Saturday, February 2, 2008

Road to Dongala

The stucco clouds above complement the texture of our new riding environment. Steep, rock strewn hills surround us and ecru sand is everywhere; the sand licking towards the crests of the sinister looking mounds. It is as if we are visiting a distant moon or roving across some unknown planet.

Shaken to the bone, we cycle along the heavily rutted road leaving Wadi Halfa. The deep sand and gravel strewn route was an immediate sign that we are no longer in Egypt. Sudanese roads are rough. Patches of sand inhaled tires, slinging some riders to the ground or leaving others fishtailing to safety. Unavoidable ruts, caused by infrequent flooding, punished those without front suspension. We spent the better part of the day keeping a keen eye ten meters ahead and choosing the most solid patches of road. We see only as far as the hills and continue the ride across the craggy, tortuous road to Dongola.

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