So That’s That Then
Cactus and traditional buildings from today’s start village. The rustic charm was dispelled quickly when the locals all appeared, taking pictures of us on their digital cameras and cameraphones
234km later and I can’t remember how much ups and downs, sand and camels and deserts and mountains… Today’s stage was ‘only’ 21km, but it featured lots of short, sharp, bottom-of-granny-ring climbs. Oh, and it was all above 2,200m.
One of the rocky, cacti-lined tracks of the final stage.I became focussed on just finishing, not particularly caring if people were overtaking me or not. There was a mix of smooth tarmac and scrubby, loose 4×4 tracks. We finished in the car park of the Abha Palace Hotel, where we’re staying. For the final four miles of high speed tarmac back to the hotel, the Saudi police had closed the entire road, holding back apparently patient traffic and leaving us the full width of the road to try and eke out a little more free speed on the descents. When the hotel finally hove into view, it was a great relief.
Job done, let’s all go for a pint of water…
Before dinner we had a gala prize presentation, complete with the Deputy Governor of the region, many armed guards and all of the high and mighty from the host villages. There was a general thanking of just about everyone and the winners received their enormous prize trophies. And special prize went to our mate ‘Q’ for being the oldest giffer in the race (only by two months, mind) so he got a plaque for his efforts.
The Ibis is now packed away and we’re off to meet the governor tomorrow. If we’re lucky we’ll get a chance to buy some carpets…