Makongolosi to Mbeya (110 km, 2150 m of climbing)

Tanzania

Day 69 - March 22 - Stage 48

Wednesday: It's the last day of our Seven Day Section, and the last day on dirt roads for a long time. Next dirt road section is most probably in Namibia,  so the non-mountain-bikers among us (the majority of the riders) are ecstatic!

Today's dirt road section was extremely rocky and in some instances quite dangerous especially the steep downhills, but we managed it quite well without any major mishaps.

We passed quite a few areas where Artisinal miners were actively mining for gold. You could also clearly hear the sound of crushers and mills working deep into the bush.
There were also quite a few miners who were walking around using metal detectors, looking for gold. The Tanzanian Artisinal Miners are definitely a more tech savvy breed of miner's.
We even managed to get one of the miners to demonstrate the use of his metal detector to Judith, as well as showing us a gold nugget he had recently found with the detector


Just before we reached the Town of Chunya, the dirt road became a tar road, and most of the riders became relatively happy, with a few of them even going as far as kissing the tar road!


The Town of Chunya was a hive of economic activity, there were many workshops in action,  where the manufacture or refurbishment of steel mills used for crushing ore, was in progress. I had previously read, that active gold mining had started in the Chunya Area from as far back as 1920. Shanta Gold is also very active in the immediate Area with both prospecting and mining.

An indication of the rock conditions we encountered today

Riding along a good stretch of dirt road...

Gold nugget found by Miner using a metal detector

The Miner giving Judith a demonstration in metal detecting

Back on the tar & back into the land of man-made speed humps
(AKA Sleeping Policemen)

We cycled to the Lunch Truck, where both Judith and I climbed in and took a lift to Mbeya, missing a major ascent up into the mountain and descent down into Mbeya.

The Camp was at the Mbeya Hotel, where I met up with a bunch of South African expats, who over a few rum & cokes, confirmed that there was plenty of active gold mining taking place in the Chunya Area and that even the Chinese were becoming involved (Sunshine Mining Company).


On a different note, we were also pleasantly surprised to meet up with Ben, a solo cyclist from England who is riding from Cape Town to the UK. We had previously seen him in December last year, when he stayed with us at our home in Prince Albert, South Africa.

Rest day tomorrow!


Cheers,
Mike T

Welcome to Mbeya

Tuk Tuk's in Chunya

Workshop building/refurbishing steel crushers and mill's

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Day in Pictures - 145km's to a Windy Farka Camp

Find my first beer in Sudan - Pity its only the name of a dry riverbed.

► Our long day in the saddle (not the first, and not the last) from our first stop in Sudan to Farka Camp where the wind began to howl & where we had the worst night of [no] sleep, ever. 

All in all a good adventure nonetheless in Sudan this past Thursday. Enjoy some of  my snaps from the day's riding, below:

Good morning Sudan!

Breakfast time

Brad investigating the roadkill to see if there was anything left to use for dinner

Lunch time

Jointing heaven for those so who are inclined...

Gupaul & Judith at the Coke Stop

Leaving the Coke Stop

Artisan gold miners crushing ore

Welcome to Farka (See the note re: Crocs)

Local kids were very inquisitive of the Lycra wearing tourists 

Rob giving Judith some advice on where to set up the tent

Took a walk down to the Nile River...

Washing off some of today's dust & grime in the Nile

Local boatman out on the River

Briefing Session at the end of the day

Tomorrow's ride!

Check back soon!

Cheers, 

Mike T

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Day 15 - Stage 13 - Farka to Nile Ferry Camp (145 km)

Friday: The wind is either your best friend or your enemy, there is no compromise.

Last night was the worst I have slept since the start of the tour, because of the wind sent from hell. 
It was a continuous flapping of tents right through the night. Even taking down the tent in the morning was a major mission.

Started cycling early with the same hellish wind, but now it was a glorious tailwind! Although there were times when it turned into a vicious side-wind with associated dust storm (thank goodness I had packed my buff).

Judith's cycling skills are improving in leaps and bounds, she joined the "Muzz Bus" Peloton as they caught us after breakfast,  even leading the peloton twice, unfortunately their overall speed was just too fast for us, so we had to drop off, but not before a good many kilometers were done - thanks to the guys for the assistance.

Lunch at 78 km mark, was a new experience, your plate just blew off the table if left untended, and the riders had to crouch on the down wind side of the truck to eat, it was most annoying.

Left lunch truck to cycle the second half, and turned into a major headwind, Judith decided discretion was the better part of valor, climbed into the lunch truck as it came past approximately 88 km into the ride, I continued and rode the better part of the remaining 58 km alone, caught no one, and no one caught me, not even the sweep rider (the loneliness of the long distance rider)

I passed many artisan gold diggings along the road; I stopped to check one of them out, but being Friday, everyone had gone to mosque. I also passed Abu Sari Gold Mine near the Abu Sari Village, owned by Delgo Mining Company Ltd. Tried to go in and see their operations,  but was blocked at the main gate by the Security Guard (maybe I wasn't wearing the right PPE?)

Yesterday's and today's artisan workings, reminded me of the time I spent in the DRC. On that note... I just want to let all those friends I have at the Kibali Gold Project, who are following the blog, know that we appreciate their support and miss them stacks, while Madame Judith sends her best regards.

Back on the bike, I stopped approx. 8km from the finish and had tea at a local Tea/Coffee shop with the locals, who were very friendly and super inquisitive about why a "Mazungu" is cycling through the hot Sudanese desert? 

"Where are you going, where did you come from, what is your name?" 

These being the most typical questions you are asked.

Arrived at Camp, and Judith had pitched the tent - bless her kind heart.

Another day done and dusted, tomorrow one more ride before our next rest day in the metropolis of Dongola (Next to the Nile)

Cheers, 

Mike T

PS: Made an elementary mistake today, forgot to charge my Garmin and cell phone, both died on me after lunch. Couldn't take any photos and didn't know how many kilometers to go to the finish! Lesson learned the hard way.

30 Jan - PSS: Here are the photos!

Aerial View of the Abu Sari Gold-mining area.  As you can see, we're definitely in the desert!

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Day 14 - Stage 12 - Wadi Halfa to Farka (145 km)

Thursday: Another long day of riding.

After breakfast we were one of the first to leave camp at Wadi Halfa, as we knew we would be in for some quality time on our bikes.

We reached Lunch at the 79 km mark escorted by Brad the sweep rider, who patiently listened to some of our "remember when" stories (they certainly help pass the time and make the kilometers fly-by)

Appearance of the Sudan country side has changed from desert sand to sand & rocks; to just rocks (occasional tree now and then) definitely different to what we were used to in Egypt. Unfortunately, just like yesterday, I'm still having trouble uploading pictures, so they will have to be posted on the blog in installments at a later stage.

First and only Coke Stop of the day was after lunch at some small village, where artisan miners were digging for gold. We stopped there for quite a while while I investigated some of the mining and crushing facilities.

Judith and I had a good days ride, and although we arrived at Farka Camp last, with second half sweep rider Leo, we nevertheless thought we did quite a good time, taking all things into consideration. 

We had to pitch the tent in a seriously strong wind, but our tent pitching skills have improved to such an extent that it didn't take us long, and "the house" was up without any hassle.

From Camp, we walked down to the Nile River for my first wash in the Nile, there are no washing or ablution facilities at the Farka Camp site.

After the briefing session, it was supper time followed by bed time ("early to bed and early to rise, makes Jack a dull boy"). Its going to be a very interesting  night trying to sleep in the howling wind...

Cheers,

Mike T

#ThrowbackThursday in Sudan:  - Stage 5 (Egypt)



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My Gap Year | 2016

At the end of 2015, after 39 years in the Mining Industry, I decided to take my well-earned Retirement.

My last Employer was Randgold Resources, for whom I had worked as an expatriate Geotechnical Engineer for approximately 4 ½ years, at their Kibali Gold Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). There Randgold took a Project still in the Exploration Phase, to a fully fledged Gold Mine, producing 640 000 ounces of gold in its first full year of Production.

My last flight out of Doko International Airport in the DRC
en route to Entebbe in Uganda on my way back to South Africa

Kibali Gold Project

Although I must admit, at the moment I consider my status more one of “Regrouping” than that one of Retirement, as a consequence of which, my wife Judith and I decided to take a “Gap Year” while residing at our new house in Prince Albert, which is situated in the Groot Karoo, for the whole of 2016.

This Blog is a reflection of Judith’s and my Retirement/Regrouping escapades, so that family, friends and anyone else interested can keep up to date with what we have done, are currently doing, or what we are planning to do.

Remember, this humble blog should be taken tongue-in-cheek and not too seriously at all.
After all, “life is too short to worry about the little things”.

Cheers, Mike T