(composed on jan 11)
After 3 years of dreaming and 1 year of preparation, the moment has arrived: I’m in Caïro. The body is in shape, the mind also, the bike is sharp as a razor, as for as I’m concerned we can get started.
The trip went down well. The hardest part was right at the beginning at Schiphol airport: saying goodbye to Helène, Guus and Lieke. All four of us have been working towards this moment, and suddenly it is there. Lots of hugs, lots of tears, lots of thumbs up, it was a very difficult moment.
After a smooth flight via London, I was at Cairo-airport around 23.00h. The luggage appeared on the conveyer belt, the only missing piece being my bike. Not really a minor detail if you have to ride 11500 km on it!!
But luckily after talking to several Egyptian officials and filling out an impressive form, suddenly out of nowhere there appeared a pile of five bike boxes, with my bike in it. Pffff!
Taking into account the way the bikes where loaded into the van that would bring us to the hotel, it is a miracle that any of those bikes can ever be used again. I’m glad I’ve bought a very sturdy bikebox, because mine came out undamaged. It is standing in my hotel room as I write, sharp and shiny, ready to roll.
Thusrday I visited the pyramids, which are quite impressive. At night the Ministry of Tourism offered us a dinner on a Nile-boat, the food was good and so where the dancers. It was a convenient way of getting to know the other riders.
Today the last preparations where made, my number was collected (109), the luggage has to be redivided over the Red Box and one bag, and then the legs can get to work.. Finally!