Lotsa fun and general feelings

I’m happy! It is definitely tough – but not as bad (so far) as some people made it out to be. The mixture of seeing Africa, cycling, relaxing and meeting so many people is very therapeutic … and most of you probably know I need therapy ;-)

I miss decent toilets … where one can sit down for a few minutes and consider the meaning of life. The squat toilets in these Arab countries and a shovel in the desert don’t really offer possibilities to relax and contemplate.

I miss Vida e, good wine, Gandalph, Mykl (my cycling buddy) and swimming!!!

A shower would be nice a little more often

For those looking for my tent in the photographs … mine is a little North Face, Rusty Red in colour … but not the one alongside the truck in the aerial shot previously displayed.

Everyone is getting on very well in the group (for now) … I’m sure some people will be grating each other the wrong way here and there as the tour progresses, but those from previous years organizing and working on this tour seem to agree we have a real good group this year.

Feel free to check out the other blogs and websites … link to them via the Tour website on www.tourdafrique.com. There are also three very good fundraising programs being run by fellow riders – Marcus and Adri have two interesting programs going. Howard has a neat newsletter via subscription to raise monies for two good causes … contact Michelle on africa.cycle.trip@mweb.co.za for more information on his little project.

The distances we are covering are really dependent on the terrain we are going over. Basically the leaders tend to cruise along and complete the day’s riding in about four to five hours, us cruising racers will do so in under six hours and the last bunch crawls in around three or four o’clock latest. Distances of over 150km really don’t phase us in the least. The first week in the desert we had distances of around 80kms, last week around 130km and next week around the 160km mark on several days.

Toughest at the moment is getting comfortable – or the first bum placement – on my saddle in the mornings.

Getting out of my sleeping bag in the mornings is also tough … except when we have the Gummy Bears playing in the background (thanks Inge).

Flat tyres are possible in the desert … either from the numerous rocks everywhere in the Nubian Desert or from tyres/tubes pinching when running on low pressure thru the sand