Konkiep Lappa to Seeheim (127km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 111 - May 3 - Stage 78

Started with Judith, and after 31km on relatively good dirt road reached the tar road and rode into Bethanie. Stopped at a Coffee Shop which was being overwhelmed by Riders, had a cappuccino and toasted ham, cheese with tomato sandwich, followed by another toasted sandwich. Judith enjoyed a good carrot cake with her tea.  We were the second last riders to leave the Coffee shop!

At lunch which was at the 70km mark, Judith hopped on the truck, I rode alone and kept up quite a fast pace - wasn't caught by Brad the Sweep. Even though I was stopped by a bunch of German Tourists (from Hamburg in Germany) at a Lay-bye, who wanted to know why I was out cycling and I had to give them the complete TDA story before they would let me go on my way.

After riding 50km alone, I managed to catch up to Liz with 7km to go, we crossed the Fish River and turned off the tar road back onto the dirt. After enjoying today's luxury of cycling on the tar, we will be back onto the dirt for the next two days.

Camped in the Seeheim Hotel grounds, and the usual bunch of us abused their Bar and Restaurant facilities.

Tomorrow we cycle parallel to the Fish River down to the Canon Roadhouse, one of my favourite Namibian stop-over places.

Cheers,
Mike T

Philip completing his ablutions before leaving Konkiep Lapa

Straight out of Camp and turn right for Seeheim

Happiness is a Coffee Shop 

Coffee Shop overwhelmed by cyclists 

Cyclists enjoying the early morning coffee break

Arriving at a lonely lunch truck

Back onto a good tar road

Group photo with the visiting Germans from Hamburg

Selfie while seeking solace from the sun in a shady road cutting

Shade glorious shade!

Seeheim Hotel welcomes the cyclists

Andje demonstrating the versatility of her hydration pack bladder

The Ladies discussing team tactics while Rupert tries to intervene 

Zirk the Owner of the Seeheim Hotel

Peter and Deborah waiting for the evenings briefing session

Welcome to Seeheim

Cyclists attend the Briefing Meeting

Tour Leader Tallis after giving his briefing

My chance to be the Waiter and fetch beers for the boys

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School Soccer Field to Ruze Chalets (181km - a new PB)

Zambia

Day 87 - Apr 9 -Stage 61

Happiness is two birthday cakes in one evening 

Sunday: Today was the longest distance of the Tour so far, a 181km ride.  At our first Coke Stop we had sausage rolls and samoosas with Murray & Brad (Sweep Rider) in Monze Town.  Started and rode with Judith until the Lunch Truck, where she hopped onto the truck, having done nearly 80 km for the day.

I carried on, rode the next 105km alone, met up with Rob in Choma Town for refreshments,  but we didn't ride together.  It was a long day, but finished the 181km, which included two Coke Stops and Lunch.  

After supper, Chef Errol produced two cakes for dessert, one for Julian (birthday on the 6th April) and one for me (birthday on the 8th). These were greatly appreciated by us & all the riders!

Tomorrow is the last day of riding before we arrive at Livingstone (Victoria Falls) for a three day rest day. Looking forward to it.

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise at the Soccer Field Camp

Soccer Field Camp to Ruze Chalets

 

"No Farmer, No Food, No Future"
Totally different attitude to Farmers in Zambia,
as opposed to "Kill the Farmer, Kill the Boer" advocated by 'The Stupids' in South Africa

How the locals get their milk from Moo-to-Them

Chef Errol baking his famous chocolate cakes.

Full moon rising over 'Ruze Camp' Tent Town

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Day 38 - Stage26 - Lake Naivasha to Londiane (146 km)

Saturday: This was the longest day I have had on my bike so far on the Tour. The most climbing I have done since Cairo. And to say it was a tough day, would be an understatement.

The first 15 km were the same as the last 15 km from yesterday's  ride, I was not a happy camper, just don't like going backwards before being allowed to go forwards, and to cap it all  off, it started to rain. Once back on the main road we donned our jackets and proceeded to cycle to Londiane.

Cycled past Lake Elementaita, a soda lake (alkaline lake) in the Great Rift Valley and managed to see some zebras along the road. 

We had two Coke Stops before the Lunch Truck, it was tough going and Judith was pulling big amps. After lunch she decided to climb into the Truck - she was just going too slow - with another 71 km to go, would never have made it before the sunset cut off. 

Cycled through the town of Nakuru, which was quite hectic, as the traffic was all over the place, had my third Coke Stop in town. Outside of the town, came upon a major accident where a Police vehicle had crashed head-on into the side of a large truck, causing a major traffic jam and great spectator value.


Then the hills started, and I began getting slower as I attempted to finish the distance. Got to the town of Salagga and met up with Goupaul at coke stop number 4, we spent approximately 1 hour waiting for Brad the Sweep Rider to catch up with us, but he didn't materialize (he was busy looking for a perceived lost rider). While waiting, Goupaul spent his time trying to teach some of the local ladies to cycle. 

We left Salagga, and then the road became much steeper, at the one major hill which was 5km in length, I must have walked 2km out of the 5km. I was just so knackered - no power left in the legs. To make it worse, when pedaling up the hills, the school kids kept on running next to me, forcing me to keep up a fast pace. Then it started raining again and I became quite water-logged.

Brad finally caught up to me, and we soon stopped for my 5th coke stop, which was at the smallest shop I had ever stopped at. 


We finally hit the summit of the last hill of the day and promptly began our last descent into camp, but not before one of the locals shouted, "Bwana" (which is more a Zambian term for Mr. than the Kenyan one of "Muzungu" meaning White Man).  I replied, "Yes" and he said, "Bwana, you are late!!". Never a truer word had been said in jest!


And so, I cycled down the big decent into the Kenyan Bush Camp, where on arrival, a relieved Judith greeted me with a cold beer. 

I had been out on the road for nearly 12 hours, definitely a long long day for me, but at least I had completed the 146 km.


Cheers, 
Mike T

Back in the Land of Tusker.

Back at the Main Road we donned our rain jackets.

Coke Stop No. 1 - Judith indicating what she wanted to drink.

Hotel Horns sounds quite interesting.

Traffic associated with the major vehicle pileup outside Nakuru.

Precious School for Precious Girls?

Coke Stop No. 4 - Spent nearly an hour there waiting for Brad.

Goupaul teaching one of the local ladies to cycle.

Lunch Truck in an isolated  position on today's ride. 

The smallest Coke Stop yet

Arriving at tonight's Bush Camp 

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Day 14 - Stage 12 - Wadi Halfa to Farka (145 km)

Thursday: Another long day of riding.

After breakfast we were one of the first to leave camp at Wadi Halfa, as we knew we would be in for some quality time on our bikes.

We reached Lunch at the 79 km mark escorted by Brad the sweep rider, who patiently listened to some of our "remember when" stories (they certainly help pass the time and make the kilometers fly-by)

Appearance of the Sudan country side has changed from desert sand to sand & rocks; to just rocks (occasional tree now and then) definitely different to what we were used to in Egypt. Unfortunately, just like yesterday, I'm still having trouble uploading pictures, so they will have to be posted on the blog in installments at a later stage.

First and only Coke Stop of the day was after lunch at some small village, where artisan miners were digging for gold. We stopped there for quite a while while I investigated some of the mining and crushing facilities.

Judith and I had a good days ride, and although we arrived at Farka Camp last, with second half sweep rider Leo, we nevertheless thought we did quite a good time, taking all things into consideration. 

We had to pitch the tent in a seriously strong wind, but our tent pitching skills have improved to such an extent that it didn't take us long, and "the house" was up without any hassle.

From Camp, we walked down to the Nile River for my first wash in the Nile, there are no washing or ablution facilities at the Farka Camp site.

After the briefing session, it was supper time followed by bed time ("early to bed and early to rise, makes Jack a dull boy"). Its going to be a very interesting  night trying to sleep in the howling wind...

Cheers,

Mike T

#ThrowbackThursday in Sudan:  - Stage 5 (Egypt)



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