4th Day Safaga Egypt - 536Km

Well after 4 days of riding and desert camps, we touch down at the town of Safaga,with a chance of getting on the internet at a realistic cost ie EP3 per hour instead of EP45 per half hour at the hotel in Cairo. Hopefully i will be able to back track and fill in the previous few days later. For now i will try and cover today.

Safaga, camping on the beach for some, hotel rooms for those who just need a soft bed under them, instead of sand/stones/trash and other things best not to mention.

Beach and Beer

The ride today was 102Km, a short day for us. As usual the wake up call was @ 6am with breakfast @ 6.15, tent packed, red box loaded (always a challenge as most have to much, and the boxes are squeezed into their racks with much straining grunting and squashed fingers). After a breakfast of Porridge and flat bread smothered with peanut butter and choc spread, washed down with tea, the racers set off @ 7.35. As on previous days we followed the Red Sea south, but the going was harder than it has been, as enroute we had some turns that put us into the wind that has been such a help for the last two days. I started with the racers, but the notorious Chris from Canada has been reunited with his bike, that went AWOL, and the pace that he set proved to be to much for me after my moment of triumph yesterday (see update Later). So i fell behind, and after two successful attempts to rejoin the pack, they disappeared into the distance, and i rode on my own, giving the expedition riders a cheery "hi " as i whizzed past, always a good moral boost.  Lunch!! was at the 70k mark @ 9.30, more flat bread, peanut butter & choc this time with a dash of mayonnaise for variety. With 32k to the finish it should still have been a good time, even with the head wind, but i became unsure of the way as i got into town, so teamed up with one of the Egyptian National riders that are with us until Aswan, working oh the theory that if i am going to be lost, it is better to be lost with some one who knows the lingo! The problem was, that every one he asked for directions sent us off in a new direction, until eventually having picked up another couple of "lost sheep", we were guided to our destination by an old local on his bike. It was quite a sight to see the four of us in full racing gear, on our expensive bikes being lead along by this chap on his rusty-squeeky mount in his overcoat!

The first shower since Cairo, was cold, like the beers we drank , but it put a smile on our faces, we are indeed happy little bunnies,  bunnies with sore bums, but happy!

The Numbers:-

Distance 102k

Time start to finish 3hrs 39mins

Average speed 32.5kph

Max speed 57.7kph