WHAT VICKI SAW:
Back in the day, the challenged kids went to separate schools. Everyone else went in the big bus and they went in the small bus First day, the 57 riders were transported to their scooters in the Big Bus and the ride-alongs were sent to the #4 Small Bus. It was henceforth known as the Special Bus. It COULD hold 14 people as a rolling sardine can. We started with 9 - driver crazy man, Sharif an organizer, 5 wives of riders (3 Peruvian, 1 Italian and me), a photographer and a mechanic. In addition we also had rotating in and out 1 or 2 tourist police/secret police sporting uzis. Hadeer in charge of social media, riders off broken scooters and broken riders off perfectly fine scooters. I rudely snagged a front row seat and mostly kept it as I was gonna see Everything. I saw scooter butts in all types of scenery. Photos were hard as they all contained the rear view mirror, some sort of taped on registration, a blue quilted dashboard cover with fringe and various items stuffed in the window - cd's, half eaten rolls, kleenex, camera lenses, a CEC sign and paperwork. One can only edit photos so much...
Cameras were everywhere and were king. Out there in social media land are zillions of photos. There were 5 photographers plus Hadeer and Alex Chacon (known to us as Mr. Selfie). They hung out windows, strapped themselves to the top of vehicles, laid in the road and stood in front of roaring motorcycles/scooters. It is just wrong to be half awake, puffy eyed, with bed head, stuffing a spoonful of cereal in your mouth at 6am and SNAP - in your face photo. Horrifying...
Never grasped the driving plan. CEC vehicles each marked with the numbers 1 through 5 implied some order. They all raced forward, only to drop back, jockeyed beside, in front and behind to guard the riders from other traffic, then would cut our riders off, ride up their ass or almost clip them, do 160 kph to get way ahead then park to take photos, create 3 or 4 lanes out of 2 against incoming traffic, and park across the road to block all traffic so the scooters could be photographed alone. Really pissed off all of Aswan with that one.
The whole thing was a logistical marvel. At all times we had 2 land rovers, 2 vans, 1 large haul truck for extra and broken bikes and luggage, 1 fuel tanker truck, 1 or 2 police cars and an ambulance. All of it came together at 4 to 5 stops per day: 1 or 2 in the am for fueling, lunch, then 1 or 2 more in the afternoon again for fueling. Worked like a champ - and anywhere would do. An entire lane of the highway would be cordoned off with orange cones and police and of course The Speaker. Huge, loud and essential - when it came out/on, we stopped. When it went off/away it was time to leave. It had it's own generator.
As a consideration for the female riders, they brought a portable camp toilet with it's own tent. It came out only at lunch, though...then usually blew over in the desert wind. After seeing this lone exposed throne on display, we all gave it up and used sand dunes. No lines....
The scenery was so vast that photos could not capture it. I went to videos and then just gave up and absorbed it all.
The people are so kind despite their desperate economy. Tourism is dead. Tarek (a kind soul) explained the two things that are the essence of Egyptian people: 1-they always want to know what is going on and 2-they always want to help. So everywhere they flocked to see us. Both individuals and groups of young people flocked to say hello, shake hands and have their picture taken with us. And each one had to have their own photo. Just say Facebook.... At "Hat-Shit-Suit" (see photo) I was surrounded by about 20 young boys huddled against me having their photo taken by each of the others. They were adorable. I am a star in the social media world that I never look at.
Another lesson that I learned too late is that if you tell an Egyptian that you like something they have, they will give it to you. Sherif (master of charm) bought a scarf that I admired and it was mine despite my protests. I almost got a "diamond" ring from him the same way.
Wow, what an adventure. And the place has not changed since I was there in 1987. People are the best - despite circumstances, they are kind, busy, vibrant, working, socializing, educating. It's alive and they are pressing on to make their way. Traffic is indescribably horrible and terrifying (just get a good driver). There is too much litter which is very sad amongst all the beauty and treasures. But the Red Sea, the Nile, the desert and the antiquities are all stunning gems.
It's too soon to say if I would do it again. 9 days hauling ass in a van doesn't feel like a do-over. But some sort of trip to the western desert would be great. Maybe WITH Ken in the same vehicle...no scooter butts ahead.
VIDEO
Back in the day, the challenged kids went to separate schools. Everyone else went in the big bus and they went in the small bus First day, the 57 riders were transported to their scooters in the Big Bus and the ride-alongs were sent to the #4 Small Bus. It was henceforth known as the Special Bus. It COULD hold 14 people as a rolling sardine can. We started with 9 - driver crazy man, Sharif an organizer, 5 wives of riders (3 Peruvian, 1 Italian and me), a photographer and a mechanic. In addition we also had rotating in and out 1 or 2 tourist police/secret police sporting uzis. Hadeer in charge of social media, riders off broken scooters and broken riders off perfectly fine scooters. I rudely snagged a front row seat and mostly kept it as I was gonna see Everything. I saw scooter butts in all types of scenery. Photos were hard as they all contained the rear view mirror, some sort of taped on registration, a blue quilted dashboard cover with fringe and various items stuffed in the window - cd's, half eaten rolls, kleenex, camera lenses, a CEC sign and paperwork. One can only edit photos so much...
 |
| welcome to my world |
 |
| comfy |
Cameras were everywhere and were king. Out there in social media land are zillions of photos. There were 5 photographers plus Hadeer and Alex Chacon (known to us as Mr. Selfie). They hung out windows, strapped themselves to the top of vehicles, laid in the road and stood in front of roaring motorcycles/scooters. It is just wrong to be half awake, puffy eyed, with bed head, stuffing a spoonful of cereal in your mouth at 6am and SNAP - in your face photo. Horrifying...
 |
| our papparazi |
Never grasped the driving plan. CEC vehicles each marked with the numbers 1 through 5 implied some order. They all raced forward, only to drop back, jockeyed beside, in front and behind to guard the riders from other traffic, then would cut our riders off, ride up their ass or almost clip them, do 160 kph to get way ahead then park to take photos, create 3 or 4 lanes out of 2 against incoming traffic, and park across the road to block all traffic so the scooters could be photographed alone. Really pissed off all of Aswan with that one.
 |
| missed a turn. did a u-turn ... |
 |
| on a 6 lane divided highway going the wrong way |
 |
| 2 lanes become 4...magic |
The whole thing was a logistical marvel. At all times we had 2 land rovers, 2 vans, 1 large haul truck for extra and broken bikes and luggage, 1 fuel tanker truck, 1 or 2 police cars and an ambulance. All of it came together at 4 to 5 stops per day: 1 or 2 in the am for fueling, lunch, then 1 or 2 more in the afternoon again for fueling. Worked like a champ - and anywhere would do. An entire lane of the highway would be cordoned off with orange cones and police and of course The Speaker. Huge, loud and essential - when it came out/on, we stopped. When it went off/away it was time to leave. It had it's own generator.
 |
| the speaker with generator |
 |
| what happens as a result of the speaker |
 |
| lifting broken bikes...no ramp |
 |
| middle of nowhere with nothing around,but there's an ambulance station |
 |
| they will either save my life or get me killed in the crossfire |
As a consideration for the female riders, they brought a portable camp toilet with it's own tent. It came out only at lunch, though...then usually blew over in the desert wind. After seeing this lone exposed throne on display, we all gave it up and used sand dunes. No lines....
The scenery was so vast that photos could not capture it. I went to videos and then just gave up and absorbed it all.
 |
| aswan |
 |
| is is sunset... |
 |
| or sunrise |
 |
| vibrant green fields |
 |
| endless roads |
 |
| scooter butts |
The people are so kind despite their desperate economy. Tourism is dead. Tarek (a kind soul) explained the two things that are the essence of Egyptian people: 1-they always want to know what is going on and 2-they always want to help. So everywhere they flocked to see us. Both individuals and groups of young people flocked to say hello, shake hands and have their picture taken with us. And each one had to have their own photo. Just say Facebook.... At "Hat-Shit-Suit" (see photo) I was surrounded by about 20 young boys huddled against me having their photo taken by each of the others. They were adorable. I am a star in the social media world that I never look at.
Another lesson that I learned too late is that if you tell an Egyptian that you like something they have, they will give it to you. Sherif (master of charm) bought a scarf that I admired and it was mine despite my protests. I almost got a "diamond" ring from him the same way.
 |
| one of many grand welcomes |
 |
| don't know the actual name of this tomb, but Sherif said to pronounce it "Hat-shit-suit" |
 |
| she welcomed me with a pink rose |
Wow, what an adventure. And the place has not changed since I was there in 1987. People are the best - despite circumstances, they are kind, busy, vibrant, working, socializing, educating. It's alive and they are pressing on to make their way. Traffic is indescribably horrible and terrifying (just get a good driver). There is too much litter which is very sad amongst all the beauty and treasures. But the Red Sea, the Nile, the desert and the antiquities are all stunning gems.
 |
| the Red Sea is not red..I've been misled |
It's too soon to say if I would do it again. 9 days hauling ass in a van doesn't feel like a do-over. But some sort of trip to the western desert would be great. Maybe WITH Ken in the same vehicle...no scooter butts ahead.
 |
| close up scooter butts |
 |
| please stop the selfies! |
 |
| end of the ride |
VIDEO
