2012 English Channel Swim

7 - 14 September 2012



After having cycled through Africa, completed 5 Ironman Triathlons, run the Comrades Ultra Marathon, Climbed Kili ... I have decided to take on a slightly tougher option ...



... 34km of cold, open water swimming ... leaving the coast of the eternal "wanna-be" soccer nation, over to the "frogs" on the other side ...





Thursday 22 February 2007

No luck with the internet

coke break with the locals

hi all again ... i'm really trying to post lotsa nice pictures ... but these cafe's are really no good ... so you gonna have to wait in suspense for a little while longer.

I had a good afternoon going thru a tint section of the market this afternoon ... brilliant!! Really big and quite busy and crazy. They make the best fruit juices out here ... thick and full of pulp! We were also treated to ice cream ... you cannot believe how much I have longed for some ice cream - good or bad ... and today was bloody good! A very european ice cream bar/restaurant. Later I went for a hair cut and barber ... looking clean and well kept again.

It is real weird planning these off days ... todays I did some interesting stuff around town ... but therefore neglected my bike duties and sorting out admin, etc. Other rest days one concentrates on admin and sortiung out one's life ... but then fails to see much around town.

In five days we will be at a site in Yabelo ... where there is near to nothing to do ... so I can catch up on all admin and cleaning ... but no internet.

We will unfortunately not have any internet availability for roughly three weeks ... sorry guys, don't miss me too much!!

We have a hectic three weeks ahead of us on the way to Nairobi ... seven days of tar roads, but hell with kids and mountains while still in Ethiopia. Once we enter Northern Kenya ... aagghh ... the worst roads of the whole trip, mountains, heat, humidity, desert ... not called Meltdown Madness only for the heat - but also for our mental state ...!!
So for now ... all the best and sorry there are not more pictures.
Lotsa love ... Patrick

The week that was …

Ethiopia

Well not much new and exciting happened … or at least that is what it feels like. I did loose my EFI (Every Fucking Inch) Status – came down with a Flu/Viral Infection and still feel a little under the weather. I therefore got to travel on the back-up trucks for three and a half days … also something new/different and pleasant in it's own way. We have also had a noticeable drop in the temperatures … and two nights of long and plentiful rain showers – one morning woke to a soggy/muddy/clay field we were camping in, the next we managed to find a hall/auditorium where many of us camped in to keep dry.

We did the Blue Nile Gorge!!! Unbelievable!!! I got back onto the bike to do this TOUGH ride and promptly felt like real shit that afternoon … and took off the two days following it.

The hills have been tough (got to over 3000m), the children along the road a real pain in the backside … blocking the road, stealing stuff out of pannier bags while cycling along, hitting us with sticks, throwing stones – poor Pierre got one shot into his face – and constant begging and screaming along the side and in the middle of the road. The people at the cafĂ©'s, campsite and in the villages, where one stops, are real friendly. And best of all is the beauty of the country – absolutely fabulous, I recon the most beautiful country in the world! Hills, mountains, greenery, flat plateaus, progressively more vegetated as we go south and beautiful people when there are not too many children around.

our Bike Boy, Dean ... taking a snooze

We arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday (Tuesday). We did nothing much in the afternoon, had a good nights sleep and headed off to the Sheraton this morning (with Sarah, Rachel, Darrel, Elaine) for a well deserved and absolutely delicious breakfast. Had a little look around town and busy updating some stuff here for you guys. Off to the market this afternoon … taking an organized tour as the place is apparently huge and hectic … the largest market on the continent.

Loosing my EFI

Hell, I though I would me depressed and miffed when I lost my EFI Status. But, I don't really mind at all. I'm more irritated that I've missed some absolutely fabulous hill climbs … aagghh! On the other hand I've missed some really irritating kids along the road … yeeha!

The morning we left Bahar Dar I felt a bit down and flat … and I could sense I was not too strong. Most people left quite early but I was dawdling and had to leave with the racers … who all disappeared over the next rise straight after the convoy out of town ended. My tiredness soon changed to exhaustion and real sore legs. At lunch I contemplated getting a lift with the lunch truck … but decided I should give it a go on the road a little further. At 90km I had no strength left, aching legs … sore throat, swollen glands and simply felt like shit! Duncan called the sweep vehicle and I managed to get a lift thru to the camp site.


donkeys absolutely everywhere, for everything

I rested on the truck the next day … but had to do the Blue Nile Gorge the following day! Subsequently I felt like a dog that afternoon and decided to rest up the next two days and hopefully be as strong as a bull when we leave Addis … mmh … not too likely as we leave tomorrow morning and I'm still feeling a bit shitty.

This little viral/flu infection seems to be doing the rounds – several of us can't shake our sore throats … and the whole of Addis is apparently out of throat lozenges! The stomach bug around the camp seems to have settled for the time being … at one stage a good 50% of the group were down with the stomach bug. And you can just imagine the flatulence at night and the state of some of the toilets …

Janet eventually got an X-ray of her wrist … she apparently has a fracture … from falling back in Dongola. She is currently sitting at the orthopedic surgeons office getting a cast put together. She will be able to ride – but only the flat, tarred roads. We have had numerous cuts and bruises … one nasty day where three cyclists (including the tandem) went plowing into locals that crowd the road.

All our little ailments definitely seem to be taking longer to heal than usual … obviously our bodies are quite run down by now and the healing processes are not that great. Most of our little cuts and bruises are also getting slightly septic and inflamed … probably also due to being run down, lowered immunity and obviously some unfamiliar air quality affecting the bodies' reactions.

The episodes of butt chafe, boils and other nether region inflictions seem to have abated quite well – ever since Elaine (our special nurse) gave us a good talk on the needs for cream and how to treat afflicted butts … thank god it was not a show and tell!. I can't believe so many cyclists were NOT using any chafe cream!! I've religiously applied since day one. My little sores are more or less totally healed … been using some antibiotic cream which has worked very well. Not sure what exactly it was … but hey I'm sitting comfortably again so who really cares.

Some of the cyclists have been suffering along on their cycles with poor guts, illness or sores and adamant not to give up EFI … good for you! But I'm not keen to torture myself on the road … and rather wish to enjoy the trip … every second of the way.

The Blue Nile Gorge

Simply awesome!!

13km to the Gorge from our mud paddy … and as you approach you simply notice that there doesn't seem to be a real horizon in the distance …

We then descended 18km of dirt and mud roads – dropping a total of 1300m … yeeha!!

We waited at the bottom and the racers and others who wanted to participate enjoyed a time trial up the other side … 19km climbing up 1350m!!! Although not feeling 100%, I could not miss this fun. I paced myself and stopped for numerous pictures, views and to catch my breath … and had a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Well done to Chris for blasting up in 1h39. I had a good ride and managed the ride in 2h35.

Just two kilometers into the start of the Gorge from the Northern side – where we approached – two trucks had crashed or broken down. This caused a nightmare traffic jam of huge trucks in the mud in both directions!! The jam and the cooler weather and rain all helped make it a more pleasant day for us … there was relatively little traffic, less dust from the traffic due to the moist ground and less heat than usual.

traffic jam on the Blue Nile Gorge.

I've deregistered as a racer

I've decided to deregister as a racer … basically cause I've not been racing. It makes no difference to the trip in any way – except that I don't get timed on a daily basis. For the last while I've been enjoying stopping regularly for coke stops and sights. I've also been riding slowly at the back with several other people who take their time and enjoy the ride ... so in essence the non-racers are the social riders and those that take home more of the trip.

I will also admit openly that there is no way in hell that I would ever have been able to challenge the top racers in our group … semi-pro cyclists to various degrees.

So here goes to leaving as early as I wish and to stopping as often as I want …!!

Thursday 15 February 2007

Chilling Patrick


Happy Valentines

Hi there all! Hope all of you have a lekker Valentine's Day and that you are all spoilt rotten by the ones you love ... my bike was not too nice to me, but maybe i'll give her some TLC later. We were woken to true Valentine's delight by the guys from African Routes ... thanks Thor, Wimpie and Henk!!! Lekker pink nail polish and thanks for the silver hearts, packs of biscuits for each of us and Nutella to go with the morning breadrolls!!!

We arrived in Bahar Dar this morning .. we only had a 61km sprint into town ... and are all relaxing before a lekker party tonight. Still have to put together my outfit ...


Not much since Gondar

We have had two fast, quite uneventfull and pleasent days on the road. All well tarred, two big climbs yesterday in a toital if 117km and nothing much to write about our 61km today.

People are still falling prey to the horrid stomach bug everyday ... I think dear Dave from Stellenbosch/Switzerland is the only person not to have had anything at all. I've hadf a brief early morning toilet session four days ago ... thank goodness on the two rest days and have not sacrficed my cycling yet and still hold a position on the EFI team ... for now.


Kids and onlookers

The kids don't seem to be as aggressive as during out second day in Ethiopia - but they can still be a nuisance. Dave had his Polar watch stolen as well. Many a stones have come flying our ways and numerous cyclists have been beaten with a stick or two. I don't think they are specifically violent ... they merely wish to associate and communicate with us and are unable to bring that across. These flashy, colourful, foreigners that come flying thru their districts ...

The most common comments that get muttered over and over are:
Give watch
Give T-shirt
Where are you going or What is your name
Give money or Give Bir
You rich, me poor ... give money
You, you, you, you, you .... (the most common and continuous outburst)


One quarter done

Well that is all for now ... off to enjoy the town of Bahar Dar ... lying at the southern tip of Lake Tanar ... the origin of the Blue Nile. We have officially completed one quarter of our trip ... time and distance wise ... but not effort wise!!!!

In three or four days time I would appreciate a little thought or two ... we will be crossing thru the Blue Nile Gorge. 1000m climb in 22km ... rough dirt roads, heat and lotsa excited kids!!

Be in touch soon from Addis.

Some Pics

Darel introduces a local to toothpaste


the last and the first onlookers yesterday and today ...


A little short on choice ... A local video rental outlet

Castle Ruins in Gondar dating back to 1640s

pick me, pick me!!

Getting High

A campsite with a view

Some of the local onlookers at our campsite

Simon, Alice and Patrick enjoy the views HIGH up in the mountains

Images of Ethiopia





Remy, Alice and Marcus cruising thru Sudan

Patrick and Duncan enjoying long awaited beers at the Ethiopian border

Marc and Remy heading off into Ethiopia

Tuesday 13 February 2007

Bahar Dar

Tired Patrick
Tomorrow – Tuesday – we are off towards Bahar Dar … on Lake Tanar, the origin of the Blue Nile. Here we have another rest day, and enjoy a "P-Party". The tour organizers plan quiz nights, dress-up parties and other activities during the trip.

We were unfortunately unable to fly thru to Lalibela … a World Heritage Site, but to be honest most of us were happier to relax than to go trekking and rushing off for a day or two.
After Bahar Dar we head off to Addis … killer hills and more kids – patience will take on a whole new meaning! On the way to Addis we cross thru the Blue Nile Gorge – a major gorge currently being reconstructed – with gravel, steep, long, dusty, hot and VERY high. We have a time trial planned for the uphill on the yonder side of the gorge … yeeha!!

Goodbye Sudan

Sudan was absolutely fabulous! Friendly, beautiful (so far Ethiopia takes the cake for beauty) and endless freedom (in a space and nothingness perspective, not freedom of choice and from political oppression).

Our last few days in Sudan were tough due to the long distances (three days at 150km and two around 130km) and hectic headwinds we experienced. I had a slight tyre malfunction and broke a spoke … another one two days ago … aagghh! I was cycling quite hard and really enjoyed the last few days thru Sudan. Unfortunately a little stomach bug started making the rounds – that has hit nearly everyone to lesser or greater degrees … all the best to Nels who is really struggling and compliments to Andy (Scottie) who really didn't want to give up his EFI status … but passing out twice in ten minutes along the side of the road and not being able to stand without holding onto your bike … ;-) (sorry mate!)

Tough Tough Tough

We are eventually in Ethiopia – Gondar. We have enjoyed two days off – and needed them real bad!!! On the last day more than a third of our participants ended up on the truck/s due to fatigue, injury or illness. I made it alright … just tired and pooped. Ended up hitting the toilet at four in the morning with ragging diahorrea … and ultimately feeling a little sorry for myself yesterday (Sunday)

Ethiopia is awesome! Mountains after mountains and more mountains … and no simple little mountains … huge ones!! We climbed up a 24km dirt road two days ago – maximum gradient 18% and average of 12% … but the best views imaginable!

Unfortunately the beauty of Ethiopia is tarnished by the irritating little brats of kids chasing us along the road and the horrendously useless service at the Gohar Hotel in Gondar.
Along the road, the little children wait … and then beg, push, steal, slap and generally irritate you as you cycle along. The problem is that they are real fit and always wait on the uphills and easily keep up. Once they get bored or if they don't get anything – like money, sweets, etc – they sometimes resort to collecting stones and throwing them at you while you cycle along. The real bullies simply stand in the fields along the road and throw stones as you pass along. Poor George had a run in with them and lost his special cycle computer and cycle lock while he was cycling along.


Ethiopian Kids

Monday 12 February 2007

Cold Beer


Ethiopian Mountains
We made it thru to the Ethiopian border with a great incentive of cold beers!! Sudan allows NO alcohol. And, promptly on crossing the border … not even thru immigration … we were offered cold beers. We enjoyed cold, clean, refreshing showers at the local brothel and got an introduction to the Ethiopian swarms surrounding our camp who are perfectly content in staring us down for hours on end … and this for the next 19 days!!! Campsites get surrounded by a rope – within which we camp – and the onlookers flood in very quickly to merely surround our circus and stare till well after sunset – when their mommies expect them home. By the time we rise in the morning – the swarm has returned and simply stands and stares for hours at end.

Daryl in Ethiopia


I found a scale at the truck stop/border crossing and clocked in several kilos lighter … roughly 88kg. The full mirror in my hotel room here in Gondar was also interesting … definitely changing shape slightly … sorry no measuring tape as yet to update measurements.

Sunday 4 February 2007

This is how happy I am ...


Onwards from Khartoum

Tonight we are being hosted by the Sudanese Cycling federation for dinner (I wrote this earlier and am still sitting in the Internet cafe … decided to chill out in camp, pack bags and get a good nights sleep). I still need to pack my bag and Red Box and clean my bike. We then head off towards Ethiopia … quite good, flat, tarred roads. Some short sections of rough road surfaces expected shortly before the border and then two rough days to Gondor in Ethiopia. I’m going to leave on my rough terrain tyres … and take it a little easier during the next week … my legs are taking a little strain and I’ve developed a real nasty little sore down on my saddle regions … eina!

So keep well all, don’t work too hard and think of me enjoying myself! Not sure when next I’ll have a connection to get on line … love you lots …

Some Extras





Dongola ...Rest Day

Even More ...


At the well
We want a massage ...
Which route ...
One of the backup vehicles

Khartoum

Some Sudanese cyclists that joinred the convoy in Khartoum


Khartoum is a city with anywhere from three to five million persons … no official census and nothing planned for the near future. The city is very nice … hectic, but nowhere like Cairo. It seems like a real large bustling Harare crossed with Umtata. Lots of little Tuk-Tuks and lots of flashy modern cars around. Hyundai and Toyota still predominant vehicles. Out in the desert we had nothing besides Toyota Pickups, buses and trucks – trucks both as buses and for goods.

There are some modern buildings and some decent, yet numerous dilapidated roads and buildings all round. There is a noticeable air of wealth and spending on basic luxuries – food, restaurants, cell phones, cars, electric equipment – apparently more noticeable over the last few years as the wealth off the oil has been expanded.

The Blue and the White Nile come together here and this abundance of water has resulted in lots of greenery and beauty. The city is very clean and quite calm in general. Shop assistants are all very friendly and helpful … and although they don’t try to rip us off on each purchase as in Egypt, I’m sure they crank up their prices a little here and there.

Camels




Sarah traded in her bike ...

More of us in Sudan

Shanny (from TdA in Canada) and Abdul - Abdul is our local "guide/assistant" from the department of Tourism in Sudan
Alice ... what is becoming of our young physios in South Africa?
Rachel ... go Australia!
Sarah ... aka Tiny ... able tow bath and shave in her Red Box ... I hate you!!!
Pierre

The Route …

We enter Ethiopia at Metema and head off to Gonder – here we have two days off and will try to fly thru to Lalibela to the Temples carved out of the ground.

We go on to Bahir Dar – another day off on the southern tip of Lake Tana

We then head south thru Debre Markos and Dejen to Addis Ababa (Rest Day)

On thru Awasa on Route 6 to a rest day in Yabelo.

Further along Route 6 to cross into Kenya at Moyale

Here we turn westwards and follow the A2 thru the Dida Galgalu Desert to rest in Marsabit … apparently there is something odd/different/special about this town – but no one will divulge what it is

We continue south thru Isiolo, Naro Moru, Thika and into Nairobi. Here we have an off day

We then go two days south to Arusha where we celebrate the half way mark with three … yes a whole three days off!!! Game watching, relaxing, sleeping, drinking, partying … yeeha!

From here we go slightly westwards on the A104 and turn south towards Babati, Kondoa, Dodoma and rest in Iringa

We continue along the A104 thru Mafinga, Igawa and turn south onto the B345 towards Lake Malawi

We cross the border at Kyela and head for a fabulous campsite (can’t remember the name) outside Livingstonia on the Lake … if anyone wants to come visit us – this is a lekker spot!!!

We progress further to Lilongwe – rest day – and then swing westwards into Zambia at Mchinji

We follow the T4 all the way to Lusaka … where we will experience the first real first world shopping malls again … and apparently feel totally out of place and out of our comfort zones – basically we won’t be used to it anymore.

From here we go south on the T2 and soon turn west again on the T1 towards Livingston … two rest days!! All visitors welcome here …and we will be celebrating two 50th birthdays on the same day

From Livingston we travel to Kazungula, cross into Botswana via the ferry and follow the Elephant Highway to Nata

Here we head west along the A3 to Maun – rest day

We then head south , at Toteng more south along the A3, thru Ghanzi to Kalkfontein/Tshootsha where we head west to the Namibian border at Buitepos … this will be our longest distance at 208km for the day

We then follow thru Gobabis and on to Windhoek where we have two days off … and hopefully a bed in a house, a washing machine and some home cooked meal??

From Windhoek we head straight south along the B1 till we get to Keetmanshoop. We turn slightly west and soon south again to head down to the Fish River Canyon and on to Ai-Ais for our last rest day

We then fly along thru the border, Springbok, Bitterfontein and head west at Vanrynsdorp to plod along towards Lambert’s Bay.

We make our way along the coast to Yzerfontein for the last night before arriving in Cape Town on May 12

12 May … party, drink and be merry!!

Even More Sudan

The common structures - houses, etc - along the Nile


Agro
Lunch in Agro ... just before catching the ferry across the Nile