In the Deep End

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  Safaga, Red Sea and Sinai, Egypt
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The start of TDA was nothing like I expected. A little low key maybe, but that is put into perspective of months of preparation and hypothesizing, and imagination running wild about all the ins and outs and what-have-yous. But that all cahnged pretty quickly into the start of the day, when, in the middle of a convoy through the centre of Cairo, on the main highway, whilst introducing myself to a fellow rider, I lost air out of my rear tire. If it weren't for the quick help of Jethro, and one of the nurses pumping up a spare tube, I was destined for the truck and loss of EFI status on day one!

I guess the biggest surprise for me was the riding. Never really having put in the hours on the saddle that would qualify me as any sort of rider, racer, mountain Biker, or accidental finisher of Soggy Bottom 100, AK, I had no idea what spending upwards of 8hrs and 130kms on a bike to reach camp each evening meant...I doesn't take long to figure out the key aspects. Number 1 - never lose the pack on a windy day. Number 2 - Never go out hot with the lead pack, only to realise you have nothing let, when the slower packs begin to drag you in. Number 3 - change positions regularly before you arse, fingers and shoulders stiffen into rigor mortis.

The camping is awesome, and gets your priorities sorted out quickly - tent up, clean up with 2 wet wipes, soup and stretch (although not as much of the last as I should have been doing). The food is always the best thing you have ever tasted (the cook is sitting next to me as I type this) and I can't imagine eating regular stuff with as much gusto, unless i spend the rest of my life cycling obscene distances every day. High points - Cool people to meet and chat with, especially on and after long days cycling, camping every night, everyone looks good in lycra. Low points - 160km into a brutal head wind, which lost some good riders their EFI status, long walks for a deprssion you can "see a man about a dog". Oh, and yes it does occasionally rain in the Desert!

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The Lucky charm   Comments!	Fresh faced and Eager...	Pack leaving lunch	Some spectacular riding early

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