cat-i

Parallel is on the last cycling leg. They cliped the last CP a while ago and on the last stretch down Gifberg now. About 10-20 kms left, should be in this afternoon. They should finish 17th. Issy Adventure is about 5km behind them but they still on the climb, so that gap should widen a bit. Rustproof is at T7 - the last transition. Only the last cycling leg of 59km left. A massive achievement so far!!

If Nevarest Origin (49) continue on that pat they are now, they should soon see the valley below. They should be able to orientate the map acordingly and then make their way to T5. Steaks & Kidney (22) reached the river - not sure if this will help them orientate where they are, but if they can figure out where they are, there's a hiking rail that could take them to T5. Both teams will be very hungry. Rustproof and Parallel both on the canyon-leg now - Parallel has a good lead over Rustproof. Jut ahead of Parallel is Team 40 (couples retreat) - with the new Freedom Challenge race directors Chris and Julia Fisher, and also RASA finisher Tim Deane and his wife. Jabberwock just left the cycle; the French team is doen with the abseil and on their way to the last transition. Merrel and EnduranceifeUK are still racing each other to get to teh abseil first - currently it looks like Merrel is slightly ahead.

You would go right to the bottom of the log with other teams who missed control points. Probably depends on the race director if they would rank teams who missed controls, and if they would rank them according to number of controll missed. A team with a missing member (Nevarest) unfortunately also go to the bottom of the log

Dave do you know if there ever was anything about their, and the French team's use of the N7 early in the race?

Looks like Jabberwock is set for 4th - if there's no bike problems later. The French team looks like they're approaching the abseil but they haven't registerd at CP 32 (unless tracker wasn't tracking). Merrel and EnduranceLifeUK is quite a bit of time behind.

38 probaby shortcoursed themselves, opting to miss CP 28. I see more teams following that route now. Team 4 Lickety Split also missed CP 26 yesterday although they walked right passed it.

Been watching them the last few days. 49 had a perfect line to Sneeukop and one of the fastest times from T4. It's Yolande Speedy and Alec Aviernos (Greg Aviernos the Warrior Champ's dad). Last night it looked like they were on their way to Sanddrif, maybe follow the road from there - but I see they turned around now. 22 hasn't moved much sice last night about 10. Both of these teams should have enough food and shelter with them for one night - but by this afternoon they will get hungry if they can't find their way on the map

After bad visibility / their nav error costed them some time on the mountain, Keyhealth is chasing down teams. They were down to 22nd place, and now already in 15th. Now chasing the Swedish team Naturkompaniet and then it's Antimatter, Castle Light, Black Diamond - would be interesting to see which of these they can catch while still on the bike leg. Parallel didn't waste time at the hike/bike transition and are now on their way to the Clanwilliam dam. Rustproof is still at T5. Jabberwock also had a tough nav day in the mist yesterday and lost some time. They opted to chase team Sani (currently in 4th) rather than sleep at T5 (Total time spent there was 1:17). Nicely caught up, but Sani spent almost 5 hours at T5 - probably much better rested than Jabberwock now. Merrel Mentored also got some shut-eye at T5 (almost 6 hours). Omjakon, Blizzard, Agde all had less sleep (all 3 spent about 3 1/2 hours at T5) Then Bloed and Omo (G4K4) just missed CP 26. Probably deliberately - a pity, because they were doing so well and if they knew where everyone else on the course is, they probably would have gone to get it. They were right there Further back, Steak &v Kidney is hiking in the wrong direction. Bloed And omo designer gold also hiked in the wrong direction this morning. They recovered, but I see they are now a partial team

Parallel (Jewbacca) arrived at T5 a short while ago after a night on the wet mountain. Shebeen (Rustproof) is about a kilometer away. I'm sure they'll appreciate hot coffee, peanut butter sandwiches and dry clothes when they get in!

http://live.arworldseries.com/africa18/ Jewbacca's team slighly ahead of Shebeen's. Both on their way to Jamaca. Both spent the night out on the mountains. Rumours are it's very wet, but visibility must have cleared up a bit - the last few teams got CP26 much quicker than the leading teams yesterday.

Shebeen's team taking a nice tigerline to CP 26. That CP wreaked havoc with the top teams today - hope visibility is a bit better than lunchtime. Gonna be a cold night out for them but report are that the rain cleared up a bit.

Which campsite is this marko?

I was looking at that once, but couldn't come up with a route that I was comfortable with. Would love to see your route!

Good to see you posting here! Hoping to see your mileage move again soon.

Hope you're out already -the heavens just opened here in Sandton.

Strava made him do it

On days that I commute with Nancy we get about 500m ascent - one-way - between Randburg and Sandton. On days that we do manage to get to 15km/h on this section I think my colleagues would prefer me to shower first.

Leave shoes 2*pants & skirt towel shampoo make-up & deodorant in the office. Commute with clean non-wrinkling shirts, and now and again when I go in by car, swap the towel and heavier clothes. Have a shower right here in the office which is great.

But the 2 - 3 coffee addicts in the office soon know how to handle the exceptions, so as long as they know how to work the machine, everybody is happy, and as long as they are not on leave all at the same time, the machine wont break and everyone else should be able to get their coffee too.

Where are you based?

Was that this morning? You ok?

Gotta mark it as cycling (transport) - welcome

Lightning. That I'm scared of. I've cycled in hail a few times, snow once. But lightning - way too scared!

Things I've forgotten - but re-learnt on Wednesday's commute: To not assume that, just because you always have a chaintool and some goldlinks with you, and just because you transfer a handful of tools from one bag to another when you switch bags, that the ziplock with the chaintool and goldlinks will be in the bag you carry with you, on the day that you need it.

Which Able are you using? Fine holes? Standard holes?