Everything is going leaps and bounds out here. Feeling like everything is really taking hold. Just got back from an amazing trip.

Had the group dressing up as pirates and saboutaging another group's Felucca.

With my trusty parrot on my shoulder (a big bottle of antiseptic spray in disguise)my hook, machete, eye patch and lots of eh arr Me Hartieeessss! We took the other tour leader hostage and made him walk the plank! Inevitably my pirate ship, the Swashbuckle, had a mutiny and I ended up walking the plank too!!!!

Unfortunately the treasure ( an eski full of Beers) was never quite captured but otherwise it was a great success and we have become a legendry force on the River not to be reckoned with.

We were prevented from sailing for a day due to a sand storm so made up for lost time by sailing at night which was awesome. Everyone was tucked up in sleeping bags under the stars as we glided through the night! Apart from me who was busy telling riddles to the crew and listening to their endless tales of Nile escapades.

We are coming up to the legendry Khamnseen winds, think English Patient and cars being buried under sand dunes! The full force strikes once a year with varying minor storms in the run up. The build up of which we found ourselves submerged in during a camel safari into the desert around Aswan! All lots of fun and Laurence of Arabia style head scarf wearing with swirling sands and camel snorting!!!

Maybe i've embelished the drama a little but it was all very eerie and mysterious especially as we emerged at St Simions monastry, an emmense ruined fortress surrounded by sands. We certainly empathised with the relief that would have been felt by desert weathered pilgrims arriving at the welcome shelter. Certainly looked like a sand battered lot at any rate!

Also had a hysterical snorkelling escapade at Hurghada where the seas got a bit over excited! Half the group had never snorkelled before so had great fun trying to teach them how to snorkell while waves poured down over the top of them! Loosing battle really but had to have a go, I was on constant stand by for Bay watch duty! Then on the return journey the sea picked up even more wrath and half the group turned green and were clenching stomachs while gripping on to the side of the boat! Dont fear, it was really only a little choppy, no perfect storm type dramas!

Any way soon had them all drinking and dancing the night away at a dodgy bar, so it was soon forgotten about and caught the 3 am bus convoy back to Cairo. So am a little sleepy but having a blast.

Start next trip tomorrow so no rest for the wicked!