The Treloar Herald : Braai

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Rest Day in Namibia along the Orange River

Namibia,
Felix River Camp
Amanzi River Trails Camp

Day 114 – May 6 – Rest Day

This was our last Rest Day of the Tour, after today it would be a straight seven day push to the finish in Cape Town. Unreal to think that the end is in sight, after such a long trip, I don’t think we fully comprehended the significance of the “Last Rest Day”.

Had a late breakfast at Felix Unite Camp Restaurant, I was very wary of having breakfast there, especially after last night’s pathetic service and experience, however the Camp Management gave us a good breakfast on the house, so they redeemed themselves, and I suppose all’s well that ends well!

I treated the day as an Admin Day, while Judith did some major laundry, to ensure we had enough clean clothes to get us to the finish. Later in the afternoon, Colleen from Amanzi arrived in her Amanzi Cruiser and kindly transported us and a select few to their Camp for the pre-arranged early evening braai (barbeque).

At one of the picturesque camping spots alongside the Orange River, Mike vd Berg and I organised the braai fire and we both braaied the meat, while everyone relaxed and enjoyed the peace and quiet, and contemplated the meaning of life, ably assisted by some liquid refreshments. A great time was had by all, and the overseas riders agreed that their Southern African “Braai” experience was one to remember.

Our thanks go out to Colleen and Johan who kindly hosted us, supplied the wood, meat, salads and other delights and ensured that we lacked nothing, so ensuring the group had a very relaxing and enjoyable afternoon/evening. Colleen then dropped us off back at Felix Unite, where it was back to TDA reality again for us all.

The reality sinking in... this was our last Rest Day of the Tour, and only one more 7 Day Section into Cape Town to be cycled, which will not be an easy one.

Instead of taking the Coastal Road down South, the Organizers have ensured that we will be travelling on the dirt roads of Namaqualand, then climbing up and traversing parts of the Cederberg Mountain Range, before reaching the environs of Malmesbury, then on to Cape Town through the Koeberg Region. The last Section is definitely going to be a difficult ride.

Cheers,

Mike T

Team 'Amanzi Braai' enjoying their Rest Day alongside the Orange River

Mike vd Berg, Johan, Mike T, Liz and Colleen relaxing around the braai

The two Braai Masters (the two Mike's)

Waiting in anticipation for the food to arrive

Happy Campers enjoying the liquid refreshments at Amanzi

Distinctive folding of the sedimentary rock strata

View of the folding on the South African side of the Orange River

Felix Unite (Namibia) to Springbok (South Africa)

The last 7 Day Section before reaching our final destination in Cape Town

Canon Roadhouse to Felix Unite Camp (171km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 113 – May 5 – Stage 80

Left the Canon Roadhouse Camp, rode with Judith, we had a good morning’s ride, albeit at rather a slow pace. Cycled the same route as the Desert Knights Tour which we did in April 2016, except this time we did the first two days distance of Desert Knights in a single day, we also did it in the daytime and not in the dark of night.

Sunrise at Canon Roadhouse

Mike vd Berg eager to get going even after last night's celebrations

Peter and his Daughter Catherine making last minute adjustments

Leaving Canon Roadhouse after a great stay

Lunch was at 91km, unfortunately we took our time getting to the lunch position, so decided to climb the Lunch Truck, there was no way we were going to complete another 80km and get to Camp before sunset. We should have known better than to have had so many stops for photo opportunities, rest stops, and exploring the countryside - but it was worth it!

Judith riding the corrugations

Cycling a section of the Desert Knights Tour

Distant rain falling in the Ai Ais Transfronteir Park

Sharing the road with the motorised tourist's

Ingenious rock sculpture " Bobberjaan klim die Berg"

Tom having quality time by himself

If only the wreck could talk !

Posing with an old wreck

Judith on her way to infinity and beyond

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Marie helping to pack up after lunch

Climbed the truck, and our first stop was at the Aussenkehr Spar for a Coke Stop, where we did some grocery shopping as well (ice cream, chocolates and Amarula). Aussenkehr is an extensive table grape producing area, where the vines are irrigated from water taken out of the Orange River.

Before we reached the Felix Unite Camp, Wynand off-loaded our bikes from the Lunch Truck and we cycled to the Amanzi River Trails Camp to see our friends Johan & Colleen, owners of Amanzi. A few years ago we did a 5-day Amanzi River Rafting Trip down the Orange River with them. We have also stayed over at their Camp on numerous occasions when we visited Namibia in the past.

Johan & Colleen were pleased to see us, and since we were having a rest day at nearby Felix Unite tomorrow, invited us to have a braai with them at Amanzi on the rest day; an invitation we could not refuse. We then cycled the short distance back to the Felix Unite Camp for a well-earned rest day.

As tomorrow will be a rest day at Felix Unite (staying in quite a nice room), we had to organise dinner for ourselves, so we decided to eat at Felix's own Restaurant. However, dinner at Felix was a right royal stuff-up :/

Mike vd Berg’s steak was rotten (had to send it back), Wendy finally received her food an hour late, Paul & Wendy’s drinks orders never arrived. While on my side, I was refused the privilege of opening up a tab at the bar (a first for me) - it seems that I was regarded as a credit risk!

A bitter-sweet arrival to Orange River, but another rest day tomorrow to look forward to.

Cheers,

Mike T

Marie & Judith two of the Lunch Truck Riders

View of the rugged Namibian County Side

Table Grape Vineyard along the Orange River

Judith at Amanzi River Trails Camp

Our little piece of heaven at Felix Unite Camp for the next two nights

Overlooking the Orange River with South Africa on the opposite bank

Wendy and Paul in relax mode

Sunset over the Orange River

Mzuzu to Luviri School (124km + 1'890m of climbing)

MALAWI

Day 76 - Mar 29 - Stage 52

Wednesday: Woke up still suffering from gout (same as yesterday) in my right knee, so we decided since the majority of the climbing was in the first part of the day, to take the Lunch Truck in the morning to the lunch position, and then to ride from there, to the next Camp at Luviri School (Soccer Field).

This proved to be a very prudent decision as it was raining when we left Mzuzu and the riders had to face a strong headwind, which when combined with the wind-chill-factor, brought the temperature down to about 12-degrees and/or lower. This caused quite a few of the riders to abandon, some suffering from hypothermia, before even reaching the lunch position.

When we, and a few others who are 'recovering', arrived on the Truck at the lunch position, 70km from the start, I helped the TDA guys to erect the tarpaulin and set up the tables, while Judith assisted with the preparation of the salads.

However we soon realized that the Truck had stopped in an area where there was the possibility of finding some Manganese Pseudo-morph Pyrite Crystals (AKA "black diamonds") ! So we started examining the ground and we were pleasantly rewarded by finding some crystals, which we couldn't actually identify... so we will have to get them identified properly when back in South Africa. Of course, due to our rock-hounding diversion, we left the lunch position later than planned.

We cycled the remaining 54km to Camp, but started in heavy mist and rain, which fortunately (as the ride progressed) cleared somewhat with the viability getting better.

We arrived at Camp after only being overtaken by three of the racing snakes, but on arrival it was already looking like a tent town, since a lot of riders had abandoned and had been picked up by the Main Truck and Tallis's bakkie (his 4x4 pick-up).

A few of us took a walk to the local market, but the locals were not that friendly, especially since we tried to take some photographs (In fact they were quite pissed off that we took photos!). So I soon left and walked back to Camp, what is it with the Malawians?

Leo the Bike Mechanic fixed my rear rim, the rear cones needed tightening & bearing's leaned + greased. Also, some of the spokes needed to be realigned and tightened. My heavy frame (my body that is, not the bike frame itself) and the many rumble strips encountered on the Malawian roads, are just not compatible with smooth riding.

It was an evening without beers, as I was trying to cure my bout of gout (not that it was alcohol induced?). The staff gave us a very lekker (great) braai - then it was off to bed early.

It rained heavily during the night, but our tent erection skills and rain-proofing strategies are finally paying off, and we tend to keep relatively dry. Long may that last.

Cheers,
Mike T

Judith assisting with the salads for today's lunch

Departing the Lunch Truck in heavy mist

Someone had a Big Oop's Moment !! along the side of the road

Locals selling pink & orange mushrooms on the side of the road

Judith pointing out the great Malawian rock formations

Arrival at Luviri School Soccer Field

Our unidentified Lunch Truck crystals

Organised chaos at the Luviri Market

"Kom ons gaan nou lekker braai" (lets have a good barbecue now)

Bikes huddling together discussing the days ride

Some Riders relaxing playing cards

Others relaxing playing an African board game

While others fix their punctures (Kyle Cosmo)

This evening's Briefing was given by Wynand

Four hungry Riders behaving nicely & waiting for their supper to arrive...

Stage 53 cming up - Luviri School to Kasungu

Malawian sunset after an eventful day

Day 37- Stage 25 - Nairobi to Lake Naivasha (110 km)

Saturday: After 8 non-cycling days, it was great to get back on the bike again. I was hoping the legs had not forgotten their memory, and I was not disappointed, they hadn't. However my bum had completely lost its memory, and it was as sore as it was on Stage 1!!

Packing up camp at Wildebeest Eco Lodge was a serious challenge, it had rained during the night and the tent was wet, but we persevered and packed it up into my Day Bag, another first for us.

After an early breakfast, we left Nairobi and headed west, having to contend with the early morning Nairobi traffic, which in comparison to the traffic we were to contend with later in the day (as we rode down the escarpment into the Rift Valley) was relatively quite tame.

Most of the days ride was on tar, with one section on dirt, and it included a portion where road works were in progress. Always good to see how the Chinese are busy tarring Africa.

It was on this section that Liz had a problem with one of the cranks on her bike, fortunately she managed to find a local bike shop, just off the road, and the bike mechanic could make some temporary repairs for her, for a few "bob" (one "bob" equalls one Kenyan Shilling)

Reached the Pass down into the Rift Valley at around about the 50Km, and we were greeted by a stunning vista of the East African Rift Valley, with the crater of Mount Longonot clearly visible in the far distance.

We stopped at a number of the view points positioned down the Pass and I even managed to beat Judith at her own game, and did some retail therapy of my own, buying an arm bracelet and a Masai blanket for myself.

Unfortunately this very fast and scenic decent was marred by heavy traffic, consisting mainly of heavy trucks and military trucks (on some or other maneuvers). Who seemed determined to try and run us (slower riders) off the road, as if it was a form of some national sport or other recreational pursuit.

Fortunately no riders were injured during the decent, but there were some very close and hair-raising encounters between riders, trucks and the steep drop-off into the valley on the verge of the road. The Kenyan truck drivers have much to learn from their Egyptian and Sudanese compatriots when it comes to road manners.

Lunch was at the 57 km mark and it just happened to coincide with the 3'000 km done mark. So ably led by Liz and Rob, we did the necessary sign writing and took a group photo of the memorable occasion.

Group photo of the Jubilant slower riders at the 3 000 km done mark.

Arriving at the first view point.

Andje, Michael, Judith and Liz posing with the East African Rift Valley in the background

Looking down into the Rift Valley showing the Pass Road on the right

The Girls busy having fun & waiting for Liz to complete her bike repairs

Liz ready to ride once again

Liz explaining to Tallis that she had made a plan and her bike had been repaired locally

We cycled past Mount Longonot, a Strato-volcano, which last erupted in the 1860's. An indication of the past volcanic activity associated with the formation of the Rift Valley.

Our designated Coke Stop was in the Town of Longonot, which was an absolute necessity as Judith and I were running low on water at this stage. While resting and talking to the locals we were caught up by the Sweep Rider, finally things were back to normal.

Achieved my second tattoo of the Tour, when at the 20 km to go mark, Judith stopped abruptly for Liz who had dropped her bike multi-tool onto the road. Unfortunately traveling at approximately 35 km/hr behind them, I was unable to stop and crashed into Judith's bike, I then proceeded to tumble head over heels down the embankment.

I was fortunate and managed to sustain no major injuries, and other than soft tissue bruising to my left elbow (the one I fell on previously in Sudan) and a bit of minor blood letting... all was well that ended well. No bikes were injured in the making of this memorable moment, -which according to both Liz & Judith was most spectacular!

We arrived at the Crayfish Camp near Lake Naivasha, and elected to camp (as we needed to dry out the tent). Pitched the tent, had a shower and I saw Dr. Helen for a checkup, who confirmed that nothing had been broken during my escapades in obtaining my Kenyan tattoo.

Riders Briefing was followed by dinner which was a braai, with good wors and T-bone steak, accompanied by potato and tomato/green salad. Thereafter I spent some quality time with some of the other riders in the Camp Pub.

Cheers,

Mike T