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
I was at a loss, with a bit of devastation in my personal life where I had something planned. Unfortunately I found myself alone (again, naturally, is it me, it probably is 🤷♂️) with no real plan. Then GCN showed the Tour of Oman and the Tour of UAE, I was sucked in like a rat up a drainpipe. This is a pale replacement of the original plan but life is not always kind.
Ticket bought, visas acquired, hotels booked. It’s all financially top end loaded. But the ticket to Abu Dhabi was cheapish. I am hoping to camp most of the time, I have contacted a couple of warmshowers hosts, let’s see what transpires.
The cycling plan is to ride a bit of UAE then into Oman. There is an oasis, Salalah, in the south west corner of Oman famous for its frankincense, herds of canals and verdant surrounds. It’s a long way down. Then back to the Hajar Mountains, the usual gravel riders destination. Hoping to then get a flight to Istanbul. It’s then just a skip to get back to Greece.
The journey to Abu Dhabi was oarticularly long and arduous. Including a 27 hour delaywith a free hotel room thrown in. But I eventually arrived at Abu Dhabi Airport at 3am, my bookings.com host had promised to be there he turned up an hour later.
In the morning i put the bike together and rode off.
I was about to leave the city much later than hoped when i remembered I had contacted a warmshowers host. So i phoned him for a coffee. During coffee he invited me back to his place, he was already hosting 3 other cyclists. I’m now here for 2 nights 🤷♂️
Tom, his wife Carolyn from South Africa 🇿🇦, Lucia and Alfonso from Argentina 🇦🇷 and, Nicola from Italy 🇮🇹
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 