Cross Egypt Challenge is a series of endurance scooter rides aiming to promote tourism, alternative sports, and alternative means of transportations in Egypt.

I was accepted a ride for this years Challenge. I am honored and thrilled at this opportunity.

The 2012 season of Cross Egypt Challenge will start from Egypt's capital and the home of the famous Tahrir square, then heads north to the cosmopolitan city of Alexandria at the shores of the Mediterranean before heading west towards the city of Marsa Matrouh. The challenge will then heads down towards the fascinating Sahara desert where the challenge team will ride between Egypt's 5 famous oases, Siwa, Bahareya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga before reaching the legendary city of Luxor; the world largest open-air museum, where they will ride down the avenue of the sphinxes to end their long and tiring journey in front of the magnificent temple of Karnak.



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THE MUSLIM QUESTION


This trip was  totally non-political. It was about making new friends from around the world who have a great love of two wheel adventure and experiencing the hidden sights of Egypt. But, I can not go with out addressing the religious issue since it is such a big factor in the United State’s image of the world. Sadly, all we see in America is the very, very small portion of the radical Muslim religion. This is then played to manipulate for political and religious reasons the image of the Muslim world. I have found in my travels in predominately Muslim countries that the image we see on TV is far from the truth. Every country I have been to, no matter the religious factor, be it Christian or Muslim, the people are the same.
All the Egyptians on this trip were of the Muslim faith. Some more devout than others. Tarek Safwat , my new friend, was outwardly the most religious. He is one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring persons I have met ever. When he could, on this trip, he worshiped his God in a quiet and personal nature. I met his family and his family is just like my family. In fact, his mother and my mother, are almost the same person. As my mother said to me, his mother said to him: “Why do you want to ride a scooter around Egypt.” “This is crazy, why don’t you just stay home.”
There are those who will hate no matter what. To those of you who have an  open mind, I ask you to seek out the truth, and not let TV news form your opinions. If you are a traveler, take your next vacation to a Muslim country and see for yourself. There is nothing to fear.