FINAL DAY OF DAKAR 2019 Pisco to Lima

Due to some confusion we got off to a late start and barely made it in time, but they started in reverse order so only missed a few guys. We were on the first dune and could see them at the start which was downhill half a mile away.
I started to feel sick and had serious gut ache. The stage was only 130 km  long so we saw most of them finishing the stage as well.
The one side by side guy threw something along side us on the dune and Brandon jumped over the tape and grabbed it as the police blew their whistles which they love doing, and it was a Dakar shirt.
I decided to go back to our room while Brandon went to the winner's  circle as the stomach was killing me. I had the trots and then showered  and went back the 20 km  to pick up Brandon and head to Lima.

I could only drive half way as Brandon slept like he does everytime I drive. All the competitors were on the road also heading north and when we stopped for petrol Casey Currie an American also pulled in for gas and we congratulated him on coming fourth in his first Dakar and he thanked us for our support.
Arrived at our hotel at 1:30 pm and I tried to nap with no success and then we got an Uber to the podium where we met Lindsey and Boo. We had VIP tickets with free beer and snacks and where the racers drove by next to us after going over the podium.
The South African Kenny Robert's finished 19th and Ross Branch ( Botswana) won Rookie of the Year in 13 th place, an unbelievable result for those guys on their first try. We then managed to get into the exclusive party for the participants with food and a bar and delicious desert. Bill Conger was there with Robbie Gordon  and Bill remembered us and came over and chatted until he had to leave and Blade the driver joined us. On our way out we grabbed a banner but got caught so grabbed two further down the fence and went back to the hotel, but Brandon went to the Red Bull Party and that's the way it ended.

Dakar Day 9 San Juan to Pisco

Today's spectator's zone was at the start in Ica and I  didn't feel like driving all the way back there and just see the start. We got wind of where to kinda go but the police block of all the roads, but after showing them my press pass and still was told to wait for five minutes, and then he just waived us through.
That was all fine and dandy but we still did not know where to go and we dont have 4x4 on our little Toyota. Then we saw some vehicles below us so we quickly turned around and headed down and managed to follow them to the dunes and not getting stuck in the fesh fesh was a little challenge. I don't know how these Peruvians know where the race is going to come through, but they do.
At the base of the dune they had a VIP tent set up for the rich unfortunate folk who relly don't get to feel and see the real Dakar. We hiked up the dune and shortly afterwards we saw the bikes coming, but came over the dune which was a kilometer down the ways. So everybody jumped in there 4x4s and drove over there and we jumped into the back of one and got driven to the top of the dune. The dune was massive and we had a great viewing point and all our guys gave us a wave except Robbie Gordon. The flag pole we planted in the dune out of there path so we thought, until the one American, Rafferty, purposely drove straight at it and I had to scurry out of his path, bloody crazy guy. I saw him later that night and mentioned it to him and he said when he saw the US flag he gunned straight for it.

It was another bloody hot day, my ears were fried and the sun just eats at you. So we are like 45 minutes drive from the road and low and behold an ice cream man appears on top of the dune ! The grinadella popsicle tasted like no other even at triple the price, so we had two. Yesterday the French Radio interviewed us and he asked me twice about the high prices of the water and ice cream and I told him the poor guys hike in from afar of course you going to pay more. To get ice cold water in the middle of nowhere in the desert with a horse with no name, la la lalala......  The French run the Dakar  and everybody dislikes them,  because they are so rude and unfriendly and think they own the place, which they do.
We hiked down the dune back to the car which was by the VIP area and in comes a chopper lands and drops two guests off who were late for the party and then left again. The poor VIPs only got to see through the dust the vehicles fly by them within fifteen feet of there tent. Once again people wanted photos of us with the flags and we got some cold water in trade.
The drive out was self navigated and we didn't get stuck and found our way out to the bivouac. We parked near the Dutchman and went inside the bivvie again for a walk around and checked out everything and picked up some VIP passes for Lima.
After a shower and getting all that sand out of every orofice, you feel fully cleansed and invigorated and thirsty for beer. We ended up eating with the Dutchman,  the service as even worse then normal, my Paella arrived first and I as done eating and the other guys hadn't got there food yet. Facundo from Argentina got served raw fish, sent it back and they brought it back and was still raw so he didn't eat anything. He rides with the Dutchman, Willem and Eddy, in their 4x4 Mercedes covered in sponsors decals. They went back to camp on the dunes where tomorrow's start is.