January 29th, 2015 - Khartoum, Sudan

In the past few days dehydration, sickness and fatigue are the order of the day. I managed to escape it (for now).  A couple of days ago, my bike thermometer read 46 degrees while I was riding (in the sun, but we were in the sun also). 


This is our locker truck.  I have the locker next to MJ in the photo.

Early yesterday we arrived at lunch on the outskirts of Khartoum. The bike in was fine but my legs are tired.  At an average speed of 25km/hr you will be the last person in.  The days are melting together but if I remember correctly we mainly had a crosswind.  The sights included many herds of camels and goats along the road; many, many dead camels left on the side of the road; an unbelievable amount of garbage on the ground and in the ditches; buses going way too fast; lots of big trucks with black smoke; huts and villages and so on.  The landscape is greener, obviously we are leaving the desert.

We had a convoy into Khartoum, it went well but always stressful.  I glanced up few times to see total chaos in the streets filled with people, donkeys, motorbikes...

Kendy and I are sharing a room at the Grand Villa on the same grounds as the camping.  It feels like luxury, with a porcelain toilet, hot water, internet and air conditioning.  We washed our clothes in the sink and hooked up to internet before venturing out in the way to hot sun.

(Above): Hotel 25m pool in Khartoum. It was lovely.

(Below): Egg-shaped building in Khartoum

Best Sight of the Day:  (wish I could take photos)  In the hotel restaurant, it felt like the United Nations with all the different dresses.  There was a family with the men in robes and scarves and the women in burkas and scarves but with their faces exposed. The  women all wore makeup and some of them it was quite dramatic, they wear a very thick black wedged eyebrow... it looks solid and like it is pasted on and made me want to stare.  Some wear a white makeup to make them look whiter and most wear a bright red lipstick just outlining their lips. There was sheikh with his body guard; the sheikh was very impressive with his long brilliant white starched robe and flowing head piece with a black band, he had a small vertical strip of a beard and very handsome - I did speak to him later and found out that he is from Qatar.  There was an Indian couple, he with the long cotton pants under a long robe and her with the baggy cotton pants that are tight at the ankle and with a large colourful scarf on backwards (solid part in the front and open at the back); African men in suits and us in our camp wear... faded, wrinkled cotton t-shirts, baggy shorts and dirty sandals (at least they didn't see us before we had our showers).