Brand Nubian experiences...

For a number of reasons, Monty Python has become a running theme on this trip so far. Duncan played the Galaxy song on his iPod on our 3rd night in the desert as we lay gazing up at the stars and the scenes in some of the films are things we can talk about when there's nothing else (Quite a common occurrence in the desert). I feel that Mrs Brown in the Meaning of life kind of sums up what being in the desert for so long is like: "Makes you feel sort of insignificant doesn't it?"

So it was nice to finally hit the Nile and see things like vegetation! Unfortunately I probably got a bit carried away and ate and drank everything I could lay my hands on, causing me to be up all night on Friday being sick. Probably from one of the roadside watercoolers.

I'm still not 100% but we're in Aswan now and we'll be catching the ferry to Sudan this afternoon, so the punishing cycling regime that we had been observing can mercifully go on hold for at least a while. With temperatures in Sudan topping 45 degrees at the moment, I think that this will be the case for the foreseeable future!

The Nile is probably the most striking thing I've seen since I've been in Egypt to be honest... when we've been riding alongside it, the palm trees and slow moving expansive water create a timeless atmosphere that makes me think about the significance that the river holds, both past and present. Taking a quick dip on the way into Aswan was something I will never forget.

I have a feeling that the ferry will be an experience to remember as well and it's difficult to imagine exactly what will be awaiting us over the Sudanese border, but I guess that's part of the fun. Not sure when I will be able to update next (maybe not until we reach Khartoum) but since I can't upload photos onto the computer I am using, I thought that I would put this in instead as it has been going round our heads for the last few days!

Just deserts... part 2

Apart from having almost every roadside cafe worker trying to charge us double for our food & drink (something we've had to quickly wise up to), the people we've met in the desert have been extremely helpful, and the value of waving and smiling at people and greeting them has on occasion been invaluable.

On Monday morning, we quickly put away about 55km at a good pace. Then we started to struggle a bit. Usually there is (apparently) a decent northerly breeze that should have gently assisted us in our journey. Not on the afternoon of Monday 15th Feb 2010 though. In the blistering 39 degree midday desert heat, and heading into what I can only politely describe as a "strong wind" I can comfortably speak on behalf of my companions in saying that the realities of this soujourn began to hit home. Even in downhill stretches, it was like riding a bike through treacle. At one point we were all laid out at the side of the road for about an hour just to try to regain a bit of energy.

We hammered into the wind for maybe another 25km at a snail's pace and found a roadside cafe where a family took pity on us and gave us some bread and cheese. I then introduced myself to the group of policemen that had come to see what was going on... We were extremely relieved that they were happy for us to camp next to the police station!

We awoke the next day and got back on the road at 7.30am (with police escort). The wind picked up again and when we finally got to Hurgada we were absolutely shattered. We got talking to a local businessman, who said he could find us a reduced price appartment. $35 for one night not bad at all...

He was only one of the many people that have helped us along the way, but I am now too tired to even try and mention them all here. Back on the road tomorrow (Wednesday) as we need to make the ferry from Aswan(another 400km+) down the Nile to Sudan on Monday 22nd.

Looking forward to a good night's sleep... in a bed!

Just deserts... part 1

Ideally I would have updated this a couple of times by now, but the Red Sea coastal route has thrown us more than a couple of surprises (other than non-existent internet cafes) as you will see!

Having sorted ourselves out in Cairo, we finally headed off last Friday at 2.30pm local time on the road south-east towards Ein Sokhna. Happily this was a big wide road that allowed us to get used to our fully-loaded bikes whilst staying clear of the sometimes crazy traffic! We managed 56km before the sun started to get low and we found a big piece of concrete piping to pitch our tents behind and get some rest.



We set off the following day at 10am towards the coast and managed to make it all the way to the Red Sea, where we were hassled by some security staff... they did eventually let us sleep at the beginning of what we had been warned was our most dangerous stretch of road. Fortunately we were able to navigate this bit of the road early the following morning before the traffic really started, but it was obvious how dangerous it was when half way along we saw a coach which had had its front ripped off in a crash. Fast-moving trucks pulling out into the middle of the very narrow coastal road to overtake is basically the way it went for about 20km.

One gigantic windfarm and lots of tourist building along the coast... sadly not much of it was finished though so stopping points were rare. That Sunday we went on to cycle for 154km through one of the most barren areas I have ever seen, which probably caused us to have minor delusions of grandeur as to what we might be able to achieve... but we put our heads down that night feeling pretty good, having found a comfortable camping spot.

Cairo!

Cairo has been a great place to kick off this adventure - we can pick up pretty much any of the stuff we might need for the 1st part of the trip here, but at the same time it's definitely not London, so we are slowly but surely finding our feet in another part of the world. I woke up to a lot of messages telling me that their trip to work had been interrupted by my picture staring at them from page 3 of the Metro! Sorry about the attire... not my idea :) We've been looked after brilliantly since arriving at 9pm local time last night thanks to one of Lindsey's travelling contacts (Justin) who lives & works in Cairo. He's arranged for us to use an apartment for a couple of nights while we settle in which allows us to spread all of our stuff out so that we can jettison any unneeded bits and pieces that we might have packed. We need a couple of days to sort out our Sudan visa which requires, amongst other things, a letter of invitation from the British Embassy, but I hope to post one more time from El Rehab before we start cycling. Stay tuned!

Last few hours...

Picked up my bike yesterday from Cycle Care in High Wycombe. Bike looks sturdy which is good! Am about to get a lift to Heathrow and then on to Africa where the fun should start.

This is my facebook page which will also allow you to follow my progress, hopefully with some podcast updates at some point! Please join if you can.

See you when I get to Egypt!

5 days to go!

Hello! This is my first ever blog post, so please bear with me... I hope to update it as often as possible as I bike the 7,000 miles (give or take a few hundred) from Cairo - Cape Town that I will attempt to ride, starting on February 9th 2010. If I can work it out, I will add photos, videos and anything else that my currently limited technical skills will allow me to do. I sincerely hope above all that it will not be boring, so please feel free to let me know if it is and I'll have a go at amateur lion-taming or something. Nothing interesting to report so far unless visas, vaccinations or learning to set up a blog appeals to you, although I have met the people at the charity that I am raising money for, who have been very helpful. They are a small London-based team that directly supports projects that help disadvantaged children, primarily in Asia and Africa. I hope to visit one of their projects while on my travels if time allows... please do consider a donation to them if you haven't done so already (link).