Day 16 - Jan 24

Today was a grand day.  We road 115 kilometers to Dongola.  At the start of the day we had a 30 kilometer time trial.  Blew through it in 52 minutes and 7 seconds.  This was complete with hills and shifting side to headwinds.

After the time trials kept the pace up at 37 kph as it felt good.  Had an encounter day as well.  Encountered a group of kids who locked their hands  and stretched across the road again.  They want to stop you so that you give them money.  I just picked up the pace and kept on a straight course and did not deter.  Once they figured out I wasn't stopping, they quickly abandoned the road.  Another spot further a herd of goats was on the side of the road.  As I got closer they decided to cross.  I swerved wide just missing one.  Would not have been pretty broadsiding a goat.

We lost a rider from the tour last week.  It was in a road construction area.  He tried to job up to a curb section.  He didn't clear it and got banged up pretty good.  They were talking about airlifting him to Istanbul for a hip replacement.  Another rider has come down with the flu and a lung infection.  Hope it doesn't start working its way through the group.

I decided to get a hotel room (I do use the term very loosely) as tomorrow is a rest day.  Sleeping in the tent doesn't work well now that we have hit the heat.  I forgot to get an air condition tent. :)  you can't go in the tent til well after the sun sets as it is over 100 degrees inside.

I intend to use tomorrow fully for the intent of its wording...  Rest Day!  Nothing but recuperating going on here.

Couple of camels just grazing along the side of the road.

Common mode of transportation... riding a donkey along the road.  You see a lot of these.  Or they the donkey pulling a cart.

A hut made of mud bricks with an unusual conical shape.

A couple of local women in Dongola preparing to carry home sacks.

Notice how they carry the sacks, aloft on their heads.  These were not light.  You should have seen them hoisting them up.