The Treloar Herald : tough-day

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Betta to Konkiep Lappa (153km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 110 - May 2 - Stage 77

Judith took the truck to lunch and rode the 73km from the lunch position to Camp, where as I started from Betta with Philip, with the intention of riding the whole day. Cycled 80km to lunch, and not unlike yesterday, the road was very corrugated or sandy, or a combination of both. I couldn't carry on from lunch, I am just too fatigued, so climbed the Lunch Truck.

Lunch Truck stopped at the Helmeringhausen Hotel, so I had apple crumble and beers with Murray, who was not cycling on the day.

Arrived at Konkiep Lapa Camp; fortunately Judith had enjoyed a great ride, and was in great spirits. I will try and complete a full ride again tomorrow.

Cheers,
Mike T

Michael vd Berg (Farmer Mike) getting ready for his ride

Marie and Liz ready to leave Betta Camp

Namibia's stark but beautiful countryside

An abandoned Anti-Climax

Philip a determined man on a mission

Large Sociable Weaver Nest

Onward and into the hills we go

Lunch Truck offers some mid-day shade

Interesting volcanic rock specimen

Welcome Party at Helmeringhausen Hotel

Philip and Murray enjoying their apple crumble

Delicious apple crumble

Marie enjoying the Coke Stop at the Hotel

Brad photo bombs a perfect Konkiep Lapa sunset

Judith and I splashed out and took a wooden cabin instead of camping at Konkiep Lapa

The Longest Day of the Tour - Ghanzi to Buitenpos (208km)

Botswana - Namibia

Day 100 - Apr 22 - Stage 70

Saturday: Today was Day 100. In Km's, the longest day of the Tour by far. Our previous best had been 186km and today's distance was to be a long 208km ride, and it would be a new personal best by 22km if achieved.

Everyone was up and having breakfast at the crack of dawn, and there was a definite sense of urgency and nervousness among the Riders as they ate their breakfast and prepared to move off & out of Camp.

I rode with Philip, we left Thakadu Camp as early as we could, but had to negotiate a 3km stretch of sand before reaching the tar road. This took approximately 30minutes as we had to walk through large sections of thick sand (didn't want to repeat the fall I had coming in yesterday).

The ride started off relatively well, and at the 42km mark we turned right onto the Trans Kalahari Highway, and headed for the Botswana/Namibia Border. However, we soon encountered a strong head wind, which was followed by light cold rain.

After lunch at the 80km mark, the rain intensified and it started to pour down quite hard. Combined with the headwind, the wind-chill factor increased, the temperature went down as low as 12 degrees & did not rise higher than 15 degrees on the day.

20km from the Border at the 188km mark, due to the overcast conditions, we lost the light and were picked up by Tallis in the Cruiser. It had become just too dangerous to cycle in the poor light and pouring rain - especially with the big trucks which were kicking up immense amounts of rain as they sped past us.

As a consequence, both Philip and I lost our Botswana-EFI by a miserly 20km!! In retrospect we could have carried on, but we would have been cycling in very dangerous conditions, and TDA do insist on putting our safety first.

A few moments later & at Immigration, Philip had to fill out my form, as I was just shivering so much from the cold as well as being slightly disorientated. Crossed out of Botswana, but in no-mans land between Botswana and Namibia, I fell off my bike, as I hit a large (yet hard to see) water-filled pothole, injuring my right elbow, hip and knee (only my third serious crash of the whole tour).

I passed through Namibian Immigration without any hassles, crossed into Namibia and went straight to Camp (only 500m from the Border) to have my wounds dressed. Fortunately no major injuries, only some blood tattoo's. But here is a quandary, because I fell in no-mans land, do I claim a Botswana or a Namibian Tattoo, or do I credit both Countries??

In Namibia, we were staying at Eastgate, just the other side of the Border, where the Treloars usually stay when travelling from Johannesburg to Windhoek by vehicle. The current cycling route has now become quite recognizable for both Judith and I. Everyone and everything had been drenched in the rain as before on Day 95, so almost all riders opted for rooms.

Due to my injuries, I will make a decision to cycle or not in the morning (Additionally, I also have a large number of loose rear wheel spokes). Time will tell.

Cheers,
Mike T

Due to the long 208 km distance breakfast was held early than usual

Riders regroup on the tar road after the 3 km sand road section before departing on the days 208 km ride

Turned right onto the Trans Kalahari Highway and headed off to our next Country

A sober reminder that cycling on all main roads should be taken seriously

Riders recuperating after their rain affected ride at the Eastgate Camp Coffee Shop

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!

Chitimba Beach to Mzuzu (136km + 1'630m of climbing)

MALAWI

Day 75 - Mar 28 - Stage 51

Sometimes you just need to climb off your bike to get some blood back into those legs
& air into the lungs while your heart takes 'a breather'

Tuesday: The start of a four day section before we reach Lilongwe, the Capital of Malawi, and our next Rest Day.

We left Chitimba Beach and after 16km started climbing out of the Rift Valley into the Mountains, this was a designated "Time Trial Section" at this point, but we did not sign up for it, it's a TOUR not a Race! And so we cycled along at our own pace...

On the way up, we were well-rewarded with great views and vistas of the Lake and the Rift Valley Mountains. Dr Helen was the Sweep Rider and we enjoyed her company as we ground our way uphill. To say the climb was tough would be an understatement, it was very tough, but we did make it out and over the mountains, alive.

Unfortunately, after lunch and at the 71km mark, we climbed onto the truck. Yours truly had developed gout in his right knee, and it had become excruciatingly painful!

However, riding the Lunch Truck/Party bus did have its advantages, we stopped in Mzuzu Town for coffee before reaching Camp. Mzuzu is an area famous for it's good quality Malawian Coffee, and it did not disappoint.

Later, after reaching the Camp, some of us went back into town to draw money at an ATM and went for even more coffee, plus some ice cream! All well that ends well.

Cheers,
Mike T

The next Four Day Section before we reach Lilongwe

Stage 51 - Chitimba to Mzuzu

Riders leaving Chitimba after Breakfast

Route cycling out of Chitimba

View of the lake in the Rift Valley as we climb up out of the Valley itself

Judith climbing up into the wooded mountains

he higher we climbed the small the shore of the Lake appeared

Entrance to the Chiweta Coal Mine

Chiweta Coal Mine Processing Plant

Bridge over the Rukuru River built with the help of Japan

Rukuru River in full flood

Only "God Knows Butchery"

Coke Stop with Dr. Helen

Follow the orange tape through Mzuzu Town to get to Camp!

Stage 52 - Mzuzu to Luviri School

Coffee Stop with Wynand in Mzuzu at the Coffee Den

Supper time at Mzuzu Camp

Karongo to Chitimba Bay (91km)

Malawi

Day 72 - Mar 25 - Stage 50

Saturday: It rained all night, but fortunately in the morning it cleared up. Starting to cycle in the rain is just not high on my list of happy moments!

We started riding and went straight into Town to draw more money at the ATM and to get a Malawi Sim card and data. Judith was lucky, I was not so fortunate (no micro-sim cards in stock) so I was still offline.

Cycled to lunch, just before lunch, Judith had her tire come off the rim. Fortunately she was riding with Leo the Sweep Rider who is also our Bike Mechanic. He could assist her and fixed the puncture and placed the tire back onto the rim.

We were both not in a happy space, mentally or physically, so we climbed into the lunch truck, to get to Chitimba Beach for our two day rest period.

Driving towards Chitimba Beach in the truck, we came across an accident, a car had left the road at speed and had overturned. The locals had pulled the survivors onto the verge of the road and there were quite a few injured bodies lying on the road. Wynand and I got out of the truck (I was riding in the cab with him) to see if we could offer assistance, but there was nothing we could do, other than to organize for an Ambulance to come from Karonga.

There was a badly injured little girl, who I thought wouldn't make it, subsequently I became rather emotional on the remainder of the drive into Camp. I know nobody gets off this planet alive, but children shouldn't have to leave so early!

Stopped along the way to buy some accessories for the planned evening's Fancy Dress Party, and even managed to get a Malawian micro-sim card.

Finally arrived at Chitimba Beach Camp, after a very tough and mentally draining fortnight of riding. It is going to be a great two days rest.

The Fancy Dress Party was well attended, with some of the riders going to great extremes with their costumes. I went as a Zambian Soccer Player, while Judith went as a "Message" (Playfully mocking the American & Canadian Riders). Her T-shirt read, "In America they call it 'Survivor', in Africa we call it Camping!".

Cheers,
Mike T