Everything is going leaps and bounds out here.
Feeling like everything is really taking hold. Just
got back from an amazing trip.
Had the group dressing up as pirates and saboutaging
another group's Felucca.
With my trusty parrot on my shoulder (a big bottle of
antiseptic spray in disguise)my hook, machete, eye
patch and lots of eh arr Me Hartieeessss! We took the
other tour leader hostage and made him walk the plank!
Inevitably my pirate ship, the Swashbuckle, had a
mutiny and I ended up walking the plank too!!!!
Unfortunately the treasure ( an eski full of Beers)
was never quite captured but otherwise it was a great
success and we have become a legendry force on the
River not to be reckoned with.
We were prevented from sailing for a day due to a sand
storm so made up for lost time by sailing at night
which was awesome. Everyone was tucked up in sleeping
bags under the stars as we glided through the night!
Apart from me who was busy telling riddles to the crew
and listening to their endless tales of Nile
escapades.
We are coming up to the legendry Khamnseen winds,
think English Patient and cars being buried under sand
dunes! The full force strikes once a year with varying
minor storms in the run up. The build up of which we
found ourselves submerged in during a camel safari
into the desert around Aswan! All lots of fun and
Laurence of Arabia style head scarf wearing with
swirling sands and camel snorting!!!
Maybe i've embelished the drama a little but it was
all very eerie and mysterious especially as we emerged
at St Simions monastry, an emmense ruined fortress
surrounded by sands. We certainly empathised with the
relief that would have been felt by desert weathered
pilgrims arriving at the welcome shelter. Certainly
looked like a sand battered lot at any rate!
Also had a hysterical snorkelling escapade at Hurghada
where the seas got a bit over excited! Half the group
had never snorkelled before so had great fun trying to
teach them how to snorkell while waves poured down
over the top of them! Loosing battle really but had
to have a go, I was on constant stand by for Bay watch
duty! Then on the return journey the sea picked up
even more wrath and half the group turned green and
were clenching stomachs while gripping on to the side
of the boat! Dont fear, it was really only a little
choppy, no perfect storm type dramas!
Any way soon had them all drinking and dancing the
night away at a dodgy bar, so it was soon forgotten
about and caught the 3 am bus convoy back to Cairo.
So am a little sleepy but having a blast.
Start next trip tomorrow so no rest for the wicked!