October 15, 2012
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We were up at dawn in the tent camp. It was chilly. I was surprised how well I had slept even though our tent had a vent right at my head that cold air blew through all night. I was too tired to do anything about it and then would go back to sleep. There was a beautiful sunrise over the dunes and lots of us climbed up to photo it.
As soon as the sun was up, we were under way again. Gunner, #16 from Denmark, was the only one to fall coming back out of the desert to the road. Fortunately, like the ones that fell going in yesterday, there was no damage.
Getting Gunner restarted
We rode on the rough "road" for 20 or so Km and then hit the brand new highway. The good thing out here is we own the road because there is no one else out here. It is a busy day if we encounter more then two other vehicles all day. We stopped enroute at Bahareya Oasis. First we stopped on the way into town. Why, we don't know. Then we moved to a tea shop in town and set for over 3 hours. Again, there was no communication from the organizer and we all speculated that the delay was for lack of fuel or to charge camera batteries or to change oil. We know they did change the scooter oil, and we know that they did charge the camera batteries, so I am sure that it had to do with no fuel also, as fuel is in short supply.
roaring down the new highway
most countries have snow plows, here they have sand plows
some of the lesser road hazards
oil change
will we ever get out of here
you can chill and have a smoke...
...or go shopping for head gear like Pablo and Jon
...or charge camera batteries
there were people waiting in line for gas
We fired up late and headed down the road to the south. We encounted the worst jaw shaking, kidney rattling road yet. Top speed was 20 mph. Fortunately, after about an hour, it improved and we were roaring down the highway again.
we stopped in the black desert for photos
Back on the road again headed for the white desert. This is a beautiful place but due to a setting sun we only got a quick stop.
we encountered many road conditions. here we are riding on fresh tar. we rode on a road that looked just like this but was like on ice.
Steve, #24 from England, getting a little sun time
Dimitrios, #9 of Greece, as always getting a back break
Mage Mansi, #12 of Egypt, getting some stand up time
another day chasing the sun
We reached the hotel right at dark. Gunner and I had a room with no A/C but we found it to be quite pleasant with windows open.
the way this guy was moving his hips would have made Elvis jealous
