Comments on: The heat is on

By: Michal Salaban

Michal Salaban — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:18:31 +0000

Hi Peter,

This train carries ore from inland to the harbour. It means it goes empty to Atar and you could travel in quite comfortable conditions, not on a pile of ore. The worse part is the way from Choum station to Atar – around 30-40km of unpaved hammada. Hard but not impossible on a bike.

Anyway, maybe next time :)

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:20:34 +0000

This is beautifully written Peter…brilliant reading. The videos really show how strong that wind is too. Stay safe.
Love & luck,
Cat :)

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:10:24 +0000

Hi Felix. I thought of pepper spray, but with strong winds I think I would have to hold the can really close. Same with one of those dog dazers. Don’t remember dogs being a problem in any of Thailand – too lazy

By: Felix Hude aka Mr Pumpy

Felix Hude aka Mr Pumpy — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:44:32 +0000

Hi Peter,
I’ve been followung your entires with great interest, and chuckling quite a bit too – excellent!
Re the Big Dog Attack, I’m currently planning.training for a ride across Asia from Israel to India, and have been looking into Pepper Spray. Probably for yourself, the problem is where to buy it – you could ask in one of those service stations you are passing every, what is it? 200 km! My God! Maybe look next to the potato chip section. :)
Myself, I’m still considering, to use or not to use, ‘cos I know all about those mongrels from personal experience.
There’s a discussion on the subject at:
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-30335.html
OK, mate, keep the rubber side down and may the wind be at your back! Keep going and best of luck!
BTW, I’m cycling up the east coast of Thailand right now, and gee, drink stops every 5 km, great food, smiley faces – it’s a damn sight easier than where you are, buddy! There is a lot of dogs but they are Thai dogs and easily scared off.
Cheers, Felix in Ban Krut, Thailand

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:12:49 +0000

@Martin, Cheers Martin. Hoping to ride with you, minus the flies, sometime/somewhere in Africa.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:11:37 +0000

@Bryan Doyle, I counted 10 and there were several more back at the service station. I had a headwind so there was no point in trying to lose them.

By: J.T.

J.T. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:46:59 +0000

Peter, very well done, explaining and illustrating the country. It’s amazing, in ways, that they manage to eek out an existence at all!

The poem… of course, that’s the story of both of our lives, though I think I enjoy the creatures comforts a little bit more now that I’m embarking on the second half of a century than I did at your age. When will we be done with the explorations? Perhaps when we die. Or perhaps that’s just the beginning of yet another adventure. I hope so!

Fair winds and shade, my brother!

By: Bryan Doyle

Bryan Doyle — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:41:00 +0000

The dogs. The dogs!

This has to be the same pack of dogs that got me. I think they live off the perimeter of a Moroccan army base hidden off the road in the sand. I remember them as a group of 20-30, but perhaps that was just the desert heat talking… Adrenaline is a powerful drug – I reached my max speed on a flat with that lot behind me…

God speed with the journey.

Bryan

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:38:37 +0000

Great stuff Pete – I think this is your best posting yet in truth. Love the vids and think I will frame the poem! Ride safely,