6th Day Luxor Egypt - 769Km - Still EFI

Awoke at the crack of dawn, it was cold. I checked the time 2.30!!? Confused, tried to figure out why it was so light at such a time, then i realized that the police inside the check point behind which we were camped, had not turned off the flood lights. I squirmed back down into my nice warm cocoon with the knowledge of more hours of sleep to come, even though i had already had 6 hours of mussel healing, pain free, backside resting sleep by then.

As I had settled down last night, the usual rumble of the odd lorry going past changed to a constant roar, for about 15 minutes as a convoy of about 100 coaches rushed past under police escort, which is the way the Egyptians like to handle the threat form terrorists to both the wellbeing of the lives of the tourists and the economy of the country. Which is why our band of brothers (and sisters) is escorted by police and army, and an armed guard, along with our very own fire engine, is posted over us every night,  including pickets out in the desert, which is a bit disconcerting when wrapped in fleece, with spade and torch ion hand you you find "the perfect spot" only to have several heavily armed men shine a torch on you.

Snakes and Scorpions

We had arrived yesterday afternoon in warm sunshine, and after our temporary village had yet again sprung into being, we sat around enjoying it, drinking beer, and looking expectantly towards the crew working in the kitchen area, wondering what was on the menu tonight. Sleep, Ride, Eat, Sleep, thats been the pattern for the last 6 days, and when the call comes for dinner we quickly line up to have our plates filled, it doesn't matter with what, and scurry off into a dark corner to quickly woof it down, by the light of a head torch for those who can be bothered to register what it is, before the eagerly anticipated "Open Kitchen" that signals seconds and even thirds for the really hungry and fast.

The warmer conditions have brought us our first contact with flies, but not i suspect our last. Also instructions from the police not to venture across the road, spade in hand for our "walk of shame", as the area was infested with snakes and scorpions. Quite what means they employed to keep the infestation from crossing from one side of a narrow band of tarmac to a patch of identical wasteland eluded us.

Along with the sunshine, we still had the company of the wind that has been our constant friend and foe these last days. Wind that can make you feel like a participant in the Tour de France one moment, or a 60-a-day couch potato the next, but always manages to carry off anything not weighted down with a rock, as soon as you turn your back when you are pitching you tent.

A short ride today of 93km to get us from our desert camp of last night to the city of Luxor, but what a change, after about an hours ride we were suddenly cycling along one of the Nile's many tributaries. We were no longer surrounded by the same bland arid brown landscape of rocks, sand and plastic bags, now we could see fields of green, with a multitude of crops, crops that were being taken to market in vans, and carts drawn by donkeys. And we saw people, people in cars, people in busses, people just standing, and kids lots and lots of kids, all shouting "Hello, Hello" followed by "Money, Money". I had started to day with the racers at 7.10, but as seems to be the pattern, after about half an hour i dropped back, and as soon as we had the change of scenery, very soon fell into a familiar pace, looking from left to right, trying to take it all in, with lots of stops for photos, arms aching and voice horse from waving and shouting "Hello".

Now i feel like the trip has really started!

The Numbers:-

Distance - 93km

Time start to finish - 3hrs 41 mins

Average Speed - 28.5km

Max Speed - 46kmph