Thursday, 18th Jan, 2007

From Desert Camping to Luxor

Nice easy day. I wouldn't have sagged at all, but thought the day was going to be longer and I wanted to get into Luxor early to go to the bank. Knew the banks would be closed tomorrow (Friday). Well, got into Luxor at 12:00 p.m.! Very early! We headed out of the desert and hit the Nile River at a town called Qena. We then headed south, along the Nile. It was very nice. We were supposed to ride on the left (East?) side of the river (actually, just a canal next to the river). It was tarmac on that side. But there was also a lot of traffic on that side. So, at one of the numerous bridges, I crossed over. I rode on the other side for about 10 miles. Very slow going because not tarmacked, but much more interesting. Rode through little villages, donkeys and donkey carts, women cooking, kids playing, the whole nine yards. Yes, even women! One thing I've noticed in Egypt. You don't see a lot of women, out and about in public places. It's not unheard of, but you see many many more men than women. So, it was refreshing over there on "the other side of the river", to see all the friendly women saying "hello" and waving at me. They didn't actually say "hello", they said things like "sabah halkheer", but I knew what they meant because they smiled. Unfortunately, after about 10 miles, a police soldier at one of the bridges made me cross back over. "For my safety." The security police, while I guess it's nice to have them around, they are a nuisance. I thought it was safer where I was - less traffic. But couldn't argue. Back over the bridge to the noisy side of the river I went.


-------------------- TODAY --------------- TOTAL
Cycled ------------- 59 km (36 mi) -------- 581.5 km (356 mi)
Sagged------------- 19 km (12 mi) --------- 165 km (103.5 mi)
Total -------------- 78 km (48 mi) --------- 746.5 km (459 mi)
In saddle ---------- 3 hrs 10 min ----------- 32 hrs 48 min
Ascended ---------- 150 feet --------------- 6,244 feet