Wessenfels Camp to Solitaire (124 km)

Namibia

Day 106 - Apr 28 - Stage 74

Friday: Rode the morning with Judith and most of the afternoon with Philip, highlights of the day included the crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn and the hair-raising descent down the Spreetshoogte Pass with Philip and Liz.

The Treloars cross over the Tropic of Capricorn

We rode on gravel and dirt the whole day, except for the Spreetshoogte Pass, which due to it's steepness (it drops over 500m in elevation over a length of 4 km) is paved with paving stones. The Pass is so steep, both the Lunch Truck & Main Truck had to detour around a longer alternative route to get to Solitaire.

I managed to achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/hr down the first portion of the Pass until my nerve failed and I reverted to feathering my brakes down the remaining length of the Pass. At one stage I had to stop to allow both my front and rear disc brakes to cool down!

Between the Pass and the finish at Solitaire, we stopped at Gecko Lodge for cokes, and experienced the best WiFi reception ever. This resulted in us overstaying our welcome, as we abused their facilities to update all things relating to any social network!

Eventually arrived at Solitaire quite exhausted, it had been a tough but also an exhilarating day of riding.  A welcomed reward at Solitaire was being treated by the consumption of large portions of Apple Crumble, from the only Bakery in a radius of about hundreds of kilometers!

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise before the ride to Solitaire 

Liz and Judith discussing the days tactics at breakfast

A group of the Ladies (and a parrot - see it?) getting ready to cycle towards Solitaire

An early morning puncture for Anmay who needed no assistance

On the road being greeted by the first ray of sunshine

Philip examining the nests of the Sociable Weaver which is prevalent in this part of Namibia

Group of the Ladies making gravel riding look so easy

Today's lunch position was just before the descent down the Pass

Philip helping Andje with her puncture while Sectional Rider Rick learns some new tricks

Posing at the start of the Pass

Liz and Philip taking a photo opportunity prior to descending the Pass

View from the top of the Pass

View from half-way down the Pass

Peter and Deborah checking their brakes and taking a breather coming down the Pass

Tom and Liz discussing their Pass descent experience

Arriving at Gheko Lodge

Some innovative art work at Gheko Lodge Up-cycling old cans

You can't miss Solitaire as it is clearly marked!

A tired Treloar arrives at Solitaire to be greeted by his wife

Farmer Michael (Mike VdB) getting some tips on how to fix a punctured tube by Deborah

Sunset at Solitaire & the end of the day.

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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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