Queen of the Desert

Headed into Lima the capital of Peru where yet again we managed to arrive on election day - wonder if we will be able to enter any town in South America that isn´t in the middle of an elction campaign? After a couple of days sightseeing we left the comforts of the big city and headed off into the desert. The east coast of Peru is one rather large desrt with reportedly the worlds biggest sand dunes. Foolishly? we decided to take advantage of these rather large dunes. We strapped ourselves into dune buggies (10 at a time) and were driven off into the desert. The buggies did not go slowly, and the dunes are not tiny. This was no normal car journey it was more like a roller coaster ride, we were going up steep sides and down what seemed like vertical drops. My stomach seemed to land in my mouth on a number of occassions but the buggying was only a warm up for what was to come next. On the back of the buggies were sand boards - these looked just like snowboards but tinier. At the top of the dune, the board was balanced whilst you tried to lie down on it - head first on your stomach - keeping all your limbs on the board (you try keeping all you limbs on a board only 30cm wide!). Then you were pushed down the dune. What an adrenaline rush! You are inches from the ground picking up speed, on a steep incline with absolutely no control over where you are going. After my initial fear subsided, it was great fun. After 4 runs on different dunes (each one getting progressively bigger and steeper) the sun had almost set - I didn´t think we would have time for another go. How wrong I was. We were taken to the top of a dune that was so steep, you were scared to look over the edge. This dune was around 100 metres tall. As you peered over the edge you couldn´t actually see the slope as it curved under the ridge. The idea of going over this dune was petrifying. I was almost last in line and could hear the screams from the others as they went over. The chap in front of me came off his board and I could hear shouts of "Is he ok", "Oh thank god - he has got up" This does not too anything for confidence levels - let me tell you! Then I was pushed over. To slow down you are supposed to lower your feet in the sand behind you as a brake. I started picking up alot of speed, I knew I was going way too fast and desperately tried to brake. Nothing happened - I kept getting faster and faster. I hit a bump and my sunglasses flew off and still I was getting faster. By this point I knew if I came off I could do myself serious injury so I was clinging on with all my strength. As the slope hit the flat I hit alot of bumps and was bounced about on the board. I knew it was painful but I was too busy concentrating to care. Finally my board began to slow and I could hear whoops of delight and alot of cheering. I had managed to get my board alot further than any of the others and was going by far the fastest. I was later told I was going around 65 kph. My group actually thought I had gone at that speed on purpose - do they think I am that mad? The next day I was covered head to toe in very purple bruises but at least my pain had not been in vain - I had been given the title of Queen of the Desert!