Ridin' Pillion
Wow, this whole motorcycle thing is fantastic. The freedom of not depending on public transport opens worlds of possibilities. Mick introduced me to a lovely ex-pat couple living in Cairo who took us out horse riding around the pyramids and put us up. We linked up with two poms who are heading to Capetown for charity ( www.cotswolds2capetown.co.uk geeze, does everybody have a website these days?) .
So we set of from Cairo, It was awesome flying down the motorway at 80miles per hour.
Unfortunately, due to the heat the spindle had fused to the bearings on the front wheel (the stick that goes through the middle of the wheel had over heated and the turny bits got stuck to it) . The poms kept going to stick to their deadline.
Fortunately, Mick had caught it early and had two spare sets of bearings with him, easy to fix, and there was a petrol station along the way where he could work in the shade.
Unfortunately the spindle (the stick bit that goes through the front wheel) couldn't be removed... also unfortunately I was giving mechanical advice, two hours of hitting and putting with no results.
Fortunately, the problem wasn't fatal and we were pretty close to a large town with a mechanic. If we took it slow it wouldn't be a problem
Unfortunately, the sun set.
Fortunately, Mick has a tent, cooker and food. We camped on the edge of the Sahara by the Red Sea watched shooting stars. Set off early the next morn.
Unfortunately, the bearings gave and the bike couldn't work.
Fortunately, a large truck stopped after only about 10 mins and picked us and the bike up.
Unfortunately, it needed to turn off, so dropped us off at a random sisha bar in the middle of nowhere.
Fortunately, they instructed an officer to stop traffic for us. Which he did.
Unfortunately, The guy they stopped was a bit of a weirdo and he charged us the price of the over night train from Cairo.
Fortunately, he got us to a mechanic who fixed the bike in only 3 hours. (what happened there was a whole other world of incidences that could extend this list, but long-story-short... Bike fixed.)
Unfortunately, while transporting the bike a bag was lost, it was Mick's tank bag that contained Ipod, camera, maps, motorbike passport vital to all bike travel, his new testament bible written in Scots. He spent most of the 3 hours in a car scouring the motorway for it, and another couple of hours in the morning on the bike.
Fortunately, we had a day up our sleeves to make the once-a-week boat to Sudan, so got a nice hotel and had a great meal and a good look around the the beach town (Hurgada, spelt differently on every road sign). In the morning (after getting back from searhing the moterway again for the bag) Mick remembered we had taken the phone number of the weirdo guy, so I got the hotel reception to call him to see if he knew where the bag was, He said yes, it was in Hurgada next to a main petrol station, the receptionist drew us a map.
Unfortunately, it took a couple of hours to find out this was a miscommunication... that seems to happen when Egyptians realise that it is nicer to tell you what they think you want to hear, rather than the truth.
Fortunately, Mick had packed his Motorbike documentation un a separate bag so he still had that.
Unfortunately, by this time it was midday, hottest time.
Fortunately, we had enough time to get to Luxor if there were not too many delays
Unfortunately, there were boarder police every hour.
Fortunately, when we got to the Nile the boarder police turned into a two van, 8 person private escort that whizzed us through all checkpoints. We got to Luxor before sundown in time for a lovely boat trip on the Nile. This is where we are now.
So all ended well. I have managed to stock up on everything I need for Sudan. Started taking my malaria medication, and am looking forward to the ride through Northern Sudan. All my luggage seems to fit on the bike and create a lazyboy chair at the back. We must join a convoy leaving Luxor at 6.30am tomorrow. Due to problems in the past (attacks on tourists from extremist groups) all movement of blankies (that's dutch for honkies) in this area is closely monitored.
So we set of from Cairo, It was awesome flying down the motorway at 80miles per hour.
Unfortunately, due to the heat the spindle had fused to the bearings on the front wheel (the stick that goes through the middle of the wheel had over heated and the turny bits got stuck to it) . The poms kept going to stick to their deadline.
Fortunately, Mick had caught it early and had two spare sets of bearings with him, easy to fix, and there was a petrol station along the way where he could work in the shade.
Unfortunately the spindle (the stick bit that goes through the front wheel) couldn't be removed... also unfortunately I was giving mechanical advice, two hours of hitting and putting with no results.
Fortunately, the problem wasn't fatal and we were pretty close to a large town with a mechanic. If we took it slow it wouldn't be a problem
Unfortunately, the sun set.
Fortunately, Mick has a tent, cooker and food. We camped on the edge of the Sahara by the Red Sea watched shooting stars. Set off early the next morn.
Unfortunately, the bearings gave and the bike couldn't work.
Fortunately, a large truck stopped after only about 10 mins and picked us and the bike up.
Unfortunately, it needed to turn off, so dropped us off at a random sisha bar in the middle of nowhere.
Fortunately, they instructed an officer to stop traffic for us. Which he did.
Unfortunately, The guy they stopped was a bit of a weirdo and he charged us the price of the over night train from Cairo.
Fortunately, he got us to a mechanic who fixed the bike in only 3 hours. (what happened there was a whole other world of incidences that could extend this list, but long-story-short... Bike fixed.)
Unfortunately, while transporting the bike a bag was lost, it was Mick's tank bag that contained Ipod, camera, maps, motorbike passport vital to all bike travel, his new testament bible written in Scots. He spent most of the 3 hours in a car scouring the motorway for it, and another couple of hours in the morning on the bike.
Fortunately, we had a day up our sleeves to make the once-a-week boat to Sudan, so got a nice hotel and had a great meal and a good look around the the beach town (Hurgada, spelt differently on every road sign). In the morning (after getting back from searhing the moterway again for the bag) Mick remembered we had taken the phone number of the weirdo guy, so I got the hotel reception to call him to see if he knew where the bag was, He said yes, it was in Hurgada next to a main petrol station, the receptionist drew us a map.
Unfortunately, it took a couple of hours to find out this was a miscommunication... that seems to happen when Egyptians realise that it is nicer to tell you what they think you want to hear, rather than the truth.
Fortunately, Mick had packed his Motorbike documentation un a separate bag so he still had that.
Unfortunately, by this time it was midday, hottest time.
Fortunately, we had enough time to get to Luxor if there were not too many delays
Unfortunately, there were boarder police every hour.
Fortunately, when we got to the Nile the boarder police turned into a two van, 8 person private escort that whizzed us through all checkpoints. We got to Luxor before sundown in time for a lovely boat trip on the Nile. This is where we are now.
So all ended well. I have managed to stock up on everything I need for Sudan. Started taking my malaria medication, and am looking forward to the ride through Northern Sudan. All my luggage seems to fit on the bike and create a lazyboy chair at the back. We must join a convoy leaving Luxor at 6.30am tomorrow. Due to problems in the past (attacks on tourists from extremist groups) all movement of blankies (that's dutch for honkies) in this area is closely monitored.
posted by Rachel | 9:02 pm
2 Comments:
Hi Rachel,
This is a message from NC's family. His friend found your website and put me on to it. I'm sure you are all having fun and good luck with the rest of your journey to Sudan. I hear you have to keep yourselves entertained in Aswan for a few more days - don't worry, we wont tell anyone where the bottle store is! Take care (of the boys, we mean!)
Hello and welcome,
We seem to have come to a bit of a grinding halt here in Aswan. The guys are itching to get moving again, we all are. I think they are taking care of me more than I am of them.
Cheerio.
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