Wessenfels Camp to Solitaire (124 km)

Namibia

Day 106 - Apr 28 - Stage 74

Friday: Rode the morning with Judith and most of the afternoon with Philip, highlights of the day included the crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn and the hair-raising descent down the Spreetshoogte Pass with Philip and Liz.

The Treloars cross over the Tropic of Capricorn

We rode on gravel and dirt the whole day, except for the Spreetshoogte Pass, which due to it's steepness (it drops over 500m in elevation over a length of 4 km) is paved with paving stones. The Pass is so steep, both the Lunch Truck & Main Truck had to detour around a longer alternative route to get to Solitaire.

I managed to achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/hr down the first portion of the Pass until my nerve failed and I reverted to feathering my brakes down the remaining length of the Pass. At one stage I had to stop to allow both my front and rear disc brakes to cool down!

Between the Pass and the finish at Solitaire, we stopped at Gecko Lodge for cokes, and experienced the best WiFi reception ever. This resulted in us overstaying our welcome, as we abused their facilities to update all things relating to any social network!

Eventually arrived at Solitaire quite exhausted, it had been a tough but also an exhilarating day of riding.  A welcomed reward at Solitaire was being treated by the consumption of large portions of Apple Crumble, from the only Bakery in a radius of about hundreds of kilometers!

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise before the ride to Solitaire 

Liz and Judith discussing the days tactics at breakfast

A group of the Ladies (and a parrot - see it?) getting ready to cycle towards Solitaire

An early morning puncture for Anmay who needed no assistance

On the road being greeted by the first ray of sunshine

Philip examining the nests of the Sociable Weaver which is prevalent in this part of Namibia

Group of the Ladies making gravel riding look so easy

Today's lunch position was just before the descent down the Pass

Philip helping Andje with her puncture while Sectional Rider Rick learns some new tricks

Posing at the start of the Pass

Liz and Philip taking a photo opportunity prior to descending the Pass

View from the top of the Pass

View from half-way down the Pass

Peter and Deborah checking their brakes and taking a breather coming down the Pass

Tom and Liz discussing their Pass descent experience

Arriving at Gheko Lodge

Some innovative art work at Gheko Lodge Up-cycling old cans

You can't miss Solitaire as it is clearly marked!

A tired Treloar arrives at Solitaire to be greeted by his wife

Farmer Michael (Mike VdB) getting some tips on how to fix a punctured tube by Deborah

Sunset at Solitaire & the end of the day.

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Witvlei to Windhoek (153 km)

Namibia

Day 102 - Apr 24 - Stage 72

Monday: Judith was not feeling well, so she decided to take the Main Truck into Windhoek.
Myself, I rode the day with Philip. A few kilometers into the ride we came across a vehicle accident where a Toyota Hilux Double Cab had hit a Kudu Antelope (Buck) which had jumped out into the road. Unfortunately, the passenger was severely injured, but was being treated by the Emergency Services when we arrived on the scene. 

At the Kalahari Padstal, we joined some of the other riders and stopped for Coffee & Biltong/Droëwors, also had our photo's taken by the owner, to be included in her own personal collection.

Rode in a peleton to lunch (with Liz, Marie, Philip and myself) and again after lunch, where we were joined by Andje. Riding together certainly made it so much easier and we managed to keep up a good pace until we reached the hills outside of Windhoek. Each one of us getting a chance and taking the front and setting the pace,  in 5 minute intervals.

Had a great Coke Stop at the International Airport Filling Station (cold drinks, chocolates and ice creams) before completing the final 42km into Windhoek.

Big Hills coming into Windhoek, but with the help of an emergency Red Bull,  I managed to get over them relatively easily. Then it was down into the Suburbs with our first stop at the Specialized Cycle Shop. The first proper Bike Shop since we had left Cairo, we were like small kids in a sweet shop!!

Cycled the last few km's to 'Urban Camp', organised our accommodation, then off to the Bar. All in all, a great day's cycling after my forced day-off yesterday.

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise at Witvlei

When a Rider punctures there is always someone to help

Windpump (Windpomp) on the way to Windhoek

The Kalahari Pad Stal

Philip very proud of his Doritos he managed to find

We all live in a Yellow Submarine !

Remember when posing for photos somebody is always bound to be behind you !

Philip gets photo bombed by the Babes

Riding along in the peloton

 

Peleton photo shoot with Max the Sweep Rider

Having lunch on the way to Windhoek

When the going gets tough, the Tough get stuffed.

Windhoek Cycle Shop

Coke Stop at the International Airport Filling Station

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Petauke to Luwanga Bridge Camp (171km + 1'410m climbing & 1'950m downhill...)

Zambia

Day 82 - Apr 4 - Stage 57

Max giving the evening's Briefing Meeting

Had a great day cycling, cycled with Philip, as Judith took Dr Helen's advice not to cycle, after yesterday's physically demanding hours of bum-on-saddle ride. Helen said she needed to rest up, so she rode on the Main Truck with a few others, to the Bridge Camp.

Wasn't an easy cycle, another 171km after yesterday's 176km, with a lot more climbing, I struggled up the hills, but have yet to meet a hill I could not simply walk!  My thanks go out to Philip for his patience, and waiting for me when the going got tough.

We spent the whole day answering the local kids, whenever they shouted and inquired, "How are you ? How are you!?"  This was met with a response from us of  "We are fine, how are you?"  Which was then followed by... silence!!

Lunch was at 80km, and after another 91km we arrived at Camp, which was situated along the Luangwa River, directly across from Mozambique.

Spent some quality time at the Bar which had a great setting and ambiance together with Judith and some of the other Riders and TDA Staff,  a good ending to another tough day.

However, for all of its natural beauty and it's fantastic setting, the Camp was a major rip-off. The Owner charged us for beers at 30 Kwacha each!! We only paid 12 Kwacha at the previous Camp (We all need to put it out there on Trip Advisor). As a result hardly anyone took up a room as accommodation. It was totally overpriced. Very shortsighted of the Owner. If he had lowered the room prices... they would have all been sold out!

Anyway, off to bed & another tough day tomorrow - a shorter distance but with 1'720m of climbing, mainly in the morning.

Cheers,
Mike T

All flagging-tape leads to Camp!

Looking down from the Bar Area towards the Camp grounds

Petauke to Luangwa Bridge Camp

Tent up and waiting at Luangwa Bridge Camp

Afternoon Coke Stop with Philip

Riders enjoying the Luangwa  Bridge Camp Veranda

Paul and Wendy enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Boma

Erin and Kim catching up on some social media time

Judith trying to make her point of view known, pinky-finger style.

Rupert spending some quality time with Cath and Alex

View of the Luangwa River with Mozambique on the opposite bank

Great setting for a Camp

Amarula time at the Bar