CROSS EGYPT 2012

I have rearranged the blog so it runs from first to last day, since this makes more since for people who want to know about the Challenge. The dates on the posts are not correct but done to accomplish the new order.

LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN

All right, it is time to fire up this blog as the Challenge is about to begin.  I will arrive in Cairo 10 October at some unreasonable hour in the morning, but they promise that some one will be there to pick me. 
Anything to get out of this tent and 100 degree temperatures!

I read about the Cross Egypt Challenge in 2011 and thought it to be a wonderful adventure.  I sent them email and asked to be notified if there was a future Challenge.  In June I received an email asking me to apply for one of the 30 riders positions for the 2012.  I was extremely excited when in July I received an email informing that I had been accepted as a rider.

I look forward to telling you all about the ride in text and pictures when it begins in October. Click Cross Egypt Challenge

2011 PHOTOS

THE CHALLENGE IS COMING Promotion

This is just one of the displays around Egypt in various malls and locations promoting the Cross Egypt Challenge event.

note the starbucks in the background

Cross Egypt Challenge Orginazation

The Cross Egypt Challenge so far has been a very professional operation.  This Email below is just one example of how organized everything is so far.  I have had some additional requests outside of the scope of the Challenge and they have been very kind in helping me in those areas.  I think it is going to be a great ride.

the organizers

Dear Cross Egypt Challenge rider,

Here is your airport pickup schedule from Cairo airport to the hotel. Each number means one pickup car. Some of you will be accompanied with other team members who arrive around the same time.

After going out of passport control, and as you walk outside the customs area, look for Cross Egypt Challenge representative/driver holding a sign with the "Cross Egypt Challenge" name. Our representative will have your name, and details and will drive you directly to the hotel where you are booked.

1

Timothy Shear 8/10 13:40 Swiss Air SR236

2
Mohamed Bin Abdullah 9/10 7:40 Sigapore Air SQ492

3
Jonathan Smith 9/10 20:45 Air Canada AC6512

4
Michael Bobadilla 10/10 0:55 Lufthansa LH586
Dewane Van Leuven 10/10 0:55 Lufthansa LH586
Andrade Romero 10/10 1:30 KLM KL553

5
Kenneth Wilson 10/10 5:40 Egyptair MS840
Vicki Wilson 10/10 5:40 Egyptair MS840

6
Pablo Veitch 10/10 10:40 Emirates EK927

7
Simon Haisz 10/10 13:40 Swissair SR236
Gunnar Skrydstrup 10/10 14:00 Austrian OS863

8
Paul Pelton 10/10 18:00 Airfrance AF508
Wallace Quan 10/10 18:00 Airfrance AF509

9
Owen Lewis 10/10 23:55 British BA155
Steven Burbidge 10/10 23:55 British BA155

10
Emmanuel Shekoni 11/10 1:30 Ethiopian ET714

We wish you a safe flight and look forward to seeing everyone here in few days!

Cross Egypt Challenge

a 2400 scooter ride throughout Egypt

Phone:       +20 (100) 721-0000

Web:           crossegyptchallenge.com

Facebook: facebook.com/CrossEgyptChallenge

Twitter:      twitter.com/CrossEgypt

YouTube:   youtube.com/CrossEgyptChallenge
Flickr:         flickr.com/photos/CrossEgyptChallenge

 http://www.facebook.com/CrossEgyptChallenge

THE RIDERS

The 2012 team of Cross Egypt Challenge has been announced with participants from 11 different countries. Last year there were just a few riders from outside Egypt. 

2011 riders

2012 Riders
Aaser Ahmed, Egypt / 
Ahmad Elzoghby, Egypt /
Andrade Romero, México /
Dewane Vanleuven, USA /
Dimitrios Gkiokezas, Greece \
Emmanuel Shekoni, Nigeria /
Gunner Skydstrup, Denmark /
Ibrahim Elashmawy, Egypt /
Jonathan Smith, Canada /
Kenneth Wilson, USA / 
Khaled Eldarwish, Egypt /
Maged Mansi, Egypt /
Mahmoud El Sheikh, Egypt /
Michael Bobadilla, USA /
Mohamed El Sheikh, Egypt /
Mohamed Elsherbiny, Egypt /
Mohd Asraf Abdullah, Singapore / 
Owen Lewis, UK /
Pablo Veitch, Argentina /
Paul Pelton, USA /
Ramy Amer, Egypt /
Simon Haisz, Canada /
Steven Burbidge, UK /
Tarek Safwat, Egypt /
Thomas Schneider, Germany /
Timothy Shear, USA / 
Wallace Quan, Canada.

THE ROUTE FOR OCT 12-20

The Challenge starts October 12 from Cairo.  Here are the legs of the event.

Day 1: Early AM: start from Cairo Ride for 275 km (Estimated time: 6 hours) PM: arrive to Alexandria and overnight Day 2: Early AM: start from Alexandria Ride for 325 km (Estimated time: 6 hours) PM: arrive to Marsa Matrouh and overnight Day 3: Early AM: start from Marsa Matrouh Ride for 325 km (Estimated time: 6 hours) PM: arrive to Siwa Oasis and overnight PM: scooter Maintenance

Day 4: Early AM: start from Siwa Oasis Ride for 300 km (Estimated time: 8 hours) PM: arrive to camp site PM: camping and overnight in the desert Day 5: Early AM: start from camp site Ride for 325 km (Estimated time: 7 hours) PM: arrive to Farafra Oasis and overnight Day 6: Early AM: start from Farafra Oasis Ride for 300 km (Estimated time: 6 hours) PM: arrive to Dakhla Oasis and overnight PM: scooter Maintenance Day 7: Early AM: start from Dakhla Oasis Ride for 200 km (Estimated time: 3.5 hours) PM: arrive to Kharga Oasis and overnight Day 8: Early AM: start from Kharga Oasis Ride for 350 km (Estimated time: 7 hours) PM: arrive to Luxor PM: final press conference and overnight in Luxor Day 9: Flights back to Cairo

SECURITY CONCERNS

I have had many enquires about concern for security. I have always found that these over publized events are nothing like you see on TV and are confined to a very small area despite news media trying to portray it otherwise. They are rarely directed at individuals but at institutionS and governments. This is all proven true in this case as I got first hand reports on the situation. Don’t let the mass media hysteria determine your outlook. I have no concerns about the situation nor does my wife who will be in Egypt at the same time as the Challenge

From a American friend of a friend living in Cairo

Hi, ,

My bike group is still riding as normal. The trouble is all down town near the Embassies. I would encourage them to go.

Juleen and the family are still there and they say that nothing is happening where they live.

Cheers

Fred

From Egyptians

Ken,

Anytime. It is always our pleasure to help. As for the situation in Egypt, I copy here the topic as discussed on Facebook between the other riders to ensure you that it is really an isolated issue that doesn’t need to take any attention from you.

Dear Riders, with regards to your concerns about the recent events that have taken place in Cairo, please note that it is not as dramatic as the media is framing it. The city is still safe for us and for everyone of the 11 million who live in there and your safety is our number one concern :)Please talk to us if you have any concern. We look forward to riding together in 4 weeks :)

Khaled Eldarwish Ahmed I live in cairo and there is nothing in egypt specially in cairo it's only something happening in one street only , and my work lets me go to mis town , every thing is normal only this street is closed .

Tarek Mahmoud Safwat Reference is made to the same point mentioned by Ahmad and Khaled , the media is focusing on one scene in a selective area where the fact that Egypt is much larger than this spot , beyond this scene life is normal , so don't panic and don't give too much attention to the media they are sometimes exaggerating , i am sure that Ahmad and his team are doing their best effort to make this challenge successful and the riders will enjoy the adventure in all cases . Hope to see you all in Egypt next month

My blog http://sfe2012.blogspot.com/

CEC official http://www.facebook.com/CrossEgyptChallenge

To Cairo

We turned JJ Coolbox over to his new owner.  He has been a great companion but we are moving on.  The travel from the desert of Namibia to Cairo was uneventful, as was the service on the Air Egypt flight. Since there was only 50 people on a 234 seat airplane everyone was able to stretch out and take a nap, as did the cabin crew.

Formalities' at the Cairo airport were quick and we were met by our driver and whisked off to the Novatel Hotel in central Cairo.  One advantage of arriving at dawn is that the traffic in this city of 19 million was not in full swing yet.

  

    

We had been traveling for 22 hours, 5 hours driving to the airport, 2 flights totaling almost 10 hours so a nap was called for. After the little snooze we went for a walk around the island that the hotel is on in central Cairo.   Cairo is the same.  It is a large city in the desert, so it is not the cleanest looking city.  Everyone we talked to on the walk was friendly and were glad to have their picture taken. Lovers in the park, tea vendors along the road, scooters everywhere.

  

Back at the hotel the Cross Egypt Challenge crew had arrived from Alexandria and where unloading in the lobby.

 ahmad with a blurry thumbs up

GETTING READY TO RIDE

Vicki left at 6 AM for her adventure and I went out walking around town.  I got into rush hour traffic and started taking pictures of scooters.  There are a lot in Cairo.  Horns are constantly honking, but the majority of the noise comes from taxi's tooting at people on the sidewalk looking for business. I had several conversations with people on the street, mainly with students who were headed to school. Most of the boys wanted their pictures taken, but the girls were coy and said not, but kept peeking to see if I would shot.  This happens a lot with the women of the world.  They really want a picture taken but are to shy around strangers to let it happen.  All portrait photos today I asked permission before shooting. Several people very apologetically declined.  The street sweeper today said no, but the ones yesterday asked to be photographed. Since I shot with just a pocket instamatic I am not able to steal shots from a great distance away like the people do with the super zoom lens.

 these guys wanted their picture taken....

 ....i wanted it in front of this sign but most of them said no.  i was mystified  so i asked christine the media coordinator for the challenge.  she said it is sign supporting one of the two soccer teams in egypt and the boys must have been fans of the other team

christine manoukian, cross egypt challenge media coordinator 

The Cross Egypt Challenge meetings start at 2:30, but I went down early to get photos of the prep work.  The people that put this together are amazing.  They love scooters and love promoting their country.  They are all volunteers.  The Challenge started last year when Ahmad's cousin said "lets ride to our scooters to Sahrm el-Sheikh". Ahmad thought is was a great idea and took it one step farther and made it a international event to promote scooters and Egypt.  Last year they had 15 rides from 4 countries. This year it has turned into a full blown international event with 26 riders from 11 countries with all the added work and headaches. The logistics and paperwork to put this together is monumental and they have done a great job.

I had planned to show pictures of the scooters being washed and prepped  but, at sponsors request, they can not be posted yet.

...but I can show you abdul videoing the prep. he is one of 4 camera men on this event.

......and aaraf of singapore and jon of canada watching the prep

The afternoon was meetings and then a dinner.  There was a full briefing from the Challenge team, including the route, safety, road conditions, etc. They address all concerns and questions. There were very few concerns since all that are participating are of the adventure type  and are only concerned about getting on the road, seeing new and amazing sights, and meeting people from all over the world and different cultures. There are lots of publicity events and they briefed us on those also.  More than 200 print and online articles have all ready been done on the event!

 mona is in charge of all the online sights, facebook, twitter, etc.

the riders

 just some of the volunteers that make the challenge happen

 the welcome dinner

 this is ahmad the head of the challenge....

..............there is a reoccurring theme here. he and all the challenge team are constantly on the phone talking, texting, and  on ipad's doing last minute arrangements.

And they gave us cool stuff. Shirts, goggles, gloves, a very complete briefing book and more.  Oh yea, and I can not forget the scooters. They actually purchase the scooters for the event, so they are all brand new!

Tomorrow we ride!