1-11-08
Gene arrived in Cairo, but his bag and bike did not
arrive with him. However, after spending
a night without, he was told by the airline that they had been delivered
to his hotel. He is
forgoing a cruise on the Nile today to sleep. Too bad, but I guess he will
see quite a lot of it.
1-12-08
Gene got his bike and rode it to the pyramids to
check it out.
All is A-OK. Starts tour tomorrow at 5 AM.
1-12-08
First
day out, we went 80 miles. 35 kms in Cairo traffic; 100 kms of strong wind
and winding hills. I was struggling to put up the tent in the dark and
wishing Jane was here. The wind was really rough and I didn't feel
in shape. That should change. Otherwise, I am having a lot of fun.
1-13-08
Today
was the complete opposite of the first. A tail wind all the way--180 kms. We
biked along the Red Sea and are spending the night at Ras Gharib. I did
succeed in getting the tent up in the dark by himself the first night, but
tonight it was a three person job. I'am elated and tired. Ride, eat, sleep
is the routine.
1-14-08
Another good day with a tail wind along the Red Sea. 80 miles. I tried swimming in the Red Sea but thought it was too cold. Air temps are 40’s and 50’s. There are over 60 people on this tour, including four guys from the Egyptian National Cycling Team. Food is “plentiful” and the tour is very well organized. I will be fit very soon. The day after tomorrow will be a climb from the Red Sea back to the Nile. Rest day in Luxor on Friday.
A real blog from Gene from the internet café in Bur Safaga:
It
is a weird transition from biking to sitting still and typing. I left my
cable for the camera in the bag on top of the truck, so no pictures yet.
1-12-08.
START.
Pyramids at dawn, a few trucks, a few dozen camels, and 60 riders. We
first cycled 9k from the hotel to the pyramids, then rode 35k with a
police escort out of town. We needed it. They closed onramps as we went
by, and we all lived. At one point a few of us were together in the right
lane of the road, and an Egyptian camera crew was in the next lane filming
us. Cars passed in between!
Then
we were out of Cairo and had 130k into a very strong headwind.
Frustrating, demoralizing, not a good first day. We camped nowhere on the
side of the road. Very hard.
1-13-08
170
k. If yesterday was hell, today was heaven. Very strong tailwind. After a
15k downhill to the Gulf of Suez, we then headed along the Gulf to Ras
Gharib. Found two people to ride with, which helped a lot. Mark from South
Africa/UK, and Joya from Holland. Even with the wind it would have been a
slog alone because it was very monotonous. No traffic. No habitations.
About halfway, we saw a couple heading north, into the wind, fully loaded
and self-contained. They were taking 10 months from Cape Town to Cairo.
Just when you think you're doing something that takes a lot, you see
someone doing something much more impressive.
1-14-08
138k,
to nowhere, along the gulf, or Red Sea. Not sure when it changes. I took
it easy today, rode the tailwind and didn’t push. I have several more
weeks to get into form for Ethiopia.
At
home I start biking in the spring with 15-20 miles for a week or more.
This is shocking the system into condition. I don’t have to work hard
with this wind, but it's good to get used to sitting in the saddle for
this long. In fact, I can't work hard. I'm often in my top gear and am
still just spinning, but the terrain is monotonous. There's the road, and
desert on both sides, and sometimes the sea. Once you get off the road,
the only sign of life is garbage. We did stop at the first roadside cafe
I've seen, just to remind ourselves we were in Egypt. Otherwise, it could
be any desert.
1-15-08
Only
110k. I can't believe 70 miles is "only." It feels like nothing.
Off at 7; lunch at 9:30, and in before noon with the big headwind! Every
time I stop it's freezing cold, so I don’t stop for long. Tonight we're
in Bur Safaga, camping on the beach next to a hotel. Had a
shower--cold--and then an internet cafe. What more could you want?
1-16-08
Phone
call with Gene after a really rough day 5. A straight continual 700 meter
climb from the Red Sea back toward the Nile Valley. He passed people at
the start who later passed him. He says he’s used to struggling at the
back of the pack to keep up with all of his riding buddies. Still learning
to pace himself. 90 miles today. Camping at Quda.
1-17-08
Gene made it to Luxor and is enjoying a very modest hotel room! But hey, hot water! Laundry time. Tomorrow is a rest day and they tour the Valley of the Kings.
Before Photo
