Gieta to Mwanza (126km with 1367m of ascent)

Tour d'Afrique 

Day 57 - Mar 10 - Stage 40 (Tanzania)

Friday: After a very muddy ending to yesterday's ride and Judith using her initiative to book us in and our subsequent move to a nearby Hotel, we woke up relatively early in our cosy hotel room.

A group of us were picked up at the Hotel by one of the School Teachers. He needed to do two trips to get us & all of our bags back to the Muddy Camp for breakfast. 

Some of the other  riders, who were at a more up-market Hotel (especially those who had been ill) slept late and decided to take a taxi to Mwanza, rather than cycling there.

Breakfast at Muddy Camp

Sunrise over the Boys School before the day's ride

Unfortunately a very repetitive sight in Africa.
Young children looking after baby siblings 

Judith was still recovering from her upset stomach, so under Doctor's orders, she rode in the Party Bus to Mwanza.

I started with Liz, but then rode away from her as she was determined to keep at a steady pace which was just a little slow for me (I should have remembered the story about the rabbit and the tortoise!).  I got to lunch at the 70km mark, and was not feeling well (nauseous) so decided to take the lunch truck. Liz soldiered on and rode with Dr Helen the Sweep rider all the way to Mwanza 

Before we reached Mwanza, we arrived at the southern shore of Lake Victoria, then took a 30 minute ferry ride across the Lake to negate an extremely long ride around the edge of the Lake through Kampala.

We arrived at a very picturesque Camp (Tunza Resort Limited) with a white sandy beach on the edge of the Lake. Here we washed the mud off our bikes in the Lake, before having a few slow beers on the patio before Rider Briefing and Supper. Chef Errol excelled himself and produced ice cream for dessert!

Early to bed accompanied by the sound of the  gentle crashing of waves on the "beach'". It was one of the best camping spots we have had, and a big pity that we didn't have a rest day at Mwanza.

Cheers,

Mike T

Rock formations along the road to Mwanza

View of the shore from the Ferry on Lake Victoria

A passing Ferry on Lake Victoria

Ferry docking on the Mwanza side of the Lake

Liz and Doctor Helen leaving the Ferry

Arriving at Tunza Resort in Mwanza

Welcome to Mwanza

Judith did a good job putting up the tent next to the beach

Warning notice for the Guests

Riders enjoying some rest and recuperation at the Bar

"Two Bottle Peter" enjoying his first Savanna's ever!

Judith washing her bike in Lake Victoria

Both Marie & Bike as clean as could be

Riders enjoying some quality time on the beach

Sunset over Lake Victoria

Kapenta fishing boats (the lights) on Lake Victoria in the moonlight

Tomorrow's Ride on the Briefing Board - Mwanza to Speke Bay

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Day 44 - Travel Day in Uganda

Sunset as seen from Ssese Island

Saturday: An official Travel Day, travel from Kampala (Chili Lodge) to Ssese Island (Ssese Island Beach Hotel) via Entebbe.

To negate the notorious Kampala traffic, TDA devise the cunning plan of traveling out from Kampala by bus to Entebbe, then catching a ferry from Entebbe to Ssese Island on Lake Victoria, where we will overnight. Before cycling on the Island and catching another ferry with our bikes, back to Mainland Uganda.

So after loading our daily bags on to the Main Truck relatively early and having an early breakfast, thereby allowing the Trucks to depart early enough (they have to catch the Government Ferry) we depart the Chili Lodge in Kampala by bus.

The bus ride doesn't start well, because of our combined weight, at the Main Gate, the bus gets stuck trying to leave the Lodge. We all de-bus, and walk to the Main Road, fortunately  with all of us out, the bus manages to clear the obstacle and once on the Main Road with all climb back into the bus.I am 

The trip through Kampala and on to Entebbe Beach Harbour, although quite long, goes off without any further glitches. On arrival at the Harbour, here is just enough time to take a toilet break, before we all board the Ferry.

The Ferry ride on Lake Victoria to Ssese Island takes approximately 3 1/2 hours, and most of the riders manage to pass the time by taking a doze every now and then, or by chatting to some of their fellow riders. We cross the Equator for the second time, but decide to keep it low key, as we will not be able to reproduce as much of the fun as we had on our first crossing.

Riders getting into the bus for the trip to Entebbe

The Kampala skyline

Boarding the Ferry to Ssese Island

The Captain checking his twin outboard engines

View of Entebbe from the Ferry

Start of the Ferry trip and all are calm

Birthday Girl No.1 enjoying her Ferry trip

Birthday Girl No.2 enjoying her trip out on the bow of the Ferry

Approaching the Ferry Landing on Ssese Island

Disembarking from the Ferry

It's a double birthday today, both Judith & Andje are celebrating their birthdays, so the riders and TDA staff on the ferry, sing 'happy birthday' to them.

On arrival at Ssese Island, the majority of the riders decide to camp, while only a handful of us take a room at the Ssese Islands Beach Hotel. Since it's Judith's birthday, I treat her to a hotel room, can't have her putting up a tent and sleeping on the ground for her special day.

After dinner, Errol the Chef, produces two freshly baked chocolate birthday cakes, one each for the two Birthday Girls. Both cakes are appreciated and consumed by the riders and staff (they take no prisoners).

Later that evening we have an impromptu party, when two bottles of chilled champagne miraculously  appear  (we bought them in Jinja and they were kept chilled in the Lunch Truck for this special occasion). A great way to end a special day.

It's not every birthday, that Judith is treated to a boat trip to an exotic island with a group of her friends.

Cheers,
Mike T

Ps. The latest news concerning the sick riders, is that Bridgette, Anmei and Andrew are all out of Hospital, and will be joining us shortly.

The Ssese Island Beach Hotel Reception

View of our Room for our Island stay

Having lunch No.2 in the Hotel Restaurant

Bike Repair Time in idyllic conditions

Riders' Briefing - Tomorrow's Ride

Errol & Helen lighting the candles on the birthday cakes

Birthday Girls Judith and Andje

Cutting the cake into sufficient pieces for riders and staff alike

The line-up for some birthday cake

Riders relaxing after dinner & cake... and reflecting on the day's traveling and tomorrow's cycling and ferry expectations



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Day In Pictures - Crossing the Nile into Sudan

Our crossing of the Nile River on Day 13 - (Stage 11) from Egypt to Sudan. You can read my original post about the day's cycling, crossing the river, rider shenanigans, and border officials, here.

Early breakfast at the Hotel in Abu Simbel

Riders leaving for Ferry in convoy

Mandatory wait before boarding the Ferry

Riders boarding the Ferry

Kyle getting instructions from Anmei on how to repair a puncture

The female riders need to cover up in Sudan. Judith and Liz modeling their Sudan cycling kit (Judith could only find something in pink)

Mike T saying goodbye to our Egyptian Police Escorts prior to boarding the Ferry

The Egyptian Truck Drivers brewing us some tea

Egyptian trucks are usually very colorful.

Judith gives us her Captain Morgan pose aboard 'the ship'

Judith ensuring the Ferry Captain stays on course

The Ferry Captain maneuvering the Ferry into its berth before unloading gets underway...

After disembarking... we then cycled another 35 km after the Border Post, and arrived in the Town of Wadi Halfa. Exchanged some USD $ into Sudanese Pounds, and purchased our new data sim-cards, so that we could get onto the Sudanese Network. 

Well, that's ot for my Day 11's pictures.

I will try and keep in touch when possible, as we make our way across the Sudanese desert.

Cheers,

Mike T