Flag 1 was on the roads - so far so good! Flag 2 saw us on a flat open hazy plain with no obvious landmarks to guide us, and our car was now needing serious realignment, and we had nothing
but a compass! Despite this we managed to stay in a straight line for about 25km and took the flag, unlike the Total South African team who wound up nearly in Algeria with a Moroccan military escort!
Flag 3 took us through the amazing oasis of M'hamid - we wish we could have stayed (and in fact the South Africans did!). Flag 4 caused a few problems, as it was in between dunes and an ancient river (oued) bed. We met Irina the model who struck a pose on the roof of her 4x4 to
point the direction - no wonder ESPN dropped us like hot beignets! After taking Flag 4 we decided to find the 'road' to go to Chegaga to meet up with everyone to camp for the night. And thus began our (second? third?) journey to the Oued from hell...
In true Moroccoan style, the 'road' we were on just ran out. But we found a few tire trails and thought we were safe. Instead we wound up in the bed of the Draa River. Almost immediately we realised our error. We were surrounded by river banks about 10 meters each side,
the river bed was old caked mud, and apparently this is extremely dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. As darkness descended, and we were driving up and down to find our way out, we began to feel like we were in a scene from a horror film!
Finally 'Rally Boyes' shot the car up the river bank in a cloud of dust and diesel fumes, and we were safe! However the back of the car was a disaster, crates split open, tires on top of bags, and tools everywhere. By this time night had fallen, and never have we been so relieved to see headlights of other Gazelles.
We made camp with Flo and Paula Team 135 and like all good girl guides built a massive bonfire in the desert! Donna made curry and rice for all, and we promptly collapsed into our tents.
The next morning the four of us set out for the dunes at daybreak. After a reprimand from the sheriff for travelling in convoy and a penalty for Team 135 (for following us - who wouldn't want to?) we tackled the dunes together (the sole exception to the no following rule). We found Flag 5x like a dream, there by 8 am. Flag 6x on the extreme route caused a few more problems. The benefit of travelling together in the dunes is that many hands make for lighter work when
there are problems. Within minutes of setting off for 6x, Team 135 needed a tire change, which in the Gazelle spirit of solidarity we sorted out... The favour was soon repaid - we went over the crest of a dune and wound up wedged between camel grass and the back of a dune.
After a few hairy moments - including a nearly catastrophic collission as Flo flew over the dune and almost landed on our 4x4 - we made it to 6x by noon. By this time, the dunes were HOT HOT HOT, the sand was so soft we were sliding all over the pleace, and our were had only 1/4
tank of petrol remaining - and as there were no taxis available to take us to the bivouac - and dreading what was in store, we headed due south to exit the dunes on thankfully what was our easiest drive of the day.
A serious lack of petrol (running out results in 200 penalty points) forced us to head back to the camp - a 100 km drive over tough rocky terrain, almost the whole way with our fuel warning light flashing red! On nothing but fumes we crossed the finish line!
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