I thought that you guys may be interested in this morning's events (7 Feb) in what may be the first official crossing using the Qustul/Eshket route as part of the Africa Record Run attempt, a project that I have some involvement with.
The event website is Africa Record Run
A few hours ago, Philip Young and Paul Brace crossed from Qustul to Abu Simbel, having driven up the new road from Wadi Halfa via Eshket to Qustul.
Quoting from the latest blog on the website:
For the last nine months our Egyptian ‘fixer’, Mahmoud ‘Turbo’ Ezzeldin, and his Sudanese counterpart, Midhat Mahir, have been working with the cooperation of many government officials and with the assistance of letters from Lord David Steel, president of the Endurance Rally Association to make this border crossing possible. It is hoped that the route we have used today will be ready for a public opening as the regular crossing route between Sudan and Egypt in a few months’ time.
Philip, Mahmoud 'Turbo' and Midhat are all HUBB members.
If you click on the map page on the website , you can see the approx route they took from Wadi Halfa to Qustul and the route of the barge across Lake Nasser. The tracker only updates every 15 mins so the route is only approx.
NB This was a specially arranged army barge by Turbo and not the more regular barges that will come into operation in due course.
Anyway just thought it may be of interest.....
Thanks
Anthony Preston
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