Nata Lodge to Bush Camp (186km)

Botswana

Day 95 - Apr 17 - Stage 66

Monday: Cycled the longest distance of the Tour so far today (even did an extra 2km by riding into Planet Baobab and stopping for a milkshake) and another Personal Best. 

At the 42km mark we were portaged on the Main Truck for approximately 2km over the flooded Nata region to Gweta Road, while some of the other Riders were transported on a flat-bed tow truck. This part of Botswana has definitely had extensive rain lately.

A flooded Botswana roadside

Water crossing over the road in some places

Water, and more water everywhere

When I left Nata Lodge with Judith, I rode with her to lunch at the 86km mark.  She has decided that as long as she completes a minimum  of 70/80km - 100km per day she is at liberty to climb the Lunch Truck. So after lunch I rode with Philip.  Lunch was at a most picturesque position, right next to an imposing Baobab Tree. Beautiful.

Stopped at Planet Baobab after lunch with Philip, even though we had to do an extra 2km of riding to get there and back on the designated route. We both ordered Milkshakes at the Bar... what has become of us?? 

The Lunch Truck also stopped and Judith took some beers to camp for a few of us to enjoy later on. Bless her soul.

Today was a difficult ride in the sense that it was so long, flat and boring. But only one more day of riding and then its a well-deserved rest day in the city of Maun.

Cheers
Mike T

Liz ready to leave Nata Lodge

And Andje getting ready to cycle out of Nata Lodge as well.

Wendy, is a lady on a mission as she starts the day's ride

So far on the road and no further (not for the next 2 km)

Loading the bikes onto the Main Truck

Linda and Andrew in the Main Truck "Dog Box"

Some more riders being portaged in the Main Truck

The Truck leaving a bow wave behind it as it passes through the water

Looking up the road from the Main Truck

Some of the Cyclists enjoying their ride on the flat-bed tow truck

Niklas leaving the lunch truck with Baobab in the background

Baobab graffiti :/

The turn-off for "Planet Baobab"

Ordering milkshakes in the Bar at Planet Baobab

Great looking Amstel chandelier in the Planet Baobab Bar

Notice Board announcing the Teams for the up coming Team Time Trial

Bush Camp Bike Mechanic time

Tomorrow's ride, Bush Camp to Maun

Happiness is your own concrete tent foundation...

Sunrise at Bush Camp


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Elephant Camp to Nata Lodge (143km)

Botswana

Day 94 - Apr 16 - Stage 65

Easter Sunday: Left the Elephant Camp with Judith, but then later took off with Philip when he came past. Rode up to lunch at 75km, and we saw no wildlife at all, Judith on the other hand, accompanied by Liz, managed to get up close and personal with a large Elephant!

Well, I only stopped so that I could read the sign!!

Nata Town was our first Coke Stop at 134km into the ride (coke stops in Botswana are very few and far between).  Arrived at Nata Lodge and was exhausted, had either a side wind or head wind the whole day long, it was a difficult day for me.

Booked in at Nata Lodge Chalet, It's located very close to the Makgadikgati Salt Pans and is quite posh indeed. Off to the Bar for a well-earned beer and swim in the pool, the Lodge has definitely changed a lot since I was last here quite a few years ago and was a good way to spend Easter.

After Briefing and supper, Judith and I spent some quality time at the Bar using their WiFi to catch up on the social network scene. 

Tomorrow will be another tough day for me, Tallis the Tour Leader tells us there are parts of the road which are flooded, so the ride should prove quite interesting, also it's a long 185 km distance!!


Cheers,
Mike T

Judith & Liz getting close and personal with the Elephant

"Liz look, I think I see an Elephant!" Just moments before.

Foot and Mouth Control Gate after lunch

Briefing Board - Nata to Bush Camp (tomorrow's ride...)

Judith & Liz's Elephant crossing the road

Today we reached the 8000 km mark!

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Day 31 - Our Flight to Nairobi - Kenya

Sunday: The experience at the Khartoum Airport was one of utter chaos, it started with us trying to get into the Departures Terminal through only one door, past the throng of people, all with the same intention. Moreover, we were accompanied by these huge cardboard bike boxes which needed manhandling and could barely fit through the security x-ray machine. 

We hustled our way into the Terminal Building,  but not before we were overwhelmed by a horde of Porters from Hell. Even though we protested vehemently, they wouldn't accept "no!" for an answer, and manhandled our boxes and luggage through the Security Checkpoint  to the Kenyan Air  book-in cubicles anyway.

They then demanded monetary gratuities, in some instances up to three Porters demanding a tip for carrying one piece of luggage. To make things worse, we had no money, having got rid of our excess Sudanese Pounds earlier. In some instances, due to the language barrier, negotiations with them became rather heated.

Fortunately an Airport Official intervened, and managed to get the Porters to leave. However, our problems were not over.

Once booked in, the Air Kenya appointed Porters, demanded payment to transport our bike boxes to the "Oversize Luggage" Section, and another standoff ensued. 

This was once again only resolved by the intervention of some other high ranking official, but not before relations between Sudanese and foreign tourists had come within breaking point of outright war. One rider, already in possession of The Pacifier Award, was trying very hard for a double award!!

Once through into the Boarding Area, things managed to calm down, and we were able to regroup and relax, although at the back of our minds, we still wondered if our bike boxes had made it through to be loaded onto the plane.

We boarded the plane as per instruction and took off according to schedule. The flight went well, breakfast was served at 3.30am. Philip was the official designated winner of the "First to have a Beer Award" when he asked the Air Hostess for a beer and  managed to have a beer with his breakfast in the early hours of the morning. Such dedication to the cause needs to be nurtured and admired. Well done Philip.

Judith and I on the other hand, had our breakfast and proceeded to sleep all the way to our destination.


Arrival in Kenya: Nairobi Airport was an utter pleasure compared to Khartoum. It didn't take us long and we were all processed through Immigration, made it to the luggage pickup area, where miracle of miracles, our bike boxes awaited us (although much worse for wear and tear). Then we were out of the Arrivals Terminal and greeted by our Designated Kenyan Driver.


We boarded a Shuttle Bus and were driven to Wildebeest Eco Lodge which was located in the  Karen area and on the opposite side of Nairobi City, it was the designated TDA Camp for the next 6 days. 

Mark & Philip and Sunrise in Nairobi 

Negotiating the Airport Parking Lot

Loading up the Shuttle Bus - bikes and all.

Wendy and Tom taking time out for a photo shoot

After booking in, some of the riders chose to camp, while others elected to take up available accommodation (at own cost). We then regrouped and had breakfast at the Eco Lodge, and a couple of us, had our first beer - with breakfast!

Nothing like a cold Pilsner with Breakfast!

At breakfast, Judith and I met up with a fellow South African, Johnny Lawrence whom we know from our days in Rustenburg (he was the Best Man at Oliver and Lentie Page's Wedding). He has been in Kenya since 2012 and was camping at the Lodge with his young son - It is such a small world indeed.


We did not book in though, as we were going to be hosted for the majority of our stay in Nairobi, by Robert and Julie Pilkington, the parents of Richard, one of our son's friends in Cape Town.

I thumbed a lift to the nearest Mall with Errol and Brad from TDA, where I went through the usual ritual of  changing  $USD for local currency - Kenyan Shillings - and loading our cell phones with local sim cards.

Robert and his Dad Jack, fetched us after their golf excursion at 2pm, and took us with all of our luggage (we left the bikes at the Eco Lodge) to their house, where we met up with Robert's wife, Julie. 

Later that evening we were treated to a great braai (BBQ) with much beer & wine consumed by yours truly, a good end to an eventful day.

Cheers, 
Mike T

Riders having breakfast at Wildebeest Eco Lodge

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