"The Dog Conquers the Desert While the Gobi Bear Sleeps with the Fishes"

What a day 5. The course was tough, gruelling climbs,laborious stretches of sand, heat and more heat but all broken up with unimaginable places and incredible v views and edifices. I had an incredible day which began at 4:00am and did not really stop when I finally reached camp at 6pm. The Dog did the Prendiville crowd proud and I was elated to greet him crossing the line at 5:37am this morning. The hardest part was not being out there to support the Dog and knowing how he was travelling  over the last stages. Others in our tent also did fabulously well with John Lewis finishing in the top ten and then Michelle coming third in the women's section, both with incredible times. Steve and Andy both gutsed it out finishing not long before Doggy as they did not stop at checkpoint 6.
I started the day travelling to checkpoint 2, "The Valley of the Whales";what a magical place. It is an outdoors museum with trails leading everywhere to fossilised whale bones, information mud huts and fossilised marine environments and mangrove  swamps. Walking along the paths you could imagine the ancient sea beds of the Tethys Sea some 25 million years ago when there were no ice caps and the oceans were 70 plus metres deeper. The doctors decision to stop me walking to checkpoint 3 was again the right one as after walking some 4km into the valley the Gobi Bear made his final roars as he made his way back to camp passing the Dog along the way. It was quite touching to see the concerns of the other competitors for the Bear in his final convulsive spasms amongst the ancient sea beds. I spent the rest of the morning helping out at checkpoint 2 which was right next door to an exotic mud and timber hacienda. There were rugs laid out, hot tea and coffee, table and chairs along with a "flushing toilet", pure luxury. Thoughts of the Dog in the Desert by this stage had vanished.The cure for extreme nausea was also discovered and it was in the form of the most disgusting looking, salty, fat oozing  South African biltong.
The rest of the day was spent roving with the racingtheplanet crew, supplying water, spritzer spray and moral support to the rest of the racers. The final time I saw the Dog on the track he was hurting with his front tendon sheath giving him curry but soldiering on none the less, this was just before check point 4, where he had an enormous sand hill to climb, I hope the photos do it justice. The amazing thing was the front runners beat us into camp. Truly amazing athletes.It was a privilege to see them in action throughout the day.
The final camp is by the lake but it is a scorcher of a day, very little wind. The final competitors are fighting to beat the clock and only have half an hour left before cut off time of 1:30pm. No one has really slept since yesterday. The emotions of this long day are hard to describe but there is a certain calm that comes over the camp knowing that the race is all but done and dusted. The Dog is looking remarkably good sitting opposite typing his blog and both of us cant wait to get the final run around the pyramids out of the way so we can enjoy a cold beer, show ,pool and a comfortable bed.
I leave you with us slowly melting in the heat and cooking the bloody camel that has dogged us all race.
The Bent Beak lives to fight another day.

The Dog Marches on While The Gobi Bear is locked in Camp

Doggy had a great day in the heat apart from an enormous growth coming out of the top of his foot. A blister that one can be proud of. Combo of medical tent and Biffmiester magic will get him back on the road. Disappointing to have to pull the pin but heaving carried on through the night and could not get liquids down apart from medicinal coke. Doggy advised not going and then medicos said I couldn’t and are reluctant to let me go out tomorrow. Hope to keep Doggy company part of the way, at least to the Valley of the Whales. Fossils are truly amazing in this part of the desert. Found complete echinoderm shells, plus molluscs and impressions of jellyfish. The sunsets and sunrises are magnificent and had a brilliant canopy of stars last night to roar to.
In the end the right decision was made in not going as today as waiting for Doggy to arrive could not get fluids down until nearly midday. It is the most excruciating mental anguish knowing you have to drink, wanting to drink but cant drink. The same goes for food but to a much lesser extent. Thanks to friends, the Prendiville family and loved ones for all the encouragement. It lifts the spirits each day to read your words of encouragement.
Night falls and the camels are again being put to bed.
Bent Beak

The Bear began to roar from early morning, in fact the bloody camel tried to overtake me at the start until I kicked him in the goolies. Raced ahead roaring regularly everytime I tried  to drink or take tablets. What a strugle of a day. Pleased the Dog kept to his steady pace. He's doing very well. Gave myself only 1% chance of finishing today but took each campsite as the target. Highlight was the swim in the oasis. Felt magnificent at least for a short time. Absolutely shattered so will sign off. I'll keep the dog supplied with goodies as I wont be eating them.
Camels are now in bed
Bent Beak
PS Fat Guts Magee disappeared

Doggy went pretty well today and left me behind at camp 2.2 as I threw my liver up. His words of encouragement were I'll go slow catch me up. The day was rated difficult and the relentless sand and mountainous dunes have taken there toll. Just as I arrived at camp 2.3 I saw Doggy disappearing down the sand dune mountain. He left the usual Prendiville message of encouragement; Jesus may love you but Gary doesn't. If I had some skis I might have caught him. Lack of food is making it tough. I hit the wall climbing the last dune. As I say to Ash and Sean I've got nothin. You would think I would have learnt by now but the Biff and ultramarathons don't mix. Tomorrow is a very tough day and I don't know how much more I can eat my body and still get up these bloody sand dunes.The Dogs still a bit nauseas so I hope he can keep going.
My camel is looking pretty lame and may have to be put out to pasture or is that an oasis.
Bent Beak

The sand is finer than bulldust and gets into every crevice. Despite gaiters emptied half the Sahara out of the shoes at every stop. The morning would have been quite a pleasant stroll apart fromt the wind driving the sand through the eyeballs and out the back of the head. Doggy and I set a steady pace and all was pretty ood until the 30km mark. By then the temperature was well in to the 40's and beat relentlessly down upon us for  the last 1.5 hours sapping energy, drive and posing the question why are we here? Competitors began to fail from 1pm onwards. Unfortunately Sal was one of the victims in the last 5km. We got in in just on 7.5 hours. Nausea has once again set in so I think I will have to up the endurolytes from 1 per hour. Doggy is doing pretty well but also has slight nausea. Michelle did fantastically coming in 2nd for the women in just over 5 hours and the Brits also did well. Will leave the cybertent and thrash my camel  before putting him to bed. The finishing drums sound on and it is coming up to 11 hours, poor bastards.
regards
Bent Beak

The end of a busy week and getting ready for the real adventure. For those that didn't get my e-mail earlier in the week here is an expurgated version.
"Weeellll, what an adventure so far. The touts are thicker than flies. Have escaped the first day with barely a shirt on my back. It was a bit embarrassing walking around the pyramids in just my boxers after not having enough money to pay the camel driver. I am now the proud owner of many small pyramids, a sphinx and enough papyrus paintings to cover the walls of the house. Currently I am "the Guest " of the tour operator in downtown Cairo . I just hope I do not have to pay with my boxers to get home. I am worried as he has already commented on how nice they are. At this rate I will have a very light back pack for my run through the desert. I have paid for a trip to Alexandria and Aladin (the tour operator) has kindly taken my cash to change into pounds and let me use the internet to wire for more money. So friendly here in Cairo  . I am praying that Garry will get here soon as I think we will need the Prendiville backing to make it to the start line."
I managed to turn the tables in the bargaining department with a car each day plus guide for only $40. (They were not aware that the hotel was some 40minutes out of town.) I also hinted that I may want to travel to Luxor which although true was not planned for this trip. (It normally cost $75 for a return taxi to the hotel. When Garry arrived they wanted to up the rate but managed to keep the price down by promising to visit the driver's friend's perfume factory. Very interesting and spun out interest for a few days to keep the cheap car rate. Felt a bit bad when I got the driver to pay for my souvenirs and then the poor guide paid for my drinks the next day as I did not have any change. The perfume shop owner was horrified when after asking 6000 Egyptian pounds ($1200) for 6, 300ml bottles I offered 600 pounds. I think we may have upset the driver as well. Have had great difficulty getting on the internet at the Dusit Thani to finally do the blog and service has been ordinary but the food and rooms are great otherwise. 
Need to get back and do the final packing of bags. I just hit 14.8kg and I have not put all the gear in. Something has definitely gone amiss so I will have to start over, probably can ditch the Wellington Boots and the food as I have put on 4 kg at the hotel and it has not rained in years. 
Keep well and put your camels to bed.