Windhoek to Weissenfels (123 km)

Namibia

Day 105 - Apr 27 - Stage 73

Thursday: Rode all the way to Weissenfels with Judith, while Mike van den Berg rode his first day of the Section. Judith and I rode out of Windhoek and just past the Windhoek Golf Club, we joined up with a road which we were very familiar with. It was the first stage of the 24 hour Desert Dash Mountain Bike Race road, a race from Windhoek to Swakopmund through the Namib Desert, which I had previously ridden. First in a Four-Man Team and a year later in a Two-Man Team.

So it was up the Kuffelberg Pass and onto the road towards Weissenfels, we enjoyed a good ride, through some stunning scenery of the Khomas Hoogeland.  Where we arrived much later, only to be greeted by some of the other riders already abusing the makeshift Bar facilities!

After having a discussion with the Owner of the Guest Lodge, Wiliston, I discovered that he was selling mineral specimens from his collection, so I fortuitously bought a few of his specimens. One being a great Aragonite Crystal,  which definitely deserves a place in my collection at home.

Cheers,
Mike T

Judith doing well cycling up the Pass

The top of the Pass - Which way to Walvis Bay ?

Some of the Ladies cycling up the Pass

Lunch Stop

The road stretches on for miles and miles !

Sometimes a photo gives the wrong impression.
Promise that I had help with these!

Team Carbo Load in Action

Staff dishing up supper for the Riders

Sitting around having supper around the still-warm braai fire

Weissenfels to Solitaire

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Chitimba Beach - On the shores of Lake Malawi

MALAWI

Days 73 & 74

Sunday - Monday: We spent two glorious rest days at Chitimba Beach Camp on the shores of Lake Malawi, in a truly beautiful setting looking out over the Lake, hemmed in to the West by the mountains of the Rift Valley.

Being a rest day, breakfast & lunch were for our account, mainly eaten at the camp's Bar Area, but suppers were supplied by TDA at the Main Truck.  On the second night, this consisted of Goat and Pork, which was cooked "spit style" by the locals under the supervision of the TDA Staff - delicious!

On the evening of our first rest day, we held a "Cocktail Party" organised by Rupert , the Chairman of the Entertainment  Committee, and a great time was had by all.  Most of the Riders were then introduced to their first "Springbokkies" - a green & caramel colored cocktail consisting of Peppermint Liquor & Amarula Cream; also popular shooter back in South Africa.

Judith and I took a leisurely walk on the beach and included a visit to the Hakuna Matata Camp (situated next door to our Camp). It is run by Willie,  a South African who had been in Malawi for the past twelve years.

Lunch Truck driver, Wynand, organised for us to meet up with a local called Hudson, who was a contact for sourcing rocks and minerals. He took us on a wild goose chase looking for a dealer in a nearby village, to no avail. But at least we did meet up with some locals who explained the whole growth and harvest cycle of cassava to us!

A dealer finally came to Camp and he brought some specimens with him which were utter  rubbish (poor pyrope garnet crystals and calcite crystals) a total waste of time.

Hudson then promised to bring a dealer who had "Blue Sky" gemstones.  A guy arrived the next day, not with any blue stones but with some very red looking gemstones, which I quickly determined to be broken glass!!  What is it with these Malawian gem "dealers", do they take all visitors to be complete idiots??


Lunch on day two was at a local village house, where a big group of us sampled the local Chombo (fish) Dish. It was very tasty, but true to form, we were mainly dished up fish heads and tails,  with the locals having taken the fillets for themselves (can only be Malawi).

Chitimba Beach was a great place to rest up, and the only negative aspect of it was that we would need to climb out of the Lake Area and up over the mountains to the West, on our way to the capital city of Lilongwe. 

Till then...

Cheers,
Mike T

Selfie of Team Treloar :)

Chitimba Beach Camp - Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi and the Rift Valley Mountains

In my opinion Malawi's best beer

"Springbokkies" with Rupert 

Magical Malawian flowers 

Cape to Kili Route 

Met up with a Father and his two Sons who were cycling from Cape Town to Kilimanjaro

The Farrow's enjoying some quality time 

Eating out at one of the Local Houses

Eating local Malawian "Chombo" 

Rest days should be spent resting!

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Day 18 - Stage 15 - Dongola to Dead Camel Camp (143 km)

Monday: Booked out of the Hotel at 6am, took Tuk-Tuk to TDA Camp for riders briefing at 7am, afterwards had a quick breakfast, then left Dongola on our bikes.


Sometime into the morning ride, an Algerian truck driver pulled alongside us and handed us sweets (strawberry filling covered in chocolate). I knew he was Algerian, because he asked me where I was from, when I said, "South Africa", he shouted, "Me, Algeria". 
Must admit, all the truck drivers are super friendly, and they usually hoot loads of encouragement when passing us from either behind or when coming head on.


With 20 km to go to lunch, Judith needed to stop for a call of nature, while holding her bike I realized I was standing in a "Sudanese Agate Field", and immediately had an OSM (Oh Shit Moment!!). So many agates and nowhere to put them!!  Well I suppose it is a Cycle Tour and not a Gem & Mineral Excursion.


Lunch was at the 80 km mark, and as per usual, it was up to its usual high standard. Have decided in future, to skip the cucumber and watermelon, as they both repeat on me when riding the second half after lunch!

Welcome to ???

Visitors arrive while we were having lunch

Judith getting her tea at the Coke Stop

The Tea Seller's Assistant 

7-Up & Tea at the Coke Stop

Second half went slower than the first, but at least the wind was favorable, stopped at the 111 km mark for a 7-Up and Tea for Judith. 


For the record, no sweep rider caught up to us before lunch, and no sweep rider caught us before the finish, we were totally unswept today!! We must be getting stronger....

Got to "Dead Camel Camp" in a good time, pitched tent and then went for a walk, primarily to find agates, but had no luck, although I did find some Petrified Wood (in the desert!!!) 

All in all, a good day's ride, which only got better when Chef Errol produced a Pineapple, Tennis biscuits and Custard pudding at supper.


Cheers,
Mike T

"What do you call a Camel with three humps?"

"Humphrey!"

Arriving at Dead Camel Camp

Riders chilling out after today's ride

Chef Errol explaining to Judith how to wash her dishes correctly 

Water irrigation canal taking water from the Nile River off into the surrounding desert

Our accommodation for the night.

Welcome to Dead Camel Camp! With illustrations nogal

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