The Treloar Herald : Arusha

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Arusha to Babati (172km with 1 300m ascent)

Day 63 - March 16 - Stage 42

Thursday: The start of a straight seven-day riding section before our next rest day.

We cycled the longest distance of the tour today, 79km to lunch, then 93km after lunch, which was a personal best for Judith! To put the icing on the cake, we passed the 5000 km mark as well!

We woke up early to pack our Permanent and Daily bags, which needed quite a bit of reorganizing, since we had been out of the saddle for four whole days.

Started cycling in the Arusha morning rush hour traffic, and we rode past the famous tower in the centre of town which is recognised by all the Overlander Companies as being the mid-point between Cairo and Cape Town. We rode out of town on the same route we came into Arusha from our Safari Trip.

The route was relatively flat with some undulating until lunch. While having lunch, I found some small specimens of blue chalcedony and collected a few to take back home.

The second half ride after lunch was more hilly than the morning's ride, with an added head wind, with some young Massai kids who had started throwing stones at the riders - what is it with the youth!?

We battled on at a slower pace, accompanied by Sweep Rider Brad and came in to finish at just over 10 hours, but at least we did the complete 172km distance, and arrived before Riders Meeting. It was Judith's personal best, and a ride well done.

We pitched our tent with two others under a tin roof, and fortunately Andje kindly offered us the use of a hot shower in her room.

A long but very rewarding day's riding, and taking all things into consideration a big moment in Judith's cycling career.

Cheers,
Mike T

The Famous Overlander Clock Tower in Central Arusha
(Some say it's halfway between Cairo & Cape Town)

Lunch Truck (Picked up some Blue Chalcedony at this Site)

Judith cycling her way to her personal best on great Tanzanian roads

First Baobab Tree siting in Tanzania

Obligatory Coke Stop for 'Team Sweep'

Judith in her usual role as the "Pied Piper" leading the running kids up the hill

Details of today's 172 km ride to Babati

Briefing Board detailing the next seven day section from Arusha to Mbeya

Rest Day in Arusha, Tanzania

Day 62 - March 15 - Arusha

Wednesday: After our three day Safari Trip, we spent a day resting up in Arusha, where I had arranged to meet up with George Kondela, a Tanzanian National who had been the Mineral Resources Manager during my stint at the Kibali Gold Project in the DRC. He has since then left the Kibali Mine and is running his own Safari Touring Company in Arusha.

George arrived at the Massai Camp at 10 am and picked Judith and I up in one of his Safari vehicles, he was accompanied by his partner in the Business and they proceeded to show us the sights of Arusha.

First stop was the Heritage/Cultural Centre in town which was most impressive, and definitely worth a visit. Here local Tanzanian artists are encouraged to exhibit and sell their artworks, it is a non-profit organisation with the profits being ploughed back into the Local Artist Community.

This was followed by a visit to the Massai Market, where unfortunately we couldn't buy much in the way of curios or trinkets as we are restricted in the amount of things we can carry in our luggage. A big pity since there was much to buy and at very reasonable prices.

After, George took us to a local Mall for lunch where four different restaurants share the same seating premises, ensuring a very large selection of food from a variety of menus. Both Judith and I had Chinese food, something different from our usual everyday TDA cuisine.

After lunch, George drove us approximately 20km out of Arusha to the Asu River Area, where George and his family stay. We arrived at his house and met his wife Harriet. Thereafter, we went to fetch his 6 year old daughter at her school. She and her brother attend the Kennedy International Primary School, but he was away playing a hockey match so we missed seeing him.

Even though George's daughter is only 6 years old, she is already so wise in the ways of the world, George and Harriet are going to great lengths to give their children top quality education, and it shows. We didn't get to see their eldest son, since he is away at Boarding School.

Unfortunately, our visit to George's house and his family was short lived, as we had to get back to Camp in Arusha. We were very fortunate that George had taken the time to meet up with us and to chaperone us around.

Later in the evening five of us climbed into a local mini-bus taxi and went to the nearby Kilamanjaro Spur (on recommendation by Liz and I since it is a South African Steakhouse Franchise). It is sad to say, that it was a major disappointment!! It is severely damaging the good Spur Franchise name, service was good, but the food quality and availability was a total disaster!!

Back to Camp by mini-bus taxi, which was an experience in itself.
Tomorrow we begin a long 7 day section before another rest day in Mbeya (Southwest Tanzania).

Cheers,
Mike T