Thank you to Adrian Venter & Louise Burger for sponsoring the cycling today.
We apologise for no updates. We experienced some techincal problems on our blogspot and seems that Jos is still having some cell phone reception problems!
27 February
Still no news, but hear that another Capetonian is doing very well. Jethro De Decker won the Valentine's Day Stage. Not having lunch, he passed the others and De Decker, who loves to climb the mountain around Cape Town, used the two climbs in that stage to achieve his win! Well done Jethro!
26 February 2010
The cyclists are still in Ethiopia for five more days, about 350 kms south of Addis Ababa. Apparently they are still surrounded by kids who are still throwing stones at them. Scenery are now changing and becoming more tropical. They will be in Kenya in 5 days time. There are only 10 in the EFI group left. Hope to get some news from Jos soon!
25 February
Thank you to Karin Jordaan who is sponsoring R100 towards today's racing and Gaiti Rabbani from Dubai for adding another R400.
There is no news from Jos, but we see that none of the other sites have been updated - so very little news. The only Twitter news is that the riders are on a beach somewhere!
There is no news from Jos, but we see that none of the other sites have been updated - so very little news. The only Twitter news is that the riders are on a beach somewhere!
24 February 2010
Luc Strydom (8 years) is sponsoring R 100 for todays cycling for his dad, Callie, on his birthday today.
Monique Strydom is sponsoring R 100 to celebrate Andre Botha's birthday today. Congratulations boys!
Monique Strydom is sponsoring R 100 to celebrate Andre Botha's birthday today. Congratulations boys!
Update - 23 February
Left Addis in convoy. Easy flat ride and the first day of cycling with all my marbles - Jos.
PS : We have heard that the kids have been stoning the riders. Especially the ones at the back, out of frustration that no one is giving them any money!
PS : We have heard that the kids have been stoning the riders. Especially the ones at the back, out of frustration that no one is giving them any money!
23 February 2010
Thank you to Intercape for sponsoring today's cycling. Jos perhaps needs a nice, luxurious bus ride!
BACK ON THE BIKE (18 Febr)
So started cycling officially again on Thursday 18 Feb, which was the day of the famous or infamous Blue Nile George. The total distance was about 90km, with lunch at 50 km. You then descend 1800m over 20km and then have to climb that again over 20km, about a 6% gradient, which for your non-cyclist is bloody steep. I am glad to report that I did it, not quite sure how and there were quite a few stops on the way up but no pushing. So although it seems I lost a few marbles as a result of the concussion it seems my cycling legs are still working, although I am now of the last riders. I was of the bike for almost 2 weeks while the other riders just got stronger.
Was completely exhausted the next morning and cycled very slowly with Gerald as he was also battling. It was another tough day of the 90km and we reached the highest point of the tour of +- 3150m. Cycling at that altitude is energy sapping like you can not believe but we managed it somehow, at least the last 20km was mostly downhill.
Cycling in Ethiopia is quite a challenge. There are the hills & altitude, kids throwing you with stones, it seems it is their national sport. Some riders have been hit by 12 stones a day. I have had 4 in 2 days riding. The famous Ethiopian belly is the next challenge, I have luckily avoided it so far. Camping at night you are surrounded by kids begging etc. Of my original cycling buddies only Gerald is still going. Jim was transferred to Addis with a suspected pinch nerve Thursday night. I think the EFI riders are down to 10 or 11. The scenery however makes up for it, it is quite spectacular. The people are however very poor and it is quite sad to see all the kids herding cattle and goats and not being in school. So far not much traffic on the roads and the drivers much better than Sudan as there are many wandering animals & children on the roads. Hope it stay this way. The infrastructure is pretty poor, cellphone reception is almost impossible up to now, not even roaming on SA sim card works. I bought a local sim card for which you must supply 2 photos in Addis but has run out of airtime but has been unable to buy any airtime at the last 3 towns we went through.
Losing my EFI status as a result of the crash was nogal a gatslag but also decided that I am going to make most of the cycling and sightseeing from now on. If you focus on EFI all you do is cycle, clean bike, rest and cycle again. Most of the time you are too exhausted to do any exploring. We arrived yesterday in small village called Debre Libanos which has a famous monastry and situated on the most spectacular George. Discovered a small lodge on the edge of the George. The group left this morning for Addis but I decided to stay another day as I had little local experience so far. So spend the day staring down this beautiful valley. The yanks say it looks just like the Grand Canoun.
Tomorrow is a rest day so I will be taking a local bus to Addis which will be an experience, the owner of the lodge say just stand next to the road and flag any bus down. So hopefully it is that simple. So I am still going to cycle as much as possible but if I came across spots like this I might stay a day or 2 and then catch up with the group again.
Was completely exhausted the next morning and cycled very slowly with Gerald as he was also battling. It was another tough day of the 90km and we reached the highest point of the tour of +- 3150m. Cycling at that altitude is energy sapping like you can not believe but we managed it somehow, at least the last 20km was mostly downhill.
Cycling in Ethiopia is quite a challenge. There are the hills & altitude, kids throwing you with stones, it seems it is their national sport. Some riders have been hit by 12 stones a day. I have had 4 in 2 days riding. The famous Ethiopian belly is the next challenge, I have luckily avoided it so far. Camping at night you are surrounded by kids begging etc. Of my original cycling buddies only Gerald is still going. Jim was transferred to Addis with a suspected pinch nerve Thursday night. I think the EFI riders are down to 10 or 11. The scenery however makes up for it, it is quite spectacular. The people are however very poor and it is quite sad to see all the kids herding cattle and goats and not being in school. So far not much traffic on the roads and the drivers much better than Sudan as there are many wandering animals & children on the roads. Hope it stay this way. The infrastructure is pretty poor, cellphone reception is almost impossible up to now, not even roaming on SA sim card works. I bought a local sim card for which you must supply 2 photos in Addis but has run out of airtime but has been unable to buy any airtime at the last 3 towns we went through.
Losing my EFI status as a result of the crash was nogal a gatslag but also decided that I am going to make most of the cycling and sightseeing from now on. If you focus on EFI all you do is cycle, clean bike, rest and cycle again. Most of the time you are too exhausted to do any exploring. We arrived yesterday in small village called Debre Libanos which has a famous monastry and situated on the most spectacular George. Discovered a small lodge on the edge of the George. The group left this morning for Addis but I decided to stay another day as I had little local experience so far. So spend the day staring down this beautiful valley. The yanks say it looks just like the Grand Canoun.
Tomorrow is a rest day so I will be taking a local bus to Addis which will be an experience, the owner of the lodge say just stand next to the road and flag any bus down. So hopefully it is that simple. So I am still going to cycle as much as possible but if I came across spots like this I might stay a day or 2 and then catch up with the group again.
THE RECOVERY OR THE BITS THAT I REMEMBER
I was discharged about 6pm and decided to fly to Addis Ababa the next morning at 06h30. Was completely exhausted and saw the Hilton had a desk at the airport so that was the easiest route, although not the cheapest as I discovered on check-out, US$550 for 2 nights.
I spend most of my time sleeping as I was still completely exhausted. I bought a ticket to fly to Bahir Dar to meet up with group again , the Sunday flight was full so I had to take the Saturday night flight. I was still not myself when I had to check out the Saturday. I wandered around Addis the afternoon and got completely lost.
Somehow got to airport and on the plane, flight was delayed for 2 hours and we arrived about 10pm. I notice a sign for a resort that was advertised in the inflight magazine so again, that was the easiest option as I just wanted to sleep. Turned out to be a very nice resort but again spend most of my time sleeping. You get a complementary massage everyday but I had no energy to get me to the spa which was 200m from my room.
Started feeling better the Monday. As I was checking out some of the riders arrived to check into the hotel. They were supposed to have arrived the Sunday but was delayed as they had quite a rough time as well, so I was very relieved that I could check back into the hotel for 2 more nights. I had a 1.5 hour massage and manicure & pedicure so looked at least better and started to feel it as well.
My energy levels started improving steadily from thereon. I rejoined the tour officially the Wednesday morning but decided to ride on the bus and see how I feel and might start cycling from the lunch stop. Not to be, all a bit hazy so all day on the bus. Spend the next day on the bus again but at least had more energy and was quite frustrated that I could not cycle. So when we reached camp I climbed on my bicycle and cycled to the nearest town about 20km away to try find internet and airtime, without any luck but it was nice to be on the bike again. Was quite tired when I got back to camp. Also got my 1st stone after 10 min on the bike, so it was a good introduction.
During my absence the tour had quite a few events. One truck broke down and all our luggage was transferred to another truck. The few days from my fall to the Ethiopian border was unbelievable tough as it was a new route, only 13 riders could finnish all the days. Some 15 riders took a bus to the next rest day and skipped the 1st 2 days cycling in Ethiopia, so it was not only me that was struggling. Unfortunately my tent got lost in all the chaos so sleeping in one of the crew tent, which weighs a ton.
I spend most of my time sleeping as I was still completely exhausted. I bought a ticket to fly to Bahir Dar to meet up with group again , the Sunday flight was full so I had to take the Saturday night flight. I was still not myself when I had to check out the Saturday. I wandered around Addis the afternoon and got completely lost.
Somehow got to airport and on the plane, flight was delayed for 2 hours and we arrived about 10pm. I notice a sign for a resort that was advertised in the inflight magazine so again, that was the easiest option as I just wanted to sleep. Turned out to be a very nice resort but again spend most of my time sleeping. You get a complementary massage everyday but I had no energy to get me to the spa which was 200m from my room.
Started feeling better the Monday. As I was checking out some of the riders arrived to check into the hotel. They were supposed to have arrived the Sunday but was delayed as they had quite a rough time as well, so I was very relieved that I could check back into the hotel for 2 more nights. I had a 1.5 hour massage and manicure & pedicure so looked at least better and started to feel it as well.
My energy levels started improving steadily from thereon. I rejoined the tour officially the Wednesday morning but decided to ride on the bus and see how I feel and might start cycling from the lunch stop. Not to be, all a bit hazy so all day on the bus. Spend the next day on the bus again but at least had more energy and was quite frustrated that I could not cycle. So when we reached camp I climbed on my bicycle and cycled to the nearest town about 20km away to try find internet and airtime, without any luck but it was nice to be on the bike again. Was quite tired when I got back to camp. Also got my 1st stone after 10 min on the bike, so it was a good introduction.
During my absence the tour had quite a few events. One truck broke down and all our luggage was transferred to another truck. The few days from my fall to the Ethiopian border was unbelievable tough as it was a new route, only 13 riders could finnish all the days. Some 15 riders took a bus to the next rest day and skipped the 1st 2 days cycling in Ethiopia, so it was not only me that was struggling. Unfortunately my tent got lost in all the chaos so sleeping in one of the crew tent, which weighs a ton.
My accident - Finally an update from Jos!
At the time of writing this, I was sitting in my hospital bed (Wednesday 10 February 2010) in Khartoum waiting for the doctor to discharge me.
It is now 16h20 and has been told since 11am, he is his on his way no longer than 0.5hours. It took them only 15minutes to take the scan when I arrived the day before, exactly 24 hours ago and we have been waiting for his official report since then. I can not be released without it and also need it for insurance purposes.
On the flip side is having access to a neurosurgeon is a luxury compared to my experience the day of the fall. I was taken to the local hospital for observation. When the doctor came to see me he asked me in which country I was and when I answered Sudan he discharged me. I have not paid the bill yet and due to missing funds in Aswan. I am low on cash. No cards work here, debit or credit. So if you do not hear from me again PLEASE COME AND BAIL ME OUT as I am probably still washing dishes at the Imperial Hospital Khartoum, 3rd floor. The youngsters of the group are not here to do some subcontracting.
Having watched CNN for last 24 hours I am quite bored and will try and document the events since the last time I left Khartoum.
We left Khartoum, last Friday morning on a very busy, narrow road. We were forced to ride in a single file. In camp at 160km in under 5 hours riding. 3 riders were involved in accidents that day. Had a nice swim in the Nile the afternoon and all quite normal. My knees were hurting quite a bit and the advice I got from riders & nurse was to use smaller gears. We were also discussing that it was probably better to ride on your own due to bad road conditions & traffic than in a group. So my strategy (glad to see I can still manage some corporate speak) for the next day was to see the conditions (wind etc) and to take it easy as it was another 160km day and try to rest/improve my knees before the Ethiopian mountains. We also turned on a quitter after about 50km.
The actual day (Saturday)
All went according to plan. I rode mainly with Gerald as the road was very busy again but after we turned onto the quieter road I decided to execute my strategy. I stopped to put on my iPod and selected the lifesaver play list. This play list consist mainly of my favorite dance tracks which I was going to use when I had a hard day in the saddle but nothing having had 1, other than day 2, I decided to listen to it.
Well the next thing I am aware of is some kids doing a performance, think it was karate, at our camp ground just before sunset and the nurse speaking to me to hear if I am OK and being transported to hospital with a drip in my arm.
Apparently some of the riders told the nurse I am acting funny. Still walking around in my cycling clothes and have not pitched my tent or had supper. Believe me even if the food is not good you eat after a 160km ride. She then started investigating and discovered I must had a fall of my bike as my left knee, hip, elbow and shoulder all reflecting fresh scrape/grazed wounds. They then notice that my helmet had 2 cracks above my left ear. Nobody saw the accident, so I somehow must got back on my bike and rode to camp. There were apparently quite a few turns. There is also a sweeper rider that ride at the back to ensure everybody gets back to camp but I must have arrived before the sweeper on my own.
So it is a complete mystery. I only logical explanation is that a mirror of a truck or bus must have whacked me on the head and that resulted in the fall. My flesh wounds would have been more if my fall was at normal cycling speed. My 1 bike computer shows that I cycled 163km in 6h11min but that is cycling time and not total time while my polar shows I cycled 253km in 8h55 but I think it got damaged in the fall.
Sunday & Monday
Can not remember much except that I just wanted to sleep all the time and was told I can not cycle for at least 3 days. The Monday night it was decided to transfer me to Khartoum for CT scan. A trip to the nearest town turned into a 4 hour nightmare as the driver got lost and was basically following any lights. Got into the town at 02h30 to find all hotels are full, so we ended sleeping in something that should definitely carry a negative star rating to be dully chucked out at 7h30am. The driver also disappeared and they rented a taxi (hi ace) for the trip to Khartoum. Arrived at 4h30pm and went straight away for CT Scan etc. The long and short of it is that I had a concussion and amnesia but for the rest I am fine, although I have never been so exhausted in my life but the doctor claim it is normal and part of the recovery process.
It is now 16h20 and has been told since 11am, he is his on his way no longer than 0.5hours. It took them only 15minutes to take the scan when I arrived the day before, exactly 24 hours ago and we have been waiting for his official report since then. I can not be released without it and also need it for insurance purposes.
On the flip side is having access to a neurosurgeon is a luxury compared to my experience the day of the fall. I was taken to the local hospital for observation. When the doctor came to see me he asked me in which country I was and when I answered Sudan he discharged me. I have not paid the bill yet and due to missing funds in Aswan. I am low on cash. No cards work here, debit or credit. So if you do not hear from me again PLEASE COME AND BAIL ME OUT as I am probably still washing dishes at the Imperial Hospital Khartoum, 3rd floor. The youngsters of the group are not here to do some subcontracting.
Having watched CNN for last 24 hours I am quite bored and will try and document the events since the last time I left Khartoum.
We left Khartoum, last Friday morning on a very busy, narrow road. We were forced to ride in a single file. In camp at 160km in under 5 hours riding. 3 riders were involved in accidents that day. Had a nice swim in the Nile the afternoon and all quite normal. My knees were hurting quite a bit and the advice I got from riders & nurse was to use smaller gears. We were also discussing that it was probably better to ride on your own due to bad road conditions & traffic than in a group. So my strategy (glad to see I can still manage some corporate speak) for the next day was to see the conditions (wind etc) and to take it easy as it was another 160km day and try to rest/improve my knees before the Ethiopian mountains. We also turned on a quitter after about 50km.
The actual day (Saturday)
All went according to plan. I rode mainly with Gerald as the road was very busy again but after we turned onto the quieter road I decided to execute my strategy. I stopped to put on my iPod and selected the lifesaver play list. This play list consist mainly of my favorite dance tracks which I was going to use when I had a hard day in the saddle but nothing having had 1, other than day 2, I decided to listen to it.
Well the next thing I am aware of is some kids doing a performance, think it was karate, at our camp ground just before sunset and the nurse speaking to me to hear if I am OK and being transported to hospital with a drip in my arm.
Apparently some of the riders told the nurse I am acting funny. Still walking around in my cycling clothes and have not pitched my tent or had supper. Believe me even if the food is not good you eat after a 160km ride. She then started investigating and discovered I must had a fall of my bike as my left knee, hip, elbow and shoulder all reflecting fresh scrape/grazed wounds. They then notice that my helmet had 2 cracks above my left ear. Nobody saw the accident, so I somehow must got back on my bike and rode to camp. There were apparently quite a few turns. There is also a sweeper rider that ride at the back to ensure everybody gets back to camp but I must have arrived before the sweeper on my own.
So it is a complete mystery. I only logical explanation is that a mirror of a truck or bus must have whacked me on the head and that resulted in the fall. My flesh wounds would have been more if my fall was at normal cycling speed. My 1 bike computer shows that I cycled 163km in 6h11min but that is cycling time and not total time while my polar shows I cycled 253km in 8h55 but I think it got damaged in the fall.
Sunday & Monday
Can not remember much except that I just wanted to sleep all the time and was told I can not cycle for at least 3 days. The Monday night it was decided to transfer me to Khartoum for CT scan. A trip to the nearest town turned into a 4 hour nightmare as the driver got lost and was basically following any lights. Got into the town at 02h30 to find all hotels are full, so we ended sleeping in something that should definitely carry a negative star rating to be dully chucked out at 7h30am. The driver also disappeared and they rented a taxi (hi ace) for the trip to Khartoum. Arrived at 4h30pm and went straight away for CT Scan etc. The long and short of it is that I had a concussion and amnesia but for the rest I am fine, although I have never been so exhausted in my life but the doctor claim it is normal and part of the recovery process.
Race stats
The participants have now cycled 30% of the total distance in 29 stages so far (out of 100 total stages).
22 February
We still have not received any update from Jos. Cannot get through on the phone and no messages from him. Heard from Gerald's wife that cell phone reception is really bad. Been looking at all available photos to see if Jos is anywhere. Hope he is OK!
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