MY CROSS EGYPT CHALLENGE 2012
Riding in the Cross Egypt Challenge across the desert.
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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I look forward to telling you all about the ride in text and pictures when it begins in October. Click Cross Egypt Challenge
Cross Egypt Challenge Orginazation
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.
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Mohamed Bin Abdullah 9/10 7:40 Sigapore Air SQ492
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Jonathan Smith 9/10 20:45 Air Canada AC6512
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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
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Kenneth Wilson 10/10 5:40 Egyptair MS840
Vicki Wilson 10/10 5:40 Egyptair MS840
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Pablo Veitch 10/10 10:40 Emirates EK927
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Simon Haisz 10/10 13:40 Swissair SR236
Gunnar Skrydstrup 10/10 14:00 Austrian OS863
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Paul Pelton 10/10 18:00 Airfrance AF508
Wallace Quan 10/10 18:00 Airfrance AF509
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Owen Lewis 10/10 23:55 British BA155
Steven Burbidge 10/10 23:55 British BA155
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Emmanuel Shekoni 11/10 1:30 Ethiopian ET714
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/CrossEgyptChallenge
THE 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
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SECURITY CONCERNS
To Cairo
GETTING READY TO RIDE
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.
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!
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!