Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ghat, Libya

(This dispatch was sent as multiple text messages from a cellphone in the Libyan desert to Washington, DC for transcription and posting)

Cold, cold, night with very little sleep. I cannot imagine that we will not sleep again until Friday or late Thursday. Now on the bus going to the start of the race. I am sitting next to Mudar and his advice is to be patient. When I asked Isabella about not sleeping, she laughed and said “honey, I am a mother of five and a previous lawyer, I am use to not sleeping.” We will see how it works. Our goal is to make it to Camp 1 at 43 miles or so. Then we will plan from there. Its 30 kilometers to the next first aid station so we have to carry a lot of water – about 2 liters each.

We learned at a meeting yesterday that we have to pay close attention to the road book as every twist and turn and change in geography matters and if we are not careful could lead us off course. My personal goal is to remain positive and fully supportive of my team. We have worked so hard to get here. We need to enjoy this experience and take it all in. Next year it would be great to have more Americans here.

Don’t forget to check the Libyan Challenge website for live updates (http://www.libyanchallenge.com/anglais1.html). Incredibly, I am sending these dispatches via text on my cell phone (AT&T really is everywhere) which is probably going to coast a fortune.

Along the way we will pass some of the rock paintings today. We learned that there is a dispute that the rock paintings may not have been painted by the Tuaregs. We hope to learn more as we proceed. 

We are passing what is called the “Cave of Evils.” It is 81 meters high of rock and local people believe it is haunted. Get a strange feeling when the climb it. It looks like the Grand Canyon.

We are being driven to the start of the race in a 4x4. Our motto is “Yes we can.” Loaded up and heading out feeling like flying through the desert. I’m in the back of a pickup truck being driven by a Tuareg driver. There are runners from France and Italy with us and a French father and son team. The Father, Bob, says it is freezing cold in the desert and boasts surviving it – “ bon voyage!”. Jean Narc, the race director, is riding with us and says we our presence is “miraculous”. He is real happy to have Americans finally come.

Everyone thinks JB and I we are nuts are carrying video equipment and cameras with us. Can’t believe relieve I have cell phone service in this craziest adventure. 

We made it to the start point!!! Americans at the back of the pack and its getting hotter. Walking through a canyon and about to start the climb down. Now in shorts and a tee shirts. Passing nomadic hoses made of clay and rock low to the ground. Probably housing for one of the few Tuaregs left living in the nomadic lifestyle. We are so far behind the other runners. All other runners look like pencils in the distance. 

OK Libyan Challenge – here we come!

Rebecca Byerly
Ghat, Libya
@2009