Preparation in Cairo

My emotions went wild months before my imminent departure. At the airport I felt like a cold stone as the tears filled my parents eyes, excitement got the best of me. I was nervous but craved the sense of adventure and needed to be strong for the trip to come.

As I arrived in Cairo I was very pleased to see Steve and most all of my bike box which was collected by the taximan and flung onto the top of his car and fastened by string to hold with the juts and turns of Cairo's chaotic traffic!

The trick is to walk in parallel lines together through the streets of bustling traffic, you might even be lucky enough to get a gentleman offer you a helping hand. The most classic line from any man is "I am not a tour guide I do not want your money" and suddenly from advising us directions we were offered tea in their shop full of gifts and souvenirs. I was very blunt and explained we were not interested. When he finally realised we had no money to spend his charm and facial expressions turned sour. "Ok get out" but where was our tea?!!!


The song of prayer 5 times a day talloid across the city is an experience to remember. I saw people filling the streets preparing their matts kneeling down to pray. This happens in many areas all over the city so the voice of prayer echos.


The pyramids of Giza were stunning. We managed to walk to the perfect panaramic spot out into the desert, the experience was heightened when we arrived back "on site" and the tourist police explained we must not take that route unless we had a tour guide. Another translation would be; unless we paid 20 Egyptian pound to ride a camel. We are saving this escapade for later on in the journey.





Making your way around Islamic Cairo is very interesting, contrasting. We were walking amoungst the busy streets filled vehicles and constant honks racing for the next space. The cars all speed when trying to communicate with my eyes all I can see is the driver staring back at me. It is not very reassuring as you hope they would look at the road so they do not run you over. We weaved left into the streets of settlements and you find the noise change into shouting (often mistaken for argueing). These narrow allys struggle to fit all people and carts of fabric but somehow with a lot of patience and squeezing we make it to the end of the street.

So it is true, the sun in Africa seems twice the size and has an elegant descent into the dusty square pieces of the city. We went to the new Al Azhar Park which gives you the opportunity to walk through an articulately landscaped garden to the most beautiful view point over all of Cairo.
The bikes have been checked and tampered with, packed and ready to go. We are commencing our journey out of Cairo and following the longest river in the world, the Nile. Apparently there are police that follow you the whole route to Aswan. We can have some fun trying to loose them but I don't know whether this will lead to peace and quiet. These settlements have some of the finest soils to grow food in Africa so I am expecting dense population. I am very lucky as my first 2000km is flat land (to put it in UK perspective Cornwall to Scotland is 1400km). This will be a great start to the journey.

I leave you with my thought of the day. Here is a quote from one of our recent emails.

"The pair of you are about to set off into the most frustrating, dangerous, incomprehensible continent on earth. It is also the most life-affirming, the most human, and arguably the most beautiful. You lucky, lucky gits."

UK on a bike

To train I headed on my first long bike trip to the Isle of Wight, Bristol then Devon. I think my Nanny in Devon was the most shocked to see me knock at her door fully loaded with my bike. It had been a while! There are some great tracks / bike paths / canal tow paths all around the UK. I would recommend it to anyone. If you like a challenge head to Frome for the steepest gradient country road.

Preparing my trip of a lifetime - Cycling Cairo to Cape Town

The trip of a lifetime, 7500 miles cycling from Cairo to Cape Town is drawing near. My preparations and training have covered the summer months (Steve's injured knee has been a blessing in disguise). I am now what some might call a biker!! I enjoy downhill biking, have worked in a bike shop to learn bike maintainance and spend most weekends going camping, with my bike. Any advice; get a bike the cost of living is lowered dramatically not to mention the different routes, areas and people you meet.
Having been at home in Surrey for several months working for Accord Architecture in Guildford I have risen awareness about my fundraising expedition. 96.4 The Eagle Radio and BBC Berkshire have interviewed me about my 9 1/2 month cycle. Contacts have conveniently arisen giving me professional bike photos allowing me to get in touch with bike magazines to edit my story. I have had many sponsors so the equipment list is being tackled and ticked off by the day.
My fundraising auction in Ascot turned out to be a huge success. I have already raised £3500 which is half of the amount I wish to raise in total for Article 25.
I am off to cycle the UK (Bristol, Isle of Wight, Devon and Liverpool) this month. My Thorn Nomad Touring bike (with a rohloff hub - essential for Africa) is riding smoothly and I cannot wait to get used to life on the road.

The Challenge

I will be researching the vernacular architecture of Africa during 2010 while cycling from Cairo to Cape Town.
Vernacular architecture is architecture specifically focusing on locally available resources and traditions to address local needs.
I am a graduate architecture student and continue to study architecture and work as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant for Article 25, the development and disaster relief charity working in the built environment. My research in Africa will be an investigation into the potential use of vernacular techniques in the development of sustainable architecture in the developing world;

 To document how traditional techniques have been adapted and understand the positive and negative lessons for future development.

 To preserve knowledge, raise awareness and create a vital academic resource for architecture students and professional architects for years to come.

 To investigate, draw and record the vernacular architecture along the East coast of Africa.

 To engage within village communities to understand their needs and skills, vital information to help improve the built environment in the future.

I have worked for this architecture charity for over a year contributing to several projects including a reconstruction of a school in Congo and a proto-type school in Sierra Leone. Vernacular techniques were factors in both designs – providing opportunities to improved construction techniques that are sustainable for every user. Within my research I aim to maximise the potential for design; to build bigger schools for less money.
There are many factors which has given me an understanding of social aspects and a grounding of information and background knowledge through design. Working on projects in Africa has stimulated my mind to investigate the continent and experience the culture.
Recently I won funding with Vodafone foundation to make a World of Difference so I have written a blog describing my activities within the charity; (http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/uk/nyomi-rowsell/ ).
I have a professional interest in Vernacular Architecture and will document the built environment to learn, understand and share knowledge within the architectural community through my blog and a book I plan to write after my trip. In the future I am going to start my Part 2 Architecture Diploma with a focus on humanitarian architecture in the developing world.
I have included some examples of my work. I will keep a written record of my experiences sketching and photographing my journey as well as the vernacular architecture as I wish to document the whole experience.
My enthusiasm for architecture coincides with my fitness. I like to keep myself in shape and ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon around London in October to raise money for Article 25.
Cycling is a sport I love to do and would choose it any time of day to avoid London public transport. I have always been proactive and have managed to cycle around London and stay with friends while working at Article 25. My friends call me the professional nomad and I feel my role as a graduate architect and keen traveller has pointed me in the right direction; to Africa.
I have travelled around Europe and believe the best way of investigating a place is on a bike. My friend Dr Steve Fabes has taken 4 ½ years off to cycle around the world to document and investigate neglected tropical diseases (www.cyclingthe6.com). I immediately knew this was my opportunity to join him and cycle the continent of Africa, the place I have investigated, read and dreamed about for so long.