28 March - Forest camp to bush camp

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UPDATE : 27 MARCH

Had a nice rest day yesterday. Did some shopping and had good food! Today was a relative easy ride (105 km) out of Iringa. Sleeping in a pine forrest tonight. There are 11 new riders joining us today. The "business lounge" is full stocked, so we will be having a few sundowners tonight!

27 MARCH : Iringa to Forest Camp

Thank you Wilf and Eurika Robinson for sponsoring today. Hope Jos is rested and ready!

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27 March : Iringa to Forest Camp

Thank you to Wilf & Eurika Robinson for sponsoring today. Hope Jos is rested and ready!

26 MARCH - REST DAY IN IRINGA

After 7 hard days on the bikes the riders finally have a rest day. It also marks the end of stage 4 of Tour D'Afrique and also the completion of the longest ride on dirt of the TDA, covering almost 700 km without stepping on tar, except for a few kilometers in Dongola.

Not much to do for the riders on their rest day - washing and cleaning everything they can and eating! The riders are now 400km north of the Malawian border - much more traffic await them!

UPDATE : 25 MARCH

A "bad day at the office". Heavy rain during the night and whilst getting up. Got to my bike to discover a flat tyre. Spare tube also had a puncture. After 19 km another flat, had to borrow a tube, then had chain stucked etc etc. Eventually got to Iringa. Tomorrow is a rest day and sleeping in a bed tonight!

25 March : Ifiga Bush Camp - Iringa

Thank you Nicholas & Michelle de Clercq for sponsoring R 3000 towards today's cycling - Jos really needs the support after a few days of crazy cycling!

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UPDATE : HALF WAY!

We reached the halfway stage (distance) at lunch today. Only 5850 km to go - which feels and sounds like a lot at this moment. It was another 6 hours (100 kms) bumpy & hot road in 38 degrees ride today. Everyone was exhausted, but finally there is a rest day in sight. We are camping next to the road again and there is a big storm approaching.

WELL DONE JOS FOR GETTING SO FAR!

You deserve a medal!

24 Mar - Chipogolo Bush Camp to Ifiga Bush Camp

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UPDATE - 22 & 23 MARCH

22 MARCH
111 km to Dodoma, all dirt except last 10km, but road in better condition than yesterday. Got here at 1.30 and staying at a hotel. Everyone tired as last few days have been tough. We have 3 more days of cycling before the next rest day. Beautiful lush vegetation the last few days.

23 MARCH
93km of rough dirt road. Bum sore from all the bouncing. Beautiful baobabs trees the whole day. Sleeping in yet another bush camp.

23 March : Dodoma to Chipogolo Bush Camp

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UPDATE - 22 MARCH

No news from Jos yet. Seems that either he lost his cell phone (btw he lost his computer a while ago!), but got some news from Gerald. They were in Dodoma - which is the capital of Tanzania for those of you who didn't know.

Heard that yesterday's 100 kms was very hard, even for the mountain bikers. It had everything of a hard day, plenty of climbing, with steep, and difficult road surface. Some of the downhills were so technical, that many had to walk sections of them. When the dirt road was not made of rolling stones and deep holes, it was thick sand...

There is also a rumour about Locker 9 - this is where all the old riders (In age I presume!) keep luxury stuff like wine, spirit, chocolate and cigars. Locker 9 is well protected and the key holder is Jos! Heard that they had Cuban cigars, South African red wine and port with dark chocolate last night - perhaps that is why Jos is so quiet!

22 March : Bush Camp - Dodoma

No news from Jos yet! But seems that there is little communication from all the riders.

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