Kenya: no-go

On arrival in Khartoum, Henry Gold, the director of the Tour d’Afrique-organisation has updated us on the present situation in Kenya. Things are only getting worse in that country, so the decision has been taken that, unless a miracle happens, we’ll not be cycling through Kenya. TdA is now working on a solution which looks like this: we’ll ride our bikes to the Ethiopian/Kenyan border (Moyale). From there we continue with a chartered plane, destination: Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha, Tanzania. The planned time schedule will still be followed, so we’ll have to kill some time in Arusha. This is not really a problem, there are lots of things to do in Northern Tanzania.
The support trucks will not be flying over Kenya, they will drive through. The drivers don’t really worry about this. It will probably take them a small week to reach Tanzania. They will transport our bikes.
I’m very glad a decision has been taken. Both riders and their families now know what will be done, and can rest assured that no unneccesary risks will be taken.

The first section is completed

Friday, February 1 we have completed the first section of the Tour d’Afrique, Pharao’s Delight. 1960 km. From Dongola we have traveled to Khartoum, teh capital of Sudan, in four days. The tarmac was brand new, the wind came from the right direction, so the riding went great with averages way above 30 km/h. All four days we have traveled through a boring but impressive landscape: vast desert-space, with nothing but sand and a few dry bushes. The occasional camel crossing the road is the only change of scenery that you run across.
Friday we have started with a time-trial (8-th position for me). After that we have cycled though Khartoum, in convoy, with police in front and in the rear. We rode an hour and a half through areas with an increasing number of people along the road, constantly with the police-alarms in your ear. Finally we arrived at a real camping site, resembling the average French camping municipal: the showers worked, toilets that can be flushed, the only things that are missing are the croissants and the cold white wine.
In Khartoum we have Saterday and Sunday to rest, Monday we’ll be leaving for the Ethiopian border. In that country the Tour will change: serious climbing will have to be done, and the story goes that the Ethiopian children have special ways of welcoming you when you enter their village (throwing rocks, trying to put sticks in you wheels, etc). But at the same time it seems to be the most beautiful stretch of the Tour, so … bring it on.

A day from the Tour d’Afrique

Half an hour before sunrise we’re woken up with music (for instance Bicycle from Queen), in Sudan this is at 6.30h, in Egypt it was an hour earlier.

6.30-7.00u Put your gear in the red box, break up tent
7.00-7.45u Breakfast with porridge, bread, coffee, tea
7.45-8.00u Get water and Fast Fuel, energy-bars
8.00u Start
11.00u Lunch with tomato, cucumber, bread, cheese, tuna, fruit
13.00u Finish, pitch tent, eat soup, bread
13.30-17.30u Reading, update diary, bike maintainace, talking, resting
17.30u Riders meeting with info about the next stage
18.00u Dinner (rice/pasta/potatoes/couscous with thick sauce, 2 full plates)
Ca. 20.00u Most people are in their tents, reading, the eyes become heavy…