Day 8 - Stage 7 - Luxor to Idfu (113 km)

Friday: Since it was the day after a Rest Day, the day's  Briefing was held before breakfast. We loaded our Permanent & Day Bags into the Main Truck, had breakfast, booked out of our Hotel room, and rode off into the sunrise.

Riding off into the Sunrise from Luxor to Idfu

Our next 4 days of riding before the next rest day...

Stage 7 Notice board and the Day's necessary info

The both of us had a great day of cycling. Fortunately, we were joined on the day by Liz Morris our fellow South African, from Cape Town. Her presence was a pleasant distraction and it made the kilometers just wiz by.

Liz Morris (South Africa) cycling with us on Stage 7

We cycled most of the day alongside the Nile River, and after the desert we appreciated the km after km of green farmlands, all irrigated out of the mighty river. 

Agriculture along the banks of the Nile River

The Lunch Stop was on the bank of the Nile River which was a very scenic setting.

Our lunch stop Stage 7, along the Nile River

Nile Cruise Ship sailing down the Nile. (...and as mentioned in my previous post - I think that more people should be visiting Egypt)

Liz (South Africa) enjoying her lunch

Philip Davies from the UK enjoying his lunch and contemplating the meaning of life.

Muzz, Henne and Andy enjoying their lunch too.

Although it was a relatively short day of cycling, we appreciated the coke stops, especially the one at the 106 km mark, where I managed to pose for a photo with one of the Locals' bike. 

I manage to swap my bike for a local's bike at the last Coke Stop.

Seen at the last Coke Stop...
"Hear no evil, See no evil, Say no evil and Do no evil!"

Judith calls a drinks stop at approximately about 100km's into the day's riding

On arrival at the Camp (which is a sort of Youth Park) we found a suitable place to pitch the tent, and I settled down with the obligatory recovery beer, while Judith joined 'Team Yoga' for a quality yoga session.

Team Yoga in action after Stage 7's cycling

Max, one of the Crew members, decided to sleep in one of the covered areas close to us and was pleasantly surprised to find out he had his own fairy lights setup.

Max suddenly realized that the Light Fairy had visited just moments before & organized some bedroom lights for him!

Unfortunately, the Camp lights will not be switched off (Security is very intense) so it will be an interesting nights sleep for us!

Our tent up and ready and lit-up for the remainder of the night...

Tomorrow will be a tough day, with only 103 km, but with 1'340 meters of climbing.

Cheers,

Mike T

Stage 8 Notice board - Some climbing the day's forecast

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Stage 5: Safaga to Desert Camp

The Sun Rising over the Red Sea

Tuesday: We packed up the tent without much hassle; watched a fantastic sunrise over the Red Sea, had our first meal, and we even had Strawberries at breakfast! What more could one ask for, all before 6.30 in the morning?

The day's notice board, and strawberries at breakfast.

Early Morning Bike Park.

We left Safaga and cycled up into a head wind and our first day of climbing. It was quite a strenuous day of cycling, with long uphills into the mountains, and the day soon warmed up!

We even have a Fire Engine accompanying us (when you're hot, you're hot).

The mountains look similar to those in parts of Namibia.

"It's a long and winding road, which leaves you with no return."

Judith did not have a good ride, and we were last to arrive at the the Lunch Truck, with most of the other riders having had lunch and out on the second leg already.

I had stayed with her the whole of the first leg, she was buggered, but I wasn't so far away from being blown myself.

With a further 70 km to go, and without a faster rider available to use, to draught behind, to complete the second half (as I had done on Stage 1) I couldn't see my self finishing the stage, so discretion being the better part of valor, I lost my EFI status and climbed into the truck with Judith.

We trucked to our next camp, and camped at the Police Camp, our first real desert camping. Tent went up and after dinner we had an early nights sleep, in bed by 7.30pm. It had been a very tough day for the both of us.

Tented Camp in the Desert next to an Egyptian Police outpost.

Fortunately Tom from Minneapolis, gave a group of the riders an intense yoga session, which Judith attended, after which she was more relaxed about the days cycling and how things had developed. 

Tom, taking some of the cyclists for a Yoga session in the desert.

Group Briefing before Stage 6 tomorrow.

After a tough day cycling, Leo the Bike Mechanic helping Kyle change his setup.

In the evening, had my first "bos kak" with shovel in hand (BTW the shovel's name is "Doug") and I am sure Dough and I are going to get quite attached to each other as the tour progresses. 

Brad (one of the Crew) had a exciting experience to say the least. He went out into the dead of the night with "Doug" and he had his headlamp on with the red light (so as not to disturb anyone who was sleeping) only to be surrounded by four policemen with AK47's drawn, who demanded to know who he was!?

All in all, It was a tough day on the Tour for the two of us, but at least no one died.

Cheers,
Mike T

Me with my best girl by my side.

Sunset over the Desert Camp.