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Day 24 - Stage 20 - Rufaa to Senna (157 km)


Local cyclist spotted at the Lunch Stop

Sunday: Some days are relatively short, but on other  days, you have quality  time on your bike , today was one of those days. A long day spent in the saddle, peddling south towards our destination.

Judith and I started relatively early after breakfast, and soon got into our normal rhythm. Unfortunately our ride was soon spoilt by the sight of litter in the desert.

Just like plastic pollution in the oceans, plastic pollution in the desert has become a constant reminder of man's ability to destroy his pristine environment.

Charles one of the racing snakes, had a major mechanical today, and Julian dropped off and went back to assist him, while Liz also helped him to get going again. 

Lunch today was at the at 72 km mark, we had lunch and we both continued, we had our first coke stop (unofficial) at 90 km when a local Sudanese bought Gurpaul, Judith and I a coke as we sheltered from the sun under a thorn tree, we were soon joined by Trixie.



At 107 km the lunch truck caught up with us,  Judith loaded her bike and climbed into the lunch truck and went with Wynand to fill the truck up with fresh water at one of the Villages. I stayed on my bike and continued.

Coke stop at 110 km, but I gave it a miss , couldn't find any other rider frequenting the stop. Not a good decision, at approx 120 km at some arbitrary village, I had to stop and ask a local lad who was riding next to me on his bike, if he could find me some coke, gave him some money and he sped off, to return approx 15 min later with a cold coke.

Of course, by the time he returned, I had a huge audience of villagers, who in their broken English, wanted to know, where I came from, where I was going, and why was I doing it on a bicycle?

Stopped at coke stop at 129 km and joined Bridgett, Anmei and Gurpaul, who were already the centre of attraction when I got there. Spent about a half hour with them before they left. I decided to wait for Liz (who had helped Charles with his mechanical) and Sweep rider Dr Helen. 

Waited about an hour, they didn't arrive, then  wrongly  decided they had already passed through the coke stop and I had missed them. Took off and tried to catch them, at about 10km from the finish, they caught up to me (they had been behind me all the time) but not before I had ridden myself to a standstill, trying to catch them.

By the time we reached camp, my "rings were shot, and my gasket was blown" I was a very tired cyclist, it had been a long day in the sun, with the maximum temperature at about 40 degrees. (!!)

"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out into the midday sun!" this certainly applied today, there were many stops made under a shady thorn tree just to recover my composure.



Crossed over the Blue Nile Bridge and arrived at camp, which was under the trees right next to the Blue River. Arrived at 5.45pm just in time for 6pm briefing, then dinner.

Still had to change our slicks to MTB tires, thanks go to Muzz, who changed and fitted Judith's MTB tires and assisted me (I was slightly brain-dead after a long day in the saddle) 

We had done approx. 2'575 km each on our slicks, Judith didn't puncture once, with only one of my tubes needing replacement, due to a tear at the valve position. The Specialized Infinity tires that my son Ken had sourced for us, have been truly amazing, thanks Ken.

Lets hope we have just as good service/luck from our Maxxis Crossmark MTB Tyres, the next four days we are on dirt/gravel roads, but only time will tell.

Another early night, after a very long day out in the Sudanese sun.

Cheers,
Mike T


Andrew enjoying his breakfast peanut butter sandwich and contemplating this morning's ride.

Sunrise over a Sudanese Metal Foundry

Plastic pollution in the Sudanese Desert
A great place to stop for the morning's first comfort break

Close up of one of  the murals 

Sometimes its easier riding off the tar road than on it


Taking shelter under a tree at our unofficial coke stop

The "Vicious Gnome" overheated and not a happy camper !!

Waiting for Helen & Liz and taking in the sights and sounds (local vendors)

Sights and sounds from my vantage position (petrol station)

More sights and sounds (across the road)

Its a long and lonely road trying to catch up with Liz & Helen

Today we change our tires from slicks to Mountainbike tires

Chilling just before Riders' Briefing

Welcome to Wooded Camp


Briefing board with tomorrows ride - Our first dirt road adventure


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Day 23 - Stage 19 - Khartoum to Rufaa (148 km)


Saturday: At the Briefing Meeting the evening before the next days ride, a road might be described as being tarred, but that doesn't mean its easy to ride on.

We formed up after breakfast, and we rode in a convoy, but this time without so much fanfare, until we were approximately 12 km out of Khartoum, then it was every rider to their own.

The tar road to Fafaa, was very uneven, potholed, had an eroded shoulder and they used a large aggregate (very uneven to ride on) during its construction

Stopped at 57 km for our regular tea & coffee break accompanied by Max the Sweep Rider.

Judith battled on to lunch at the 78 km mark, decided she was going too slow, climbed into the lunch truck, while I completed the remaining 70 km with Liz Morris.

Joined the Tatoo Club today, at the 113 km mark, right at the Coke Stop, I moved off the tar onto the gravel shoulder for a fast approaching truck coming from the rear. As the truck passed, I tried to climb up from the gravel shoulder onto the tar, but the sidewash from the truck forced me down, resulting in me crashing on the tar road.

I only suffered minor tar burns to my left elbow and left leg, as well as bruised palm's to both hands and a bruised hip. But the biggest damage was to "My Pride" I managed to fall right in front of the riders and locals frequenting the Coke Stop, and it must of looked quite spectacular.

Fortunately Liz who is  a Wound Specialist and Bridgette who is a Doctor, were on hand to dress my wounds, and my thanks goes out to the two of them,  unfortunately they could do nothing for my pride!

On arrival back at Camp I consulted with Dr Helen our Tour Doctor, who cleaned my wounds and re-dressed them for me.

Attended Riders Briefing Meeting, had a delicious chicken curry for dinner, then early to bed at 8pm.

Another stage down and a 148 km distance done, only five more days to cycle before we reach the Ethiopian Border.

Cheers,
Mike T


Riders Convoy forming up in the morning


Liz (RSA) all ready to go


End of the Convoy riding from here we are on our own


Passed many trucks bringing wood into Khartoum - Deforestation very evident in Sudan 


Today's first Tea/Coffee Stop



The Coke Stop where I managed to impress both riders and  locals with my spectacular fall-down abilities.



Rode with Brad (Sweep Rider) and Liz after lunch


Our tent pitched at this evenings camping site.



Dinner time is quality time





Today was a tough day for some of us

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