Betta to Konkiep Lappa (153km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 110 - May 2 - Stage 77

Judith took the truck to lunch and rode the 73km from the lunch position to Camp, where as I started from Betta with Philip, with the intention of riding the whole day. Cycled 80km to lunch, and not unlike yesterday, the road was very corrugated or sandy, or a combination of both. I couldn't carry on from lunch, I am just too fatigued, so climbed the Lunch Truck.

Lunch Truck stopped at the Helmeringhausen Hotel, so I had apple crumble and beers with Murray, who was not cycling on the day.

Arrived at Konkiep Lapa Camp; fortunately Judith had enjoyed a great ride, and was in great spirits. I will try and complete a full ride again tomorrow.

Cheers,
Mike T

Michael vd Berg (Farmer Mike) getting ready for his ride

Marie and Liz ready to leave Betta Camp

Namibia's stark but beautiful countryside

An abandoned Anti-Climax

Philip a determined man on a mission

Large Sociable Weaver Nest 

Onward and into the hills we go

Lunch Truck offers some mid-day shade 

Interesting volcanic rock specimen 

Welcome Party at Helmeringhausen Hotel

Philip and Murray enjoying their apple crumble 

Delicious apple crumble

Marie enjoying the Coke Stop at the Hotel

Brad photo bombs a perfect Konkiep Lapa sunset

Judith and I splashed out and  took a wooden cabin instead of camping at Konkiep Lapa

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What? No Cake!? Rest Day in Maun, Botswana

Botswana

Day 97 - Rest Day - Maun

Wednesday: A rest day in Maun, gateway to the Okavongo Swamps and Tourist Mecca.  Both Judith and I had a relaxing day at the Hotel and only ventured out once to go into Town. While many of the Riders took the opportunity to take a light plane flip over the Swamps from the local Airport.

Breakfast in Sedia Riverside Hotel was chaos, Staff were just not trained to handle the influx of TDA Riders and it was definitely not worth the money paid.

But anyway, I spent the morning catching up with the Blog (so far behind) and in the late afternoon, Judith, Marie and I took a taxi to Town to the Wax & Apple Coffee Shop, however there was no more cake, TDA Riders had been there earlier in the day and already killed all the cake! We had a light lunch instead.

Did manage some grocery shopping at the SPAR in Town before going back to the Hotel, where we spent the evening having supper at the Pool/Bar Area.

Cheers,
Mike T

The Sedia Hotel pool area

With Judith at the Coffee Shop in Maun

Briefing - Maun to Bush Camp

The next 5 day stage to Windhoek

Map gives one a bit of a clue as to where we are...

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Bush Camp to Maun (134km)

Botswana

Day 96 - Apr 18 - Stage 67

Tuesday:  It was the last day of the 5-day stage, my rear wheel had two broken spokes, which the Bike Mechanic was unable to fix, due to time constraints last evening, so Murray offered me his bike as he wasn't riding, and so I rode all the way to Maun on Murray's bicycle.

After lunch, I rode with TDA Director Max (Sweep Rider) Tour Leader Tallis, and Andje. We formed a four man peloton and rode on into Maun. Tallis managed to cycle the complete 134km distance wearing only his slip-slop sandals on his feet!

We arrived in Maun and stopped for cold drinks and ice-cream at the nearest Filling Station, 
it was only a further 7km to Camp at the Sedia Hotel. 

Approaching the Hotel entrance, I  ell in the thick sand, which made the local kids laugh -  must have been great spectator value!

Cheers,
Mike T

Leaving Bush Camp for our ride to Maun

Tallis, cycling the entire 135km in his sandals!

Judith on the road to Maun

Max getting ready to "sweep" after lunch all the way to Maun

Turn off for Khoemacau Copper mine

Always try to be a shining example

In Maun, at the bar... life is good (too bad this Keg was empty!)

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3 Days of Rest - Victoria Falls

Zambia
Day 89-91 / Apr 11-13 


Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: After a short 3-day riding section, which included some long cycling distances (a total of 489km) we had a well-earned & much appreciated, three glorious Rest Days in Livingstone - glamping (glamorous camping) alongside the Zambezi River at the Zambezi Waterfront Hotel Camp Site.

As one of the Oversees Riders commented to me, "Africa continues to surprise and disappoint all the time". But I will dwell on the positive aspects of our three days in Livingstone.



Day 1: The first of our rest days was declared a NAFI Day (No ambition, Flip-all Interest) and we spent the whole day in the Waterfront Camp. I just stayed and loitered with intent in the Restaurant/Bar Area. Later in the day, a few of us Riders managed to decimate the Mosi Draught Beer supply, much to the consternation of some of the other Riders who arrived later in the evening! Thanks go out to Peter and Deborah who assisted greatly in consuming the draught beer.

Murray and Andje organised a Cheese and Wine evening at the Pool and a great time was had by a select few - which included Liz and her husband Tim, who had motored up to the Falls with two of their sons on a boy-only Road Trip to meet up with her, and to spend some quality time with Liz during our three day rest period.

Our Group visiting the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls 

Day 2: Our second day in Livingstone was a bit more adventurous.  A group of us caught a Shuttle Bus and went off to the Falls, and proceeded to view the Falls from the Zambian side.

We paid our  $20 USD (very reasonable entry fee) and our first stop was a walk down to The Boiling Pot, a walk I had last done with my late Mother when I was 10 years old. The experience of seeing the whirlpool situated just under the Bridge was as exciting and as exhilarating as the first time I had seen it as a child! A most worthwhile climb down and out of the Boiling Pot.

Then it was off to and over Knife Edge Bridge to the Danger Point view site, in the process of which the majority of us were well and truly drenched by the spray from the Falls! 

The Falls are currently experiencing a major inflow of water, and the spray is very excessive, not conducive to great viewing but still a great experience. Judith aptly called it "upside-down rain".


Our final viewing point was at the edge of the Falls on the Zambian bank, where the River plunges over the lip and down into the Gorge below. All agreed that our visit to the Falls was truly a most enjoyable experience, which I rank as one of the highlights of the whole Tour thus far.

Soon after, it was off to Zimbabwe on foot; walking over on the Bridge (we have become quite blase about changing countries) and crossing over for lunch at The Lookout Cafe, followed by High Tea at the Old Colonial Victoria Falls Hotel.

In the early evening we caught a taxi to the Zimbabwe Immigration Offices, left Zimbabwe, crossed back into Zambia, then caught another taxi back to Camp, after a most superb and productive day.

View of the Victoria Falls Bridge while walking down to the Boiling Pot

Peter down at the edge of the Boiling Pot

Judith and Deborah on the rocks at the Boiling Pot

Philip, Murray and Brad down at the Boiling Pot

Edge of the Falls where the Zambesi River plunges over the Precipice

Judith and Deborah enjoying the spray from the Falls at the Viewing Point

Rainbow as seen from the Bridge

Geological Time Scale of "Mosi Oa Tunya" (The Smoke that Thunders) 

The Bungy Jump off point on Victoria Falls Bridge

Walking across the Bridge from Zambia into Zimbabwe 

Welcome to Zimbabwe our unofficial 12th Country crossing 

Art work at the Lookout Restaurant in Zimbabwe

View of First Gorge from the Lookout Restaurant 

Brad enjoying the opportunity of sampling some of Zimbabwe's finest Zambezi Larger

Cairo 5 165 miles away and only 1 647 miles left to Cape Town

Solange enjoying the view of the Falls from the Victoria Falls Hotel

Michael, Andje, Peter and Deborah very happy to be finally at the Old Colonial Victoria Falls Hotel

Enjoying "High Tea" at the Victoria Falls Hotel

Day 3: Our third day was spent doing the last bit of washing, organizing and the packing of our Daily and Permanent Bags, catching up on administration and trying to update the Blog, another truly NAFI Day.

Onward to our next leg of the tour, soon...


Cheers,
Mike T

Cruise Boat on the Zambezi River passing Waterfront Camp

Sunset over the Zambezi River our last Zambian sunset

The five day section before our next rest day in Maun

Victoria Falls to Kasane and a crossing into Botswana

The Stanely Room at the Hotel

Pianist entertaining the Hotel Guest's

Colonial memorabilia adorns the walls in the Hotel

The Bulawayo Room - Now if only the walls could talk !!

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