Day six - Luxor 108kms
Our entire team appears shell shocked today...we
were ambushed unexpectedly by the cane and rock yielding Egyptian youth. Every
year on tour there are sections that are expectedly horrible for this type of
anti-cyclist behavior, but this stretch typically is not. We were take by
surprise and it was quite alarming for staff and cyclists alike. We we skirting
the Nile for most of the day and so we passed through small villages frequently.
I know from living in Cairo that is is a particularly tumultuous area as there
are many waring families. Post-revolution these families have decided to police
themselves and it has caused a spike in violence...particularly in some of the
town we were cycling through. It made the ride more mentally challenging that
physically as we were often forced to slower speeds in order to safely cross
town centers. Rocks were thrown and canes swung and almost every rider was hit
with some sort of projectile. The worst being one of our staff members Doug, who
swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a caning. He was hit at slow speed by a
vehicle and thankfully he is okay and walked away with a broken bike and pieces
missing out of his face. I was lucky to only be the target practice of kids who
need practice...but today has definitely taken a mental tole on the group.
Everyone is a little shaken.
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