`behind the scenes

A lot has happened since my last post. There are many stories and I don't know where to begin.

One of the clients asked me the other day - "you guys haven't had any problems yet have you?" James (the chef) and I burst out laughing.

"define what you mean by problem" is our response.

Nothing is easy, nothing is straight forward. It seems like we have had nothing but problem after problem. None have been too difficult for us to overcome.

Before we even start I am frustrated because it takes me 2 hours just to print out everyone's medical information.

Day one it was a mission to get the lunch ready on time for the first riders, a mission to check off all their names as they roll into camp in large groups when we're all still learning their names.

On day 2 I travel straight to camp with Sharita (the boss) to set up camp. We stop to fill up water at a fire station. We don't speak much arabic but it is clear that the man doesn't want us to fill up our water there. So we ring our in country support guy Rizik who talks to the man on the phone and eventually the man lets us fill up on drinking water. We continue on to camp and when we get there the pump on the tank has broken and we can't get the water out. Eventually Martin the bike mechanic rocks up to camp and fixes the pump, puts it back in the water but then the water got contaminated with all rust and grease that was on the pump. There goes our drinking water!!!!

The next day I am helping James with the cooking and as we're chopping up all the cauliflower we discover a tonne of afids all inside it.

Getting the Egyptian support crew to wash their hands before they go near the food is a big challenge.

Riding the first day convoy out of Cairo was a complete disaster with two flat tyres, people stopping to take photos, stopping for pee break during a convoy just not understanding the importance of not letting the convoy get broken up.

Medically there's plenty of sore knees, sore ankles, saddle sores to take care of. At the moment though the main concerns are the one client who's eyes has me pickled, and another client who is a bit feverish with diarrhea which I have encouraged to start her own antibiotics, paracetamol so fingers crossed it will be under control soon!

Greetings to all from Luxor xx