This morning the schedule had an individual time trial starting at 5km past start. I cycled there waited until my turn and then set up. We had slight tailwinds and so riding was pretty easy. I covered the 25km in 45:09 minutes which got me 26th place on a 29 person men level. Not particularly fast for time trial, but also faster than I’d normally ride through. That got us a good step on way to lunch stop.

Gradually landscapes became busier with some commercial farms and also passed a prison and a group of soldiers out for a run with drill Sargent poking with stick to keep group together. Also stopped to get this bush. There is a general sense that things just get thrown away which means trash sometimes accumulates. Not too bad in vast expanses of desert but more noticeable with more people.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]

We gathered together for lunch and then once again a convoy cycling into big city. Saw multi-story buildings for first time in a while, also traffic lights. Ours was a procession complete with blaring sirens and even a TV truck recording our entry. As we got close we crossed the Nile into central business district. Wound our way through busy parts and then eventually to spot for the camp site.

I decided to splurge and get a hotel as it might offer a good hot shower, chance to catch up this blog on the internet and otherwise relax to get ready for next stages ahead. Eventually might even go be a tourist (once my bike is clean and tuned up), though also taking a bit of relaxation as well.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]

I carefully staged things into panniers first. Was the thermarest too light to blow away? Just to be safe, decided to make trip to truck to store away thermarest and sleeping bag. Now with some carefully planning and a few large rocks, I was able to make the rest stage by stage and get the tent packed away! A big sense of accomplishment, though the tent did weigh a little more with some accumulated sand inside.

It all got easier after that. Breakfast and I was on the road. The official race had been canceled due to conditions. There was perhaps 300m visibility on the road and the sands would shift across, much as winter snows sometimes drift. The sun was up but pretty washed out and faintly visible. Still good to have that sand mostly coming from behind.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
Gradually the day got better. Eventually the sun was able to cast shadows and while still hazy, the extra sand started lifting. I cycled mostly straight to lunch though shortly before several interesting watermelon sellers.

Tried stopping at coke stop at 115km but for first time, slightly uncomfortable as had many folks mostly standing around and making some comments. So pretty much quick ride from there and into camp for the day. Winds much lighter and I was even able to shake out some excess sand from that tent.

We had tailwinds starting out, so again smooth riding. Wee! It was easy way to reach lunch by 11am. Fortunately we also had fewer flies today.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
After lunch, the road shifted and we had more mixture of winds including some head winds. It also got warm again. I saw a huge pod of camels and others had seen them cross. I’ve been able to post updates with mobile phone and was able to refresh at 97km and then came into our named “Dead Camel Camp” grinding out the last 40km. Fortunately, in evening more pleasant temperatures. Also nearby a small mosque that seemed to be mostly unused, though still ready for service. Also a big road grader.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]

• Initially, we cycled parallel but not in view of the Nile. Mostly dry desert scenery, with just an occasional settlement. Gold mining towns we were told. Our first day had some tailwinds and while longest at 149km, was still medium riding. It was nice to soak in the river, though we also got our introduction to these small buzzing flies.
• After this, we more closely paralleled the Nile. There would be more settlements to our right. Unlike Egypt where even smallest towns might have two story buildings, here everything was single story, often surrounded by mud walls. Tallest here would be local mosque with minaret. We still cut across desert areas, but our proximity to the Nile also brought us many small flies. In the afternoon it became quite hot and was important to keep hydrated (I’m carrying 4.5 liters which seems to be enough for now, but have another 3 liter bladder I will likely pack in addition if it gets warmer). Our middle day was toughest for me so far on the tour
• After this we continued to parallel the Nile. What was different was that we also passed irrigated fields. More settlements and a little more populated. Eventually ended in regional center of Dongola. Still warm in afternoon but only 112km on third day.

The road is quite good with fairly light traffic. A few different things we see along the way:

• King of the road are these big buses that go very fast and with horns screetching and blaring. They stop for nothing.
• Little van mini-buses go much slower. Covered with Arabic lettering and often a wave.
• Local transport seems to be pickup trucks, some with a cab on back and often with many passengers. Good for friedly honks and wave.
• Some local box trucks but not much
• Donkeys and donkey carts are local field transport. Not much on the road, but we pass them by.
• Kids might have bicycles.

So far pretty easy to travel and with occasional “coke stops” as it gets warm.

Dongola is good camping in local zoo (only animals are statues and us). Yesterday was holy day, but town is more lively today. Still enjoying my rest day and getting ready for road ahead.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]

[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
This morning TDA held a “team time trial” instead of the normal race. The idea was to organize in groups of four or five and then cycle as quickly as possible, with time determined by the slowest rider. Most groups were geographically arranged, e.g. team Germany or team Holland and team Holland was the quickest in just over 40 minutes. A group of us who weren’t particularly fast but had similar speeds grouped together to form “team slow”. We ran all together and had fun.

[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
After the time trial we were already over halfway to lunch. Just the right spot to refuel. We started seeing more irrigation and towns were larger. Fortunately, the coke stops continued in afternoon and without too much trouble we found ourselves at the de-commissioned “Dongola Zoo”. No real animals here other than us, but some nice statues. It was Friday holy day, so time was somewhat shut down. Tomorrow washing, cleaning and internet.

It wasn’t so much the distance, which we’ve done before. Instead, the afternoon was just a little warmer than before. Also as we came closer to the Nile, the flies were pretty bad. We’ve been told the timing coincides with flowering cycle of the dates and they weren’t there last year. Hopefully, this also means short lived as well.

This morning the group was up early, with unwritten rule – beat the heat. A pretty fanatical group of people to watch all the headlamps as people are taking down their tents in the dark. I joined them, got my stuff ready and was on the road by 7:45am. Once again, our ride started out well, all long as we didn’t stop (those flies again). We followed the river more closely and also saw more villages. Time for one coke stop and then lunch.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
At lunch the fly infestation continued, so didn’t linger. Also temporarily ran out of bread. So I hopped back on the bike, but to no avail as the heat came. My odometer said 41C and decided I wouldn’t look at it further in the afternoon. While we’d had more tailwinds, we also came across some curves and more diagonally into the wind. At 93km one more coke stop and then a slow steady ride to reach camp at 3:20pm. I was beat, but a quick soak in the Nile again helped refresh things.

It was a new adventure to pack everything and fit it into the locker, but having separate panniers works well since I organize first into the panniers and then fitting the locker (choke point with many people) is just putting them in.

With the time change, I was on the road shortly before 8am. It was cool at first and good riding. We left the immediate Nile area and while parallel to the river, didn’t see it until end of the day. There were a few gradual raised areas and what we were told were mining camps. Some tailwinds helped and I was at lunch stop at 78km.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
After lunch it got considerably hotter. My bike odometer said 39C or 40C including some reflected heat. At 90km that was just too inviting as we passed “El Beer” and a coke stop. Alcohol is forbidden in Sudan, so the term is something else. At 120km time for a second coke stop and then I was a bit slow cycling last kilometers to camp at 149km.

A refreshing soak in the Nile felt good, though also noticed some biting flies near the river.

• Waiting initially until others got off (pretty quick)
• All our group being asked to congregate into the dining area. Discovering the area was too cramped so everyone but first 10 sent outside
• As my turn was called, receiving two forms to carefully complete. Having them checked by immigration and receiving a yellow disembarkation receipt, a copy of my original form and a form to affix my photo
• Finding the person with the stapler, to attach the photo
• Being allowed to leave assuming I showed the disembarkation permit, bringing all my gear down to the dock.
• Helping load the trucks and then cycling a short km to the customs area
• Retrieving the bag, having customs come and place stickers on both bags
• Having customs check stickers on the bags, then also put sticker on the bike to check
• Riding off to camp

[See image gallery at bike2013.com]
Once we arrived at camp, we got first look at the big overland vehicles and our lockers. Pretty big and impressive and fortunately, all my stuff seems to fit in the locker.
[See image gallery at bike2013.com]