The Treloar Herald : Locals

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Dorp op-die-Berg to Malmesbury (123km) - South Africa

South Africa

Day 120 – May 12 – Stage 86

Woke up to a very cold morning, I decided to cycle the complete day. After all, it was going to be our second last day!

While tomorrow would be a short day (expected to be a bit of an anti-climax). Judith cycled from the Lunch Truck, so I rode with Mike vd Berg and Philip for most of the way. When we left Camp the temperature was only 3 degrees, it was not going to be a pleasant morning jaunt, and oh how I missed the equatorial temperatures of a few months back!

The day’s route was a mixture of dirt and tar, we started with dirt and finished on tar, with us riding down three mountain passes and only up and over one (Mitchell's Pass) situated between Riebeek-kasteel and Malmesbury, from where we glimpsed our first view of Table Mountain, our ultimate goal. Although it wasn’t anything spectacular yet, as it was so far away, it was great to see it in the far distance.

We arrived at the Town of Ceres, and went off to the Wimpy for a leisurely breakfast, followed later in the day by milkshakes and cake at a Coffee Shop in Riebeek-kasteel (Judith had also stopped at the same Coffee Shop with Anne & Peter). Today we did so much eating and drinking, you would think we were on a culinary expedition and not a cycle tour!

Our final day of camping was situated at the Malmesbury Caravan Park, where we pitched our tent for the last time. Had the riders’ briefing, followed by a formal prize giving, where the TDA Staff presented each rider with a Certificate and their official 2017 TDA Cycling Jersey, which the majority of us would wear on our ride into Cape Town tomorrow.

Judith received a Certificate for "The most pedal strokes", while I received one for " The most creative/disturbing use of Vegemite” - which related to my antics as the Royal Baby during the Equator Crossing escapade!

It was a day of many "lasts". It was our last Riders’ Briefing, our last supper, the last time we would be camping and sleeping in our tents; and the last time everyone would be making use of public toilets and public showers again.

Later in the evening - in celebration - Murray, Michael vd Berg and myself, took ourselves off to sample the vibrant Friday night life of Malmesbury, where we circulated and mixed with the locals... Tomorrow would be our last day of the Tour. However that didn’t stop one of us (his name will remain anonymous and yet will be sketched in infamy forever) from liberating some toilet paper at one of the drinking holes we frequented, just in case he needed it on tomorrow’s ride.

Getting back to normality after the Tour finishes tomorrow, is definitely going to take some doing for some of us riders!

Cheers,
Mike T

Mike vd Berg leaving Dorp op die Berg on his way to Malmesbury

Looking down the Pass towards Ceres

Philip on his way to Wimpy for breakfast

Collecting my bike after our Wimpy breakfast

Lunch Truck position

Mike vd Berg quite unaware of the snake above him at the Coffee Shop

Time for celebrating - Alex and Andje sampling the fruits of the vine in Riebeek-Kasteel

Judith enjoying herself at the Coffee Shop in Malmesbury

Rick, Peter-4 and Ann with Judith in Malmesbury

Tallis explaining tomorrows arrangements and emphasizes that we are not allowed to do our ablutions on the Beach

The Last Briefing - Malmesbury to Cape Town

Final arrangements for tomorrows arrival at the Finish

Charles the Winner of the Last Section - Rainbow Nation

Andje receives her Certificate and Finishers Jersey

Philip collecting his Certificate & Jersey

Marie the proud owner of a broken elbow collects her Certificate & Jersey

Mike vd Berg collects his Certificate for "The Columbus Award"

Andje with Murray the proud holder of the "Softest Spoken Rider" Award

Michael & Judith receiving their Awards

A very subdued Last Supper ...

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!)

Lusaka to Soccer Field Camp (1'57km + 770m climbing & 990m descent)

Zambia

Day 86 - April 8 - Stage 60

Saturday: April the 8th is one of my favourite days of the year, mainly because it's my Birthday!! I spent my 63rd birthday cycling 157km out of Lusaka towards Livingstone. A birthday in the Country of my birth, what more could a man ask for!

I was given a Birthday tiara from Liz, and I wore it the whole day while out cycling on my bike. It raised many a smile from the locals, especially when I stopped for a Coke.

Wearing my Birthday Tiara with my Best Girl by my side

Cycled with Philip, and we were fast out of Lusaka, going at quite a speed, in relatively heavy morning traffic. Judith had started her day's cycling from the lunch stop together with Bridget (both nursing tender bums). Rupert had an unfortunate incident - he was hit by a taxi. It suffered a broken windscreen, but luckily he was okay, without any major damage to himself or his bike. The driver then had the audacity to insist that Rupert pay for the damages, but the local bystanders disagreed and placed the blame on the driver!

Had a Coke Stop after Kafue Town at a new (only two weeks old) little "Spaza Shop" run by a young lady who was recently widowed. She spotted my birthday tiara and proceeded to sing happy birthday to me. It is so great to see the entrepreneurial spirit of the Zambians, as opposed to the hopelessness and depressed attitudes of the Malawians.

Lunch, then off again, with a second Coke Stop at "Sugar Snap Shop" where I was again serenaded by the owner to the sounds of "Happy Birthday". I think Philip had a big influence in getting the locals into a singing mood!

We passed through the town of Mazabuka before I arrived at the finish and was handed a cold beer by Judith as my birthday present, life is great!

Camped at School Soccer field, no birthday cake with supper, Chef Errol says it will happen tomorrow evening.

Cheers,
Mike T

Turning right for Livingstone and heading for Victoria Falls

The young lady at the first Coke Stop who graciously sang Happy Birthday for me

Philip at our second Coke Stop

My cold Birthday Beer at the end of the days ride

Riders resting in the shade after a long day in the saddle

Local kids watching the Mzungu's antics and tribulations around Camp

Birthday Sunset over our tent

Rest Day - Lusaka, Zambia

Zambia
Day 85 - Rest Day - Lusaka

Friday: We managed to contact Lemmy Lyirenda, a Zambian whom I first met when I was working at the Kibali Gold Project in the DRC. He is now working for the Government in their Procurement Department. We arranged that he would meet us for supper this evening.

Judith did the laundry, and we hung it out to dry as well as drying out the tent in the Hotel camping grounds, even though it was very overcast and it looked like rain.

Since my late Father had played Golf for Zambia, we decided to walk to the nearest Golf Club, The Chianama Hills Golf Club, to see if we could spot his name on the Club Honours Boards. But we had no luck, theirs was rather incomplete with regards to competition results, but there were some names of friends who had been members there and whom my dad had played golf with.

Then we caught a taxi to the Lusaka Golf Club, but they were busy doing renovations, their Boards were sealed up in plastic (the Zambian Open is scheduled to be played there on the 25th of April) more bad luck ! Well at least we tried, you couldn't fault us for effort!

Took another taxi from the Golf Club to East Park Mall, had a sedate lunch at the Keg & Lion, before doing some shopping, then going back to the Hotel.

Enjoying a relaxed lunch at the Keg & Lion

In the evening, Lemmy fetched us at the Hotel, introduced us to his wife Niaomi, his son Jesse and his daughter Chisomo. They then took us to a popular Zambian haunt, The Buzz Cafe for dinner. A great evening was had by all, it was really special that we could see Lemmy again and meet his family, a highlight of our visit to Lusaka. Niaomi left a gift of a Zambian flag wrap for a very happy Judith.

Great rest day. Cheers,
Mike T

Even the TDA Staff need some quiet time now and again (Chef Errol)

Having dinner with Lemmy and his family

Great time had by all, Jesse, Lemmy and Michael

Judith and Naomi (Lemmy's Wife)

Lilongwe to Chipata [Mama Rulas Camp] (152km with 800m climbing)

MALAWI - ZAMBIA

Day 80 - Apr 2 - Stage 55

Left Lilongwe after an average type of Rest Day, fortunately it was a Sunday, so the traffic was relatively quiet as we passed through the CBD of the City on our way to the next Country, Zambia - which we were both looking forward to visiting since it is the land of my birth.

I wanted to see how much the Country had changed, and it has been 50 years since I left the then young Independent Republic, and immigrated with my parents Ken and May Treloar, to South Africa. My parents had been in the then "Northern Rhodesia", since 1945 after the Second World War, and left to go South in 1967. I had not been back officially to Zambia since then.

After riding 80km, Judith got on the TDA Cruiser to rather ride to the Border, as she felt she would hold the border crossing procedures up by getting there too late if she continued cycling, a wise decision as we were actually running late.

The Malawian kids were still shouting, "Give me my money" which had by now become quite boring, although I did get a, "Give me my cell phone" which was soon followed by a, "Give me my bike". Hell, what was I expected to do, donate my bike to some kid and then walk to Cape Town!??

After lunch, I cycled the 42km to the Border, but had a Coke Stop on the way with Liz, Marie and Helen the Sweep Rider. Once at the Border, crossing out of Malawi and into Zambia was absolutely painless.

On the Zambian side, the Immigration Official noticed from my passport that I was Zambian born, and said, "Welcome back to Zambia!" How cool was that!

Amazingly once across the Border, the call of "Give me money" by the kids immediately stopped! It was replaced by a chirpy, "Mzungu, how are you?" What an absolute pleasure....

The road surface on the Zambian side was just perfect, rode the final 30km to the Camp with Marie, who kindly allowed me to draught behind her for the complete 30km, and she didn't cycle slowly either, we averaged a decent 30 km/hr!

Arrived at the Mama Rulas Camp, had a few beers while I waited for Judith to arrive (she was with some of the TDA Staff doing some shopping in Chipata) before doing my tent erection duties. We decided to camp as it didn't look like it was going to rain.

Mama Rulas Camp had a great Bar, named "The Pit Stop", the beers were relatively cheap, cold, and plentiful, and a good time was had by all.

A local Indian fellow came to the Camp to assist us in changing our money from Malawian Kwacha to Zambian Kwacha, or to exchange US Dollars for Zambian Kwacha. Some of the Riders said he looked like my Brother, but just from another Mother!

Of all the Camps we had camped in so far on the Tour, Mama Rulas was one of the best we have encountered, and hopefully a taste of things to come in Zambia.

Tomorrow is a long day, 176km from Chipata to Petauke, don't know what Judith is going to do, will she ride the whole distance or only part of it? Tomorrow will tell.

Cheers,
Mike T