Arrived in Khartoum January 07 2014

Well, the journey has officially began.  The days leading up to the departure were filled with making lists for last minute items and getting four months worth of gear into three bags. Eventually everything was all packed and ready to go; off we headed to the airport! 

After waiting for an hour or so in the Ethiopian airline line, we realized that the plane had been over booked and there was no way I was going to be flying out. I found an Ethiopian airline flight attendant who was able to get me onto a Qatar airways flight departing at 830am the next morning. 

Back home we went so I could rest for a few hours and then head back to Suvarnabhumi for the new flight to Khartoum. Not knowing that the baggage allowance was less on the Qatar flight than the Ethiopian flight I was dinged with an over baggage fee of 350 dollars.

I arrived in Khartoum without any further issues and have put by bike back together, it is ready for the trip! Many of the riders have arrived and are putting together their bikes before we head out! 

I am so happy to be back in Africa! The past two days have been spent touring around Khartoum. The people here are so friendly and always up for a chat. One of the main questions from the Sudanese has been, "Why you are visiting Sudan?".  When I have explained that I will be biking to Cape Town, they really look at me strangely and ask, "Are you crazy lady".My response has been to smile and nod. I am sure this conversation will happen several times over the next for months. 

We start biking on Friday morning, not sure to where or how far, but I am pumped to get on my bike and get started! 

Below are a few photos of the tour we did around Khartoum. 

Snake skin and a baby crocodile at the marketin Khartoum. Thought about buying them as mascots, but then realized any item I purchase will need to stay with me until Cape Town. The reptile skins well not make the cut. 

Sudan is a lot bigger than I thought! We will spend three weeks biking to the Ethiopian border. 

Nubian temples that have been excavated in put into a museum in Khartoum. Many of the other foreigners in Sudan are archeologists working on excavation sites around the country.