HISTORY
The Blue Cross was born from an argument that Colin Anderson, the founder had in a bar in 1990 about the location of the lowest point in Zimbabwe. This led Colin to search through maps & find that it is the Save-Runde confluence, Mahenya (150 meters above sea level), in the South East Lowveld. The dramatic contrast in scenery between the highest point, Mt. Nyangani (2,593 meters above sea level) & the lowest point & the rounded figure of 500km inspired Colin to establish an endurance event for walkers & cyclists. In 1996 the Blue Cross was born with the purpose of raising money for the SPCA in Zimbabwe, with 8 walkers & 16 cyclists setting off from the dusty lowveld along a challenge never previously attempted.
INTRODUCTION
This Blue Book has been compiled to give you, your seconders & organisers a comprehensive picture of the event. It contains a practical preview, clear-cut rules if necessary to be enforced firmly & fairly in a friendly way, detailed stage descriptions, records & tips on seconding. Your important Stage Guides list start times & narratives of each day’s route followed by profiles & maps showing checkpoints, landmarks & turns.
The Blue Cross medal, most prized & deeply respected of all ‘ultra’ decorations, is attainable by almost anyone who can raise the minimum sponsorship & who has put in the proper training. Since inception entrants ages have ranged from 16 to 70. The backgrounds are similarly diverse: school goers, pensioners, surgeons, farmers, chefs, missionaries to radio presenters, soldiers, bag sergeants, husbands & wives, & whole families from nations spread from SA to New Zealand, UK to the United States.
The un-marked route covers 500 kilometres & is done by both Cyclists & Walkers...
Both the Traditional & MTB Cyclists start in the Save river bed. The Traditional ride follows tar roads but takes in 3 stretches of rough gravel totalling +/-135Km all done in 4 back-to-back daily stages differing greatly in terrain & distance.
The MTB ride is all off-road, 5 days back to back & navigated by bike mounted GPS’s.
Again Walkers either on the Traditional or MTB route start in the Save river bed. Both disciplines are done over 10 daily stages with 3 compulsory rest days, notably though the off-road route is navigated by GPS.
All disciplines complete the event by climbing the 3km up to Mt. Nyangani beacon.
The topography & sometimes the weather are extreme! Apart from the first flat sections, climbs & descents persist to the very end - many of them far more severe than the other - do not underestimate what lies ahead: back-to-back days of sustained effort are rare in endurance fixtures & require a careful approach if you are to not burn out before the Finish.
Although Blue Cross is for everyone, interest is naturally drawn to the front-runners but however fast or slow anyone’s time might be this year, something special will happen to every one of you… a warm & rewarding sensation of deep companionship & goodwill spontaneously fostered by sharing in one of Southern Africa’s great endurance events.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Minimum Sponsorship Cut Off27th July 2012
Minimum Sponsorship is Bronze Medal Level
GOLD$600
SILVER$400
BRONZE$200
GENERAL INFORMATION
You & your seconders need to equip yourselves for an unforgettable week long trip, guarding yourselves against malaria & bringing with you your accommodation & food requirements. Dependant on your booked accommodation this may include tent & bedding, basic cooking, eating & drinking utensils, chosen foodstuffs, cooler boxes, water containers, woollies & waterproofs, changes of clothing, laundry aids, toiletries, headgear, sunblock, cash & personal medications & dressings.
Facilities vary from place to place - from simple outdoor too fancy indoor living. Remember that Zimbabwe is prone to sudden shortages… so lay in a store of essential foods & enough fuel to tide your vehicle from start to finish. Each day you will be moving gear forward in whatever transport you may have laid on, consistent with reasonable comfort, please keep your kit to a minimum & have it securely packed & clearly labelled at all times-any losses could force you out of the event. Bring enough cash for planned shopping & also for unforeseen expenses such as pleasant socialising in your leisure hours.
This Blue Book, which you should take with you for reference at any time as it is an un-marked route, describes the ground in detail & gives useful advice on how best to cope with the conditions. Be sure to attend the pre-stage briefings & study our Stage Guides well in advance. If unsure about anything don't hesitate to consult the Organisers who will do everything they can to help. In what lies ahead we must remind you that, although the organisers will be responsible for arranging timekeeperswhere necessary sweep vehicles & First Aid(ALL sponsor dependant), the route is un-marked so it is your responsibility to navigate the course. We cannot provide anyone with the goods & such we have advised you on what to bring along.
Your safety is our paramount concern! Most of you will be familiar with the shocking driving on our roads. Watch all traffic closely & take avoiding action in good time. Whether you are cycling or walking wear conspicuous brightly coloured clothing when travelling & keep to the very edge of the road. Be vigilant for sharp rocks, loose stones, wash aways, fallen trees, eroded road shoulders, potholes, crumbling tar & jagged cattle grids. It is wise to arrange travel & accident insurance to cover the period of your trip. Also beware of thieves! All along the route there are locals every bit as cunning as their counterparts in the cities. But take pains to treat our always curious spectators with courtesy, tolerance & respect.
PRE-RACE FORMALITIES
Check in on arrival, hand in any outstanding Donors Books & money, complete final documentation & collect your Number if not already collected plus other goodies. After pre-event briefing relax with sundowners & enjoy supper. After securing your possessionshave a good night's sleep until our wake-up call - the signal to get up, eat up, kit up, warm up & pack up for your start.
ON THE TRAIL
Participants will set out on each stage fully briefed… warned about tricky surfaces, traffic hazards, the weather & other uncertainties. Follow the directions contained within this book and/or your GPSbut look out for evidence of grids & potholes as signs are no longer prevalent. The ZRP have been notified of the event & our movements but can give no guarantees. Although we will do our best to advice the movement forward of your personal kit & rations each day is up to you to arrange, ensuring that you have an outfit of warm clothes waiting for you at the end of each stage. Consider the often lengthy wait for your road mates at the Finish & guard against cold, thirst, sun or rain. All overnight lodgings are to be left spotlessly clean as the future of Blue Cross depends totally upon the cooperation & goodwill of local communities.
All bikes have to be road worthy & should be thoroughly serviced & adjusted for maximum comfort including spares & tools handy for routine repairs & do your best to have your own seconder, relying as little as possible on others. Nights stops & re-supply en route present few problems as most stages end within reach of amenities adequate to satisfy your expected needs. The first night at Chilo by all accounts will be luxury & then facilities at Fiddlers Green Polo Crosse Clubthen several hostelries in Chimanimani - will be more than enough for survival. The City of Mutare offers numerous hotels & then on to the Finish in the Nyanga area, where the base is at Rhodes Hotel.
GETTING TO START
First-timers to the area might become a little uncertain of their whereabouts. Just ask any of the locals for "Mahenye" or "Chilo" & they will set you right. Regardless of your discipline on arrival you must Check-In with the organisers & again in either discipline you may have booked accommodation, so please arrive as early as you can on the day before the Start, to get in some valuable rest after a long drive.
MTB CYCLE DIVISION
ROUTE SUMMARY
Estimate +/-
Altitude (M) / Hillwork (M)Stage / Km / Min / Max / Up / Down
STAGE 1 / 94.9 / 170 / 650 / 1070 / 700
STAGE 2 / 80.7 / 420 / 1600 / 1470 / 1075
STAGE 3 / 96.4 / 510 / 1590 / 2580 / 2000
STAGE 4 / 115.0 / 802 / 1810 / 1710 / 2340
STAGE 5 / 110.0 / 1130 / 2140 / 2600 / 1600
STAGE 6 / 3.2 / 2130 / 2585 / 450 / 16
TOTAL / 500.00 / 9880 / 7731
Mention must be made that there are a few route changes as the route is developed plus the route is navigable 100% by a bike handlebar-mounted ‘on-the-trail’ GPS, there are no route markers & such it is the rider’s responsibility to follow the daily stage GPS track in full! Seconder vehicles will also require ‘on-the-trail’ GPSnot an ‘on-the-road’ GPS.
The ride is ‘Self Supported’ therefore Seconders are required to move vehicle & support the rider with all requirements.
Please remember you are passing through communal, private & National lands & your respect is paramount. In the unlikely event you are stopped ‘act innocent’ & firstly apologise then say ‘we are in a race & that you are trying to find your way to x,y or z’ let them explain how to, then continue on your way back on your GPS.
Not only are the days tough, the nights on the road will be spent in unfamiliar surroundings albeit we hope in comfortable conditions... so equip yourselves accordingly. The best transport to take along is a bakkie preferably open backed to accommodate your bikes plus more if you are doubling up, if the bakkie is canopied then a trailer may be required to transport the bikes. Make sure that your ride is in tip-top working order & that your toolkits & stocks of spares are adequate. Plan your seconding arrangements carefully, remembering that if the vehicle is supporting more than one competitor - & those riders get spread out - it is very difficult for the job to be done properly.
Beware of too much enthusiastic "hype" in the beginning - this leads to collisions & possible injuries, damaging your chances of riding through & beware of overextending in the heat, attend to your fluid intakes & don't push it too fiercely.
We appeal to ALL seconders to avoid unnecessary dust for ALL riders (if reported dust in excess, time penalties to your rider may apply) & be aware of your riders re-fuelling areas & common sense must prevail but experience has proved that any re-fuelling is best undertaken on flats or an uphill, NEVER a downhill-also ENSURE AT ALL TIMES YOU POSITION VEHICLE WELL OFF TRACK!. Be aware of local children who are renowned for hassling seconders, ensure vehicle is locked & goods are secure
STAGE 1
Route Notes:
Get up in the near-pitch darkness, eat & prepare for the long hard day. Your adventure starts at dawn with a ‘warm-up’ ride from Chilo to the start in the Save river bed. Thereon we suggest the first 24km is ridden as a group to enjoy the camaraderie! The next 27.5km's follows flattish district road going into 13km of scotchcart & single track through communal villages & lands. Followed by 8.5km of good district Border road then onto 4.5km of scotchcart track followed by 4.7km of rocky single track & back onto the Border road with the remaining 17km to the overnight ‘bushcamp’.
Seconder Notes:
For the first 24.6km to Point A Seconders will be instructed to go ahead of ALL riders, this in consideration of the riding group to avoid unnecessary dust. At A Riders Turn Right - Seconders now have choice...
i.Activate Track DAY 1i on 'on-the-trail’ GPS is compulsorywith the pre-loaded track which is simple to follow as not all sections are with the Rider so you need to know where to go & where to wait & re-meet riders. Wait at Point A for your Rider then follow & second them as necessary along the Red Track. At Point B you leave your Rider & Stay Right Red Track around to Point C to wait for your Rider to appear along the Cyan Track, you have 19km & your Rider 12km so long as no dawdling you should be at C before rider. Again at Point D leave your rider & make your way 8.7km around to Point Eto wait for your Rider to appear along the Cyan Trackthen continue to follow them to day's finish set camp on right of road.
ii.Activate DAY 1ii & make your way to Point A& wait for your Rider, where they turn right & you then take Green Track to the Middle Sabi tar road & such won't see riders again till stage finish. At tar Turn Right travel 62.5km to Chibunje Business Centre (no sign) here Turn Right on to dirt road travel 11.7km cutting back on itself before going east through a valley arriving at Mwangazi BC. Turn Right & travel +-4.5km, see Chibhorani (hand water-pump) on right, set camp on left of road, & await the arrival of your weary riders!
STAGE 2
Route Notes:
Although this stretch is the shortest on the trip it must by no means to be taken lightly, the uphill sections are punishing but don't forget to take in the beauty of MTB'ing, also your seconders are not following & will meet you at +- 50km!
Seconders Notes:
i.Activate Track DAY 2i& follow the Red Trackfirstly to Point Fthen go to Middle Sabi RoadTurn Right, travel 13.0km to KondoPoint G. Turn Right & followonto dirt road-70m Stay Left, go 2km Turn Right onto the Chitoro road, known as Barbara in the Traditional ride, if you happen to come across Traditional riders on this section please be considerate & travel slowly past to avoid unnecessary dust. Travel a further 14km to top of Barbara at T-Turn Left onto narrow tar travel a further 7.4km & see Nyaututu School sign on Right & dirt road Point H, here wait for riders approaching up dirt road on along the Cyan Track. Feed them & continue along narrow tar for a further 7km to the Chipinge-Mt. Selinda road, at T Turn Left towards Chipinge. Travel 7km cross grid & immediately after Turn Right, travel 3.2km then Turn Right, travel 600m then Stay Left taking track today’s finish at Fiddlers Green.
STAGE 3
Route Notes:
Really harsh hill work awaits you, the uphill sections are a punishing 27 meters per Km. But probably the most picturesque passing through Tanganda Tea estates, Junction Gatewhere they also manufacture Tingamira Water then descending following the Chipita river to Nyahode +- 40km from the start. This is the confluence of the Nyahode & the Rusitu rivers where the riders go over an original 'Baileys Bridge'. The party is over' the remaining 50km is a grueling 1800m ascent but again a stunning ride going through plantations of Tilbury & through Lord Plunketts farm. T& Turn Leftonto tar road going to Chimanimani Town & finish at T Junction below Hotel.
Seconders Notes:
Seconders have 2 options...
i.This day is the most difficult terrain, a 4X4 is recommended. It is not possible to follow Riders on the first section therefore Activate Track DAY 3i& follow Red Track to the Chipinge-Mt. Selinda narrow tar, Turn Right to Chipinge. At first intersection in Chipinge go Straight Across onto the Junction Gate road then travel 13.2km & Stay Straight onto dirt road, a further 6.6km arrive at Junction GatePoint I here wait for your riders. From here follow ridersover tar road then exercise caution on steep descent to Nyahode (if road is impassable, feed your riders, then go back to Junction Gate & Activate TrackDay 3iii this will take you to finish in Chimanimani). Otherwise continue to Nyahode, Turn Right & cross the Bailey Bridge & once in the forests/plantations it may be necessary for first vehicles through to remove fallen trees. Finally T& Turn Left onto tar road going to Chimanimani Town & finish at T Junction below Hotel, after which pack your rider & travel to your night stop.
ii.Activate Track Day 3iiGreen Track go back to the Chipinge-Mt. Selinda narrow tar, Turn Right to Chipinge. At first intersection in Chipinge Turn Left towards Skyline & Chimanimani. Travel 13.2km then Turn Right going to Skyline, after 35.3km arrive at Skyline Junction & T-Turn Right to Chims. Travel 19km into Chims & below hotel & T Junction await the arrival of your riders, after which pack your rider & travel to your night stop.
STAGE 4
Route Notes:
Take in the view of the Chimanimani mountains before attacking Tank Nek which sees riders negotiate hazardous, rough & rocky 60.7km dirt road to Cashel. No seconding is permitted over Tank Nek. But the result of your hard work on this day is seeing some of the loveliest scenery so take your time & enjoy! This is followed with a fast tar descent to Mutambara Mission then back onto dirt again taking through striking msasa wooded tracks. Back into communal land ‘teeing’ onto the Himalaya Road at Ranella hill finding seconders +- 30km from last seconding point. This followed by a fast descent & crossing the newly constructed Chitora bridge, then arriving at Shaya Uripo & Pzimunya stores. You will see the Mupudzi dam & one crosses the river below the dam wall, follow dirt road up to T onto Mutare/Birchenough tar see the Ben Love Butchery/Store & finish for the day.