Early breakfast today at 5 AM. We loaded our daily bags onto the truck at 6 AM, and boarded a bus at 6:30 AM to the pyramids and Sphinx for a "farewell to Cairo".
We accomplished the requisite group photo op at the pyramids. In the past, the ride started at the pyramids. The Egyptian authorities no longer allow that, so today we are being bussed with a police escort two hours south of Cairo to begin our ride at a Circle K. (Egypt is a police state; there is a metal detector at the entrance to every hotel, and also at every building of any significance. They often circle your vehicle with a bomb-sniffing dog before allowing you on to the premises. Police and security guards are everywhere.)
Lunch was provided; picture taken just before we clipped in to start peddling.
Our first day's ride was relatively short at 62 km, but it was accompanied with a gradual 1650 m ascent.
Destination for the day is up and over the mountains to the Gulf of Suez, the northwest arm of the Red Sea.
First peek at the Gulf of Suez though the mountains.
We are staying at a hotel on the Gulf of Suez, and took a relatively chilling dip in the salty water after arrival.
View of the Gulf of Suez from our hotel balcony.
Sculpture of some massive gourd/zucchini at dinner. I have no idea what vegetable (?) was used to carve this bird.
We accomplished the requisite group photo op at the pyramids. In the past, the ride started at the pyramids. The Egyptian authorities no longer allow that, so today we are being bussed with a police escort two hours south of Cairo to begin our ride at a Circle K. (Egypt is a police state; there is a metal detector at the entrance to every hotel, and also at every building of any significance. They often circle your vehicle with a bomb-sniffing dog before allowing you on to the premises. Police and security guards are everywhere.)
Lunch was provided; picture taken just before we clipped in to start peddling.
Our first day's ride was relatively short at 62 km, but it was accompanied with a gradual 1650 m ascent.
Destination for the day is up and over the mountains to the Gulf of Suez, the northwest arm of the Red Sea.
First peek at the Gulf of Suez though the mountains.
We are staying at a hotel on the Gulf of Suez, and took a relatively chilling dip in the salty water after arrival.
View of the Gulf of Suez from our hotel balcony.
Sculpture of some massive gourd/zucchini at dinner. I have no idea what vegetable (?) was used to carve this bird.
Egypt has consistently poor Wi-Fi. Here I'm sitting in the hallway just under the router, because any other location doesn't work.
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