Home » Cyprus Israel » Cycle to the Summit Part 6 - Athens; through Israel to the Egyptian border

The team find passage to Cyprus on a cargo ship, and spend a memorable New Years Eve drinking Vodka with Russian sailors, whom Ruth later beats in an epic chess match. Finding no connecting services to Egypt at Cyprus, instead the cyclists take a detour through Israel. Passing through spectacular places that are familiar to even the most lapsed Christians amongst us, we take the opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea, and then soldier on through days of horrible headwinds towards the Egyptian border.

Cycle to the Summit Part 6 - Athens; through Israel to the Egyptian border

Toby Hammond
2006-06-25 18:55:13

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/>New Years Eve on the Boat

We spend New Years Eve drinking vodka with the Swedes, going on to get in some practice on the bicycle machine, and some ill-advised weightlifting in the ship's gym. Paul and Toby explore the diesel-ridden engine room, deep in the bowels of the ship - everywhere is deserted. As our piece-de-resistance, we run to the very front of the container ship, and climb a mast to the crows nest. Ruth does a good impression of Kate Winslet in Titanic, before we are ordered down by the Captain. The remainder of the evening's activites have to be uncovered by later play-back of the videocamera...I think its best that we leave it at that.

Tuesday 1st January 2002 all at sea

Breakfast is missed by 66% of the Cycle to the Summit team, and we revel in being as idle as possible all morning.. feeling somewhat worse for wear in any case. After lunch we are invited to be cabin guests of Igor, the ship's Russian electrician, who plies us with Vodka all afternoon. Toby feels rather pleased with himself after consuming a respectable quantity of the hard stuff, without being sick.
Meanwhile Ruth, sensibly refusing the Russian tipple, is unfairly struck by the now lurching ship, and proceeds to do the same thing over the side. Paul is also more controlled and gets stuck into oranges rather than Vodka. He also goes for a jog around the deck - to the bemusement of the Bridge. Ruth regains her sea legs, and makes the boys proud, by beating Igor's friend Viktor at chess in two epic matches. Both Russians show incredible hospitality to us, and make our stay aboard a very memorable one.

Wednesday 2nd January still at sea

Leaving the boat

We leave the boat at about midday, and dash over to a neighbouring cargo vessel bound for Alexandria. Though friendly, they will not take passengers, and we watch in frustration as it soon slides out of the port, without us aboard. Further ...