Team Kelty-Cabela race diary--January 18
Joy Marr, team coordinator
We have been staying at the Holiday Inn in Johannesburg, and this morning we head out to Lesotho. Most of the tour list has been scratched off: groceries, batteries, maps, fuel, trailer. I know I am ready to get moving and can only try to imagine how anxious the racers are after two years or more of preparation.

Last night more racers arrived including another American team, Team USA. This is their first year and Don, our captain, says he can remember how it was for his team their first year. This year, he mentions often, is so much better--better organized, better funded, and even stronger in many ways.

Yesterday we picked up Angelika Castaneda, the female member of the team. She brings a wealth of experience to this group, as she has not only participated in the Raid before, but also the Eco-Challenge.

The experience gained through many years at this level of competition quickly becomes evident as the team's discussions range from equipment and strategy to food and personal style, along with the multitude of tasks a trip like this entails.

Soon we will have the race route in hand, and the chance to work on the itinerary will be a welcome change from all this tentativeness.