Mount Everest climbers ask the Tibetan Gods for permission before they start. On the eve before our ride we asked the Egyptian Pharaohs to grant us a safe ride.
The next morning, alarm at 4, breakfast at 5, and load the trucks at 6. At 6:45 we boarded a bus for a photo shoot at the pyramids.
Thirty riders representing ten countries. Twenty males and ten females, ages 18 to . . . well . . . me.
We were bussed to the far outskirts of Cairo to begin our ride. The object was to avoid Ciaro’s 25 million people, and at least that many cars, busses, trucks and donkey carts. Our destination for the night, the Red Sea.
I was quite proud of the fact that I had reassembled my bike, from its shipping box, all by myself. I was beginning to feel like I could do anything. I even vowed to part the Red Sea when I got there. Unfortunately, the desert was the most barren land I’ve seen and I was unable to find a proper staff along the way.
There wasn’t a green blade of grass for the entire ride and on top of that, when we got there I found out the Red Sea was actually blue.
Biggest Surprise So Far Other Than The Red Sea being Blue: How cold it is in Egypt when the sun goes down Wasn’t prepared for that, it even rained the night I arrived. However, it’s getting a degree (Celsius) warmer every day we head south and the riding conditions have been excellent.
Biggest Mistake: Packing too much “stuff”.
Best Quote of the Trip (so far): From the Cairo market. “I don’t know what you want, but I have what your looking for.” Said in complete seriousness.
Most Significant Revelation on Tour: One of the few remaining advantages of being male this day and age. The ability to pee standing up, on the side of the road, straddling his bicycle. . . Hey, it’s the desert . . .
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