13th Day - Desert Camp- Sudan 1131km -Still EFI - 3 days no beer

Washboard - Sudan
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As we had an unscheduled rest day yesterday, we now have to do 5 days riding in 4 days. That in its self would be bad enough, but it will be across the most demanding terrain known as "the Washboard", and to top it all i am sick. I have had a cold for all the time i have been here, but in the last couple of days it has turned into a cough and this morning i awoke feeling rough with painful joints, which i did not put down to the riding because of the rest day. Still not sure what was wrong, i got ready and set off with the racers, but was soon falling behind. The first few km were paved, but that soon led to the washboard, long stretches of track across the desert that are corrugated, in the most painful way. they are formed by a combination of the wind and the traffic, and are impossible to ride across, spaced at about 30cm and about half as high, to try and ride them sets up an unrelenting rhythm, that shakes every bone in your body, and does its best to loosen any bolt on a bike, the alternative is to find a area at the side that is smoother, but the problem is that you then find loose sand, and that causes another set of problems, as the front wheel veers left or right,and the back loses traction and skids around, so you have to change down, and adjust the amount of torque you but through the peddles. Riding at the back as i now found myself, you are looking ahead at the others tracks, looking for guidance,... riding on the right hand side the going starts to go soft, up ahead some veer off to the left...is it because it is softer in front, so you follow, across the ribs, don't worry about any thing coming behind cos there are no rules and the trucks coming up soon let you know there are there, bang, bang, bang, only to find that it is worse there and all have turned back to the right again. Another time ahead you spot the tell tell sign of loose deep sand in-front as the previous rider has fought to regain control,...if you've seen it soon enough, can you change down in time and power through?....do you need to twist your foot out of the clip in case of a fall?....should you turn to the other side across the ribs?...can you face the pain again? I need a drink ....pick the moment to take my hand off the bar to lift the mouthpiece of my camel back to my mouth, get the timing right or you're in trouble, the sting of sweat in your eyes, again pick the time to lift your glasses to wipe them..... All this as the day wears on and the temperature rises, and all the time i feel crap and wonder how much longer i can keep up the concentration, how long to lunch break?

The answer comes as the lunch truck looms ahead after 70km, and after a split second of agony as you ease off the saddle, your body stops screaming at you, and you can stop and rest,...but not for long, still 40km to go, .. but can i make it? I was all but done in, at my lowest ebb, still not knowing what was wrong, was i ill? Was i dehydrated? Was i just not strong enough after all this time? Should i get on the bus and lose EFI status? I was still wearing three layers, which was making me sweat more, but as soon as i stopped the strong tail wind cut right through me, an made me shiver. I spoke to no one and they didn't know what i was going through, it was with extreme effort i climbed on the bike again to finish the day. Slightly refreshed after the brake, my mind cleared for a bit , and i stopped to let some air out of my tires, something i had learned back home, but with all else going on had forgotten to do, this greatly improved my handling, but at a cost of increased risk from a flat. I rolled in with a time of 7hrs 27mins, and to questions from the others, i pitched my tent and just collapsed inside, listening to the sounds of the others around, after a couple of hours it was meal time, and i crawled out for food, a coughing fit loosened some phlegm, and i knew then, that i was ill. After dinner, still shivering, i went to see Dr Luke, who put me on penicillin, and said that i should start to feel better in three days.

Sick in Sudan

The Numbers:-

Distance: 110km

Time start to finish: 7hrs 27mins

Average Speed:17.7kmh

Max Speed:37.3