by We got up before sunrise as we still had 520 km to go.
The plan was to ride hard to reach the pyramids at Giza before 12h00 and the tackle the Cairo-Alex highway to reach our end destination before sunset. I tried my best to keep my speed as close to 80 km/h as possible (we had more than 300 km to Giza), but there was a headwind and the tarmac soon ended reducing our speed to 50 km/h. I recalculated and at that speed we would just make Alex if we skipped the pyramids. Luckily after a while the tarmac resumed and there were no more police check points (aka tea stops). The best I could do in the wind was 70 km/h in fourth gear. I had the throttle pinned wide open and I started feeling the drivetrain slip every now and then. Then after only 240 km I ran out of fuel (normally we do at least 350 km). Luckily our fuel bags were full, so we’d be able to make it to Giza (another 120 km to go).
I adjusted the chain as it was sagging quite a lot, but when I pulled away the chain snagged and I had to stop. Loosening it again didn’t help either and I saw the rear sprockets teeth looked like shark teeth and some were so thin that they looked as if though they might break off. The last few days’ heavy riding and riding through deep sand to get off the road to camp did a lot of damage. Since I’m no mechanic I decided to replace the chain with a new one I bought in Sudan, but obviously the chain links wouldn’t fit in the severely worn sprocket. I took off the new one and put back the old, worn chain, but it kept jumping off the sprocket at anything above 40 km/h. By this time we’ve wasted so much time that we would only reach Alex at 22h00. To stop the chain from coming off I tightened it as much as I could and managed to reach 70 km/h by pulling away slowly. We made good progress and filled up just before Giza at 14h00. We decided not to go to the pyramids and headed straight Alexandria. Luckily the road had four lanes for the most part and we could do 80km/h at times. By this time we’ve only eaten a can of tuna and two oranges (that a truck driver gave us while fixing my chain). We quickly stopped at a stall next to the highway, bought four sponge cakes, and carried on. I realised the sun sets at 16h56 in these parts and by the time it was 17h00 we had 25 km to go. Tania’s bike’s lights and hooter has stopped working and the traffic became more hectic as we headed for Down Town Alexandria. We did not yet have a place to sleep and haven’t heard from Johan yet, so we just wanted to get to a place to eat and wait until the Voetspore guys arrive. It was madness driving at night in peak traffic, without lights. Everyone honks and ignores the lanes, creating four lines of cars in two to three lanes. It took us close to an hour to reach the Corniche where we had supper at the Pizza Hut, looking for a hotel on the internet and in our guide book.
Sorry about the bad pics, but this is all we have of our arrival in Alex:
Driving around here at night is hair raising and we didn’t want to spend a minute longer on the road:
Supper and looking for a hotel:
Johan sent a sms saying they’ll be there around 21h00 and told us where they’re staying. Simon and Kristy in their Land Rover (also part of our own Amazing race – and the ultimate winners because of a short cut) were already there. We checked into the Kaoud Sporting Hotel after the hardest and most stressful day of the whole trip.
In the end the two Motomias made the 15 200 km (more or less – more detailed stats later) in 90 days without ever being towed, pushed or loaded onto a truck and they’re still going. What’s more is that they’ve made it with the original set of tyres, chains and sprockets and we’ve put them through much more than what they are intended for. Well done, we very proud of the little bikes and don’t think it would have been easier on our 650’s.
Wow, Wow, wow… julle 2! Dis is sooo amazing. Ons verlang nou al erg baie na julle en kan nie wag om julle hopelik binne die volgende paar dae te sien nie! Well done! Baie liefde Kika
AWEsome guys !! Well done. Thanks for an entertaining, well written blog for the past few months! Really amazing!
Congratulations 🙂 Have been following you and the Motomias (Peter’s my brother) all the way – what a wonderful journey and thank you for letting us ride with you at least in spirit. I hope there’s a book on the way – with huge versions of the photos 🙂
Wil julle nie asseblief omdraai en terugkom nie…. Wat gaan ek nou more lees ? En die dag daarna ?
Tanie en Francois julle is bielies!!! Sjoe maar daai Motomias het hul staal gewys! Baie dankie vir die woderlike ervaring wat ons met jul kon deel vir die afgelope 3 maande. Dankie vir die baie moeite met foto’s en vertellings – so het julle beslis my horison verbreed.Bly julle is veilig. Voorspoed met die verskepingsproses. Geniet en ontspan die res van die tyd! Die Kaap wag vir julle!
Julle twee skrik ook vir niks! Tap die laaste dag die laaste greintjie energie (menslik en meganies). Julle twee is ‘n gedugte span en watter beter advertensie vir Motomia kan jy kry?! Ek voel ook soos Brian, maar is baaaaie bly julle vlieg terug!!!!! Verlang nou darem te veel. XXXXX
Wat ‘n amazing journey! As ek reg onthou het iemand met die aanvang gevra why the hell am I doing this? En nou is daar ‘n paar honderd (?) ander wat vra why the hell am I not doing this?! Wel gedaan en mag die huistoekom soet wees!
Hi
Francois ek dink die enigste probleem was dat jy die bikes (waarskeinlik joune) moertoe gediens het.
Sien julle in Feb.
Gaan dan n wyn of 12 saam suig.
Fanie
Baie baie geluk!!!! YOU MADE IT!!!!!!
Thanks so much for your entertaining blog over the last couple of months. Most envious of your trip & your spirited approach. Would love to meet you guys when you are back. How about a slide show for the masses?
n Mens kry twee tipe mense – die wat daaroor droom en die wat dit DOEN! Julle is n inspirasie vir ons almal en weereens dankie dat julle die reis daagliks met ons gedeel het. Die manier hoe julle die mense om julle hanteer het is n aanduiding van julle karakter – ons kan almal by julle leer! Voorspoed met die terug-ship van die SUPER-Mia’s. Sien julle hopelik Donderdagoggend!!
Well done, guys!! What an absolutely awesome trip, and thanks SO much for sharing it with us – I’ve loved following you and hearing all about your experiences. What an inspiration! We are all going to miss your updates! I SO love that you did it on small bikes, and had no major problems, I so aspire to follow in your tyre tracks one day!!
Great stuff F-man en T-girl! Goeie sterk einde! Hoop om julle te sien voor julle vertrek na die Kaap.
Hi
I told a guy from Getaway mag about your trip…I think he is going to post something on their blog about you!
Wel gedaan Tania en Francois! Ek gaan die “updates” baie mis. Stem saam oor die boek, julle moet een saamstel. Julle het my groter laat droom! Hoop om julle eendag te ontmoet en te “chat” 🙂
Tania en Francois, ons is so trots op julle! Veilige reis terug.
Hi julle! Wowzers, baie geluk om dit al die pad tot daar in Alexandria te gemaak het! Ons is verskriklik trots op julle twee. Wat ‘n avontuur, kan nie glo julle het sover gery in die 3 maande nie! Sien baie daarna uit om julle weer by die huis te sien! Veilig terug reis! Julle twee Motomia’s verdien ‘n paar maande se goeie rus vir al die harde werk.. 😉
Martin & Amelia
Ek volg julle al n hele paar maande en het geniet om julle wedevaringe elke dag te volg.Wel gedaan,gaan julle mis!Voorspoed vorentoe.
Loot
Ek gaan julle blog net so baie mis soos die ander. Wat is julle volgende planne…????
Lekker terugvlieg vanaand; sien more.
V1x