Heading off to the Sahara

Mar 17, 2007

"No matter where you go, there you are"

– Buckaroo Banzai

It is a mad scramble to get things organized. There are bills to be paid, house-sitters hired and a multitude of items to pack.

There won't be a bikini and flip-flops. Instead, I have a tire pressure gauge and medical kit, though missing that venom sucker I was told to bring.

That's unlucky for me: Ontario's rattlers rarely bite, but the critters in the Moroccan desert may not be as kind.

This is not a vacation.

My navigator, Lyne "France" Guérer and I are competing in the women-only 2007 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, which starts Wednesday, March 21, and runs through Thursday, March 29.

This event is not a race, but a 1,200 km off-road navigational rally that can stretch to double that distance without an experienced navigator.

France, a Quebec native, has experience, having competed for three years. Her insight and skill are welcome.

I am a rookie. Roughing it for me is a weekend at the Hilton.

To add some excitement, we will experience two nights alone in the desert, sleeping under the stars.

May this be a warning to all scorpions, snakes and nocturnal beasts – I want creature comforts, not creatures around.

But why do this? Why do people climb mountains? Because they are there.

The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles is an adventure. Seventy-nine teams of women will leave the city of Mech Irdane in southern Morocco and hope to finish in the town of Foum-Zguid.

The terrain will be mixed, ranging from well-defined landscapes and minimal sand to rolling dunes and rugged outcrops. The isolation of the desert will be hard to imagine. A few nomads, goats and camels may be the only life.

There will be life at the nightly bivouac. Over the course of the rally, 7,000 meals will be served and an ocean of water consumed. Our mobile desert village will have doctors, and a helicopter will always be available in case of emergency.

Logistics personnel will know the exact location of each participant, thanks to a Global Positioning System, but competitors rely on compass navigation.

A full-scale mechanic's workshop is set up every day. Eighteen technicians are available for maintenance and repairs of rally vehicles. More than 50 tonnes of fuel will be used.

There is more to this rally than the competition. Its origins go back to 2001, when the Heart of Gazelles rally charity was created. Last year, more than $155,000 were collected to help the underprivileged women and children of Morocco.

The mobile medical caravan that follows the rally in the desert will perform more than 1,500 consultations with local residents. It will also identify the needs of the populations in these remote parts of Morocco and each year brings in new medical gear.

The rally also aids in the creation of day nurseries and schools, distributes classroom supplies, finances equipment and otherwise strives to bring independence to women and children in the region.

My bags are packed with school supplies, clothing and toys for the kids. I feel physically, mentally and emotionally ready to take on the Moroccan desert.

Internet users can track competitors via the rally website. I invite you to follow my progress at http://www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com, and by reading Wheels. France and I and our 4x4 truck are Team 126.

racernika@rogers.com

Toronto Star