A new website, a new trip

My final preparations are coming to an end. With about two months to go. I'm starting a new trip all over Egypt covering almost 5500km in a period of approximately three months and it is titled Know Egypt, to learn more kindly visit http://know-egypt.com.

I have been buying new equipment (loads of them). Begging for people to help me carry the stuff for me, and thankfully i'm surrounded by the best of friends and they made it possible.

I have a sponsor to the trip who gave me a substantial amount of money as a support for the trip, Makani, a 100% Egyptian restaurant chain. They are very excited about the trip.

Tubus has been very supportive as well and provided me with one of their lovely rear carriers, the logo carrier.

Guess I have no excuses now. Things have been going very smoothly. Today I'm meeting with my boss to tell him that I'll leave my job by December of this year. Guess it is a very big step for me. First time to quit and this is my first job. I have no idea where I'm going to but there is no way back I guess.

I'm now left to deal with my lovely mind that keeps drawing fears every now and then, projecting some lovely pictures from the future, that I'm in no need of.  My stomach grumbles as well when I think of all the comfort I'll  be leaving behind and currently taking advantage of, it is hard to live an easy life...

Cycling Around

Two weeks ago I cycled to Alexandria in one day. A distance of 250km. Apparently this is the most stupid thing I've done in my life. I had a terrible strained muscle midway and had to cycle slowly. I spent like 18hours on the road. Cycling during the night time on a high way in Egypt isn't the smartest of ideas.

I managed to arrive safely and enjoy a few days in Alexandria. A lovely city indeed.
Even though I have visited it several times it seemed different when I arrived on the bicycle.

The best thing in the trip, and I believe was the reason of this trip from the start, was that I ran into an American cyclist who has been on the road for three years cycling from the states. Charles as I was introduced is an amazing person doing an amazing trip.

This is his website if you are interested to follow http://bicycle4earth.org.

Preparations

Currently I'm going through the process of preparing for a new trip that will start next year, 2011. A bit by bit I will release all the details about the trip. Most of the people close to me know about it. Once everything is clear and solid, i will post them...

Back from the GBI

Got back 10 days ago, unfortunately I didn't have a functional computer to update the blog or upload the pictures. But i finally bought one of those little netbooks, very handy.

The trip all in all was like a magical dream... just cycling from eastern Europe, Prague, onto Eastern Germany, down to Western Germany was just crazy. All the green fields roads and lovely people.

I never imagined myself cycling with a whole team all that distance, and specially the last three days I felt like i was a part of this team, it was magnificent.

This is the link to the photos, hope you enjoy them...


http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/GBI2010#

Cycling the GBI - From Prague to Dusseldorf

Next week, on the 29th of May, 2010, I'll be flying to the Czech Republic, to join a group of 300 cyclists from several countries to cycle for charity from Prague to Dusseldorf, Germany.

There will be about 33 Egyptian cyclists, which I'm very proud to be a member of. Over 8 days we'll enjoy cycling in Europe, which I'm sure is a totally different experience than Egypt.

Currently I'm working on a big project which I'll post the details about when I'done with 85% of the planning.. wish me luck :-)

http://www.gbi-ev.de/index.php/en/gbi-2010

Siwa - Day 7

Seventh day trip to Siwa 5th of March, 2010 21:26

Total Distance 834.07km
Distance 209.37km
average speed 25.4km/h

Excerpts from my diary:
Made it to Siwa today, I feel normal, after all it isn't a multi-thousand kilometer trip or a few months long trip, but i can say it has been great cycling that road.
Today a guy at the rest house told me he felt an inner peace when he saw me. I can never imagine myself leaving that effect on someone. I do want to give hope and be an inspiration to many.

Yesterday has been tough, the usual high speed wind against me, lots of tractors, specially coming from the opposite direction.

My stupid cheap rear panniers gave me a hard time. I'll buy Ortliebs that's it, even though I can't afford it.

I loved how the desert expanded on my left and right. After 100km I took a left turn and just 20m away from the road I camped. This is how safe I felt, and a man with a broken car asked me for water for his truck the next morning and I gave him a bottle.

The weather has been magnificent today, wind in my direction and not too much sun.

I seized the opportunity and thought I better take the whole distance today and I did 210km in one day, a record for me.

I have a lot of left over food, hope I finish it with the friend and save some food money.

I'm happy, peaceful and calm...

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay7#

Siwa - Day 6

Sixth day trip to Siwa, 4th of March, 2010

Total Distance 624.7km
Distance 101.7km
average speed 12.9km/h

(haven't written anything on that day, too tired had to sleep)

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay6#

Siwa - Day 5

Fifth day trip to Siwa 3rd of March, 2010 19:45

Total Distance 523km
Distance 67.72km
average speed 13.3km



Excerpts from my diary:
My speedometer reseted today accidentally.
My day had a rough start with a silly fall. I started cycling slowly but kept a good pace. Cycled with great power to 50km and started to wear out, may be because subconsciously I knew I'd be resting.

I reached Marsa  Matrouh at around 14:00, found a cheap hotel, 20 pounds per night. El-Amir Hotel it's called. Had a good fish meal, 110 pounds! Did some shopping, water, milk, juice, and some cans to support me in the upcoming three days, which I pray to God to make them more bearable, I know He will. I feel loved and blessed, I feel like crying to be so lucky...

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay5#

Siwa - Day 4

Fourth day trip to Siwa 2nd of March, 2010 18:15

Total Distance 456.36km
Distance 100.25km
average speed 17.3km/h






 Excerpts from my diary:

I'm writing this the next day i was too tired to write or read, just ate and slept.
I had a rough start this morning, had a stupid fall while dragging the bicycle out of the camping spot. I'm safe thankfully. The road was terribly windy, I cycled almost at 10km/h the whole time. Glad I made it to 100km.
The strange thing is that the wind changed direction from west to noth, from hot to cold, in a merely few seconds. Nature is amazing.
I had a good night sleep and the tent was stacked out good

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay4#

Siwa - Day 3

Third day trip to Siwa 1st of March, 2010 16:44

Total Distance: 355.14km
Distance: 122.2km
average speed: 18.6km/h

Excerpts from my diary:
After three days you adapt to this kind of life, which I find very intriguing. Today I cycled about 95km in the northern coast road, way better than the Alex road the sea on your right, much less traffic. The weather is great too, with light wind.

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay3#

Siwa - Day 2

Second day trip to Siwa 28th of February, 2010 17:15

Total distance 230km
distance 100km

Excerpts from my diary:
Today the wind was against me all the time. It gets you down a bit, felt in the middle that i won't be able to go on. It started splashing a bit, hope it doesn't rain, i can't afford it by all means....

There are like 50 mosquitos on my tent, thank God they aren't inside.

I don't feel like I love this trip, not like the Jordan trip.

I'm still learning to stay present, guess it won't be easy for someone like me.

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay2#

Siwa - Day 1

First day trip to Siwa - 27th of February, 2010 14:35

distance: 128.82km
average speed: 20.1 km/h

Excerpts from my diary:

Reached Kafr El-Zayat, a city 100km away from Alexandria. I'm now sitting by the nile, amazing view, very simple concrete chairs. Haven't found a camping spot yet, it won't be easy it seems. Have a feeling of longing for something.
Bought a kilo of mandarins. Ate fetir (Egyptian pastry) in a famous place on the road, Borg El-Monoufia, I feel clear and purified. I love life...

Photos link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sherif.halim/SiwaDay1#

Back...

Got back yesterday morning from what has been an amazing trip... I've been gone for two weeks ( from the 27th of February, 2010 to the 12th of March, 2010 )

Cycled for 7 days with no breaks in between. I made it to Siwa on Friday, the 5th of March, 2010. Luckily I had the wind in my favor the last day, so I took advantage of it and saved myself one day of cycling (the original plan was 8 days)

Even though I didn't feel I was in love with this trip, unlike my first one, I began to love it as the days went by, realizing the different nature of the trip, mostly desert and howling wind against me. I'm quite proud of myself that I made it, specially that not many people has cycled to Siwa.

I've been very lucky to spend two days and one night in the Egyptian Western desert. I feel I have reached a new level of serenity and clamness.

The week that followed was mainly eating, the food there is amazing, drinking and partying. I had a lovely company of 5 of my friends (one of them I have just met on that trip) plus the lovely people of Siwa, their kindness and hospitality made this trip close to a dream.

I will post the pictures and excerpts from my dairy, hope I'd be able to deliver my feelings, emotions and scenary throughout the cycling days.

Marsa Matrouh

After five days of cycling against the high speed wind (less one day) i made it safely to Marsa Matrouh, which is a lovely quite city. I rented a room in a cheap hotel for 20pounds it's called El-Amir Hotel. Ate a lovely fish meal and had a good glass of tea in coffee shop.... I feel a bit drained, but I will go on tomorrow. Wish me luck please.... photos will be posted upon my arrival to Cairo...

Bad Weather

Due to bad rain and mud. I will move one day later till it stabilizes and the road dry out a bit! i'm all packed up and ready, can't wait to start...

Rapture

Even though I'm feeling very worried and uneasy, i have this feeling of internal happiness and rapture.

I'm terrified to be honest of my upcoming trip which is starting two days from today (less than 48 hours)

I want you all to wish me luck, give me all the spiritual and mental support you can offer...

i love you all :-)

The countdown

It's one week away from my trip to Siwa. I have made a slight change to the route. I was planning to go on the desert road to Alex, though I was driving down the agricultural road few days ago and had a feeling that it'll be a better route, so this how I'll reach Alex.

My randoneer has arrived two weeks ago and it's an amazing bike. It's strong comfortable and I feel very confident riding it.

I have also received a lovely gift from a friend, the HyMini Wind Charger, it's a little nice protable hybrid charger with a built in wind turbine... still testing it, don't know how good it is, but the idea is brilliant...

http://www.hymini.com/

Pascal Staeuble

I'm so ashamed of myself that i didn't get to write anything about my friend Pascal Staeuble, who i met on my trip to Jordan, 2 km before a city called Abou Redeis.

Pascal Staeuble is a Swiss gentleman who happened to be cycling his way to South Africa, and i was lucky enough to run into him, have a chat, exchange emails and take a picture.

When i saw him 400m away i thought my mind was starting to play games and i have been on the road for 3 days now, and this is an illusion. A cyclist on the other way in Egypt, is a coincidence that happens as frequent as the moon Eclipses we hear about those days.

Pascal has started his trips like 7-8 months ago now, it was 5 when we met 2.5 months ago. He started from Switzerland and heading to South Africa. He's in Ethiopia now, he's filling my life with inspirations and hope just knowing people like him still exist.

I'm sure he's an inspiration to all of you as well...

Siwa Oasis

View Cairo-Siwa Bicycle Trip in a larger map

As I await for my Novara Randonnee, which is in NYC by now. I start preparing for a new trip to Siwa Oasis, a place i have never been to before and just the stories you hear about the place gives u shivers all over.

This will be an 800km trip, i will do it alone, hopefully! it should take me 6-7 days to arrive. I will then be joined by my friends Farid and Hala in which we will spend 5-6 days in the oasis exploring and enjoying it...

I started with the packing list today. Got out my sleeping bag which needs a bit of fixing and hopefully will work on the tent. I made sure the stove is working fine. I disassembeled my Ergo Lo-rider from the old wheel and it's ready to be assembeled on the new one.

Wish me luck, i need all the support you can offer

Bicycle Crash

Yesterday as I was cycling back from Maadi, 30km away from home approx. I got to go through a small bridge which had very wide gaps between the plates, it has horizontal and vertical gaps. unfortunately i underestimated the vertical gap size and this is what happened, the front wheel fell in the gap, i flipped over the forks snapped, thankfully nothing happened to me save for a few minor wounds. So this the end of Martina. Of course it can be fixed but i don't really trust it will be done correctly and will cost me needless money, so i thought about buying a new one.

I came across the Novara Randonee a reasonably priced touring bicycle with a "steel" frame, which comes with nice hardware and plus I have all the good stuff from the old one. Brooks Flyer Special saddle, Shimano M324 pedals, tubus ergo lo-rider. so it's perfect, i thought it was about time that i bought a more decent bike.

As I'd always like to think everything happens for a GOOD reason.. and this is only for the best...

The Novara Randonee from REI.com