Day 10 - Stage 9 - Aswan to Desert Camp (145 km)

Sunday: A long day of cycling, but we were blessed with a strong tailwind, especially after lunch,  which made the ride more enjoyable, even with such a long distance to cycle.

04:00 We awoke relatively early at the Adams House Camp, it seems that both of us just can't sleep past the 4am mark (old habits die hard). But it does give us plenty of time to get ready for the day's ride. 

06:00 Coffee & Tea at 6am, with breakfast usually at 6.15am, and we are on our bikes between 6.45 to 7.00am at the latest. 

07:00 We left Camp and were greeted by a great morning sunrise, the sun rising above the Bridge which spans the Nile River at Aswan.

This morning's sunrise over the Nile River at Aswan

Breakfast at Adams House camp

TDA Kitchen at Adams House Camp

Today's ride was a long one, with lunch at 75km, situated at some arbitrary Bus Stop, where we made ourselves some sarmies (sandwiches) with the local 'Egyptian Mystery Meat Roll' (which Wynand had sourced from one of yesterdays Coke Stops). 

The final Coke Stop was at the 124km mark, where a cold coke was quickly consumed, followed by a cup of coffee, with the locals in attendance. 

Lunch time at 77km into the ride. Judith enjoying today's mystery meat sarmies

Last Coke Stop at 124 km mark

Drinking coffee with the locals at the last coke stop

The ride ended at 145 km, in the middle of nowhere,  close to a small  Coffee/ Tuck Shop, just off the road, in the the Desert. 

The erecting of tents was quite challenging, due to the strong wind coming off the desert, however a lot of the riders managed to get them up, with a little help from other riders. 

Today's Desert Camp

Riders pitching their tents and fighting the desert wind

Stage 9 Notice board on Arrival

'Team Carbo-load' had managed to source some relatively cold beers and a strategy meeting was held in the Coffee Shop to discuss tomorrow's ride. The meeting was generally well attended and some new members were inducted into 'Team Carbo-load', but purely on probation.

Team Carbo Load Strategy Meeting on Coffee Shop

Murray (Muzz) a Kiwi living in Australia, also celebrated his 60th birthday today, and was greeted with a birthday message at the lunch truck, and presented with a chocolate cake, baked by Chef Errol after dinner. The cake was greatly appreciated by all in attendance, and our best wishes go out to Muzz.

Murray's birthday greeting at the Lunch Truck

Once dark, a bonfire was lit, and a hearty time was had around the fire, before the campers  retired to their tents. 

Tomorrow is another long day of riding, 152 km, ending in Abu Simbel, where we will be having our second rest day, before leaving Egypt and crossing into Sudan.

Cheers,

Mike T

Bonfire time in the Desert

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Day 9 - Stage 8 - Idfu to Aswan (103 km)

Saturday: Good cycle today, although we did fade a bit at the end and came in with the sweep rider (but still managed to average 20 km/hr cycling time).

The ride through Idfu and surrounds was a bit hectic, a minority of the kids have taken to throwing sticks and stones at the riders, with the occasional ones brandishing and lashing out with tree branches. Its more a thing of children being naughty, than a cultural or political issue. 

However, there were instances today, where the older boys (especially when there was an audience of either young ladies or their own mates in attendance) jumping out in front of the riders.

It happened to our group on a number of occasions during the days ride, fortunately they usually target the last rider in the group, which just happens to be yours truly, and the Egyptian youth are coming off second best when barging into a stubborn 110 kg-plus mountain biker from the Karoo!  Lets just hope it stays that way, and we don't have any major crashes!

Today we crossed the Nile River and cycled on the west bank of the Nile, with only one real disruption to our ride, that was when we encountered a funeral procession, and had to wait for the mourners to reach their destination, before we could cycle past them.

Breakfast at Idfu before the day's ride to Aswan

Briefing session for Stage 9

Stage 9 Briefing Board

Team Treloar on the road again... 

Liz posing with some of the local Egyptian Riders and their families on the way to Aswan

A group of the riders waiting for the funeral procession to reach its destination at the cemetery

Tonight's Camp is situated at the Adams House,  a Nubian Camp on the outskirts of Aswan, where we are camping. At least there are toilet & shower facilities with a clean sandy camp site.

We were fortunate that Tallis our Tour Leader could organize a beer run for us, so Team Carbo-load had their usual meeting after the days ride, to replenish their carbohydrate levels.

Arriving at Adams House the Nubian Camp situated on the outskirts of Aswan

Tallis the Tour Leader doing a beer run for the riders

Some members of 'Team Carbo-load' (AKA Team Recovery Drink)  meeting after their arrival at House Adam.

Stage winners presentation after the evenings briefing

Coffee making demonstration at Adams House Camp

Tomorrow is a long days cycling (from Aswan to a Desert Camp) a total of 145 km. A good part of the day will definitely be spent having quality time together.

Cheers for now,

Mike T

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