Desert days are over

This is the lunch stop on the ride to the last desert camp in Egypt.


Mig getting the tent ready to go up at the desert camp, note the road in the distance behind his head. Those trees were the first we saw all day! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:On the way to Luxor.

Safaga - road to recovery

I did not think I was going to spend the 3 night on tour in a hospital, the universe has its way of creating paths least expected. For some reason I invited the young 'mentally challenged' bedouin boy into my life, I need to find the reason. Perhaps it is simple, take it easy Shona, 4 months is a long time to cycle.... Sit back & enjoy! We had 2 tough days to start, 130km then a 'Mando' day of 166km. Since I convinced most of the women to 'race' we have a new saying instead of EFI it's EFMD, as racers we must do the Mando days - which are the toughest days in tour! The 3rd day should have been simple, 136km of flat straight road, a tail wind for most of the day. At 40km Heiner, Bev and I stopped for a stretch, Bev and I started off chatting away, ahead there was a young man in brown robes, standing in our path. As I passed him, going left into the road to get around as he did not move, he lounged at me, pushing me into the truck in the far left lane. He had a strange expression on his face, excitement almost. I don't know what he was thinking, he apparently tried to grab a few ladies before me, I think he was getting frustrated so pushed harder?! My life did flash before me, but I survived. In much pain I recall many people helping, cyclists, truck drivers, then the ambulance staff and TDA staff, who took me to hospital. The hospital was great, the TDA staff fantastic - sorting out my insurance, who settle directly with the hospital. The following day I was released into the care of Dr Annelot, our tour doctor and Claire our chief medic. Annelot's recently graduated and Claire is a trauma nurse. Sharita tour leader and Brian (who witnessed the accident and crash himself trying to stop in time) have been so supportive. I intend recovering for a few days, resting and organizing a new helmet. I hope the bruising and swelling is down in a week or so so I can ride into Sudan, or at least Khartoum. Life on tour is simple, ride, eat, ride, eat, put tent up, eat, sleep, pack tent away, eat, ride......etc We have such a diverse group, aging from 18 to 62. 14 women of the 43 permanent riders. 17 Jan, 28 years ago I was in hospital too for the best thing that happened to me when my darling daughter Roxanne chose to share my life. Makes the day feel good. We are camping in Safaga on the Red Sea, some of us are hotel'ing - TEN (tent every night) gone! Some other acronyms to add to the famous EFI: OFS EFCS EFMD DNS Thanks to my fellow riders the challenge is one for some of us! (one f%^* shammy, every f%^* coke stop, every f%^* Mando day, did not shower) Mig's EFI is on track, it's special to see the challenges but know I can relax and focus on recovery to enjoy the riding again.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Savage Egypt

Recession? I don't think so...

I have never seen so many people at the airport, where is everyone going? We arrived 4 hours before the flight so as to ensure our bikes get onto the same plane as us... We've learnt the hard way, got to Germany in 2002 and although we paid more than an extra seat they did not make it in the same plane, or the same day! We've now arrived at the hotel... Cairo has grown so much in 20 years, the government is building huge housing & retail developments between the airport and the city. Called New Cairo, not sure who will be living there, but I assume when Mubarack realized he was losing it he started building to appease... Too little too late. Nice ring road though, did not help the driving skills, which are still crazy after 20 years. Our hotel - Cataract Pyramids Resort looks fine. Probably one of the best we will have till Cape Town so I'm not complaining. I did manage to flood the bathroom during my first shower and being so cold, it was colder mopping up the floor! The good news is we have all our bags and bicycles! First night out with Ian, Pete, Ester & Bev, Mig and I. Dinner in a dodgy alley, they ripped us EL60 each (Egyptian pound) - only realized it was a rip 2 days later when we found a great place in a seriously dodgy market - one table, 3 glasses (until they went home to get 2 more) and there chicken, pita, tahini with chili cost EL10 each!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Between OR Tambo & Cairo

Getting ready - "before" photo!

Testing BlogPress for iPad. Learning how to upload photos before we hit the road.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jozi

Almost ready

Where we've come from....

This is beginning to feel real, even if only because it's now keeping me awake at night: is our 'stuff' going to fit in the lockers on the truck, have I bought the right face cream, how will I avoid egg? These thoughts are rushing through my head at all hours, so it mus be real! Our journey to Tour d'Afrique 2012 started about 7 years ago, when I saw the TDA stand at the Argus expo. The video of the previous years our was on a big screen and I was captured immediately. I told Mig "this is it, this is how we are going to do our first Africa trip" he laughed and walked on, as he does! But did it really start there, was it not the day Mig bought a bicycle, his passion for cycling grew, our passion for Africa grew... Or was it waking up one day and realizing life was passing by and we were not yet living it. We are now, and love every minute of it. We are taking our 8 year old Giant XTC, with lockout front shocks. 5 sets of tyres, 3 TTRMF tubes (thick thorn resistant mother....). 12 kg's of spares, 10 kg's of supplements, 6 kg's of medical kit, tent mattresses and a few clothes... Something had to give for the rest!