Update : 30 April & 1 May
30 APRIL
111km ride out of Windhoek. Hit the dirt after 11 km. Very scenic ride but lots of bike problems. 3 Flats and Gerald's chain broke twice, so it turned out to be a long day.
1 MAY
Heavy rain overnight so tough cycling conditions as the wet sands grip the tyres, but beautiful ride surrounded by mountains and decending down Spreetshoogte pass with the most amazing views.
111km ride out of Windhoek. Hit the dirt after 11 km. Very scenic ride but lots of bike problems. 3 Flats and Gerald's chain broke twice, so it turned out to be a long day.
1 MAY
Heavy rain overnight so tough cycling conditions as the wet sands grip the tyres, but beautiful ride surrounded by mountains and decending down Spreetshoogte pass with the most amazing views.
1 May - Bush Camp - Desert Camp
30 April : Windhoek to Bush Camp
Email : info@aanpaarlberg.co.za
Tel : 021 872 8215
Why would you want to be camping if you can stay in 4-star luxury?
A pity Jos can't see this!
R100 000 VERY CLOSE!
With only 2 weeks to go, Jos has managed to raise R87 400 for Matla A Bana - A voice against child abuse. Only R 12 600 to go to his R100 000 target! Well done Jos!!!
UPDATE : WINDHOEK
This is probably my last e-mail update before reaching cape town. Will still send daily sms to the blog. Arrived in Windhoek yesterday after another though long day of 6.5 hours cycling and my legs are not "happy" today.
The route from Livingstone was via Nata & Maun to the Namibian border and from there via Gobabis to Windhoek. We covered +1500km in 9 days cycling so long distances each day, fortunately mainly flat but wind was becoming a problem the last few days. Also had my 1st 200+ km on the bike on the Mando day of 207km. Find the best tempo for these long days to be about 30kmph at 60-70% of max heart rate.We encountered rain almost every day on this section which is supposed to be barren, dry & hot. I do not think I have seen such long stretches of straights roads like this. The treat of the day is the coke stops. On this section they were few & far between. Some days none, so my 8-10 soft drink intake is down quite a bit. Had a few inetresting detours is small villages looking for it.(see botswana pig 165). Normally they spot quite a bit of game on this section, mainly elephant but we only saw few impala day out of Livingstone. Not sure if it because of the rain but we only saw elephant poo.
Last bush camp or so we thought ......
We stayed at a few nice lodges on this section and I manage to stay out of my tent for 5 succesive nights. Hope to improve this record. The 1st night out of Maun was supposed to be our last bush camp (sleeping next to the road with no facilities). We decided to celebrate this momentous occasion in style with Gabriel cooking Risotto for the group with Gerald and myself as his assistants. They both good cooks but after asking me to chop the onions they decided it is better that I do not handle any sharp instruments. So I just made sure that the wine glasses stayed full as it was a cold rainy day and even washed a pot or two. (see botswana pigs 153,161,157,168)
The day after crossing into Namibia we were supposed to sleep in campsite at witvlei (not even a 1 horse town). On arrival it was no more so we had another bush camp in a veld full "duweltjies" and no more wine left to lift our spirits. Spend yesterday an hour removing "duweltjies" from my tent, sandals, mattress etc. So hopefully that was the final one.
Ban on cheeseburgers....
The second day of the trip Gerald & myself almost lost our EFI status after being caught in a massive storm after 2 hour lunch at a resort on the Red sea. The day out of Maun we stopped for lunch at a lovely lodge Plannet Boabab after 100km where we spend 3 hours having cheeseburgers, chocolate cake etc as well a siesta. Leaving 2pm were still joking that at least there is no headwind or storm only to he hit by a massive storm at 145km. It felt like hail as the rain hit us. Fortunately TDA had a car at 150km for refilling our water bottles. We managed to there and then took shelter until the storm passed and got to camp at only 5pm. So no more cheeseburgers until we are in Cape Town.
People doing amazing things ....
The oldest person on the trip is a surgeon from Canada who joined us in Zambia. He turned 71 on Sunday and cycled the whole 207km of that day. The oldest full tour rider is a 69 year old German who, barred recovering from a fall, completed all but 3 days so far. So it can be done.
We are leaving Windhoek t/row en route to Sousiesvlei & Fish River Canon and crossing into SA on 8 may. The route to SA border all on dirt which will be a welcome change from tar. It is however also considered one the more challenging sections so hopefully the legs will hold.
Should arrive in Cape Town waterfront around noon on 15 May 2010, so this is the final stretch. Have not yet reached the target of R100 000 so any donations still much appreciated. I am now on my old SA number (0827737894) if you want to reach but please sms as I am not retrieving voice messages. Also saw 1st road sign to SA (see pig 163)
Thanks for all the support and see you soon
The route from Livingstone was via Nata & Maun to the Namibian border and from there via Gobabis to Windhoek. We covered +1500km in 9 days cycling so long distances each day, fortunately mainly flat but wind was becoming a problem the last few days. Also had my 1st 200+ km on the bike on the Mando day of 207km. Find the best tempo for these long days to be about 30kmph at 60-70% of max heart rate.We encountered rain almost every day on this section which is supposed to be barren, dry & hot. I do not think I have seen such long stretches of straights roads like this. The treat of the day is the coke stops. On this section they were few & far between. Some days none, so my 8-10 soft drink intake is down quite a bit. Had a few inetresting detours is small villages looking for it.(see botswana pig 165). Normally they spot quite a bit of game on this section, mainly elephant but we only saw few impala day out of Livingstone. Not sure if it because of the rain but we only saw elephant poo.
Last bush camp or so we thought ......
We stayed at a few nice lodges on this section and I manage to stay out of my tent for 5 succesive nights. Hope to improve this record. The 1st night out of Maun was supposed to be our last bush camp (sleeping next to the road with no facilities). We decided to celebrate this momentous occasion in style with Gabriel cooking Risotto for the group with Gerald and myself as his assistants. They both good cooks but after asking me to chop the onions they decided it is better that I do not handle any sharp instruments. So I just made sure that the wine glasses stayed full as it was a cold rainy day and even washed a pot or two. (see botswana pigs 153,161,157,168)
The day after crossing into Namibia we were supposed to sleep in campsite at witvlei (not even a 1 horse town). On arrival it was no more so we had another bush camp in a veld full "duweltjies" and no more wine left to lift our spirits. Spend yesterday an hour removing "duweltjies" from my tent, sandals, mattress etc. So hopefully that was the final one.
Ban on cheeseburgers....
The second day of the trip Gerald & myself almost lost our EFI status after being caught in a massive storm after 2 hour lunch at a resort on the Red sea. The day out of Maun we stopped for lunch at a lovely lodge Plannet Boabab after 100km where we spend 3 hours having cheeseburgers, chocolate cake etc as well a siesta. Leaving 2pm were still joking that at least there is no headwind or storm only to he hit by a massive storm at 145km. It felt like hail as the rain hit us. Fortunately TDA had a car at 150km for refilling our water bottles. We managed to there and then took shelter until the storm passed and got to camp at only 5pm. So no more cheeseburgers until we are in Cape Town.
People doing amazing things ....
The oldest person on the trip is a surgeon from Canada who joined us in Zambia. He turned 71 on Sunday and cycled the whole 207km of that day. The oldest full tour rider is a 69 year old German who, barred recovering from a fall, completed all but 3 days so far. So it can be done.
We are leaving Windhoek t/row en route to Sousiesvlei & Fish River Canon and crossing into SA on 8 may. The route to SA border all on dirt which will be a welcome change from tar. It is however also considered one the more challenging sections so hopefully the legs will hold.
Should arrive in Cape Town waterfront around noon on 15 May 2010, so this is the final stretch. Have not yet reached the target of R100 000 so any donations still much appreciated. I am now on my old SA number (0827737894) if you want to reach but please sms as I am not retrieving voice messages. Also saw 1st road sign to SA (see pig 163)
Thanks for all the support and see you soon
Update : 28 April
Tough 160km to Windhoek with lots of climbing and strong wind. Tomorrow is a rest day which is needed as we have done 820 km in the last 5 days!
28 April : Witvlei - Windhoek
Thank you to fellow cyclist, David Saevitzon, for sponsoring today. Hope you both have a great cycle!
UPDATE : 27 APRIL
A rare sight - or as Gerald puts it : This is even more rare than spotting a leopard.... Jos doing dishes...
162km ride from the border to Witvlei. Use as a recovery day so spent the day spinning in small gears. Rain finally stopped. Nice lunch stop in Gobabis. Campsite no longer exists, so another bushcamp!
Update : 26 April
What a day! Mando day of 207 km. Started in pouring rain for 1st 70km and headwind last 30km. Longest distance I have done on a bike so far in 7H 30 Min. Exausted so early in bed in pouring rain. Tomorrow is another 170km...
26 April : Ghanzi Khana Lodge to Manumo/Namibian Border
Thank you to Heather & David Gordon for sponsoring Jos's ride into Namibia!
Update : 25 April
Heavy rain during the night, but at least my tent stayed dry. 140km ride in cold and rainy weather. Staying at lodge in Ghanzi tonight. Saw first road sign to South Africa today!
Update : 24 April
158km easy ride with tail wind. To celebrate our last bush camp, we (Gabriel, assisted by myself and Gerald) cooked risotto for the group. My main job was to keep the wine glasses full!
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