Thursday evening

There is very little to add to yesterday's comments, except that this was the most hazy, smoggy day so far. The sun this morning was a fuzzy orange disc and it didn't get much better as the day wore on. In fact, at one stage this afternoon, I thought we would not be able to continue. Some white-domed tents just to the right of the range - just 50 yards or less - almost vanished and the 900/1000 yard targets were worse. However, some persevered and some even scored a lot of bulls! We do still have problems with some targets and tomorrow will see the final pusch to get enough of them working reliably.

Otherwise, I finished off the squadding for the first three days of competition, starting Saturday morning. I'll tell you tomorrow where you may be able to find scores and results.

The drive back here was relatively uneventful, although one car got left behind and was not part of the police convoy. The occupants of that car said they had the least nerve-racking drive of all so far and there were no accidents. We think the police are enjoying their position of power in sweeping aside the traffic and trying to force our cars to keep close behind. Not much we can do about this, except grin and bear it .... that "frozen smile" is beginning to hurt!

A further word on traffic. Our route from the range starts off on divided highway (dual carriageway) with a CWG dedicated lane. Only the broken bits of road cause any trouble - and there are many of these due to heavy truck traffic and monsoon washout - the potholes are impressive. Then we go on to the road through Gurgaon to Sohna, which is again mostly dual carriageway. However, the rules of where you drive are a little different from what one might be used to at home. Your vehicle stays in the left carriageway, unless that is too busy, in which case it moves into the opposing lane. Our police turn their flashing lights on and oncoming traffic is meant to give way - all have done so, so far, but often at the last moment. The wrecks littering both sides of the road show that not all make it. And then, every 2-3 km, there are "diversions". These are where to road narrows to two lanes, generally crossing a water gully, where the bridge has never existed or has been washed out. Since the area is under construction, there is no road surface at all, just rocks and bricks, and one bumps oneself around through thick clouds of dust, with the several lanes of traffic squeezed into two and our police forcing our way through against it all. How we must be disliked!! The presence of pedestrians, cattle, the ubiquitous tuk-tuks (three wheel drive 'mini-cabs', licensed for 4-5 passengers, often carrying a dozen or more), heavy trucks, tractors, bullock carts and buzzing swarms of motorcycles and small cars, makes it all a fascinating, sometimes terrifying, experience! My wife and others know how good a passenger I am in any sort of conditions, so they will appreciate the state of my nerves and blood pressure. But it's India and it's amazing! None of this can paint the real picture, but I've been snapping photos out of the car and will try to add one or two soon.

All illusions, in the end, get shattered, and one of mine was totally destroyed tonight. My good friend, Phil Harrison, poured a dram of perfectly respectable single malt (Dalwhinnie, I think) and mixed it with Sprite, yes Sprite. I am appalled! Is nothing left of civilised standards in this world?

I've kept this pretty neutral, so far, since that's the position I'm in on the Jury. However, I should say that Jim Paton and Des Vamplew are shooting well, under the benevolent guidance of Sandy Peden. Sandy was a titch under the weather today, from the usual "Delhi Belly", and stayed in the Village. Des has promised to let me have snippets and comments about the Canadian Team effort - I will add these when I receive them.

More tomorrow.