Stage 3: Ras Ghareb to El Gouna (138km)

Sunday: The 138 km ride from Ras Gareb to El Gouna went well, mainly due to the Mother of all Tail Winds! 

There were times when Judith and I were cruising at 40km per hour on the flats, and it seemed totally unreal. Our average speed for the day was 24 km/hr. It would of been much higher,  but we changed direction and had to fight the same glorious wind as a heavy head wind for the last 10km. 

We finished Breakfast at approximately 6.30am, and due to our amazing cycling abilities  (with a little help from the wind) we were at the Lunch Truck situated at the 70km mark by at least 9.30am, where we had a full on lunch (and we were staving).

Our accommodation at the Arena Inn Hotel was top class, and due to our early arrival, much time was spent at the poolside bar by a few of us more social riders.

However, it will be the last of our luxurious stays for quite a while, our next stay-over will be camping on the beach at Safaga.

Cheers, 

Mike T

Breakfast at Ras Ghareb

Lunch Stop!

On the road again...

'Afternoondowners' at the Arena  Inn pool area

Stage 2: Fanar Du Luna to Ras Ghareb (129km)

Saturday: Today was a normal start, and after having breakfast, and a morning Briefing, we left  Fanar Du Luna at 6.30am. (See the stage notes on the Notice Board pic further down)

We were one of the first riders to start (you can leave when you are ready to go) because of our relatively slow pace. But even though most of the other riders eventually passed us, we had a good ride along the Red Sea most of the time, to the Lunch Truck at the 72km mark.

Cycling along the Red Sea

Our Stage 2 Notice Board

The Lunch Truck at 72km mark.

Some of the Riders having lunch

The second half went just as well as the first, and we managed to keep up a relatively high pace, we even had time to stop for a "coke stop". We arrived  at the Amir Palace Hotel in Ras Ghareb with plenty of time to spare. 

 Coke-Stop time.

Judith and I averaged a cycling speed of 24km/hr for the Stage 2 distance of 129km. Congratulations go out to her, as it is the furthest she has ever cycled in one ride.

The Finish at The Hotel.

The Amir Palace Hotel.

The route was relatively undulating, with good road conditions and a pleasant ride, mostly along the Red Sea. The first half went extremely well due to the assistance of a strong tail wind, and unlike yesterday, we arrived at lunch feeling quite strong.

At the Hotel, we had a bowl of soup on arrival (soup is always available after each Stage of the Tour) and were pleasantly surprised at the standard of the accommodation, as well as being impressed with the waterfront  pressure of the  shower.

Cheers,

Mike T 

Soup ready and waiting for us at the end of Stage 2.

Location info: Ras Gharib

Ras Gharib is the northernmost of the markazes in the Red Sea Governorate, Egypt, situated on the African side of the Gulf of Suez. It has an area of 10,464.46 km². At the 2006 Egyptian national census, the population numbered 32,369.