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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Day in Pictures - Wind, Dust, Sand, and the Open Road.

A long day in the Sudanese desert. Gold miners, dust, a very windy ride and the open road. Read the original blog post  of today's ride, here. 

Photos from the day, below.

Early riders getting ready to leave after breakfast

Sudanese architecture 

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Taking shelter out of the wind!

Riders of the [dust] storm ♪♫

Sudanese dwellings 

Artisinal gold diggings along the road 

(Eastern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield)

More Sudanese dwellings - very interesting & different to Egypt

That's it! Time for bed, That wind was hectic.

Cheers, 

Mike T

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Day 15 - Stage 13 - Farka to Nile Ferry Camp (145 km)

Friday: The wind is either your best friend or your enemy, there is no compromise.

Last night was the worst I have slept since the start of the tour, because of the wind sent from hell. 
It was a continuous flapping of tents right through the night. Even taking down the tent in the morning was a major mission.

Started cycling early with the same hellish wind, but now it was a glorious tailwind! Although there were times when it turned into a vicious side-wind with associated dust storm (thank goodness I had packed my buff).

Judith's cycling skills are improving in leaps and bounds, she joined the "Muzz Bus" Peloton as they caught us after breakfast,  even leading the peloton twice, unfortunately their overall speed was just too fast for us, so we had to drop off, but not before a good many kilometers were done - thanks to the guys for the assistance.

Lunch at 78 km mark, was a new experience, your plate just blew off the table if left untended, and the riders had to crouch on the down wind side of the truck to eat, it was most annoying.

Left lunch truck to cycle the second half, and turned into a major headwind, Judith decided discretion was the better part of valor, climbed into the lunch truck as it came past approximately 88 km into the ride, I continued and rode the better part of the remaining 58 km alone, caught no one, and no one caught me, not even the sweep rider (the loneliness of the long distance rider)

I passed many artisan gold diggings along the road; I stopped to check one of them out, but being Friday, everyone had gone to mosque. I also passed Abu Sari Gold Mine near the Abu Sari Village, owned by Delgo Mining Company Ltd. Tried to go in and see their operations,  but was blocked at the main gate by the Security Guard (maybe I wasn't wearing the right PPE?)

Yesterday's and today's artisan workings, reminded me of the time I spent in the DRC. On that note... I just want to let all those friends I have at the Kibali Gold Project, who are following the blog, know that we appreciate their support and miss them stacks, while Madame Judith sends her best regards.

Back on the bike, I stopped approx. 8km from the finish and had tea at a local Tea/Coffee shop with the locals, who were very friendly and super inquisitive about why a "Mazungu" is cycling through the hot Sudanese desert? 

"Where are you going, where did you come from, what is your name?" 

These being the most typical questions you are asked.

Arrived at Camp, and Judith had pitched the tent - bless her kind heart.

Another day done and dusted, tomorrow one more ride before our next rest day in the metropolis of Dongola (Next to the Nile)

Cheers, 

Mike T

PS: Made an elementary mistake today, forgot to charge my Garmin and cell phone, both died on me after lunch. Couldn't take any photos and didn't know how many kilometers to go to the finish! Lesson learned the hard way.

30 Jan - PSS: Here are the photos!

Aerial View of the Abu Sari Gold-mining area.  As you can see, we're definitely in the desert!

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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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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