Day 18 - Stage 15 - Dongola to Dead Camel Camp (143 km)

Monday: Booked out of the Hotel at 6am, took Tuk-Tuk to TDA Camp for riders briefing at 7am, afterwards had a quick breakfast, then left Dongola on our bikes.


Sometime into the morning ride, an Algerian truck driver pulled alongside us and handed us sweets (strawberry filling covered in chocolate). I knew he was Algerian, because he asked me where I was from, when I said, "South Africa", he shouted, "Me, Algeria". 
Must admit, all the truck drivers are super friendly, and they usually hoot loads of encouragement when passing us from either behind or when coming head on.


With 20 km to go to lunch, Judith needed to stop for a call of nature, while holding her bike I realized I was standing in a "Sudanese Agate Field", and immediately had an OSM (Oh Shit Moment!!). So many agates and nowhere to put them!!  Well I suppose it is a Cycle Tour and not a Gem & Mineral Excursion.


Lunch was at the 80 km mark, and as per usual, it was up to its usual high standard. Have decided in future, to skip the cucumber and watermelon, as they both repeat on me when riding the second half after lunch!

Welcome to ???

Visitors arrive while we were having lunch

Judith getting her tea at the Coke Stop

The Tea Seller's Assistant 

7-Up & Tea at the Coke Stop

Second half went slower than the first, but at least the wind was favorable, stopped at the 111 km mark for a 7-Up and Tea for Judith. 


For the record, no sweep rider caught up to us before lunch, and no sweep rider caught us before the finish, we were totally unswept today!! We must be getting stronger....

Got to "Dead Camel Camp" in a good time, pitched tent and then went for a walk, primarily to find agates, but had no luck, although I did find some Petrified Wood (in the desert!!!) 

All in all, a good day's ride, which only got better when Chef Errol produced a Pineapple, Tennis biscuits and Custard pudding at supper.


Cheers,
Mike T

"What do you call a Camel with three humps?"

"Humphrey!"

Arriving at Dead Camel Camp

Riders chilling out after today's ride

Chef Errol explaining to Judith how to wash her dishes correctly 

Water irrigation canal taking water from the Nile River off into the surrounding desert

Our accommodation for the night.

Welcome to Dead Camel Camp! With illustrations nogal

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Day 17 - Rest day - Dongola (Sudan)

Sunday: True to form, a well deserved rest day, and I woke up at 4am and just couldn't get back to sleep. 

I spent the next couple of hours sending out photos of the last four touring/stage days  (they just wouldn't go out onto the 'interweb' while we were out in the Sudanese countryside) via the Hotel WiFi facilities. 

A small group of the riders left the Hotel relatively early, by taxi to take a 165km trip to see the Pyramids (Jebel Barkal) outside of Dongola. To be honest, Judith and I are just all 'Pyramided' and 'Templed' out at this stage, so we gave it a miss.

Wandering around the Metropolis of  Dongola

Checking out the chickens at the eating house

The sights of Dongola

Bread Van a la Tuk-Tuk

Sudanese Schwarma time

Sudanese truck all dressed up

Another colorful Sudanese truck

Bridge over the Nile as seen from Camp

Riverboats on the bank of the Nile River

Wandered into Dongola CBD with some of the riders, found a suitable eating house and had brunch. This consisted of chicken shwarmas and freshly squeezed fruit juice (guava & mango). Also helped Alex finish off some fish (Nile Perch) all of it very tasty.

After brunch, walked around town and bought some odds and ends from various shops/stalls and took in the sights and sounds of Dongola. Walked a fair distance away from the Hotel... so took a Tuk-Tuk back to the Hotel.

Checked and repacked our bags, the permanent bag had to be back on the Truck by 4pm this afternoon. Went to TDA Camp to deliver our bags, and stayed to chat to a few of the campers.

While loading her permanent bag Liz realized she had slightly underestimated it's weight. 

For dinner we decided to initiate the "Tuk-Tuk Challenge", on Rest Day's, participants have to take a Tuk-Tuk into town, buy take-away's for the others at camp, and be back at camp within an hour. So off went Rob, Judith, Bridgette and Anmei, and they managed to get back with enough food for all, within their allocated hour :P

Chilling out...

After dinner we left Camp and went back to our Hotel, another rest day gone, back on the bikes tomorrow. A 143km ride from Dongola to "Dead Camel Camp" Sounds interesting!


Cheers,
Mike T

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Day16 - Stage 14 - Nile Ferry Camp to Dongola (116 km)

Saturday: Nile Ferry Camp to Dongola (116 km)

We slept much better last night, Judith had pitched the tent behind a mud wall, which had screened the tent from the incessant wind (we are also getting used to the noise of a flapping tent).

Today's ride was all about wind, wind and more wind. Started riding with a potent tail wind from the north, which assisted our average speed and made the undulating road feel relatively flat. However, when we either turned East or West, there were times where it became a roaring, dust bearing, sand storm, which obliterated the view of the rider in front of you. Fortunately, we only had one instance (near the end of the ride) where we turned into a direct headwind, which caused you to cycle at a snail pace.

Assistant Chef Muli organising the mornings boiled eggs (Between the boiled eggs and beans I am getting plenty of turbo boost on the bike)

The local tea & coffee maker preparing our brews

Henne enjoying the morning sunrise

After leaving Camp, we stopped at the 20km mark for tea & coffee at a Truck Stop (Sudanese version of a 1-Stop Shop). We think no other riders stopped there, since it was so early in the ride, but we had decided to tour today, and enjoy the ride (did buy tea for Helen, today's first-half sweep rider who was forced to stop with us).

Judith spots her first Nile Crocodile  (Don't ask why its up there, its only on a need to know basis, and we don't need to know)

Michael & Judith enjoying their morning tea & coffee at the Sudanese 1-Stop Shop

Taking a short rest

When we got to the Lunch Truck, it was deserted, none of the usual riders were there, due to the fact that all concerned wanted to get to Dongola as quick as possible, since tomorrow was a rest day.

We stopped at a Coke Stop at 90km for ablutions and soft drinks accompanied by Gupaul, Andy and sweep rider Max, before completing the remaining 25km.

Arriving at today's lunch stop

Lunch Truck deserted of riders only T D A Management in attendance

Stopping at the Coke Stop

Judith making new friends and modeling her new pink cycling gear with the locals

Gupaul, Andy and sweep rider Max enjoying the rest & recuperation 

Crossed over the Nile River (it is still very impressive) arrived in Dongola and were immediately swamped by the Traffic, consisting mainly of Tuk-Tuk's, it was  organised chaos! Judith even had to try and out cycle a large dog which some idiot had set on her! "Who let the dogs out, woof, woof-woof!".

Arrived at the finish which is situated at a type of Luna Park, where some of the riders were already  camping in the Fairground. We hailed a Tuk-Tuk (one each because we had both our daily and permanent bags with us) and went to The Palace Hotel. Supposed to be Dongola's finest, but it leaves much to be desired. But at least the water is hot, there is power to charge the electronics and there is a bed.

After booking in, Andy and I hailed a Tuk-Tuk and went to the nearest "Super-market"  and bought soft drinks, crisps, chocolate and biscuits. Back at the Hotel I proceeded to binge on the sugar rich treats, life is great!

Crossing the Nile River Bridge into Dongola

Welcome to Dongola!

TDA Staff setting up the kitchen facilities

Fairground attraction - with our bikes chained to the railings

Off on a Tuk-Tuk to the Palace Hotel!

View from our balcony at the Palace Hotel

In the evening, six of us took two Tuk-Tuk's and went out to a local Sudanese Eating House for dinner. Half a chicken, with rice & local bread each, followed by Sudanese pastries and sweet spearmint tea. The quality of the food was great, which was later  confirmed when the complete TDA Crew arrived for dinner as well (they always know where the best meals are to be had).

We still rode 115km today, so it was early to bed, with no thoughts of going out clubbing in bustling Dongola ;)

Cheers, 

Mike T

Eating at a local Eating House with Nelson, Philip, Judith, Andy & Mark

Sudanese pastries to Judith's delight

Had my first beer in Sudan  (0 % alcohol)

Internet Surfers Henne, Paul back at the Hotel

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