Day 3 Desert Camp to Desert Camp. Full Report.

Full report.  Thanks Matt for all your help with the updates.  this is a ride from hell.

Day One, Cairo, Pyramids, Desert Camp 137 Kms.

Well what a day, after getting out of bed at around 4.45am before Vitali wanted to get out at that ungodly hour, we made our way for breakfast and then meet up with all the other cyclists for a start of 6am.  We eventually headed out at 7am after everyone decided to hand in their keys or forget to pay there excess drinking bills,we headed off for what would b e one of the greate  bike journeys of my life.

With a full police escort and roads bein g blocked off at ev ery intersection we made out way to the magnificent Pyramids of Giza.  I was blown away by their size and the history surround ing them.  Once again if you would like to know more about the Pyramids, check out www.google.com   At the pyramids I took about 100 photos as this would definitely be my last time in this part of the world. 

Standing infront of the pyramids I got some sensational photos, which will live with me and my family forever.  After the periods we then made the slow progress through Cairo with full police escort to the outskirts of the town.  By the time we left the Pyramids and got through town it was now getting close to 10am and we still had 100kms to go.

As soon as the support vehicles pulled over the race was on,  I managed to stay with the leaders until the lunch break and then slowed down for the remaining 65ks to the end of the day.  I was pretty tired but still surprised how I went on the day.  It certainly drove home the realisation that for me to participate in the race would be down right stupid.  I can’t go with this racers anymore.  But boy am I good at sitting on.  I haven’t lost that talent over the years and probably still hold the world title for sitting on.

So today was a fantastic experience, and yes, I didn’t hit the front of the group once. 

Day 2. Desert Camp to Desert Camp 167kms, Mando day.

We decided to leave at 7am, but due to Peter and Andrea being late, we didn’t get to leave camp until 7.30.  By the time we were out on the road the wind was behind us and the riding was quite easy.  After about 30kms both Peter ,  Andreau and Kim couldn’t hang any longer so Luke and I decided to press on to the lunch stop at the 70km mark.  We reached lunch at around 10.15 and left about 15.  For the next 60kms it was just Luke and I going along into the headwind.  It was starting to take it’s toll on me and I was getting really tired.  I drank about 6litres all together for the day.  At the 135km mark there was  rest stop so we could top up our bottles for the next 32 kms to camp.  We arrived at camp around 2.30pm really tired. 

Luke and I then walked down to the Red Sea and had a swim in really cold water

The whole day was a hard event, with plenty of flat land surrounded by  sandy hills that stretched forever.  We made our way to the shores of the Red Sea which was quite spectacular and basically followed the Sea for the rest of the day.  Beautiful sunny day.  I think I need to ride with people in my league and not that of Luke as he’s an animal on the bike.

It’s now 7.30pm and I’m stuffed and going to sleep.

Day 3, Desert Camp to Desert Camp.  Today I woke up far too early because of this terrible head cold I picked up on the day prior to leaving Cairo because my room mate wanted to keep the bullshit air con on all night.  Because he was built like a brick shit house I didn’t feel like telling him to turn the thing off at this stage of the holiday.  My throat is sore and my nose is full of it.  This makes it really difficult to breathe easy but there’s no other option. 

I headed out around 7am for the 135km ride to the nest desert camp.  After about 15mins the racers caught up to me and usually I would be able to sit with them but with my nose all blocked up I couldn’t manage the effort for very long and soon I was off the back and riding on my own.  I think the 2 huge days prior to this one has taken it’s toll on my old body.

I cruised along for the next 20kms and came across another group I rode with to the lunch break.  Then it was a good 30minute break and back on the bike again for another 30 to our first coke stop of the trip.  Another 30minute break and again we were banging our heads against the strong headwind till we reached camp at around 2pm.  The rest of the afternoon was putting up my tent, having a ‘wet ones’ bath (useless as mens tits) and relax  and try and recover for our easy 100kms to our next stop, Safaga on the Red Sea. 

The food has been great in the evenings but the breakfast of porridge is pretty hard to stomach, but I’l l just have to get use to it.  I’m eating heaps and thankfully haven’t felt hungry at any stage of our the tour.  The first day I consumed 4500 calories over 137kms and yesterday I consumed 6100 calories over 167kms.  Today I couldn’t give a shit what I consumed too tired and now I’m going to sleep.