First Post

From www.dakar.com - History
"The adventure began back in 1977, when Thierry Sabine got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally. Saved from the sands in extremis, he returned to France still in thrall to this landscape and promising himself he would share his fascination with as many people as possible. He proceeded to come up with a route starting in Europe, continuing to Algiers and crossing Agadez before eventually finishing at Dakar. The founder coined a motto for his inspiration: "A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind." Courtesy of his great conviction and that modicum of madness peculiar to all great ideas, the plan quickly became a reality. Since then, the Paris-Dakar, a unique event sparked by the spirit of adventure, open to all riders and carrying a message of friendship between all men, has never failed to challenge, surprise and excite. Over the course of almost thirty years, it has generated innumerable sporting and human stories."

I recently began riding dirt bikes again after a nearly 30 year hiatus. As with all things I start I immediately dream of being among the best in the world. The finishers of the Dakar race are clearly in that category and so it is towards this goal I am drawn.

This blog is meant to document my latest foray into a new sport and competition, one I hope that will last long into my life and hopefully not take too much time away from my family as I pursue this dream.

I also hope that all of you who read this blog will find something funny, helpful or at least interesting in the subsequent posts.