From the Midlands to the Middle of Nowhere - Road Runner (Meep, Meep!)

From the Midlands to the Middle of Nowhere - a Travel Bug Race

Yes, the race is on! Three worthy contenders are engaged in an epic race from the East Midlands in the United Kingdom to the Northern Cape in South Africa. To the victor go the bragging rights, and to those who help the bugs on their way, go our thanks.

About the starting point:

The UK East Midlands is an area made up of the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Derby and Leicestershire. Although there are some large towns and heavy industry in the area, the large rural expanses make for excellent caching, with many thousands of caches having been placed by a very active geocaching community. It is very common for a day's caching to result in finds in the double figures.

The TBs were released at event Into Africa (GC4J7EA), that was organised in order to say farewell to local cacher Temtmantent before he left for Malawi. We figured this might be a good opportunity to get the racers to the right continent at least.

About the finishing point:

The TBs are racing to a cache called Wild Animals (GC19AR7), in a small nature reserve near the town of Calvinia in the Hantam municipality of the Namakwa district of the Northern Cape, South Africa. The town plays host to the annual Vleisfees (meat festival) where large quantities of meat (mostly lamb from local farms) is braaied (barbequed) and eaten, and much beer is consumed, to the accompaniment of local musicians playing boeremusiek (farmer's music) late into the night. For the rest of the year, the town acts as a supply point for the local farms, and boasts the district's largest hospital.

The cache that marks the end of this TB race is one of the most remote in the district, with no other caches for many miles in any direction. Standing at GZ, you really do feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. It was placed by Mr and Mrs Harper before they were married, under Mr Harper's old geocaching name of XV Pilot. They were accompanied by Mooble, who still lives in the area, even though the Harpers are now happily married and living in the UK.

Other TB's in the Race

TB4Y1DA - From the Midlands to the Middle of Nowhere - Chads Trip TRIP!!!

TB4YZ9M - Firebug

About this racing TB:

This TB has entered in the race attached to Road Runner, not just any Road Runner. There are possably not a lot of things that is faster the this animal, but one of the things that I am hoping is, is Road Runner in a car. (It is a long way from the Midland so he may need a little help.) Photos of the him on his route would be greatfully recived and very much apricated.