Dead Sea to Red Sea

Day 1

Plane was an hour late so we did not get to bed until 3:30am!  One person's luggage did not arrive at the airport, Nigel's but he just remained so calm and has been wearing his yellow Cycle Jordan t-shirt!  He should be reunited with his luggage over the next couple of days.  

Day 2

 We had to be up at 7:30 am today! so everyone was very tired.  We got a coach transfer to Madaba where we visited the church known for its mosaic floor.  We also had our bike fitting today and discovered we all had brand new bikes which we had to unwrap - it was like Christmas!  I (Sara our Charity rep) gave the spare yellow Cycle Jordan t-shirts to our guides and they gave me an Arabic scarf in return.  In the end nearly everyone then bought a scarf and wore it under their helmets!  We then set off with a police escort!  The first part of the cycle ride involved a steep climb uphill to the top of Mount Nebo - This is the traditional site of the death of Moses.  We had a stunning view out to the Dead Sea.  We then had an amazing cycle down to the Dead Sea, the views were spectacular!  Denis taught me how to slip stream behind other people so we were like speeding bullets down the hillside - It was fantastic!  

We then came to our hotel which you could just walk out of to the Dead Sea.  Everyone had a float in the sea and then came back for dinner.  It was a great first day of cycling!

Day 3

Today Maurizio led the warm up.  It was a boiling hot day!  We cycled along the Dead Sea for most of the day in the blistering heat.  It was very undulating with some steep uphills but there was a much needed breeze in your face as you went down the hills.  There were also lots of flies to contend with!  We stopped at a waterfall for a water break and everyone dipped their feet in the stream in an effort to cool down but even that was hot!  We had a long uphill stretch to get to lunch.  We had cycled 60 km before lunch in 37 degrees!  Adrian then told the group about an optional extra - a 24 mk bike ride.  He couldn't have described it in a worse way, it sounded like you would die if you did it!  But surprisingly we had a few volunteers! - Andrew, Sam,Denis, Rob, Dan and Pam were all up for it so they went with the doctor and Adrian!  Have to say we were quite scared for them! The rest of us got into our air conditioned coach and drove the route they were taking.  It was a 45 minute climb in the coach, first gear all the way!  Our ears were even popping because it was so steep!  Everyone was gasping because it was so horrendous!  Apparently it is the hardest section of cycling that Classic Tours have had on any of their itineraries ever!  We met the cyclists at the top of the hill and were in complete awe of what they had done!  They worked out that they had the cycled the equivalent of Ben Nevis in 3 hours in 45 degree heat!  Amazing!

We then took the bus to Petra - everyone was wiped out on the bus!  We had a late dinner and some explored the 'loccal strip' as Adrian called it!  It was so small though that they walked through it without knowing and had to turn back! Then on their way back from one of the bars they were chased by the bar owner because he thought they hadn't paid!  

Day 4

We had an early start today and visited a school for deaf children and children with other disabilities.  It was run completely by volunteers.  There were lots of really cute kids, one had even been dressed in his best outfit as we were coming.  A very moving experience.

We then transferred to Petra where we entered the most stunning environment ever!  There were huge imposing sandstone cliffs - it was just incredible!  Abdul our local guide was telling us all about it.  He absolutely loves talking and shouts at anyone he thinks is not listening - he has a very powerful voice! After the tour people went off to explore - some climbed the 1200 steps up to a monastry which was fantastic and others went to a sacraficial alter on the top of a cliff.  Was an absolutely amazing experience.  Tonight everyone went to the local steam baths.  The women and the men were separated into different rooms.  We were confronted by 3 very mean looking women!  We had to take our clothes off!  and then had to lie on slabs of rock where we were scrubbed down and then we were sprayed with water and then had another body scrub - it was quite an odd experience! 

Tomorrow we will be back on the bikes on probably the hardest cycle of the trip.  We will be staying the night in Bedouin tents in the desert which should be quite an experience.   

Day 5

Today we had 24km uphill of cycling to contend with.  It was extremely difficult and then only continued to get worse as the day went on!  We cycled in the desert and were rewarded with some absolutely amazing scenery.  Sam unfortunately cycled over a rock in the road and fell off his bike and managed to bend his wheel!  Our first broken bike!  Sam was fine, just a few bruises. 

At lunch Alan, Nicki and Sam took shelter from the sun under a bridge where they played I spy - very funny as all they could see was sand!  Adrian, our tour leader, had a mini heart attack though as he couldn't find the three of them and thought we had completely lost them! 

It got tougher after lunch especially as it was 37 degrees!  The hills were so horrendous that the bikes weren't even moving when we had them in first gear - we had to get off and push them up some of the hills!  Definitely the hardest day of cycling!  We did have some good downhill sections though and Rob managed a record speed of 48.7 mph down one of them - he was even faster than the vehicles!  The last mile to Roberts Rock was stunning with a beautiful sunset overhead.

We had a great night in the Bedouin camp.  We had 2 tents - one for men and one for women.  The women rearranged their tent to make it look nice - the boys on the other hand just arranged theirs according to snoring and flatulence!  We gave a talk on NDCS in the evening and then played charades in sign around the camp fire.  We had a delicious BBQ cooked by the Bedouins and they even danced and sang for us.  Alan managed to fall asleep around the camp fire so we drew on his face with charcoal - it was very funny!  During the night some people including Jan, Nicki, Paul, Rob, Paul and Dan slept out under the stars.   

Day 6

Today we left the Bedouin camp and had our last day of cycling.  We were cycling over the desert today which was relatively flat compared to the previous days!  We had to cycle 105 KM to Aqaba.  Dan cycled today dressed as Batman - he had a proper costume with muscles as well!  It was hilarious!