Solitaire to Sesriem (83 km)

Namibia

Day 107 - Apr 29 - Stage 75

Saturday: Back out on the gravel roads of Namibia, which seem to alternate between either a smooth or heavily corrugated (sometimes rocky) surfaces. At times they also include soft sand, and overall the roads here are more a Mountain Biker's Heaven than a roadie fest.


Judith cycled with the girls, who in true TDA tradition, stripped off their kit & rode the "Naked Mile" before lunch. Two of the Racing Snakes, Charles and Mark rode the complete 30 km Time Trial naked, much to the delight of the numerous Tourists in the immediate area. I waited until after lunch before doing my naked mile pose, photographed by Philip for prosperity's sake.

My solo "Naked Mile" effort for Tradition's sake

We arrived at Sesriem Camp, and TDA had to camp in the "Overflow Area" as the Camp was fully booked. TDA are aware of their dates well in advance, so why didn't they book proper camping facilities in advance!?  Really piss-poor organisation on their part (shower facilities were about 600m away from where we were camping!!). Did not take a room, as the accommodation is totally overpriced at Sesriem.

On arrival at Sesriem I went straight to the Bar to join Murray and Mike vd Berg, which wasn't the proper thing to do, Judith had to erect the tent by herself in strong winds, so I was not the most popular person in camp!!  In hindsight, not the cleverest thing to have ever done, and I should have known better.

Anyway, late afternoon & accompanied by a number of the other riders, we took a trip in the Lunch Truck into Sossusvlei, to climb Dune 45 and to appreciate the glorious sunset over the Namib Desert.

We will enjoy tomorrow's rest day at Sesriem, and have nothing special planned. Some of the other Riders will be going off early into Sossusvlei to see the sunrise, while others will be cycling a short distance to see Sesriem Canyon. We have previously done both, so will be giving it a miss.


Cheers,
Mike T

The Ladies doing their "Naked Mile" ride

Tallis and Helen at the start of the Time Trial

Charles and Mark rode the complete Time Trial naked!

Camping in the Overflow Area at Sesriem 

Gemsbok (Oryx) sighting while on the way to Dune 45

Michael, Andje and Philip on the way to Dune 45.
Still sleepy Mike?

Walking around Sossusvlei before climbing Dune 45

Michael on his way up the Dune

Starting the climb up Dune 45 one of the highest dunes in the world

Sitting and enjoying a sun-downer at the top of the Dune. We even had ice!

Sunset over the Dunes of the Namib Desert as seen from Dune 45

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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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Day16 - Stage 14 - Nile Ferry Camp to Dongola (116 km)

Saturday: Nile Ferry Camp to Dongola (116 km)

We slept much better last night, Judith had pitched the tent behind a mud wall, which had screened the tent from the incessant wind (we are also getting used to the noise of a flapping tent).

Today's ride was all about wind, wind and more wind. Started riding with a potent tail wind from the north, which assisted our average speed and made the undulating road feel relatively flat. However, when we either turned East or West, there were times where it became a roaring, dust bearing, sand storm, which obliterated the view of the rider in front of you. Fortunately, we only had one instance (near the end of the ride) where we turned into a direct headwind, which caused you to cycle at a snail pace.

Assistant Chef Muli organising the mornings boiled eggs (Between the boiled eggs and beans I am getting plenty of turbo boost on the bike)

The local tea & coffee maker preparing our brews

Henne enjoying the morning sunrise

After leaving Camp, we stopped at the 20km mark for tea & coffee at a Truck Stop (Sudanese version of a 1-Stop Shop). We think no other riders stopped there, since it was so early in the ride, but we had decided to tour today, and enjoy the ride (did buy tea for Helen, today's first-half sweep rider who was forced to stop with us).

Judith spots her first Nile Crocodile  (Don't ask why its up there, its only on a need to know basis, and we don't need to know)

Michael & Judith enjoying their morning tea & coffee at the Sudanese 1-Stop Shop

Taking a short rest

When we got to the Lunch Truck, it was deserted, none of the usual riders were there, due to the fact that all concerned wanted to get to Dongola as quick as possible, since tomorrow was a rest day.

We stopped at a Coke Stop at 90km for ablutions and soft drinks accompanied by Gupaul, Andy and sweep rider Max, before completing the remaining 25km.

Arriving at today's lunch stop

Lunch Truck deserted of riders only T D A Management in attendance

Stopping at the Coke Stop

Judith making new friends and modeling her new pink cycling gear with the locals

Gupaul, Andy and sweep rider Max enjoying the rest & recuperation 

Crossed over the Nile River (it is still very impressive) arrived in Dongola and were immediately swamped by the Traffic, consisting mainly of Tuk-Tuk's, it was  organised chaos! Judith even had to try and out cycle a large dog which some idiot had set on her! "Who let the dogs out, woof, woof-woof!".

Arrived at the finish which is situated at a type of Luna Park, where some of the riders were already  camping in the Fairground. We hailed a Tuk-Tuk (one each because we had both our daily and permanent bags with us) and went to The Palace Hotel. Supposed to be Dongola's finest, but it leaves much to be desired. But at least the water is hot, there is power to charge the electronics and there is a bed.

After booking in, Andy and I hailed a Tuk-Tuk and went to the nearest "Super-market"  and bought soft drinks, crisps, chocolate and biscuits. Back at the Hotel I proceeded to binge on the sugar rich treats, life is great!

Crossing the Nile River Bridge into Dongola

Welcome to Dongola!

TDA Staff setting up the kitchen facilities

Fairground attraction - with our bikes chained to the railings

Off on a Tuk-Tuk to the Palace Hotel!

View from our balcony at the Palace Hotel

In the evening, six of us took two Tuk-Tuk's and went out to a local Sudanese Eating House for dinner. Half a chicken, with rice & local bread each, followed by Sudanese pastries and sweet spearmint tea. The quality of the food was great, which was later  confirmed when the complete TDA Crew arrived for dinner as well (they always know where the best meals are to be had).

We still rode 115km today, so it was early to bed, with no thoughts of going out clubbing in bustling Dongola ;)

Cheers, 

Mike T

Eating at a local Eating House with Nelson, Philip, Judith, Andy & Mark

Sudanese pastries to Judith's delight

Had my first beer in Sudan  (0 % alcohol)

Internet Surfers Henne, Paul back at the Hotel

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Day in Pictures - Wind, Dust, Sand, and the Open Road.

A long day in the Sudanese desert. Gold miners, dust, a very windy ride and the open road. Read the original blog post  of today's ride, here. 

Photos from the day, below.

Early riders getting ready to leave after breakfast

Sudanese architecture 

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Taking shelter out of the wind!

Riders of the [dust] storm ♪♫

Sudanese dwellings 

Artisinal gold diggings along the road 

(Eastern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield)

More Sudanese dwellings - very interesting & different to Egypt

That's it! Time for bed, That wind was hectic.

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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