 |
We had arrived in Nouâdhibou in darkness. Monday 6th was a rest day for us, and a catch-up day for those who were stuck at the border - or even further behind in Marrakesh. I took the opportunity to write a field report and we wandered into town to find an internet café. |
 |
The main street (above) has tarmac, pavements and kerbs (albeit with goats wandering around), but a peek over the walls reveals a different view of Nouâdhibou. This is a residential area... |
 |
Further down the main street. |
 |
Renault 12 taxis everywhere. At one point I peered over a wall and wasn't sure if I was observing a scrap yard or a taxi workshop - the yard was FULL or R12s in various states (or stages of being a taxi) |
 |
A side street, viewed from it's junction with the main street. The desert is only just beyond. |
 |
We had heard that other Teams were in town in other camp sites, and we happened upon Team Tony Hadley just preparing for the off as part of the first group into the desert. This was the first time we had seen them during the Challenge... we were soon to see more of them |
 |
An enormous taxi fleet of Mercs and Renaults. despite my best efforts, this is the best pic I managed to get of one of the Mercs with no head-lights whatsoever. This appears to be a normal state for cars here. I had heard that Arabs tend to drive without using their lights... I now know that it's because they don't have any! |
 |
|
 |
Back at Camping Abba, the 'Holland Africa Tour' are moving out. Seems they take their desert expeditions a little more seriously. |
 |
Monday evening, time to eat out (again). The best restaurant in town... and one by one almost all of the Teams present in Nouâdhibou showed up. (clockwise from bottom left: Julian & Nick (Team Teknology Mir), Chris (Team Heavey),Alison & Ron (Team Red Star), Nigel and Alan (Cobb Cruisers). [Oops.. sorry about the date stamp! The camera needed re-setting sometimes - looks like I got it wrong here!) |
 |
Mark & Neil (Team Nikki Lada), Mike & Chris (Team Lock Stock), Richard & Fergus (Team Noweiser), Karl (Team Boy Racers) |
 |
The morning of Tuesday 7th. The Boy Racers, Team Red Star and Team Heavey almost ready to depart for the first proper raid into the desert. |
 |
Team Lock Stock and the Cobb Crusiers, engines running, ready for the off. |
 |
As we head out of Nouâdhibou, the Ore Train rumbles past us... |
 |
... and there's the carriage made famous by Michael Palin. |
 |
At the Police Check Point various Teams find themselves parting with pens, batteries and embroidered clothing. We advise one 'officer' not to use the small vials of drugs that he has obtained from someone previously - these were packaged French language, but looked to be for some form of inhaler. Police appeased, we head off again. |
 |
Edmond The Explorer (Team Heavey) seeks some shade from the desert sun. |
 |
It's a mirage!! Um.. it could actually be the sea. Nouâdhibou is out on a spit of land, and although we are heading inland, we're not that far out yet. |
 |
There's nothing like venturing forth into the unknown where no man has trodden before. And this is nothing like that! A desert style motorway confirms that other have been here before us. |
 |
a passing camel hearder and his heard. |
 |
|
 |
Team Heavey & Team Boy Racers |
 |
Possibly the best tyres on the Challenge (they ought to be! The whole set cost more than the car!). |
 |
Edmond tries to 'read' the tyre tracks to find out when the last vehicle passed through. |
 |
The guide instructed us to stop. He then went about systematically letting air out of everyone's tyres. Some took the photo opportunity, and others took it as a chance for a call of nature, it seems (far left). |
 |
Left to right: Team Heavey, Team Boy Racers, Team Red Star, Team Lock Stock, The Cobb Cruisers. |
© www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk 'Drew
Heavey 2003
All images and editorial are protected under copyright.
No unauthorised copying permitted.