RTG Southern Cross Daily Dispatch low-res - Flipbook - Page 27
15 February to 5 March 2020
Day 13
Masai Mara (rest day)
28 February 2020
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
This was probably the most eagerly awaited rest
day of all. The Masai Mara is an incredible place
and we were pretty much guaranteed exceptional
game viewing.
Both the early morning safari drive and the balloon trip
were popular options. Seeing the sun rise over the Masai
Mara, while suspended silently, in a basket above it all,
took some beating.
The balloonists had an early start though, they left the
hotel at 3:45am, and were well aloft by the time dawn
broke. The ride itself was something of a magic carpet,
which alternated between almost touching the ground, just
clearing the tree canopy, or barely skimming the muddy
Mara River.
Elephants, hippo, warthogs and gazelle slipped beneath
and, once they reached the landing zone, the pilot brought
us down gently and his passengers were transferred to a
champagne breakfast on the savanna. As the pilot himself
said “you can’t spend the day drinking, if you don’t start
early enough”.
Obviously there was a lot of activity in the carpark as
well, but thankfully none of it was serious. David Roberts
was looking for the source of a mystery clunking sound.
But (and given the roads we’ve been using), this search
proved fruitless. The little Triumph is running well enough
though, so there’s no pressing hurry to find it.
Alan Beardshaw was topping up his brake fluid whilst
Jean-Philippe Tripet was giving his Lancia Italia a good
clean. Inside and out. Gavin Henderson’s Porsche hasn’t
really put a wheel wrong so far, but he was looking at his
spares kit with a view to ordering some rear wheel bearings
after learning of Steve and Jenny Verrall’s experience
yesterday. He’s got two fronts, but he wants to make sure
that there is a full set on standby should he need them.
Rob Collinge and Thomas Hansen were also busy,
replacing the rear shock absorber bushes in their feisty
little Willys Jeep. Whilst simultaneously loving the event
Denis and Jill Wilson were gazing into their engine bay and
lamenting the fact that their Rover, which was in concours
condition before they started, is now full of dust and
mud. But, as everybody knows you can’t make an omelette
without breaking eggs.
www.rallytheglobe.com
