Just Camp Somewhere on the Sandy Bit

Riding the Tour D’Afrique, days 7 to 12, Luxor to Abu Simbel

Distance Cycled: 1245km

Metres Climbed: 3432m

Time on Bike: 40:05:40

Time in Truck: 0:00:00

Race Position: 3rd

Well, we've made it to the end of our first country, just another 10 to go! Tomorrow we cross into the Sudan, so this post is predominantly catching up on a few photos of Egypt.

The ride out of Luxor saw us follow the lush Nile valley, which made a change from the barren desert landscape of the first week. It also brought a significant increase in population density, as we passed town after town, with the "Hallo, Hallo" kids appearing from almost everywhere to greet us on-coming cyclists. On the whole they were friendly and seemed genuinely happy to welcome us into their country, but there were a few incidents of rocks being thrown and one lady even being hit with sugar cane!

Throughout the Egyptian leg, the police have been ever present as they escorted us along the roads. I fear we might miss them in the next leg. They were pretty good at blocking the road behind us, forcing passing traffic to give us a wide berth and they were also more than enthusiastic to help rider Liz change a flat when getting the tyre off seemed to stump the tour medic Helen and I.

At each tourist location we pass through, there is evidence that recent events in Egypt seemed to have hit the industry hard. With numerous run down or closed hotels and shops, as this probably once luxurious ferry-hotel on the bank of the Nile is testament.

"Captain Cook" giving us a ride across the Nile in his Faluka.

We've been really fortunate to have been joined by three members of the Alexandria cycling club (L to R, Ashraf, Mohammed & Tamer). Here in Edfu, they took us for an Egyptian "Friday night out", with coffee, shisha and domino's - the game, I should clarify, not the pizza. As well as the three Egyptian riders, I've been doing most of my cycling with Julian and Charles on the left (when I don't get dropped, anyway). Then there's Bridgette and Ed on the right, who have both been great people to go exploring with, and both have some fantastic stories of previous travels.

Although we've all agreed to not take the race element too seriously, there are definitely some hints of competition brewing. Charles and Julian are currently neck and neck out front, then the chasing pack consists of myself, the ever impressive Alex and youngest rider Niklas, pictured above racing through the desert.

A beautiful decent back into the Nile valley after another day in the desert.

Our first proper desert camp.

Creek by lake Nasser in Abu Simbel.

Abu Simbel temple at sunrise. The whole structure was cut into blocks and moved to a new location 65m higher and 200m further back from the river to prevent it being flooded by the creation of the Aswan dam upstream.