Egypt

Recently I traveled thru Egypt investigating the whereabouts of alleged mountain bike trails in this desert land, and checking out the sites along the way. I promised to give Walker Thompson, enthusiast in chief, as well as all of you, a full report.

While visiting the temple of Hatsepsut (pronounced as if to say “hot chicken soup” really fast), who was the only woman ever to have ruled Egypt as a Pharaoh, I made my way thru the swarms of tourists, and spied some trails that looked mighty fine on the foothills of the adjacent red rocks (refer to picture 1). However when I asked my guide about details; he informed me that those trails led to 2000- 3000 year old tombs in the mountainsides. That could be kinda cool, I thought. What was not as cool is when he added that has never seen a bike ridden randomly on hillsides or trails unless that was your only option in transporting goods from point A to point B in all of Egypt; others concurred. And women on bikes, forget it! Think long pants, long sleeves, and headscarf to add to the list of “what to pack” with your bike gear when headed outside the cities. Then you have to think about ditching the delicate women’s scarves for the more rugged men’s version – luckily someone showed me how to wear one, should I find a bike, and then an area in which to ride.

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