Bike leg was the toughest any of us have experienced and subsequently extremely hard on Hunter's leg. Unfortunately Hunter has had to retired injured. Mark and Jason have now joined team 6 - Box Jellyfish and will hopefully complete the race with these guys. Hi to Helen, Lachlan, Sam and Will. I'm missing you all terribly and look forward to catching up next week. Love Dad. To Karen - missing you very much. Can't wait to see you next week.Love Billsy. Thurs 12:45 - Area 51 Off to a good start on Buffalo despite the weather closing in however a planned 5 hours became 8 ending up at transition and Leon with a rolled ankle. (Hi Clare we walked most of this with Carl and Heath. Love you beautiful - lots of time to think about you xxx Ian). Leg 2 MTB became an epic in itself with persistent rain, and steep terrain taking s into early hours of morning and into midday today. 1000m steep climb in pouring rain on washed out 4wd trails (i.e. mostly pushing and very cruel). Looking at leg 3 for a now abbreviated course and the rain is coming in thick and hard. Hello Honey,Scarlett, Eloise and Mitchell. We are heading into the mountain where the snow will be and I will attempt to bring some back. Love you all, look after mummy kids. Leon - Andrea, Miguel, Claudia - I love you all very much. I am doing it easy and the others guys are holding me back.Hi Deb, I'm going Ok, tuff race so far, love you heaps and miss you - Greg Thurs 1220 - Logistics crew blog (Hence forth to be referred to as LOG BLOG) In the words of a tourism campain "WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE THEY!". Fingers crossed that there is a motel over the road from every TA! So all in all better than it could have been as a first transition area - looking forward to sunnier days... >:-o Thurs 0955 - expedition 36o South Hi all - we have just completed leg #2 and are getting ready to head of for leg #3. The mountainbike last night nearly ran us into the wall. some very big stomping hills and we ran out of food and water at around 1am. At 4am we decided to pitch the tent and get some much needed sleep. It was pouring rain and we were all very tiered. It is raining quite steadily now as we prepare to head off. We have just been advised that due to a dark zone for the paddle leg we will likley be short coursed for this next leg to keep us on time. Sahs and Adam took some impressive down hill bike falls - but no serious injuries. Its wet and cold and its cold and wet and the hills are unrelenting. All in all we are in good spirits and enjoying XPD! special thanks to all our supporters and especially Ida Hartwig for holding the fort while dad is out in the wilderness. love to all. Thurs 9.30 Goldfish Now down to three but still upholding the tradition to finish in style. Tough hike late into the night, but it included Mardi to the top of the Monolith and meeting Anne at the Galleries. Next cycle leg had us exhausted on the uphills but revived by Trish's fruit cake. The downhills were sensational, with Mardi piloting the tandem in controlled? two wheel slides. All heaps of fun. Out from here still full on to fit in the kayak on Friday. No sleep last night to help get that goal. Thanks to all supporters out there, were off and racing in the rain again. Goldfish of course love water. Thursday 9:13 am - Yogi Bears The yogi's safely arrived about an hour ago after pushing our bikes up mountains for most of the night and avoiding dragonheads. but there were no grizzly bears and we're all feeling pretty good and are just about to head off for a 24hour straight hike so we make it back in time to do the rapids. hi to everyone back at home, and thanks for all the support! Hi Kaylee, can't wait to see you as our lone supporter at the finish line :-) Hi Jon, miss you loads!! Hope you had a good flight back! we're ready to go and it is a bit wet... all great and the dragnheads didn't seem to end this time!! P.S. No pirates seen yet!! Happpy days. Thursday 8:56am - Team Driftwood We got our butts kicked last night...I think when the race director said the first bike course should be done by the fastest teams in 5 hours, he meant on HORSEBACK! We pushed our bikes more than we rode, ran out of food and water...this makes for a grumpy team. With the rain, wind and unrelenting hills, we truly pulled together as a team and pushed through. We are getting ready to head out on an epic 85k trek. Hope we can make the next kayak leg! Think good thoughts for us. And maybe add some warm and dry ones to =) Can't wait to be warma and dry again... Tricia - Glen misses you! Tommie - Brian misses you too! Thursday 8.39am - Still Thinking about it - Swire Shipping After a cracking pace set by Surge and Yomper Yosh, we were in great shape going into the bike leg. But the second leg turned into a night from hell - cold, wet and vertical. If bikes were meant to be pushed so much we would have modified the handles. But we are in good shape and keen to get the 85km walk done, hopefully with some caffeine stops along the way. Thursday 8.37am - Caffeinated Karen has been happily getting back into Victorian weather. It took until around 10pm for the constant rain to remove her smile. Or maybe it was the slight long bike push up without a break for 1000 m vertical. But I doubt it. After a small nap under the "Road Bridge Chalet" we are ready for the next trek. Karen assures us that they used to run up this hill for fun. So how hard can it be? After the planned bakery stop with coffee and cakes we will be off into the high country for an 85km trek sounds fun! Thursday 8.30 am Sutmap bean all going well - everyone says hi to home. (Hi Ol Cas and Catho. Started fulla beans and smashed the rogaine gpong the opp way to everyone else, then got a bit wobbly walking down hill. Bike was character building, jon recovered from the biggest hole in history to lead us with superb nav nack to the TA. Danealle whipped the boys along beauifully and kept us all togehter. We had a 90 min sleep and now eating breakfast and ready to head off for a fun trek(ed: 85km over Bogong High plains and still o full course option., hopefully its not wet again! Thursday 8.27am Little miss Sunshine Team 35 Just packing up the bikes after one tough little night. Massively hard bike in pouring rain for 10hours. Everyone still hanging together, varying abilities has us struggling to hold tight form. Now for a walk around the high country of Vic including Mt Bogong Falls Creek and Mt feathertop. Est time about 30hrs! Thursday 8.15am More Invincible with Girls on Top (Team 30) Arrived at transition about an hour ago and have just been eating our hot soup, noodles and big eats. mmm. It was a tough day yesterday made more challenging by the torrential rain and unforgiving hills. Going to go and get an hours sleep now before heading back out into the cold and rain :( Brrrr. Hopefully things will get better over the next few days as the training kicks in !!!!! Thursday 7:58am - starfactor had a 9 to 5 bikeride/walk last night, bit lot/ cold,all well. were pegging them back,stay tuned we are off on a hilly 30hr walk no see ya all neil Thursday 7:42am - Muppets Arrived at transition at about 5.00am after tough ride - or should be say Hike a Bike. Pissed down all the way which made us feel like we were at home !!! Mick had a very, very, very nice night on the bike !!! We have just had a quick kip for an hour and heading up, up, up, so might be a couple of days before you hear from us. Boys in good spirits, but tough start and only going to get tougher - all good fun !!! Thursday 6:43am - More Training Required Arrived at transition 3:34am and decided to sleep under shelter for a couple of hours. The rain had got steadily worse and worse during a really tough bike leg. Lot's of walking up huge hills and cold on the downhills as we were all pretty much soaked through. Got up an hour ago and now ready to leave on the 85km trek. Feeling much better after some rest and warm again. Lots of love to everyone - Lili, Mitchell, Camryn, Charlie and Hayley, Noan, Lucy, Ben and Jack, Jen and Oscar and Jen - see you at midcamp. Thursday 4:14am - GuRus To now, the weather has gone bad to worse, and the course is tough. We just came in 14th after a shocker - cold, wet, and lots of steep climbs to walk (bike leg). We're about to go out 7th - that's racing. A lot of teams have bunked down here for a sleep. Our Niterider lights have been great, and CBD managed bikes working a treat in the obscene conditions. All gear is staying nice and warm (even if we aren't) in our Deuter packs. We're all missing our loved ones - Mim, Andrew and the boys, and Anna and Jett. Don't worry, we have a plan ...... thursday 4:04am - outdoor Australia at transistion now and we are soaking wet. the bike was ok but the weather is crazy ! so wet ! then 7km from this transiton (where we have now changed into dry clothes and are eating warm rehydrated food! Yummmmmmmm) oh yeah, 7kms out sean's shoe clete broke and he could no longer un clip his shoe from his bike. With a bit of gaffer tape we taped his shoe in and prayed he didnt need to unclip. We are now decideing when to push through the 85km trek... we need to leave asap to get to the kayaks before the cut off! We still have to pull our bikes apart and pack up and put wet clothes back on and head out. Hoping to sleep a bit in a hut on the 85km trek up near mt bogong Thursday 3:54am - Austrelaps. About to head up into the hills again. Last leg pretty damp and almost miserable. Bleeksie having a bit of a rough time at the moment but pushing on. Libs having a bit of leg trouble since up on Buffalo, but stretching regularly. The next leg will be interesting in terms of weather and legs. Thursday 3:51am - Tangerine. Insane rain coming down right now and we are about to head out on the long trek in it! We've had a good 1 1/2 hour sleep in transition though as we couldn't see the point in sleeping out in it when we had a good sleeping bag here and were able to warm some water for a hot meal. Everyone in good spirits. Andrew has been a godsend (Heather writing here) as he's pushed my bike up some wretched hills in the last leg. Well, enough for now... it is a race afterall ;) Love to all back home and a special thanks to Jim if he is reading - we promise to clean up properly when we leave the lodge next time. Thursday 02:36 Securify.co.nz Balmy weather I tell you. Sitting in a pergola writing a blog while a torrent rages outside - bizarre feeling. Is it only Day 1 - crikey. LOts of running around culminating in a painful downhill. Nice bike until we had to push for a fortnight and then on cue it started to biblically torrent for the last 3 hours. Arrived into TA with the intention of heading straight out and over the first part of the Trek...however looking at the weather just now we might hole up for a few hours and grab some sleep then go in the light. All well, some minor problems eating today all round but everyone seems back on track now. LOve to all hope you are enjoying our suffering. Col, Jerry, Jojo and Dave :-) Thursday 0230 MaWSON cAN'T BELEAVE its only two legs down......what a bike push up the hill!! Bucketing down with rain (I definitely look like a prune - NOEL) and now we've comtemplating heading into the high country trek. Hi Diana - the coconut ice went down a treat. It was a dark and stormy night... no really it is. Blimey a can't believe how good tinned tuna tastes at this time of the morning. Off now for some mountaineering - hooray! :-( tRicky Thursday 0200 4TC Far too much walking up hills with bikes was rewarded with passing securify, Nga Rakau and Blackheart Salomon. Unfortunately Blackheart came straight back past us and Nga Rakau took advantage of Dave's puncture to pass us too - though not before lending us a set of tire levers, thanks guys! Heading out shortly for a day long tramp, just as the rain has intensified - great timing ;-( Thursday 0138 Team Nga Rakau. Glad to get into TA after a HUGE hike-a-bike up some 900 vertical metres - bloody hard work! Isak was a legend pushing two bikes at a time up the steep hill giving me and mark inturns a break from pushing ours (getting a bit tired at that point!). Now getting all packed up for a 30 hour trek leg - going to take advantage of a dry spot here in TA to grab a few winks before we head out into the rain again. Thursday 01:17 Team Blackheart Salomon - Going reasonably well.. The whole team has come together and nursed me (matt) through some pretty serious stomach problems. It's the first time i've brought imodium to a race AND I've had to use it... All others going well, Andy strong on the bike, Wayne's pushing along and Maria is amazing. We were going to sleep here, but as Ive come good we're going to push on with the trek in this lovely rain. Love to all, and particularly Moozie... mwah Thursday 01:13 Team Bull of Afrika - going well so far - had amazing hike - it felt like running in heaven... the bike leg was hectic pushing and we had technical problems with Stephan's bike - we had a puncture and had to stop several times...the worse part is that you can see how the other teams is comming closer and closer...we are soaking wet now and refilled at the transition, packed food and is on our way - hectic hike.. lets chats then...love all at home..h 00:21 - Team 2 Blackheart. Damon here. Just has a big ride over from Buffalo. Several sections of nasty bike pushing. We passed the South Africans halfway through the ride who had nailed the earlier rogaine. Feet are soggy and wrinkled already but weather hasn't been too bad. Rob hit a wombat on the ride, think it was ok. Rob's bottom is recovering from Brazil but still spent half the time out of the seat. The assortment of ointments, creams and wipes seem to be doing the trick! Kim had a spill and has a swollen ankle. Josh has a bit of the flu and I need a good spew. Apart from tha we're firing and looking forward to the rest of the week. Quote of the day from Josh on the big bike push - "it's been a while since I spat on myself and didn't care!"