Idfu to Aswan, getting ready to enter Sudan.

The first part of the ride was so hectic, with cyclists surging, slowing, and not keeping a constant pace was a real pain in the arse.  I like to ride with riders who can ride at a consistant pace, which to me is more enjoyable.  Saying that, the people in the group are a nice bunch of people to hang with. 

At one stage we got caught by the local train going by and had to wait, some cyclists decided to cross the tracks even though our police motor cyclist escort was right there with us.  I waited out of respect for the police, I suppose old habits are hard to die.

I ended with a new group and rode to lunch at a nice pace.

The rest of the day was nice ride in the crazy traffic of egypt and into Aswan. The road travelled along the banks of the mighty Nile River for many miles and with the feluccas all over the place and huge tourist ships lining the shores, it was still pretty impressive.

Staying at the local campsite with police everywhere protecting us.  Each carry AK47 for our protection which makes you feel pretty safe at night.  Time to have a cold wash, put the same old smelly clothes on and go for a walk.  Tomorrow we board the ship to Sudan.  I'm so glad I'm getting the chance to enter the country, otherwise my dream of riding from Cairo to Capetown would have come to a crashing halt. Not good.  So I'll see you on the other side of Lake Nasser, at Sudan next week. 

My sponsor of Cairo to Khartoum.

riding in the peleton.

Matt will be doing my updates for me for the next couple of days.

Luxor to Idfu. On the Nile River.

After a terrific time in luxor we headed out for another 118km ride to another desert camp.  We rode in the usual group and the weather was just fantastic, not hot, and with a good tail wind. We were in for lunch by 8.30 and completed the ride by 10.30am. Not bad, 118kms over with by that time of the day. 

After setting up tent in tent in the loca football ground, the usual crew went for a walk around town.  This was perhaps the first time we were set upon by the local kids who were extremely persistant and a pain in the arse.

With so much of the day free, both lindsay, Rodney and myself went to visit the Hores Temple of Edfu.  The temple was fabulous and it's amazing how those engravers got to do such an incredible job, and at height.  if you would like to read about the temple, once again go to google com, they will help you out. 

the man in charge of the bicycle shop in luxor

family photo, don't know the family yet.

Hores temple of Edfu

Lindsay, Rodney and Terry

After dinner we went for another walk and some more of that mint tea which tastes so nice.  Back to the footbal field to crash.

Seeing the sites of Luxor: Rest Day.

Today was going to be a special day in Luxor.  I had watched plenty of documentaries about Luxor, the valley of the Kings, valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak and I was heading straight for it.  With a terrific meal for breakfast we were on our way to our first destination. Valley of the Queens, followed by the Valley of the Kings, the temple of hatshepsut, and to end the day we stopped at the temple of Karnak.

                    this will be our daily schedule for the next week.

Mia and Mohammad and Youseff from the Boomerang Hotel Luxor.  Such lovely people. 

The sights of each monument was absolutely mind blowing.  To stand where the creation of mathematics, thousands of years ago was born.  Where thousands of people help build tombs for Pharaohs, their children, their wives is so difficult to comprehend.  Basically we had a fantastic day the 9 of us. We were out for 8 hours touring Luxor and all it's attractions and enjoying the time off the bike.  Tomorrow it would all start again as we make our way to Aswan to board the ship for SUDAN.

On the road to Luxor.

Sailing the Nile River was just a magic experience.

Sunset on the Nile River.

Freezing my arse off, and I do need a shave.

Happy Birthday New Zealander Lindsay

The tour D Afrique staff made a fantastic birthday cake for Lindsay my cycling buddy.

photographs not loading

The internet connection is too slow to upload photos.  Will try tomorrow to post a couple. 

Valley of the Kings, Queens, Temple of Karnak tomorrow.

First rest day of the tour after 800kms of riding in 6 days.

Day 6 Desert Camp to Luxor, Egypt.

Day 6.  Desert Camp to Luxor. 95kms

Today was up nice and early but for some reason I found it difficult to get my shit together and get it onto the truck before I had breakfast.  I think I was too tired from all the kms lately.  Got on the bike at 7am for the 45kms to the lunch break.  We did the first 45ks in about 1hr 15mins, which is pretty fast but we had a huge bunch of cyclists.  The thing I should mention was that when we started today it was freezing cold and fog all around.  The military are amazing at looking after us throughout the country.

After lunch I missed my bunch so had the misfortune of trying to sit on the racers which I did for about 5kms then got shot out the back of the bunch.  So hard to sit on whilst on a mountain bike which feels like half a ton of weight between your legs.

Rode into Luxor at 10.30 after riding 95kms to an amazing city.  The monuments are everywhere to see.  Today we got the chance to get access to our permanent bags, clean some clothes which stink, have a shower, first one in 6 days, who cares, I don’t, we all stink the same.  Luke, Lindsay and I went for a ride to find the Boomerang Hotel, what a blast riding a bicycle around the mad streets of Luxor.  We finally found the place, or more like fell over it as no-one speaks English, and confirmed our night’s accommodation.

Mia from the Boomerang Hotel is a young Australian lady who is fantastic and so helpful.  No sooner had I brought 8 more stragglers along, Mia had arranged a felucca ride on the Nile River at 3pm.  We all went on our cruise, just floating with the wind, having a great afternoon.  It’s amazing this journey, from riding like an idiot on a freezing morning, to riding with the racers, then floating down the Nile on a felucca, I do appreciate how fortunate I truly am.  

The night was an easy night at the local Egyptian restaurant which Mia put us onto.  The meal was good and now back to the Boomerang Hotel, some internet work and sleep in a bed and not crap in the desert for a change.

We've just been informed that we are going to Sudan next week.

Cairo to Khartoum proudly supported by the SOTO Group.