Day 8 - Idfu Aswan

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What to do on a rest day...

For those of us who thought Jos was going to have a nice, chilled rest day, here is the real story.

Washing a week's worth of laundry was more like it! But later in the day there was time to visit the famous sites of Luxor - dubbed, “the world’s greatest open air museum,“ Luxor is home to the famed Egyptian city of Thebes.

We are glad to anounce that Jos still has EFI status (EFI refers to Every Fabulous Inch of the road ridden by bicycle, without having to hop on a truck to camp). Proud of you, Jos!

Overall Standings (767km)

Jos is currently in position 24 with a total time of 41:31. Well done, Jos!
For full race results - http://ow.ly/Zs0z

UPDATE FROM JOS - 23 JAN

What a great ride from Luxor to Ibfu. 115km flat along the Nile with Ismael Lo on the Ipod, palm trees, banana and sugar cane along the banks. Sleeping on sport field. Cycling to Aswan tomorrow.

DAY 7 - CELEBRATING THE NEW TUKS RAG QUEEN

The Crowning Function on 28 January 2010 is the gala event where the Rag Queen is crowned. It is the finale of a three round competition in which roughly 200 female students from the University of Pretoria participate. The production is handled by the students of Tuks Rag and also by a professional production company. The evening consists of roughly four scenes all structured according to a central theme for the evening The Tuks Rag Queen competition differs from the other beauty pageants in the sense that the main goal of the competition is not to crown a beauty queen but it is rather on the charity work the contestants do as well as the funds they raise for charity.

Thanx to Tuks Rag for sponsoring the leg from Luxor to Idfu. Good luck to Jos and the Tuks Rag Queen Finalists!

UPDATE FROM JOS

Day 5
Had phone problems, but working again - so here some news! 140 kms all against wind with first 50 climbing as we cross Red Sea Mountains. Spend 7 1/2 hours in saddle but felt strong. Another night of camping next to road.

Day 6
86 km flat and no wind. Last 60 kms next to Nile, very beautiful. Reached Luxor at noon.

Day 7
Rest day in Luxor - will be doing so touristy stuff.

News update - Day 6

Heard that the riders have arrived in Luxor. Seemed that they had an easy ride, but camping space at Luxor is a bit tight - they have showers and toilets! Tomorrow is the first rest day of the trip - well deserved!

Support from Dubai

Today Jos will be travelling from Qena to Luxor - hope will will hear from him tonight! Thanx to
Gaiti Rabbani for her sponsorship all the way from Dubai!

Some photos

With no news from Jos tonight, we have decided to give you some "scenery", with compliments of the Tour d'Afrique web site! For great stories on please visit their site too - http://www.tourdafrique.com/epictours/tourdafrique/blog

SAFAGA TO QUENA

Thank you to Pieter Muller from Leger Risk Management for sponsoring today. Jos will be facing the mountains today, so if your company insurance is like a mountain to you, speak to Leger Risk Management!

Finally - a word from Jos on DAY 4

"Best day so far. Only 86 kms and was on beach at Safara at 11am. A resort town on the Red Sea. Booked into hotel for my first shower in 4 days. Crossing mountain tomorrow heading towards the Nile. Thank you to all the new sponsors."

Thank you Reach Africa!

Thank you Leonore Louw of Reach Africa Training for "reaching" into Africa by sponsoring 5 days of cycling! (3 & 11 Febr, 5 March, 4 April, 1 May).

WHERE ARE THEY?

A little bird just told us that the riders are sitting on the beach at Safaga! We have not managed to trace Jos, but think he is still in the shower....

DAY 4 - RAS GHARIB TO SAFAGA

Apart from saddle sores, Jos is hanging in there! Thanx to Brian Penrose and Roni Muller who sponsored R 500 each towards this day's riding!

DAY 3 - FINALLY A WORD FROM JOS

DAY 3
First 110 km of the day was fine. Stopped for lunch at a resort on the Red Sea. Serious business after that - hit 50 km head wind. Takes 4.5 hours to finish last 60 km (nearly died!). About 40% of riders does not finish the leg.

This is the 3rd night of camping next to highway in barren desert landscape. Looking forward to a shower!

DAY 4
Surviving the camping but saddle soars a problem - sleeping in town tonight - finally a shower!

VIDEO OF START

Check out this web site for some footage on the start - you might just spot Jos!
http://ow.ly/XArx

Day 3 - Twitter Update

Jekyl and Hyde tailwinds toy with riders on day 3.
(No news from Jos yet!)

More sponsors!

Thank you to Riaan Senekal from Talisman Plant and Tool Hire, for responding to our pledge by sponsoring R 500 towards the 15 March.

DAY 3 - DESERT CAMP TO RAS GHARIB

Thank you Karen & Chris Vermaak for sponsoring R1000 towards today. Let's hope we have some news tonight. We will hopefully also do a radio interview on Radio Tygerberg today or tomorrow.

DAY 2 - UPDATE

No word from Jos, seems that there is no cel phone reception. But this message from Tour D'Afrique twitter - "Riders are being treated to a spectacular lightning storm after a very difficult day".

DAY 2 - SPONSORED BY THE KOTZE FAMILY

Thanx to Tiaan, Orna, Christaan, Cara and Viani for sponsoring Day 2 in celebration of New Beginnings. Hope you enjoy Gauteng and hope that Jos survives Day 2 (168kms).

JOS - AFTER DAY 1

Proof that I survived the first 139kms. Thanx for your sponsorship!