Day 29 - Bus Ride Rest Day (from Border to Khartoum)

Waiting for the bus, that's us! -

Friday: Sudan/Ethiopia Border to Khartoum  (8 hr bus ride)

06:00 - Up early, packed up the tent and our holiday bags (no cycling for the next 8 days). Had a cup of coffee and a breakfast, all this while it was still relatively dark. Then walked with our bikes to the bus waiting for us, at the main road. If the bus won't come to us, then we don't have much option, but to walk to the bus with our bikes.

Loaded bags onto bus, then of course not a major surprise, but  there was no space for our bikes, so we left them on the side of the road,  with Leo the Bike Mechanic in charge.

Bus Company supposed to be sending another Bus/Truck to fetch and transport them to Khartoum for us? I suppose time will tell if they get there before dark.

Took a luxury bus back to Khartoum, very spacey and ultra modern, even got to watch the movie - Fast and Furious 5 nogal - on the on-board tv screen. First time I have sat in front of a T.V screen in nearly 4 weeks.

The bikes can't fit into the bus...

All ready to go back to Khartoum!

Happiness is a luxury bus load of cyclists :)

Arrived at the Grand Hotel Villa, found ourselves a pleasant camp spot on the lawn and pitched the tent. Decided to camp instead of hotel-ing like we did last time. We need only sleep over for one night, and we found the hotel very over-priced the last time we were here. We also have 6 days in Nairobi coming up, and need to conserve our funds. 

Took a proper shower for the first time in 7-days (going to miss those donkey washes for a while). A most pleasant experience, having the luxury of hot and cold water at your beckoning.

In the evening, 12 of us went off and walked to the Mall, then had dinner at Layali Al Waha Restaurant just located outside the Mall. It was a most pleasant dinning experience, and all agreed the food had been great.

Then into the Mall, for some of their famous ice cream (Judith had 3 and I had 5 scoops). We followed this up with a very casual cappuccino, lounging around in the Coffee Shop. 

Group of us then took a taxi back to the Hotel, to find our bikes waiting patiently for us on the grass camping area. A most pleasant night out in Khartoum.

Cheers, 
Mike T

Thirst-Quenching Lemon and Mint drink

One of Khartoum's many statues

A group of us out having dinner at the Mall

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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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