Jul
14
2007
| A Band Apart |
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| Friday, 13 July 2007 | ||||
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The following story joins Team Vodka at the checkpoint 6 site of the Numinbah Environmental Centre. After 43.5 kms we were at the the Enviro centre and our spirits were high. We had reached the make or break section that the organisers had warned us about. We were nearly half way and with the second half of the adventure ahead, our success seemed assured. However, it was strange how when you've worked hard to plan for this adventure, to let it slip away. We were very tired and I think this was the reason for the situation which was soon to develop. Our team dynamics changed after leaving CP6. We had adopted two members of another team (JT and Rodney) who had lost half their team to injuries. We did the right thing and took them on board. When we arrived at the next major checkpoint (CP8 back at the Enviro centre) a heated Survivor style argument broke loose. It was between the leaders and the stragglers. The leaders wanted the stragglers to walk a little faster and the stragglers wanted the leaders to stay with them. It must've been entertaining for the public at the checkpoint as we screamed at each other. Our poor support crew just hid around the corner pretending it wasn't happening. Despite the argument, our strong bonds and friendship kept us together and we all knew that we were highly emotionally charged due to the physical stresses. During the next stage towards our highest elevated position (Syd Duncan's park), one of the hitchers JT, took a turn for the worse. For the last several days he had the flu and despite the illness still embarked on the trek. At the relentless up hill section JT's chest was heaving and then soon after he vomitted. We were worried he was going to get pneumonia. By now it was early morning and the sun was just about to pop over the eastern horizon. We reached CP9 (Syd Duncan) at 5am with a total of 66 kms behind us. JT had decided to retire immediately. At our support crew camp, the question was asked, "Do you want to continue?". Unfortunately, the two stragglers relented this time. Team Vodka had dissolved and became another statistic (Number of teams with two retirements, but the remainder finished with others). In hindsight, I had wished that as a team we had supported each other to the finish line. It was emotional being at the finish line and seeing other teams come through, in particular when we saw two members who had an injured person between them and literally carried her through to the finish. When Mal Mengina's team came through the paparazzi were there to greet him. I should have jumped on his back when he walked past me in the early stages :-) We also saw Whytey's team Everest Sucked come through. Hats off to Team Vodka's support crew (Matt & John) who were just simply amazing. They tended to our every need and pampered us at the checkpoints. Well done too to Nicole and Mel Rose. And I am especially proud of Nicey who despite agonising pain and extreme fatigue made it 66 kms!
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