Arusha to Babati (172km with 1 300m ascent)

Day 63 - March 16 - Stage 42

Thursday: The start of a straight seven-day riding section before our next rest day.

We cycled the longest distance of the tour today, 79km to lunch, then 93km after lunch, which was a personal best for Judith!  To put the icing on the cake, we passed the 5000 km mark as well!

We woke up early to pack our Permanent and Daily bags, which needed quite a bit of reorganizing, since we had been out of the saddle for four whole days.

Started cycling in the Arusha morning rush hour traffic, and we rode past the famous tower in the centre of town which is recognised by all the Overlander Companies as being the mid-point between Cairo and Cape Town.  We rode out of town on the same route we came into Arusha from our Safari Trip.

The route was relatively flat with some undulating until lunch. While having lunch, I found some small specimens of blue chalcedony and collected a few to take back home.

The second half ride after lunch was more hilly than the morning's ride, with an added head wind, with some young Massai kids who had started throwing stones at the riders -  what is it with the youth!?

We battled on at a slower pace, accompanied by Sweep Rider Brad and came in to finish at just over 10 hours, but at least we did the complete 172km distance, and arrived before Riders Meeting.  It was Judith's personal best, and a ride well done.

We pitched our tent with two others under a tin roof,  and fortunately Andje kindly offered us the use of a hot shower in her room.

A long but very rewarding day's riding, and taking all things into consideration a big moment in Judith's cycling career.

Cheers, 
Mike T

The Famous Overlander Clock Tower in Central Arusha
(Some say it's halfway between Cairo & Cape Town)

Lunch Truck (Picked up some Blue Chalcedony at this Site)

Judith cycling her way to her personal best on great Tanzanian roads

First Baobab Tree siting in Tanzania

Obligatory Coke Stop for 'Team Sweep' 

Judith in her usual role as the "Pied Piper" leading the running kids up the hill

Details of today's 172 km ride to Babati

Briefing Board detailing the next seven day section from Arusha to Mbeya

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Day 30 - Rest Day Khartoum - Boxing bikes & Dips in the Pool

Saturday: Had a relatively good night's sleep camped out on the grass at the Grand Hotel Villa, Judith had breakfast at the Hotel, I couldn't face food so early in the morning (maybe I overdid the ice-cream last night?).

We had a very chilled rest day, the main attraction being the boxing of our bikes which we will be taking with us on the flight to Nairobi. Boxes and tape were supplied by TDA and all we had to do was dismantle the bikes and fit them into the boxes, then seal them up ready for shipment.

I think Kenya Air are going to have a minor sense of humor failure, when 15 TDA riders pitch up to their flight from Khartoum to Nairobi, with their luggage and bike boxes, we are certainly going to have an interesting time booking in.

Used the opportunity in the afternoon to spend some quality time in the Hotel swimming pool, was joined in the pool by Muzz. 

Packed up our tent, packed up our bags and had a late buffet dinner at the Hotel, before lounging around at the pool area, waiting for the shuttle to take us to the Airport at 11.30 pm.

Our flight from Khartoum to Nairobi takes off at 02:55 tomorrow morning, its going to be a long night at the Airport (especially for us TDA riders who are used to going to bed at 8pm latest !).

Nairobi, Kenya - here we come. 

Cheers, 

Mike T

Muzz and I taking advantage of the Hotel pool -

Boxing our bikes on the lawn

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Day 29 - Bus Ride Rest Day (from Border to Khartoum)

Waiting for the bus, that's us! -

Friday: Sudan/Ethiopia Border to Khartoum  (8 hr bus ride)

06:00 - Up early, packed up the tent and our holiday bags (no cycling for the next 8 days). Had a cup of coffee and a breakfast, all this while it was still relatively dark. Then walked with our bikes to the bus waiting for us, at the main road. If the bus won't come to us, then we don't have much option, but to walk to the bus with our bikes.

Loaded bags onto bus, then of course not a major surprise, but  there was no space for our bikes, so we left them on the side of the road,  with Leo the Bike Mechanic in charge.

Bus Company supposed to be sending another Bus/Truck to fetch and transport them to Khartoum for us? I suppose time will tell if they get there before dark.

Took a luxury bus back to Khartoum, very spacey and ultra modern, even got to watch the movie - Fast and Furious 5 nogal - on the on-board tv screen. First time I have sat in front of a T.V screen in nearly 4 weeks.

The bikes can't fit into the bus...

All ready to go back to Khartoum!

Happiness is a luxury bus load of cyclists :)

Arrived at the Grand Hotel Villa, found ourselves a pleasant camp spot on the lawn and pitched the tent. Decided to camp instead of hotel-ing like we did last time. We need only sleep over for one night, and we found the hotel very over-priced the last time we were here. We also have 6 days in Nairobi coming up, and need to conserve our funds. 

Took a proper shower for the first time in 7-days (going to miss those donkey washes for a while). A most pleasant experience, having the luxury of hot and cold water at your beckoning.

In the evening, 12 of us went off and walked to the Mall, then had dinner at Layali Al Waha Restaurant just located outside the Mall. It was a most pleasant dinning experience, and all agreed the food had been great.

Then into the Mall, for some of their famous ice cream (Judith had 3 and I had 5 scoops). We followed this up with a very casual cappuccino, lounging around in the Coffee Shop. 

Group of us then took a taxi back to the Hotel, to find our bikes waiting patiently for us on the grass camping area. A most pleasant night out in Khartoum.

Cheers, 
Mike T

Thirst-Quenching Lemon and Mint drink

One of Khartoum's many statues

A group of us out having dinner at the Mall

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Day 17 - Rest day - Dongola (Sudan)

Sunday: True to form, a well deserved rest day, and I woke up at 4am and just couldn't get back to sleep. 

I spent the next couple of hours sending out photos of the last four touring/stage days  (they just wouldn't go out onto the 'interweb' while we were out in the Sudanese countryside) via the Hotel WiFi facilities. 

A small group of the riders left the Hotel relatively early, by taxi to take a 165km trip to see the Pyramids (Jebel Barkal) outside of Dongola. To be honest, Judith and I are just all 'Pyramided' and 'Templed' out at this stage, so we gave it a miss.

Wandering around the Metropolis of  Dongola

Checking out the chickens at the eating house

The sights of Dongola

Bread Van a la Tuk-Tuk

Sudanese Schwarma time

Sudanese truck all dressed up

Another colorful Sudanese truck

Bridge over the Nile as seen from Camp

Riverboats on the bank of the Nile River

Wandered into Dongola CBD with some of the riders, found a suitable eating house and had brunch. This consisted of chicken shwarmas and freshly squeezed fruit juice (guava & mango). Also helped Alex finish off some fish (Nile Perch) all of it very tasty.

After brunch, walked around town and bought some odds and ends from various shops/stalls and took in the sights and sounds of Dongola. Walked a fair distance away from the Hotel... so took a Tuk-Tuk back to the Hotel.

Checked and repacked our bags, the permanent bag had to be back on the Truck by 4pm this afternoon. Went to TDA Camp to deliver our bags, and stayed to chat to a few of the campers.

While loading her permanent bag Liz realized she had slightly underestimated it's weight. 

For dinner we decided to initiate the "Tuk-Tuk Challenge", on Rest Day's, participants have to take a Tuk-Tuk into town, buy take-away's for the others at camp, and be back at camp within an hour. So off went Rob, Judith, Bridgette and Anmei, and they managed to get back with enough food for all, within their allocated hour :P

Chilling out...

After dinner we left Camp and went back to our Hotel, another rest day gone, back on the bikes tomorrow. A 143km ride from Dongola to "Dead Camel Camp" Sounds interesting!


Cheers,
Mike T

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Day 0 - Tomorrow we start!

Had our final Briefing Session in the morning, also discussed tomorrow's first day on the road (Stage 1 - Cairo to Fanar de Luna) it will be a relatively flat 136 km long ride. 

Check out our Stage 1 Notice board (at the end of this post). This is how we will be kept well informed during our tour. 


Briefing was relatively short, so we managed to arrange a trip out to Saqqara Burial Site, where the first stepped pyramid was built (currently under renovation) and we explored a few of the burial sites led by our Tour Guide, Ronda. 

South African Group at the Saqqara Burial Site

Saqqara Burial Complex

Restoration of Stepped Pyramid in progress

In the afternoon back at the Hotel, the TDA Group went out on a short 20 km fun ride, it definitely wasn't much fun, the Cairo traffic is horrendous. Fortunately there were no incidents and much ducking and diving was done around the large trucks, taxis, small cars, tuk-tuk's, motorbikes, horse carts and pedestrians. Never mind the potholes, broken glass and speed humps, a taste of things to come!?

Early evening, we all had to take our permanent bags (the bags we are to use on our off-days) as well as our spare tires to the Main Truck to be loaded, one bag down one more to go.

Loading of our permanent bags, onto the Main truck

Tomorrow is the official start of the Tour, breakfast is at 5am and then we'll load our 'daily' bag into the truck. Afterwards, off to the Pyramids at Giza for a group photo and then off we go.

Heading South for the next four months....

Cheers, 

Mike T

Notice boards, including the breakdown of Stage 1 tomorrow...

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TDA: Final Preparations

Our departure from OR Tambo Airport on the Egypt-air flight to Cairo is rapidly approaching, with final preparations made both in Prince Albert and up in Johannesburg. 

These included... Dropping our dogs, Blake and Mercutio off at the long-term boarding Kennels in Oudtshoorn. Travelling to George for our final inoculation booster injections, collection of our passports with the required visas for Egypt and Sudan, and the collection of foreign currency at the Bank.

Boxed bikes - Departing for Cairo

Our dogs in Prince Albert wondering where we're off to...

Our good friends from PASOC (Prince Albert Sonder Onderbroek Club) who assisted us greatly with our cycle training preparations throughout 2016, gave us a farewell braai and wished us well on our African adventure.

The Mons family, were of major assistance, helping us to pack up the house (defrosting fridges, moving of outside furniture, relocation of pot plants, etc) prior to our departure. They then departed for Johannesburg after their holiday in Prince Albert, on the same day as us.

Having packed up our kit and bikes and left Prince Albert, the road trip from the Karoo to Johannesburg was uneventful.  Although the road was extremely busy, traffic was free flowing and the majority of drivers were patient and courteous.

Over the weekend in Johannesburg, we had a farewell breakfast with the Niemans and Rosensteins, lunch with the Ferreiras, afternoon tea with Mary-Jean & Mike, followed by a quick visit to Mark, Jo-Ann and Grandchildren who had just returned from their trip to Thailand, said our goodbyes to Judith's mother, and finally had dinner with our "Train Buddies".


Last minute shopping for outstanding bike spares and accessories, medicines and supplements was done rather hastily, but successfully completed.

We finally finished the packing of our kit, to ensure it made the required weight restrictions (we are allowed two 90-liter bags of 23 kg each) and the boxing of our bikes for their transport to Cairo.

Our thanks go to Dave, Heather and Sam who hosted us at their home during our brief stay-over in Joburg,  before catching our Egypt-air flight out to Cairo - their hospitality was greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Mike T

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