dakar rally 2008 cancelled

[Bryan Burke]

I ride, backpack, ski, kayak, and run rivers alone quite a bit throughout the west. I've done a lot of research on Personal Locator Beacons. I have also done three cross Pacific flights (Indonesia to AZ) ferrying airplanes (slow and low, not jets) to the US, with the real possibility of going down in the Pacific a thousand miles from land. Here's my opinion on rescue beacons. First, never count on rescue from an external source. While I have a high regard for the Coast Guard and the Air Force PJs, I can't say the same for the average county SAR team, unless you happen to crash in Yosemite National Park. Most SAR teams are just like the people they are going after: fat, out of shape, and none too skilled. While traveling with a partner or two is nice, the fact is that if you are adventurous, you can't wait for other people to get the gear, skills, and time to go on trips or you'll never get them done. So don't be intimidated by solo travel, but respect the risks. I do try to avoid any situation that could result in a serious problem, regardless of method of travel. Nonetheless, on remote, solo trips I've flipped my boat a couple of times, dropped the bike four times (with all my touring gear), and been on some walks where maybe I went a little too deep. None resulted in a rescue situation, but it's a fine line. I think going out well prepared and building your backcountry skills carefully is probably a better safety net than an electronic gadget and the hope that there will be a competent organization behind it. When I'm riding remote areas I always plan to walk up to 50 miles out and carry appropriate water and gear. For example, I ride in hiking boots with a steel toe, wearing gaiters to keep out the sand and water, rather than motorcycle boots. I know I can walk out in my hiking boots. I don't know if I could do two or three days of walking in motorcycle boots. So far my falls on the KLR have been very slow speed in rough country. I've sprained my ankle (also cracking the shift lever) on one and broke a finger on another. Two other remote, solo, falls were uneventful. Two out of four involved getting a leg out from under the bike. I'm pretty strong, carry a good first aid kit, and have always been able to get out from under the bike, stand it up, and ride away. I wouldn't ride alone if I wasn't confident I could do that. So far I've always saved myself, but maybe someday I'll wish I had a way to summon rescuers. Assuming I couldn't get out on my own, I travel with enough stuff to get by for several days and let people know where I am going. Personal locator beacons are probably a good idea, although I don't carry one. Do some research: The new SPOT plb looks good initially, but once you see the long term price you might change your mind and go with something like the ACR plb. The latter would be my choice, supposing my life was worth $500. ;>) I hear they have proven pretty useful in places like Alaska where you are really out there, not just a few miles from pavement. I think a satellite phone and GPS are the best gadget combination, but sat phones are pricy and don't always work,and they are comparatively bulky. For super remote areas like the Pacific Ocean we had sat phones, multiple GPS's, personal plbs, and the plane's beacons, not to mention flares and strobes. All this has to be stashed in waterproof, shock resistant containers, and it takes up a lot of room. (An ACR plb by itself is a tidy package, you can just slip it into a pocket.) Speaking of which, a strobe and a couple of flares are cheap and light. A compass with a mirror will double as a signal mirror, something nice to have if people have a rough idea where to look. I also carry some bright orange and pink kite fabric: it's light, cheap, packs real small, and is highly visible. Of course, none of this stuff is worth much if you haven't figured out how to use it before you get in trouble, or no one knows where to look for you. In my own opinion, our culture of safety has gotten a little out of hand. People seem to think rescue is just the touch of a button away, but it just isn't so. For example, I'm sure the Reverend could tell you exactly why his helicopter won't launch on a mere cell phone call. If you think you might need someone to rescue you, you are already in over your head. If you like going beyond the range of the state patrol or sheriff's office, don't rely too much on gadgets, push your limits a little at a time, and just get used to the idea that we all have to die somewhere. Bryan Burke [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dakar-Dave" wrote:

> > Whether you agree with cancelling the Dakar or not, this helps put it > into perspective from the organizers point of view. > > Link: > http://debka.com/headline.php?hid=4908

Ouch. Debka is Mossad front, created by a "former" Israeli intelligence agent. What you read there is what Mossad allows to be put up in public (i.e., does not threaten their methods or sources), or, sometimes, deliberate disinformation to manipulate U.S. foreign policy (they are a favorite "source" for rags like Drudge Report or World Nut Daily, from whence it moves to the Weekly Standard and Fox News) but this doesn't read as such. Undoubtedly there is far, far more that they could not publish. It looks like it wasn't just one country that was an issue. It was multiple countries. Short of sending an armored division ahead of the racers to clear IED's, remove potential car bombs, and sweep the neighborhoods adjoining the race route, I see no way to secure the race under those conditions. Of course, this is assuming Mossad has accurate information. Mossad has had its failures, like its failure to predict the Yom Kipper War and its failure to document the extensive nature of Hizballah's fortifications in southern Lebanon last year which led to Israeli troups getting stuck in a quagmire there and having to withdraw with tails between their legs. But in general Mossad has a very good reputation for punching beyond its weight (the entire state of Israel is about the same size as New York City).