Rolling the blinds up just made it worse. Big blue sky and lots of sunshine. Quick calculation - yes - it is still possible - if we're quick. Ever tried getting out fast with a big hangover? Not good. But we made it.
Problem number two came with a hole in our local knowledge. Of course we know where Fyti is, been there loads of times. But the track from Fyti down into the valley at Anadiou? Took a bit of finding!
There had been more overnight rain, so the Special Stage was very muddy. It was hard even just to walk up - I wouldn't fancy hustling a rally car through this lot.
As with the previous days, it took a bit of walking and then retracing of steps to find a good spot. I've never really photographed motorsport before, but I now know one of the keys to success is to find a place that can be used to produce a number of different shots.
We ended up on another rocky outcrop. Though after yesterday's experience, one sheltered from the wind! Despite there being more cloud up in the hills, the sun shone most of the time even though it was still pretty chilly.
When the action started, it was spectacular. The mud made it a lot less predictable and the cars were clearly fighting to get grip. Our place was on the edge of a rocky ravine - perfect for amplifying the noise of the cars reverberating off the rock faces as they roared past.
The sun stayed out - and amazingly I found myself shooting down at ISO 800. A bit of a change from the previous two special stages. I've also learned to trust the 'Continuous' focus mode - and am now confident it can get sharper pictures than I can - especially of a rally car thundering straight towards you when you're using an aperture of f4 on a long lens.
All too soon, we were into the last of the cars, and the rally was over.
The results? It was won by a Citroen C4 WRC driven by Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena. They did well - though I'd hazard if there'd been a fourth day the Ford Focus of Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen would have overtaken them.
To see the pictures from the day, go to my picture Gallery FxPro Cyprus Rally 2009.
Also check out my previous two blog posts describing Day 1 of the FxPro Cyprus Rally 2009 and Day 2 of the FxPro Cyprus Rally 2009.
