Acclimatization for Kilimanjaro

Acclimatization

Having a big  day in the "Acclimatization Tent" getting ready for the climb. We have this wonderful tent set up in our living room. We look like lab rats sitting in it. It is funny when someone comes up to the plastic window points and say's "I want that one." The tent is currently set to simulate 13,000 feet of elevation. The tent is in constant use by our expedition team members. You can even play Wii while hanging out  in the tent. The first day I got an "Altitude Headache" after just a couple of hours but now I am doing a lot better. I really want to make it to the summit. Oh by the way the Rotary installation banquet last night was great!

Move over hubby there is a new sheriff in town!

I have taken over Tim's Marathon des Sables blog and will be using it so to keep my family and friends updated on my climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We will leaving for Africa on July 18th. I will keep you posted.

Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary /Shelterbox

Way to go Team we did it. The race is finished but not the mission. Our original goal was to raise enough money to house 10 people after a disaster with Shelterbox kits. We currently have pledges to house 30 people with Shelterbox's kits. So why isn't the mission finished? I think no I know that we have more in us!

I hate to keep moving the finishing line further away but when you signed up for the Marathon des Sables you knew it was going to be longer than imagined. Yet I was so very surprised and humbled by a  generous $1500.00 donation from the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Foundation. I thought we have more in us so I would like to see us get 40 people maybe 50 people sheltered from our efforts. Note we will never meet the people that will benefit from our effort.  The lesson of Karma is strong. Please note just during the short period we were running the MDS Shelterbox deployed to Fiji, Western China, Uganda, and Mexico. Shelter box gives to those who have nothing but the clothes on their back. One day their live is good the next they have nothing. It is very humbling when a 6 year old boy gives up his ice cream money to our cause. Thanks Brogan! Also a sincere thanks to all to those who have given not only money but more so spiritually. I am humbled by it all.

Send a symbolic $1.00 dollar to Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Foundation
Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club ~
P.O. Box 341841
Lakeway, TX 78734.

Memo Shelterbox

Stage 3 Marathon des sables Part 1

I had just left checkpoint 2 only stopping long enough to fill up my water bottle and change socks. The last leg had been a bad one for my feet as in out of nowhere 5 blisters have popped up. I blamed it on myself for doing  a bad sock change. The blisters are mainly between the toes and just bothersome. The heat has crept up steadily and is now north of 120 degrees fortunately there is no wind. I would hate to have had some wind cooling me down and miss out on the hottest temperatures of the whole MDS. The ipod is playing in my ears and provides a good distraction to the stunning heat. I start off the leg jogging then walking using a run walk startegy with a ratio of 80% walk and 20% run. That quickly becomes a 99% to 1% run / walk survival mode. On this section there is a lot of support vehicle activity going on with the Doc Trotters medics staying very busy. There are places along the route that a vehicle can get to and with this heat a lot of people are getting zapped. I go through a little grove and pop out the other side to find a Brit standing off to the side looking confused and holding his flare. I quickly jog over to him and inquire what is up? He replies,"I can't get my flare into my pack." I say"No worries I thought you were going to shot the thing. Let me help you" Relived that this guy is not about to pop his flare. I push it down into an outside pocket it is tight but after a struggle it goes in. I pat him on the back and say "Good luck mate" off I go. There is only about 5 miles left in the stage and despite the heat I am going along well. Life throws stuff at you never when it is expected but usually on a Tuesday afternoon out of the blue. I am feeling grand despite my feet's new blister friends. I am thinking just be patient and finish this leg keep enjoying the day. I need a drink so time to hydrate so this heat doesn't take me. I reach back and grab nothing my water bottle is gone.

Victory Party

Please come join us for our final 5 mile walk. We will be starting at the Lakeway Inn at 6pm and returning at approximately 7:30. After the walk, we will be overtaking the balcony area at Josie’s Bar, at the Lakeway Inn, to enjoy good friends, toast Tim, and submit our donations. Whether you walked or not, this will be the event you don’t want to miss if you want to show your support for Tim and his causes.


We will meet in the upper parking lot on the left as you come into the Lakeway Inn.

If you are not able to walk, please join us for the Party!

We will also have a shorter (2 mile) route set up for those who would like to walk less. These will be strategic walkers than can go to Josie’s Bar ahead of the crowd to save spots.

The Rotary Foundation has agreed to match our donations up to $1500. Please help us help them reach their pledge.

If you can't attend, please send your donations by mail to:
Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club ~
P.O. Box 341841
Lakeway, TX 78734.

Checks payable to: Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Foundation ~ memo: Shelter Box USA

Thanks,

Robert Leonard

Last desert message from Tim

Greetings from the desert final camp woke up this morning at 545 the berbers came by with coffee and croissants we then mossied over to start line sang happy birthday and as we departed they blared ac/dc highway to hell.you can watch the finish on webcam tomorrow morning I should finish between 5 to 8am your time.love to melinda I picked up a pretty rock and carried it with me for her that is love.out here you cannot give away gold krugerands if people have to carry.thanks to erich schlegel and theira I looked at my sleeve today and thought how lucky I was.croc score 4.we cannot wait to take on the highest dunes in north Africa tomorrow.it will be a test and we will kill it.feet are ok wrapped and ready to go love to all send emails to regular address now


Love to my queen and kids I think I might have lost some weight on this one and plan on keeping it off.only a half k tomorrow todays marathon I just cruised and ran just a few flats.the long day second half we worked hard through the night we passed a couple of hundred people and no one passed me and magnus.we were on fire through solid 15 to 20 miles of talcum powder non stop dunes it was dune after dune after dune thanks again for the support



Love to all
 
Also note that distances mentioned in previous post are actually km not miles. ~ Robert

Stage 5

Tim finished today’s 42.2 km stage in position 787 with a time of just under 9 hours. So far he has run/walked/crawled 229 km. 21 km to go! Should be a piece of cake.

It looks like e-mail communication has been closed so you will have to send him telepathic messages through his secret agent weiner dog Margarita. This is a free service she provides but not guaranteed.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow at the Lakeway Inn at 6pm for the final walk. If you cant walk, come to the Victory Celebration at 7:30 at the Lakeway Inn Bar. Bring you checkbook and giving spirit.

Thanks,

Robert