Windhoek to Weissenfels (123 km)

Namibia

Day 105 - Apr 27 - Stage 73

Thursday: Rode all the way to Weissenfels with Judith, while Mike van den Berg rode his first day of the Section. Judith and I rode out of Windhoek and just past the Windhoek Golf Club, we joined up with a road which we were very familiar with. It was the first stage of the 24 hour Desert Dash Mountain Bike Race road, a race from Windhoek to Swakopmund through the Namib Desert, which I had previously ridden. First in a Four-Man Team and a year later in a Two-Man Team.

So it was up the Kuffelberg Pass and onto the road towards Weissenfels, we enjoyed a good ride, through some stunning scenery of the Khomas Hoogeland.  Where we arrived much later, only to be greeted by some of the other riders already abusing the makeshift Bar facilities!

After having a discussion with the Owner of the Guest Lodge, Wiliston, I discovered that he was selling mineral specimens from his collection, so I fortuitously bought a few of his specimens. One being a great Aragonite Crystal,  which definitely deserves a place in my collection at home.

Cheers,
Mike T

Judith doing well cycling up the Pass

The top of the Pass - Which way to Walvis Bay ?

Some of the Ladies cycling up the Pass

Lunch Stop

The road stretches on for miles and miles !

Sometimes a photo gives the wrong impression.
Promise that I had help with these!

Team Carbo Load in Action

Staff dishing up supper for the Riders

Sitting around having supper around the still-warm braai fire

Weissenfels to Solitaire

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2 Rest Days in Windhoek

Namibia

Days 103 &104 - Rest Days - Windhoek

Spent two well deserved Rest Day's in Windhoek, Capital of Namibia, at the Urban Rest Camp. Was pleasantly surprised with the facilities and the great reception and friendliness from the Staff at the Camp, will definitely stay there again when next in Windhoek.

Up early to join the Australian and New Zealand Riders and others, at the ANZAC Memorial Service, conducted at dawn at the Commonwealth War Memorial Site,  commemorating the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War.  Attended by Australian, New Zealand, Turkish and Namibian Diplomats. Murray got to read the Ode, all very touching and quite emotional for me, as it included a reference to all those who had fallen. Afterwards, enjoyed coffee and snacks with the Dignitaries in attendance.

Then went off to the Mall for more coffee and breakfast, followed by a trip to the Bike Shop to get a new seat for Judith and for her to have a fitting.

Later in the day, I went off to the Windhoek International Airport and fetched Mike van den Berg, my good friend who was joining the Tour to do the last Section with us from Windhoek to Cape Town.

Dinner on the first rest night, was held at Joe's Beer House, which had been recommended and organised by myself, which was attended by the majority of the Riders, and enjoyed by all.

Day two was spent trying to update my Blog's and was generally a very NAFI Day for me. Mike VdB used the day to reassemble his bike and to get ready for the Tour. 

Unfortunately, while changing our bike tyres from slicks (for tar roads) to mountain bike tyres (for riding on the dirt)  I pulled my umbilical hernia again, and Dr. Helen couldn't get it to pop back into place, so she had to take me off to the local Hospital. There the Doctor in attendance managed to use her magical hands and got it to behave again. I was then read the riot act, if I continued to do heavy lifting and it popped again, I was to be sent home!!

So my last evening in Windhoek didn't end to well for me, although on the bright side of things, I was still allowed to continue cycling, as long as I behaved!

Cheers,
Mike T

The TDA Riders who attended the ANZAC Memorial Service

ANZAC Memorial Service in Windhoek

Thomas displaying his Waiter skills at Urban Camp

A "Metre of Beer" at Joes Beer House 

Michael van den Berg arrives in Namibia

Welcome to Windhoek (Windy Corner)

 

Wise words displayed at Urban Camp

The next three day section - Windhoek to Sesriem

Windhoek to Weissenfels

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Witvlei to Windhoek (153 km)

Namibia

Day 102 - Apr 24 - Stage 72

Monday: Judith was not feeling well, so she decided to take the Main Truck into Windhoek.
Myself, I rode the day with Philip. A few kilometers into the ride we came across a vehicle accident where a Toyota Hilux Double Cab had hit a Kudu Antelope (Buck) which had jumped out into the road. Unfortunately, the passenger was severely injured, but was being treated by the Emergency Services when we arrived on the scene. 

At the Kalahari Padstal, we joined some of the other riders and stopped for Coffee & Biltong/Droëwors, also had our photo's taken by the owner, to be included in her own personal collection.

Rode in a peleton to lunch (with Liz, Marie, Philip and myself) and again after lunch, where we were joined by Andje. Riding together certainly made it so much easier and we managed to keep up a good pace until we reached the hills outside of Windhoek. Each one of us getting a chance and taking the front and setting the pace,  in 5 minute intervals.

Had a great Coke Stop at the International Airport Filling Station (cold drinks, chocolates and ice creams) before completing the final 42km into Windhoek.

Big Hills coming into Windhoek, but with the help of an emergency Red Bull,  I managed to get over them relatively easily. Then it was down into the Suburbs with our first stop at the Specialized Cycle Shop. The first proper Bike Shop since we had left Cairo, we were like small kids in a sweet shop!!

Cycled the last few km's to 'Urban Camp', organised our accommodation, then off to the Bar. All in all, a great day's cycling after my forced day-off yesterday.

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise at Witvlei

When a Rider punctures there is always someone to help

Windpump (Windpomp) on the way to Windhoek

The Kalahari Pad Stal

Philip very proud of his Doritos he managed to find

We all live in a Yellow Submarine !

Remember when posing for photos somebody is always bound to be behind you !

Philip gets photo bombed by the Babes

Riding along in the peloton

 

Peleton photo shoot with Max the Sweep Rider

Having lunch on the way to Windhoek

When the going gets tough, the Tough get stuffed.

Windhoek Cycle Shop

Coke Stop at the International Airport Filling Station

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Namibia! Buitenpos to Witvlei (162 km)

Namibia

Day 101 - Apr 23 - Stage 71

Sunday: Discretion being the better part of valour, I decided not to cycle, the loose spokes of my rear wheel had not been tightened and aligned, and my body was still sore from yesterday's "Oopsie". So accompanied by Peter and Deborah, we took the Main Truck to Witvlei Camp.

Judith decided to cycle and left Eastgate Rest Camp with Solange, she planned to cycle to the lunch position, a 85km long ride at least.

We arrived at the Lunch Truck and had "lunch" at 9am in the morning, where Marie and Linda then joined us in the Main Truck "Dog Box"

Unfortunately it was a Sunday, so the Butchery (needed to buy some decent biltong)  and Bottle Store (dry Bush Camp tonight) were not open in Gobabis Town. But we did manage to find a Coffee Shop (Wimpy) open.

Arrived in Witvlei and proceeded to the Camp Site which was in the Municipal grounds, without any facilities whatsoever (we wouldn't expect anything different either). Can't understand why we passed a totally equipped Bush Camp site 10 km from Witvlei, but true to TDA organisation, we had to camp at the Municipal grounds which didn't even have toilet or shower facilities!!

We were fortunate to find an open Bush Pub (Shebeen)  where we were able to buy some beers to take back to Camp. So a good time was had by all those who didn't cycle on the day.

Between Leo the Bike Mechanic, who managed to work on my bike and tightened all my loose spokes, and Dr Helen who re-dressed my wounds, its G for Go, tomorrow I am back on the road and fit to cycle into Windhoek, where we will be having two rest days in a row.

Cheers,
Mike T

Breakfast at Buitepos before leaving for Witvlei

Buitepos to Witvlei

Today's Non-Riders arrive at Witvlei

Team Carbo-Load enjoying some quality time at Witvlei

Helping TDA Staff to set up Camp

Todays sunset at Witvlei

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NEWS: Update on our progress

7th May 2017 - Sunday

Hi All!

Some of you would have noticed that our blog is a bit behind when compared to where we actually are "on the map" in real-time. 

Rest assured that we are fine, and soon after we arrive in Cape Town, this "lag" in blog posts will become irrelevant while the blog will hopefully remain otherwise relevant. Perhaps as a sort of memoir of our travels through Africa from Cairo to Cape Town and either inspiration for those who wish to follow their own dreams, and/or a source of information of sorts for those who are planning to do the TDA themselves someday.

Now that we are in South Africa, the cellular network signal has improved dramatically.
Connectivity is better than before, and we will "roll-out" outstanding blog posts as far/fast as humanly possible; without worrying tooooo much about it.


On that note, and with the improved connectivity, we have placed some additional photographs within older posts... so you can check them out at your leisure, here:

• Day 95: Nata Lodge to Bush Camp (Flooded Roads & Baobabs)
• Day 96: Bush Camp to Maun (And a different bike...)
• Day 97:  Rest Day in Maun (Coffee Shop visits & Relaxation)
• Day 98: Maun to Bush Camp (Happy Baobabs & Team Tactics)
• Day 99: Bush Camp to Ghanzi (Thick Sand & the Team Time-trial)

Day's 101 of our tour onwards... will be posted soon :)
And, as always, thank you for reading along!


Cheers, 
Mike & Judith

Mike & Judith - Day 97

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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

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Bush Camp to Ghanzi (?? km)

Botswana

Day 99 - Apr 21 - Stage 69

Friday: Today was the long awaited and discussed Team Time Trial day. The Riders rode 30km to the start of the Time Trial, where we regrouped into our teams at the Cruiser and departed in batches when ready.

Team "Four Jacks and a Jill" started the 40km time trial distance with great gusto, we had estimated our time at 1hr 45min. Our team was doing okay and we were going as planned, until 3km from the finish, Michael-2 punctured twice, so we missed our estimated time by nearly a half hour (the biggest incorrect margin of all the teams). As they say in the Classics, "You win some and you lose some".

The winning team consisted of Wendy, Bridgett, Gupaul and Will, who were within a minute of their estimated time.  Judith's team came 3rd. All in all it was great fun, although I thought some teams did take it a little too seriously!


I cycled with Philip after lunch, stopped at Shoprite in Ghanzi with a whole lot of other Riders for cold drinks and ice-cream, which was a pleasant surprise, and greatly appreciated.

The last three kilometers into Thakadu Camp was on a very sandy road, and I managed to fall down rather spectacularly into the sand, much to Philip, Liz and Marie's amusement.  At the start of the Tour, when a Rider fell down, other Riders would rush to their assistance, now it's simply seen as a photo opportunity!

Cheers,
Mike T

Recovering after my fall in the sand, while Liz takes some photos.
(What has become of us?) 

Riders enjoying breakfast before Team Time Trial Day

Coke Stop before forming up into the Individual Teams at the start

Teams forming up & getting into order before departing on the 40 km Time Trial

Michael-2 getting assistance from Paul to fix his first puncture while Linda looks on.

Shoprite Store in Ganzi for cold drinks and ice-creams

Waiting for the evenings  Briefing and Prize Giving to start

Team Time Trial Winners - Gupaul, Will, Bridgett and Wendy receiving their cash prize

Tomorrow's ride will be from Ghanzi to Buitenpos and our longest ride so far

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