Canon Roadhouse to Felix Unite Camp (171km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 113 – May 5 – Stage 80

Left the Canon Roadhouse Camp, rode with Judith, we had a good morning’s ride, albeit at rather a slow pace. Cycled the same route as the Desert Knights Tour which we did in April 2016, except this time we did the first two days distance of Desert Knights in a single day, we also did it in the daytime and not in the dark of night.

Sunrise at Canon Roadhouse

Mike vd Berg eager to get going even after last night's celebrations

Peter and his Daughter Catherine making last minute adjustments

Leaving Canon Roadhouse after a great stay

Lunch was at 91km, unfortunately we took our time getting to the lunch position, so decided to climb the Lunch Truck, there was no way we were going to complete another 80km and get to Camp before sunset. We should have known better than to have had so many stops for photo opportunities, rest stops, and exploring the countryside - but it was worth it!

Judith riding the corrugations

Cycling a section of the Desert Knights Tour

Distant rain falling in the Ai Ais Transfronteir Park

Sharing the road with the motorised tourist's

Ingenious rock sculpture " Bobberjaan klim die Berg"

Tom having quality time by himself 

If only the wreck could talk !

Posing with an old wreck

Judith on her way to infinity and beyond

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Marie helping to pack up after lunch

Climbed the truck, and our first stop was at the Aussenkehr Spar for a Coke Stop, where we did some grocery shopping as well (ice cream, chocolates and Amarula). Aussenkehr is an extensive table grape producing area, where the vines are irrigated from water taken out of the Orange River.

Before we reached the Felix Unite Camp, Wynand off-loaded our bikes from the Lunch Truck and we cycled to the Amanzi River Trails Camp to see our friends Johan & Colleen, owners of Amanzi.  A few years ago we did a 5-day Amanzi River Rafting Trip down the Orange River with them. We have also stayed over at their Camp on numerous occasions when we visited Namibia in the past.

Johan & Colleen were pleased to see us, and since we were having a rest day at nearby Felix Unite tomorrow, invited us to have a braai with them at Amanzi on the rest day; an invitation we could not refuse.  We then cycled the short distance back to the Felix Unite Camp for a well-earned rest day.

As tomorrow will be a rest day at Felix Unite (staying in quite a nice room), we had to organise dinner for ourselves, so we decided to eat at Felix's own Restaurant. However, dinner at Felix was a right royal stuff-up :/

Mike vd Berg’s steak was rotten (had to send it back), Wendy finally received her food an hour late, Paul & Wendy’s drinks orders never arrived. While on my side, I was refused the privilege of opening up a tab at the bar (a first for me) - it seems that I was regarded as a credit risk!

A bitter-sweet arrival to Orange River, but another rest day tomorrow to look forward to.

Cheers,

Mike T

Marie & Judith two of the Lunch Truck Riders

View of the rugged Namibian County Side

Table Grape Vineyard along the Orange River

Judith at Amanzi River Trails Camp

Our little piece of heaven at Felix Unite Camp for the next two nights

Overlooking the Orange River with South Africa on the opposite bank

Wendy and Paul in relax mode

Sunset over the Orange River

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Ruze Chalets to Livingstone (151km)

Zambia

Day 88 - Apr 10 - Stage 62

Monday: The last of the three-day section.  I rode with Philip and we did a relatively fast pace until we arrived at Livingstone (The Zambian side of Victoria Falls). Stopped in Livingstone at the Spar Supermarket, hooked up with Tom and then the three of us went to Kubu Cafe for Milkshake & Waffles.

We arrived at the Waterfront Camp on the Zambezi, where we attended a TDA Bike Handover Ceremony, which was attended by the Livingstone Mayor, local dancers as well as musicians (drummers).

We will be staying on the Zambezi River upstream of the Victoria Falls for three full rest days, it will definitely be a well-earned and appreciated rest period!

More to follow...

Cheers,
Mike T

The Zambian railway I used to ride along when I was a child at Boarding School in South Africa

Liz very happy to be cycling to Livingstone where she will meet up with her Husband Tim and two of her Sons.

Ruze Chalets to Livingstone (Victoria Falls)

Charles ready to start his ride to Livingstone 

Zambian Trucks carrying loads of copper from the Mines to a RSA Port for export

We were welcomed at the Waterfront Camp by a Group of Dancers

The Mayor of Livingstone thanking TDA for their donation of bikes to the needy recipient's 

Finally at Victoria Falls from where the Mosi Lager gets its name from

Heaven is two draught beer taps in the Watetfront Bar

Local Zambian Dancers entertaining us at the Bike Handover Ceremony 

Victoria Falls, with "The Smoke that Thunders" as seen from the Waterfront Camp on the Zambezi River

Judith wearing her new Zambian sarong wrap skirt a gift from Lemmy and Naomi 

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Mwanza to Speke Bay (142 km)

Tour d'Afrique

Day 58 - March 11 - Stage 41 (Tanzania)

Mike T the proud wearer of the Yellow Jersey

We leave the Mwanza Camp with a sad heart, would of liked to have had a rest day there, it was so picturesque and quiet, right alongside the beach on the Lake shore. It also possessed a great bar with excellent surroundings and vibe.

We cycle back into town, take the road out of Mwanza towards the Serengeti Reserve, Judith back on her bike and looking very strong after her three day forced layoff. Have a relatively fast start with a good average speed up until 55km, then unfortunately our average speed starts to decrease as we progress towards Speke Bay.

Reach the Lunch truck at approx. 70km, Judith realizes that the next 70km will be extremely tough for her, she hasn't recovered fully, decides to call it a day. I agree with her, it's been a tough ride for someone still recovering from illness.

Leaving Tunza Resort - I  bet the light aircraft has a story to tell?

Local transport cyclists riding in a convoy

Murray arrives at the Lunch Truck using a Boda Boda

Lunch time was unusually busy

We arrive at the Serengeti Stop Over Lodge where we will overnight before our Three day Safari into the Serengeti Reserve and Ngorogongo Crater.

Paul takes the opportunity to organize an official handover of the Yellow Jersey and Pacifier Award. I get the jersey handed to me by two of the "Babes" while Judith passes her award won on Day 28 onto Catherine, who tossed her toys on one of the days we rode on dirt!

I don't get to keep the jersey, I present it to Tom who has been helping a lot of the riders with their bike's mechanical issues, as well as being a great "Diplomat" promoting the TDA ideals among the locals we meet.

Cheers,
Mike T

Serengeti Stop over Lodge - The Camp before we start our three day Safari Tour

Receiving the official Yellow Jersey from the two babes Elizabeth-Ashley and Andje

Henry Gold giving us a few hints and thoughts on what we can expect now that the Tour is approaching the halfway mark

  

Liz taking the time to do some of her washing

Judith looking great in her new colorful local dress

Mulli busy with the evening's braai

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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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