One lesson we most certainly learnt the previous day was that, the noon day sun is a killer so, it is best that we either travel during the earlyhoursofthe morning or, in the late afternoon. With that it mind we decide to make an early start. Up by 6 am and gone by 730am means that we are able to arrive in Khartoum by noon. Dave and Naomi decide to leave me at the one option we had for accommodation while they investigate the others. I find the air-conditioned room with the Internet so am more than willing to just sit and wait while they decide on which option is better. Not that their are really many to choose from, from a camping perspective in Khartoum! After chilling for about two hours, Naomi calls me to let me know that they hve decided to stay at the Blue Nile Sailing Club, a very common overlanders camping site, in the centre of Khartoum and, on the banks of the Blue Nile river. The only problem is that I am about 10 km away and need to get there in the blazing heat of the midday sun and, through Khrtoums traffic! Once again, it is not a pleasant experience, especially the last 2 km,through some bumper to bumper traffic, and through some busy intersections. However, finally i do arrive to a waiting Naomi with a lovely big bottle of water inhere hand.
The Blue Nile Sailing Club, is a rundown establishment, which is purely managed. It looks like a boat scrapyard rather than any sailing establishment. There are broken boats littering the car park, where the overlanders are forced to pitch their tents. As for the ablution facilities, I do not think they have been cleaned in ages! In brief, a real dump! But beggars can not be choosers I guess. I decide to pitch my tent next to Dave and Naomi's car, just to make things more practical. The heat of the afternoon was so hot and overwhelming that, we manage bearly to play a couple of card games. To tell you the truth, I have never been this hot in my entire life! We are talking of temperatures in excess of 45 degrees, IN THE SHADE! And with no option of air conditioning available, It is anything but pleasant. The down side to all of this is that, we are here for a couple of days at least, we have some administrative things to do, before we can head north to Egypt.
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| Day 77, 2011/07/17 |
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