I know some of you might not want to hear this but my day off has been spent lying trying to make sure no pressure goes onto my nether regions. The pain last night! 😖
Job done. Let’s see how my old saddle fairs 😬
The campsite here is fantastic minimal facilities and just a few occupants. Shower room so warm I nearly slept in there. Fantastic showers also. Flat wide pitches. I searched a spot trying to get morning sunshine.
Ice on my tent this morning.
The original route stayed high for a few more days and I have decided to head for the coast and hope for some night warmth. The Sierra de Baza I was about to enter I know is truly fantastic 😢 If I was any kind of adventurer I would carry on……. but as I’m sure you know, I’m not.
Waking up in the tent is shere joy. The predawn twilight, just light enough for me to cook porridge and coffee and enjoy those delicious moments before the hecticness of the day starts. Then slowly the sun perks its upper curve above the hill tops on the horizon and in moments the whole circle of burning fire is blasting into your world.
I pack fast, ive got a rhythm and i know where everything goes. The wind is already ripping at my clothes and as the tent pegs come out its all my worth to keep hold of the tent. I ram it into its bag, i hasn’t folded a tent in years. Drop each bag into its position on the bike and ride towards the road.
You may notice some of these picturs are from the other day. I just didn’t really take many today.
The wind is on my back and I am screaming along. I just use my gps for the map and little else so i have little idea of speed or time.
I did stop for coffee in a drainage pipe. The cooker only warmed half the mug the wind was blowing so hard. So luke warm coffee.
Then back on the road. The truckers and cars all wave to me. Giving me a sence of comradery.
The road joined another and turned nearly 90⁰ this changed how the wind hit me, and although it still helped me along i was also sandblasted from the side, sheets of sand whipping up from the surrounding desert. I rode until a couple of times the road was completely obliterated. The bike was also ripped sideways as gusts hit the wheels and me. My right ear was full of sand.
Way back i saw a sign for a small town. Most small town seems to have a beautifully looked after supermarket. And they always allow me to sit snd rest for a while. Ramadan precludes me from eating in public. As i was sitting in my sand/heat blasted reverie i saw a sign Hotel. And like a pathetic moth to a flame i was in, paid and showered, my tent would not have stayed upright in that wind, well thats my excuse and im sticking to it.
I know, even out here 🤷♂️28 March ’23 no Internet access last night.28 March ’2329 March ’2329 March ’23
The plan is to do this route. Down at the bottom there is Salalah. I tried to make it interactive buti won’t let me. Its all road but i will find a bit of gravel for fun.
I stayed 3 nights at Hubbers this is an outdoor center in Hatta camping showers and charging is complementary which is fantastic. Although the distance to the showers is a bit of a long way its just nice to be able to stay somewhere and chill. But the wind/was up to 45kmp and way too strong for me to cycle.
The afternoon of the second day Nicola turned up, he is Italian and riding a recubent, and totally immersed in to travelling, and had been at Tom’s in Abu Dhabi when I was there. So we chatted the afternoon away.
We set off at the same time but we ride at a different speed so we said our goodbyes and went our ways.
The border is about 10kms away and i was through in seconds. I had to pay AED 30 about 15 quid to leave but i was given 4 small sachets of delicious dates. The irony of getting those at ramadan just as it got light.
Tho Omani border was a breeze all so pleasant interested in my direction and all, a real joy
Then i was through and riding. Somehow i had accumulated lots of food and water at Hubbers that was in my rucksack cutting heavily into my shoulders. The road was pretty up and down sequences of 12/13/14/15% gradients it was tiring. Then at the bottom of one of the valleys there was water flowing, i squeezed the brakes (those shimano GRX brakes are spectacular) and slowed to a snails pace. But slime got my tire and i found myself arse down in the water bike on top of me.
New levers now not looking new any more.
Ramadan is upon us and so no eating during daylight hours. Well at least in sight. I hadn’t had a coffee this morning so at about 10 i was feeling weary so i cycled into a gully out of sight of anyone and in the shade, i fired up a coffee then lay for 30 mins.
One of the thing i had been given was a kilo of dates. The only way to eat is to bite into, avoiding the pips.
I felt a bit more chipper after my snack.
The scenery changed from mountains to flat desert.
With an intermittent back wind i made fantastic headway and by 2 o’clock i could see Al Buraimi. I got to the hotel, went to the wrong entrance and when i did eventually find reception the guy didnt speak English but seemingly had no idea about what to do. Then inspiration hit him and he called a guy from the next room who sorted everything in seconds. Im really a bit grumpy when i arrive hot and tired. Anyway settled in, bike in room. Expensive but normal for here.
The room is big but furniture is threadbare. There is a little kitchenettes as well. OR17 about £34.
Its such a struggle to leave when people are so friendly. But leave I must. The alarm hammered my eardrums at 05.01 I got vertical fast, a quick shower. As I got down stairs Tom already up with coffee brewed. Still dark outside, then Nicola was up, we all had breakfast and at about 06.20 i was on my way.
I was hoping for a second coffee soon but i was sorely disappointed, there were no shops, no cafes, no water stops, just kilometers and kilometers of near straight big roads.
After about 50kms I turned off the E311 and onto a bike path. No water fountains, minimal shade. But after 90kms i found a mosque with water.
The route was a little convoluted and i had to lift over this.Is this a dromedary?Fantastic desert reserveMy water mosque Shortly after the mosque I poped into Circuit Wheels
Then shortly after that I found the Al Qudra Lakes camping area. And I thought 110kms was enough for a 1st day
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 