thru africa

Poor show Challenge Family ... and a tired body ...

2012-02-09T10:25:00.002+02:00

Two and a half weeks to Rottnest. Too much work. Battling with a tired body. Sore and stiff. And then Challenge Family Triathlons comes up short and ruins my week totally :-(

Challenge Cape Town - a full Ironman distance triathlon was supposed to be staged in Cape Town end of last year. I was overjoyed and extremely keen to partake! I laid out my R4500 (about $500) for the entry and made sure I was fit. 16 days before the event ... yest, you got it - only 16 days ... they pulled the plug and cancelled the race. Many, actually all other athletes I know that entered, have received their refund ...

... except myself! and apparently some other folk that I don't know. R4500 is a fair bit of money! And I really want that refund. I put some pressure on the local organisers and the German mother company. First they promised refunds over and over again. But no; nothing materialised.

Last week Challenge Family in Germany distanced themselves and disassociated themselves from the local organiser Grant Kunneke. They basically say they can offer me a slot in Roth and that is it. Grant Kunneke , the totally incompetent dreamer in Cape Town, is dependant on some new event and new sponsorship before he can pay me back.

... What does one do? I don't want Grant to organise another event, because I don't want other triathletes getting sucked into his poor event management endeavors. But I also do want him to get the sponsorships ... so that I can get my money!!

On a lighter and more specific swimming note ... I had a great sea swim yesterday afternoon ... kinda cold at 12 degrees. But a nice group of people and I managed very well in the cold.

I am rather sore, stiff and tired of late ... getting some weekly massages to help me prepare for my 20km swim in two and a half weeks. I think I am doing too much speed and power work ... definitely some good tapering required, and a focus on long slow swims for a while.

So for today ... thoroughly enjoying my rest day ... and here is me giving Challenge Family and Grant Kunneke a right royal "up-yours" ... probably much the same as Fabio Capello is giving David Bernstein today ...

Tan lines and a really poor 10km swim

2012-01-30T20:43:00.003+02:00

Well, I am trying to think what is worse ... the horrible tan lines I have from my weekend's swim ... or my poor performance in the same swim. Neither of them signal the end of the world (we'll have to wait till December for that); and one will have to have much more drastic changes ...

I did a fresh water dam 10km swim on Saturday ... in 22 degree water and over thirty degree summer weather. At my pace that results in a nice swim cap tan, goggle tan and the HUGE numbers they ink onto our arms and back result in horrid number tans when we wash off the black ink from our pink-red skin several hours later.

Basically I should just swim quicker and I would not have this problem ...

That gets me to my next problem ... the swim just didn't go well ... and I was just unable to swim fast. "Grumpy"! I was sore and stiff from the 3km stage onwards, slow, tired and just didn't get a rhythm. My right shoulder was sore, my arms were tired and my tanks felt empty ... either a nice little wake-up call or a reminder that one simply can have a slow day now and then.

Up front I must say that a bottle and a half of good white wine the night before probably did not help at all. But I do believe a slight re-evaluation of my training has to be done ... and some self recommended changes need to be put in place soonest to get through my 20km swim in 3 weeks; and more later this year ...

So here goes ... in no specific order of importance ...

Weekly massages for the next three weeks; and then religiously every two to three weeks

Cut out the coffee and the booze

More squad training sessions to work on the speed training (already on the training plan after the last three months of base training)

More longer swims - 10km sessions every two weeks

More/better sleep

Eat healthier - loose four kilograms now, and put on weight again closer to the Channel Swim

Lets see what I can get right in the short term (massage booked for Thursday already, and no alcohol today) ... in my last three weeks before Rottnest.

Lets give it horns ...

To Cycle ... To Swim ... To Run ...?

2012-01-12T15:01:00.002+02:00

Oh how I miss my cycling and running ... every year at this time I would be cycling a lot to prepare for the Argus Cycle Tour (109km road race around Cape Town) ... and seeing all these cyclists out there in the nice weather is tough. Them in the sun and heat ... myself in the cooold sea ...

The odd run I am fitting in is not as enjoyable as it used to be ... basically carrying a few extra pounds around my waist is not that comfortable ;-)

Well, I presume it is all in the mind ... I will cycle and run loads after September ... but for now I just need to suck it up, put on the Speedo and head down to the pool ...

Robben Island Swim

2012-01-04T14:56:00.004+02:00

What a beaut of a day. Off for a nice swim in the morning and then falling asleep in the office ;-)

Huge swell, moderate temperatures, sunny and warm day ... not ideal; but good enough to head for the open seas.

8km swim at a slow pace, relaxing and enjoyable ... until we hit the shoreline ... OMG ... those waves were NOT fun :-(

... and somewhere out there are a very decent pair of swim goggles ...

I didn't make it back to the boat for the trip to the harbour with the boat ... those waves were just a tad nasty ... and therefore had to do the speedo and cap hitch-hiking back through town ... now that was interesting!!

January 2012 ... now for the serious stuff ...

2012-01-03T12:36:00.002+02:00

Well ... here we are ... eight months to go ... and a lot of training to be completed ...

As extra motivation for myself I have decided to post my completed training sessions on-line ... maybe guilt will get me to be a little more diligent with my training sessions ;-)

My plan for the time being is to do three mornings a week at 5km swimming and one weekend morning of 6km (21km per week); supplemented with some gym sessions and time allowing, at least one decent cycle per week.

Track my training work successfully completed on:

http://www.patrickthomas.co.za/2012-english-channel-training-progress.php

Excuses, excuses, excuses ... and Happy Holidays!

2011-12-21T15:08:00.004+02:00

OMG ... I really need to get down and do some proper training!!!

First work kept me from getting down to the required training; then I was tired and run down from the work and year past. Now it is the holidays, friends, workload and everyone's festive expectations ... aagghh ...

... DISCIPLINE? Where art thou? I really do not wish to alienate you ... and I need to keep you close for the months ahead ...

The only good thing is that i am putting on some much needed weight. I feel highly uncomfortable carrying the extra pounds about ... but much needed for my upcoming cold water swims.

So on this note of the Crazy Season and extra pounds we carry - I herewith wish you all a Happy Holiday, lot of fun, relaxation and way too much food.

Skipper found ... Perth here I come ...

2011-12-21T15:02:00.004+02:00

The good news is that I have found a skipper for the Rottnest Channel Swim in February 2012!

This good news is coupled with even better news that I have found a training partner for my swim endeavours ... Myles is down to swim the English Channel in the exact same slot as myself (September 2012) - he is the same age as myself and also lives in Cape Town.

... Now just to get our acts together and actually get down to doing some proper training :-)

Myles put me in contact with his Rottnest skipper from last year - who was still available (after having mistakenly held a slot for a different Patrick) ... oh how nice life sometimes works out.

So Perth here I come ... Flights booked, qualifier swum, skipper found ... now for the training.

Rottnest Channel Swim Escort Boat ... anyone ...?

2011-11-27T18:35:00.005+02:00

Well ... I have entered for the Rottnest Channel Swim in Perth in February 2012. A great 19.7km sea swim from Perth to Rottnest Island

I have swum my qualifying time.

I have accommodation. I can take leave from work. I can book my flight.

BUT ... I need an escort boat ... if anyone actually reads this blog of mine ... and has any connections in Perth of any sort ... Please find out if anyone can assist me next year for the swim on the weekend of 25 February.

I would be big time indebted to anyone who can actually help to organise this ... ;-)

A Porno Sunburn for 10km Swimming

2011-11-27T18:26:00.002+02:00

Well training is progressing slowly - unfortunately still the endless travels! At least I have achieved my training goals for the last two weeks - that must be good. 14km in the water last week and 16km this week. Still nothing major when compared to previous training programs; but soon there will be some noticeable extra time to train.

I completed an enjoyable 10km fresh water, dam swim. Rather tedious procedure of swimming ten 1km loops. But brain numbing activities are vital to train the brain to cope with long, boring endeavors ... what on earth will I think about for 12 - 14 hours crossing the Channel ... ??? The actual swim went well. No thrilling speed freak activity, but an enjoyable 3h19 ... a good, steady 20 minutes per km.

Happy enough :-) Except for the ridiculous sunburn I have on my face, shoulders, back and speedo lines ...

Work, travel, friends ... when can I train ...?

2011-10-31T08:27:00.003+02:00

Maybe it is the time of the year, maybe I take on too much.

One can't really do too much about work needs ... after all I do have to earn the money to be able to afford the beeeeg swim. Weekly cross-country travelling doesn't help - especially into remote, outlying areas with no swimming pools and poor routes for running - nor does the fatigue of the flying, driving and living out of a suitcase help the cause.

Then we also need to spend time with friends and time to just chill-out and unwind ...

... so when does one swim? aagghhh ...

Although this is time for base training and just getting in some good mileage (as well as some basic cross-training) one still gets a bit antsy when one doesn't complete the mileage intended. Even if one has been training for these endurance events for many years - one always feels guilty when ramping up the training and not meeting one's own expectations.

I keep having to remind myself the most important rule in endurance event training ... Do Not Play Catch-up!

If I miss a session or two it does not matter. Try change your program and lifestyle going forward to fit in the necessary training ... but do not cram in missing miles. There is a reason why we couldn't fit them in ... most of the time we were too busy and now can't afford to add extra (current/catch-up) mileage into our schedule ... and add to the chaos and time/energy depleting activities.

With ten months to go I will have more than enough time to swim :-)

FYI ... my current training routine involves ... four week training cycles; each one supplemented with 2 gym sessions and some running or cycling if time allows:

Week 1: 12km Swim

Week 2: 15km Swim

Week 3: 18km Swim

Week 4: 20km Swim

English Channel Training ...

2011-10-24T22:29:00.003+02:00

Well, what does one do when one falls prey to a nasty bout of flu and bronchitis? I can honestly say i have never been hit that hard ... total lack of energy and more mucous than I care to see for quite a while ...

Well this was the perfect time to spend on a training plan for the next ten months ... September 2012 is around the corner and I have some serious training to put back.

Basically I plan to have a minor peak end of February 2012 - a good 20km swim of sorts. I am not too sure yet if I should head out to Perth for the 20km swim or do one of the local 25km fresh water events.

My basic plan looks as follows:

October through January I plan to build a solid base - a good 15 to 20km of swimming every week, still ample cross training and twice weekly gym sessions
End February a decent 20-25km event
March and April 2012 is strength training - lots of gym and 18 - 25km per week
May and June 2012 I will be focusing on speed work and maintaining the 18 - 25km of swimming per week
July 2012 will be major volume - where I aim to put in 30km per week for the whole of July
August taper and recover
September 2012 ... the aim is for 12 hours of mental strength to carry off the swim

Zugspitze: 2200m climbing to 3000m

2011-10-24T21:58:00.003+02:00

The Zugspitze is Germany's tallest mountain ... and most definitely one of the most amazing things i have ever done. Maybe not recommended 2 days after pushing hard in a marathon; but then I am not known to do things like this in any clever way.

The hike is varied, exciting and very beautiful - the tunnels, face cliff climbs, glacier, forest, scrambles ... all come together for one exciting trip. Seven and a half hours hiking and climbing ended up being quite a tough little day ... but worth every step and breath of the way.

And being in Munich end of September lent itself to a rapid replacement of carbs and fluids ... seeing the Oktoberfest was running at the same time ;-)

And obviously so important to put on the weight ...

And now to put on some weight ...

2011-10-24T21:49:00.002+02:00

Berlin Marathon: 25 September 2011 ... what an awesome experience! 40 000 runners and over one million spectators. The weather was perfect (possibly a touch to warm) and the route was just a touch too long. For all of those (few) people reading this at some stage - and planning to go do a marathon or similar somewhere distant and special - remember to leave the sightseeing for AFTER the race.

It is not a good idea to race on tired legs :-) ... Amateur behavior ... but quite understandable for Berlin. It is such an amazing city!

The race went well ... I came in just under 4 hours. And very sore indeed! The 3h45 would have been nice, but that will have to wait for a further year or so ...

The real focus begins now - just over 11 months to go to the English Channel ... and a good 5 - 8 kg of extra weight I need to put on

Can anyone think of anything better in life ... the aim is to train hard AND put on ample weight ... oh how wonderful ...

Knysn Half Marathon 09 July

2011-07-21T21:25:00.002+02:00

Once again a very nice Knysna Half Marathon :-) First real race (if one calls my pace a race) in a very long time. Although quite poorly organised logistically; the race was run in great weather and it was real good fun.

1h50 - feeling strong and enjoying the whole route. Nice prep for Berlin in just over two months time.

Some EPIC memories ...

2011-05-22T18:06:00.000+02:00

ABSA Cape Epic 2011 - survived and completed

2011-04-04T14:25:00.000+02:00

Now that was tough! Dr Evil, the route designer, should be renamed Prof. Stupid. The course was really insane; long, tough, way to rough, steep and challenging ... even the professionals thought it was a little too far out there.

But we made it :-)

The body is worse for wear. Stiffer, more painful, more exhausted than ever before ... but therefore the smile is all the bigger. A brilliantly put together experience - great services, really good organisation ... all in all just lekker.

I won't be back ... at least no time soon ... with the current prices and extreme routes. But if you have not done it yet - go on, give it a try!

English Channel Swim 2012 ... CONFIRMED

2011-03-24T13:16:00.000+02:00

Well, isn't that just great ... I haven't even packed for one crazy event and my next one is confirmed.

I have received my confirmation for a slot to swim the English Channel in September 2012

7 - 14 September 2012

Slot 2

Pilot: Eddie

More on all that at a later stage ... those butterflies in my tummy are currently going into hyper-drive and i need to finish some serious work here for now.

Cape Epic MTB Race ... 2 Days 18 Hours to go ...

2011-03-24T13:08:00.000+02:00

The training is done. The final shopping is done. The butterflies are going wild in my tummy. And I can't say I am being overly productive at work these last few days.

... the Tour de France of Mountain Biking is upon us once more ... and eventually my time to have some fun ... and a real sore backside.

8 days

707km

(mainly technical, steep and insane)

over 14 000m of climbing

tents, rain, countryside

Tons of FUN

22 years ... first puncture ...

2011-03-14T08:45:00.000+02:00

Oh well, another Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour has passed ... the one with perfect weather, a good seeding and the perfect chance for a good sub-three.

And ... the first one where i get a puncture ... grrr ;-) So statistically I am overjoyed it has taken so long before I have had one (actually only 2 punctures ever in road races in 24 years), but a pity the sub-3 wasn't in the bag. Still happy with a 3h07.

A good day out in the sun, on the road and having a great cycle ... and knowing i am fit for the Epic torture coming up in under two weeks.

CA2C Burger Weskusser MTB Ride

2011-03-06T10:44:00.000+02:00

Disappointing and TOUGH!! ... this was ridiculous! Good training for the Epic, but just no fun on the day. Two day, very hot, good hills and lots of mileage.

Day one was supposed to be 106 km and ended up being 120km and I ran out of water for last 15km :-( Water stations poorly spaced out and not helped with 47 degrees Celsius and ... wait for it ... 15km of soft, soft sand to negotiate.

But at least real good preparation for ABSA Cape Epic ... three weeks to go ...

Argus Cycle Tour ... no. 22

2011-02-17T21:04:00.000+02:00

Coming up soon is more mountain biking and my 22nd Argus Cycle Tour. The endless hours on the bike are starting to take their toll ... i reckon my grumpy demeanor is related to the training and stress from work and relationship issues ... why does this always seem to happen to endurance athlete enthusiasts ...?

First we still have to do the Cape Town to Sea mountain bike ride ... a nice weekend out of mainstream civilization and hopefully another Robben Island swim if everything goes well.

... and hold your breath and come back soon ... hopefully another crazy project to be announced soon ... i might dive into 18 months of swimming and endless cold water experiences ... ;-)

15 January ATTAKWAS Extreme MTB

2011-02-17T20:58:00.000+02:00

Eish ... i have been quite slack here. Training hard for the ABSA Cape Epic MTB Ride end of March. The MTB version of the Tour de France ... eight days of torture coming up in under six weeks ... :-)

The Attakwas Extreme was really great. Really TOUGH! 121km and nearly 3000m climbing.An unbelievably beautiful route, but not considered South Africa's toughest single day MTB ride for nothing.

The image shows the relaxed, happy and clean image before the race ... 8.5 hours later was a lot different. Well worth an attempt for anyone who loves a good MTB ride.

Ironman Triathlon South Africa 2010

2010-04-29T11:11:00.000+02:00

Once more we all headed out for a long and tiring day - which most of us say we do willingly and happily ... and no one seems to believe us :-)

It was a rough start with nice swells and choppy seas seeing us off on a chilling morning. Light winds grated away on sore legs as we cycled along and then the mid day heat was rather intense for us crazy folk who invested in sleek black tri-suits ... tsk tsk tsk

Overall a great day for myself - much better than i expected and my fastest time on this Port Elizabeth course. Lets just hope my 11h53 was not too destructive in the build up to another crazy venture one month down the line ... Comrades Ultra Marathon end of May ...

Kilimanjaro ... 2009!!

2010-01-21T16:07:00.000+02:00

Look at those views ... awesome, clear, "warm" conditions

"mmpfwklmpfff"

Another dream completed ...

Tis the season to be merry ... with the children, whiskey and snow ...

The last sprint for the goal ...

Close, but no cigar ... another 200m to go ...

December 2009 - Kilimanjaro

2010-01-21T15:46:00.000+02:00

Come on ... catch me if you can ...

Mykl and Michelle at it again ...

Where to hang my hammock ...?

Off we go again ...

December 2009 - Ascent on Kilimanjaro

2010-01-21T14:58:00.000+02:00

Porta-loo of a different kind

The children all strapped in

First morning views

The Children

The Motley Crew ... Patrick, Michelle and Mykl

Oh ... I forgot ...

2007-05-22T08:14:00.001+02:00

I left the Cape on 91kg and returned on 84kg ... not much less, but I recon a lot is pure muscle ... ;-)

I was real skinny and gaunt in Arusha ... 5 days of hectic runs ... but put a lot back on as the food got better closer to South Africa.

I have not been able to take my measurements ... as I do not have an appropriate measuring tape ... mmpph ...

The trip in one word ...

2007-05-21T11:37:00.000+02:00

UNBELIEVABLE

Thank You!!

2007-05-21T11:29:00.000+02:00

I know I'm going to leave some people out of this ... purely by mistake ... and I'm sorry if I forgot ...

Firstly to all of you reading this regularly ... thanks for sharing this most amazing trip with me! Thanks for the comments and thoughts and those for just reading it regularly.

First and foremost ... thanks for my brother, parents and Phil Head ... for being my contacts back home for queries, needs, computer stuff, blog updates ... and boet for keeping my life back home on the right road!!! I couldn't have done this without you ...

Obviously also thanks to Tammy for looking after the practice.

Thanks to all my family, friends, clients and others who bought raffle tickets and contributed financially to my trip!

Gecko cycles for my bike and stuff and the sponsors of the prizes ... look right on my blog page ... for your contributions.

Lastly thanks to all the riders and staff on this trip ... the organisation and trip itself was absolutely superb! and the riders were real great ... really nice to have met you all ... some more than others, and I'm sure you'll know who ...

Tyres and weather

2007-05-21T11:13:00.000+02:00

There are two things that are near to unbelievable and that I will be forever grateful for ...

The Weather

It was simply amazing! It is crazy to believe that we only had two days where it rained ... I only had a good 40 minute (torrential) downpour in Tanzania and then another good hour or so just over the border into Zambia. Furthermore probably only another two times where it spat briefly ... and we hardly even noticed it. And last year they had three weeks of rain every single day!!

We did have several nights where it rained ... we counted 14 nights in total.

Besides the lack of rain, the temperatures were also really great ... Egypt was not too cold and Sudan not too hot (the hottest though was a good 47 degrees). It really only got chilly again down the west coast of South Africa.

... But therefore it has been pissing with rain for most of the time back in Cape Town.

My Tyres

I didn't need to fix one tube/tyre while on the road ... YEEHA!!

For anyone doing this or a similar trip ... tubeless IS the way to go.

I must admit I did break 5 or 6 spokes over the trip ... but then I didn't have the best spokes ... and I will learn from this!

Regarding the tyres and tubes ... I punctures two tubes (which were in my slicks), but both were filled with slime, so they stayed inflated and I merely changed them at a later stage when servicing my bike. I had to refill the slime in my tubeless off-road tyres once, when there were some holes ... but they easily sealed with the slime. I also had one majorly irritating rest-day where I really struggled to seat my slicks to my rims ... a note to all wanting to use tubeless and fit slicks - try them out and find a pair of tyres that seat easily. All of us tubeless riders eventually ended up using Michelin XCR Road Tyres/Slicks ... they seat real well!

Home ain't that bad ...

2007-05-21T11:10:00.000+02:00

With a view like this from my lounge/dinning area/balcony, I admit it can't be too bad being back in Cape Town ...

Being a tourist at home ...

2007-05-21T11:02:00.000+02:00

Sailing at sunset ... ah ... how nice it is to be back in Cape Town ...

Cape Town from Table Mountain

Gee ... it feels like easter ...

Well ... the last week has been an absolute mad rush!!!

I want to be back in Sudan!! Living out of my little red box ... basic, simple, quiet and peaceful ...!

Well, I've been a tourist in my own town again ... it has been nice going up Table Mountain, down to Cape Town, Sailing, Wine Routes, Hermanus, etc ... but now that nearly everyone has left I need to focus on making some money again, finding a place to live (I've got a real nice place till October ...), getting a car, sorting my admin, treating some horses and paying back my bank ... aagghh.

Finish and into the night ...

2007-05-21T10:51:00.001+02:00

The South Africans!

Ze Germans and ze Zwiss, Ja!

Adri, Patrick and Eva

Party Time!

Finish ...

2007-05-21T10:40:00.000+02:00

Andy C. ... in the final convoy ... any guess which country he comes from ...?

Done It ... YEEHA!

Patrick, Tiger and Helen Zille

Thanks Boet for all the help and support ...!

And they all came to see me!! ;-)

Home Stretch

2007-05-21T10:23:00.000+02:00

The SEA! ... Eilands Bay

Patrick and Remy ... after the race leaders fitted "Race Leader" signs ...

The roads are always long and straight in Africa ... merely tarred back in S.A.

Remy, Janet and Gerhard in Melkbos Strand

Yeeha!! Home at last!

Our day into Cape Town was easy and pleasant. A non-race day ... so everybody took it real easy. We idled along to just past Melkbos and met on the beach - from where we continued in a police escorted convoy into town and to the Waterfront/Finish Line.

This was definitely the best convoy to date for our group ... one fall while cycling thru the harbour, when Guy and Gerhard slipped on the train tracks ... No I was not involved in this one!!! The mayor - Helen Zille - joined us for the last stretch into the Waterfront, also accompanied by numerous BEN cyclists (Bicycle Empowerment Network ... charity organisation).

The finish line was really great!! Loads of people, Table Mountain in the background, awesome weather, drums and music ... and obviously also a little emotional!

The day turned out to be real hectic from the finish onwards ... and I'm sorry for not giving all the friends and family their due attention ...

We had a flag procession, speeches, prize giving, photos, snacks and drinks ... then a quick rush to buy some outfit for the evening ... collect all our bikes and bags, find our hotel rooms, quick shower, drinks and dinner party ... aahh, and then a good night's sleep ...

The week to Cape Town

2007-05-21T10:11:00.000+02:00

Phil's Bike ...

Andy ... when you going to cut your hair?

Well, we left Springbok with a taste of different weather and temperatures getting noticeably cooler. We had more wind ... specifically more head-wind and temperatures were much colder. We also had some overcast weather and threats of rain ... which held back for the rest of the trip!

Phil, Remy and I continued to alter, hide, deface and torture each others bikes and rides ... as noticeable with Phil's bike in the picture above. Some people also kept growing their hair ... either too lazy or they couldn't find a hairdresser ... Andy P. looked especially sexy when he took his helmet off ...

We had one more dirt road section thru to Eland's Bay ... where we got to see the sea!! YEEHA! The second last day, to Yzerfontein was really quite tough ... we were all real tired, head-winds all the way and a definite chill in the air ... but arriving here was a definite highlight for me ... it is nearly like home (I work a lot at a stable yard around the corner and I used to own a smallholding up here till two months ago).

Thanks to all the family and friends that came to join us at the campsite in Yzerfontein ... it was real good fun! and nice to see you all.

Home, happy and chilling

2007-05-17T00:16:00.000+02:00

Hi there all!!

I've done it ... actually several days ago already ... I've just been running around like crazy and haven't set up my computer yet (sitting in Stellenbosch in an internet cafe) ... and therefore only sending this out now ... we cruised in last Saturday and have not stopped since ...

It has been absolutely amazing!! The best thing I have ever done and worth every penny and all the debt I have accrued to do so!

I'll update you all with information and pics early in the next week ... still running around with friends from the tour and trying to find some peace and quite here and there - actually, to be honest, I would rather be back in Sudan in the open, empty sand-pit with little to do and surviving out of my little red box ...

Well, I've got a couple more tourist destinations to go thru ... off to Hermanus and the wine farms today, Greenmarket Square on Saturday and dinner here and there. Already done Table Mountain, Cape Point, Peninsula Tour and some sailing (Thanks Rob Meek and Gordon Kling for the sail) ... weird how one becomes a tourist in one's own town ... ;-)

Later guys and gals ...

I can't do this anymore!

2007-05-09T04:52:00.000+02:00

Back in South Africa ...

Well, I'm back in South Africa ... exactly four months since I flew out of Jo'burg International (I know the name has/is changing, but I prefer the old one).

We stayed at a lekker camp ... Fiddlers Creek ... just on the Orange River, on the RSA side. We have made it to Springbok and are spending some time in this major city ... well, not really major.

Once again we have another little bug going around the camp ... my stomach packed up two nights ago and I've been blessed with a head cold too ... lets get it over with now and then come charging into Yzerfontein and Cape Town in top gear on the weekend.

Well, this will probably be all for a while ... don't think we will have more e-mail connections pre-Cape Town ... so I'll do some more from home (wherever that is going to be ...?) and sumarise some other information too.

Well, hope to see lots of you back home soon. I'll need a holiday to recover and get back into things ... so to all my dear clients - I'm only going to get back into the swing of work towards the end of the month ... end of May!

Lotsa luv all
Patrick

P.S. ... lack of photos was due to lack of USB connections on computers since Botswana

Somewhere in Africa

2007-05-09T04:46:00.000+02:00

Namibia - heading to Ai-Ais (as if you couldn't guess!)

Quiver trees at Garas Park

Quiver trees earlier in the day (notice arty composition of photo)

2007-05-09T04:21:00.000+02:00

Chicks in the tub!

Planet Boabab

Patrick and Remy heading south

You naughty boy!

2007-05-09T01:51:00.000+02:00

ICE CREAM!!!
Patrick, Remy and Walter
Patrick ruins another self portrait

Sizzled Miles and Rach eventually relaxing

A bunch of photos

2007-05-08T09:37:00.000+02:00

Gerhard you should cycle not push

Go tandem, go!

Gunther stocking up for the day

Here comes Thor!

A quick hello

2007-05-03T08:48:00.000+02:00

Hi there all.

Just a quick note to say hi!!

I've had a nice ride from Windhoek ... not too cold, a little boring and monotonous regarding the scenery ... but really beautiful and good fun!!

Had another problem ... or rather repeated issue with my one eye ... pain, red, swollen and real shit ... ended up going to the specialist at the Keetmanshoop Hospital ... nice, friendly "front shop" staff ... useless Dr to say the least ... as a fellow cyclist said: "She might as well have kicked you in the balls and you'd have had the same results!" ... i.e. USELESS!!

Otherwise real well ... entered the Ai-Ais area today ... real beautiful and back on dirt road - real good dirt road! Went to the Fish River Canyon for sun downers ... awesome ... and enjoying some drinks for the nurse's birthday this evening.

Off for a rest day at Ai-Ais tomorrow and then cross the border the next day ... back HOME!!!

See you soon, and I'll update this again from sweet old South Africa

Lotsa Love,
Patrick

See ya soon ...

2007-04-29T02:17:00.000+02:00

Well ... it has been nice and relaxing here in Windhoek. I need to go back and pack my bags, clean my bike and then enjoy a quiet braai.

We have two tough weeks left!! And lotsa the guys are getting a bit grumpy and cranky by now ...

We are all starting to focus on Cape Town ... and our final night in Yzerfontein on Friday 11 May ... party, drinks and emotional farewells ...

We are having our official Welcome Procession, etc at the Waterfront Amphitheatre around 14h00 on Saturday 12 May ... but I presume we will arrive closer to 13h00 and get time to say Hi! to family and friends ...

... see you there!

The Trip ... so far ...

2007-04-28T02:47:00.000+02:00

Well, we have arrived in Namibia ... more specifically Windhoek and am now travelling thru more familiar territories ... nothing majorly new for me therefore, except doing the routes by bicycle this time.

Herewith a brief summary of what I've felt, seen and experienced on the way ... these are all relative generalisations and dependent upon my personal experiences ...

Egypt

The cycling was fast ... very fast ... on tar roads, with a tail wind and while everyone was still strong and energised. Lots of desert and open space ... where there is no farming and settlements ... and quite lush and dense vegetation (plus farming) along the River Nile.

The country as a whole is probably the least memorable of all of them. The country is fairly dirty ... litter all over! And the people are in general very pushy and irritating ... constantly trying to sell stuff, get you into shops and just pester you non stop.

With regards to the Pyramids, Temples and other sights ... this country DOES surpass all others on the trip (with respect to sights and history) and has so much history and knowledge tucked away!!

Egypt was quite cold at night (especially around sunrise), cool and windy during the days, but warmer as we went south.

Sudan

One of my favourites by far - for the awesome people and the endless space! I love the open, empty deserts. The sand, sand and more sand - split thru by the Nile and the lush green vegetation where it flows. The calm and peace ... and pure nothingness! The cycling was tough in the soft sand ... and it is sad that they are building a top-notch tar road throughout ... so those heading here in three years time will loose lots of this feeling ...

The people are wonderful ... friendly and real pretty. More so in the North. Further South, to Ethiopia, one looses the sense of freedom and openness as the country becomes more developed and populated, for some reason the relaxed, open friendliness of the people also becomes more reserved and distant.

Hot, hot, hot during the day ... dry and dusty!! To begin with evenings were still cool, but later got quite warm.

Ethiopia

This place takes the cake for beauty, mountains and mixed emotions! I will definitely come back here! We covered about 1 800km in three weeks and had a total accumulated elevation of nineteen thousand meters! The mountains just keep rolling on-and-on. The countryside is also very green, tropical, lush vegetation.

The people (and there are millions of them ... 50% of the population is 18years and younger ... i.e. children everywhere) all mean well - and they are all merely greatly interested in these spandex clad, colourful people on racing machines. Unfortunately their constant screaming, monotonous questions, stone throwing and unsocial (by our standards) behaviour at times caused lots of unhappiness and heated debates amongst us.

I personally believe they are not evil and merely struggle to communicate with us as we race thru their back yards ... and I'll be back to see more for myself later.

We had some cold and damp weather, cool nights ... but mainly due to the high altitude. Days in general quite warm.

Kenya

TOUGH! Northern Kenya has a total lack of comfortable cycling roads ... and caused lots of pain and discomfort. Up North the country is very beautiful and empty ... but apparently occupied by many bandits and thus not too safe.

Further South it becomes lush and populated. The roads become better ... although quite potted throughout. We felt like we found civilisation again when we got good roads, ice-cream and cold milk in the fridges. But unfortunatelly a little dirty and neglected in many areas.

Overall it is a country with many opposites ... with respect to roads, people and the countryside. Unfortunately it didn't live up to the "sparkle" of Africa I had somehow imagined and dreamt of from films and stories of old colonial Africa and ended up merely being another country on en-route ...

Hot days, comfortable nights ... the odd shower at night ...

Tanzania

Alongside Ethiopia ... as number one for lush, green beauty and hills galore. I absolutely loved the route. We had top notch tar roads and dirt roads fit for hell. The rains caught us briefly (actually so far on our trip I have had only two days of rain in over 100 days of cycling!!) and turned everything into an interesting logistical task of getting trucks thru and finding suitable camps.

The people are really great, plentiful snacks and drinks along the way and some real tough cycling.

The best part was the way up to Mbeya and then over the range and down to Malawi ... simply breathtaking beauty!!

Warm and a little humid ... but not bad. Some night showers and some major rains on one or two days ... should have been much more - but we were real lucky!!

Malawi

Correctly labelled The Heart of Africa ... nowhere will you find more friendly locals ...! They were extremely friendly, well spoken and interested in what we were doing. Also very clean ... hardly any litter anywhere.

The Lake was amazing ... it has been a dream for a very long time to come swim in Lake Malawi ... and definitely worth the wait for the water and the views. Chitimba Beach, close to Livingstonia, is an amazing place!!

The roads were definite "rolling hills" ... and got quite tiring ... which continued into Zambia.

The days were quite hot ... intense, burning heat ... but also quite humid. We had our worst night on the trip - pissing all night and hot and humid at the same time ... aagghh!

Zambia

Zambia is a real nice place ... not brilliant, but not bad at all. The route is continually "rolling hills" ... tough and tiring!! And the route becomes quite boring and monotonous ... tall grasses along the sides, few people and hill, after hill, after hill ... it was the first time I started feeling a little bored and the legs started hurting ... !!

We were lucky we had a fair amount of cloud cover ... as it could have been a lot hotter. We had our second day of pissing rain. The roads are totally potted with potholes for about 100km inwards from both border crossings.

Botswana

Lekker Land of Elephants!! I really like this place ... and will come back real soon. I'm actually a little disappointed in myself that I haven't been here sooner ... and I live so close ...

The roads were real tedious though ... kilometers and kilometers of endless flat roads ... actually: Flat, No Bends and Turns, No People, No Coke Stops, Little Vegetation Changes and Lotsa Wind! I also found the place to be real clean and tidy all round.

The elephants along the national road are amazing ... the (stupid) racers ploughed along day after day and even passed one herd of roughly 25 elephants without seeing any!! We took our time and saw plenty ... at one stage I was lost in my own world and suddenly had one mock charge me from the right at only 5m away ... "heel boy!"

The heat was quite intense ... and the nights were still very comfortable, with the odd chilly morning just before sunrise.

Namibia

This country is real great ... I have loved all my trips here so far! The experience so far though is different ... long, slightly undulating roads, little spectacular views and very few people along the road.

Now I know what Namibia has to offer, cause I've been here before ... and it has a lot of amazing places and sights! It gets me thinking of our current trip thru Africa ... where we obviously see very little and definitely miss out on so much more ... the little we experience and see along the way is minuscule compared to what every country has to offer on a whole!

The nights have become very cold all of a sudden! The days are still hot and intense ... but bound to cool off even more as we head south ... I actually just went shopping to get warmer trousers and a decent fleece top.

South Africa

Well ... I'm excited to see how I feel riding thru the country ... it is home and I do know it quite well. I would have loved our trip to go thru the Southern cape or Wild Coast, even Natal or Mpumalanga ... as these have such amazing views and sites to experience. But traffic would have been hell thru here and the extra time would have been a bit tedious ... we all seem to be getting to the end of our endurance abilities ...

And the weather ... well Cape Town and the Westcoast is currently real cold, pissing with rain and snow on the Swartberg Mountains ... aagghh!!

Danke Familie Rust

2007-04-28T02:43:00.000+02:00

Thanks a lot for dinner and the night's accomodation ... it was nice to get an evening of peace and quiet, a good German meal and a nice comfortable bed ... obviously also great to see and catch up with you.

Hope you enjoy/ed your holiday!

Ciao

Congratulations Bernard and Paula!!

2007-04-28T02:38:00.000+02:00

Howdee Bart and Paula ... congratulations on the birth of your little one ... Julia.

Hope all is still well. I'm real happy for you guys and hope you are still getting some sleep now and then. Not sure if you trust me ... but I can take her for a cycle some time and you guys can rest and recover ... ;-)

Cheers and see you soon!

Sorry no pics

2007-04-28T02:33:00.000+02:00

Sorry everyone ... no pics being added here ... I'm in a nice, decent internet cafe ... but they don't have USB connections to connect my camera for picture downloads ...

Also not too sure when next we will have internet access ... but will try sooner than later to put some stuff on the blog.

The sleepy town of Windhoek

2007-04-28T02:24:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone!

We have arrived in the sleepy, slow, mellow town of Windhoek. We have had several tough, long days on our bikes and therefore need and treasure our two days off here ... where there is not much more to do than relax, shop, go to the movies and do nothing ... obviously eat and drink in huge amounts ... ;-)

Windhoek is by far the mellowest (if that is a word?) capital city on our whole route. As they say here: If there are two cars in front of yours at the traffic light ... it is rush hour! The school holidays started yesterday, so we do have endless little brats running around the shopping mall and energising the internet cafe with us.

Thank God we have a bit of a cold front here too ... although obviously nothing like Cape Town and the West Coast at the moment ... the temperatures are in the low twenties, but expected to chill way more at night as we travel south over the next two weeks ...

... Now (exactly - 13h30), in two weeks, we should be at the Waterfront. Apparently the official welcome/arrival is at 14h00 ... but i recon we should be in about 13h00/30 on Saturday morning.

Rushing thru Gobabis

2007-04-26T00:27:00.000+02:00

We've made it too Namibia!!

We had a killer 208km trek yesterday ... long, tough and windy ... and ended just over the border in Namibia. Had a good night's sleep and today enduring a real tough 165km trip to Witvlei ... real bad wind and long , flat boring roads.

Well - sorry we have nothing new and exciting - also no photos of note ... maybe I'll photograph my right foot or rear tyre to give you all something new.

All the best ...

Patrick

Bonus Pics

2007-04-25T08:15:00.000+02:00

Here are a few random photos for your viewing pleasure. :-)

One of my new friends

Sundowners with my folks at the Zambezi, just before the waters fall

Breaking wind just before the (time) trial

At the Zambezi ferry (Zambia to Botswana)

The little town of Ghanzi

2007-04-24T09:20:00.000+02:00

Howzit everyone ... just pulled into the little town ... god-forsaken outpost ... of Ghanzi, in Botswana.

Yes ... i'm here real early ... got a little bug ... just like half the cyclists on tour at the moment. Sore throat, snotty, headache, etc ... but need the rest before tomorrows marathon stage of 208km!!! The longest on the trip!!

Otherwise we are all well. Boredom has set in with many people. Less than three weeks to go ... yeehaa or aagghh?!

the roads are still flat, flat, flat. As Al pointed out in the comments ... a fair amount of donkeys - and horses - along the road ... seemingly wild? But nothing like further north in Africa. Only sighted one local cyclist on the road for the whole of Botswana.

Oh well, that is all for now. I'll update later re our arrival in Cape Town ... time that is ... but am expecting around 12h30 on Saturday 12 May 2007 ...

lotsa love
Patrick

p.s.

2007-04-22T10:36:00.000+02:00

we went over the 9000km mark yesterday ... so less than 3000km to go!!!

chat again in Namibia and see you all soon in Cape Town ... 12 May 2007

I'm going to get sick ...

2007-04-22T10:21:00.000+02:00

Hi there again.

We just went on a real awesome flight over the Okavango Delta ... in a little six seater Cessna plane ... and saw loads of animals (and water obviously) ... elephants, giraffe, gnu, zebra, hippo, snakes, ants, termites and lots more.

Thank God we went at eight o'clock already ... the ground is not that hot yet, so we had little turbulence. And still I felt like absolute shit ... I don't think I have sweated so much on my trip yet ... I came out literally green and sopping wet and a major twitch in my hand from continually thinking I may need my barf-bag.

Well, I've done my shopping, internet and the flight ... so I'm going back to the hotel to relax and lie at the pool for the whole day ... ;-) What a life ...

cheers

The week that was ...

2007-04-21T02:22:00.000+02:00

Hi there all ... arrived in Maun, Botswana just now. Came straight thru to the internet cafe ... getting it done today so that we can enjoy our off-day tomorrow!

We started off from Livingstone with an individual 40km time-trial ... I did real well and enjoyed it tremendously. Everything just seems to have worked out well on the morning.
Thanks to Andy Paton for the use of his tri-bars ... the time-trial and riding in Botswana is so much easier/fun.
We went on an amazing, relaxed boat cruise on our first day in Botswana ... on the Chobe River ... beautiful environment and great animals ... especially the Fish Eagle and the family of elephants.
The roads thru Botswana are real tiring and tedious ... actually boring at times!! They are all straight (for many, many tens of kilometers at a time!), flat and continually the same. No shops, Coke Stops, children, people, minimal cars and little else.
Awesome though are the ELEPHANTS! They are all over the place ... I had some very close, scary experiences where I was not watching out (cruising along on my tri-bars) and suddenly there was an elephant five meters from me - ears out and not too impressed. This is definitely one of the major the highlights of the trip.
Our distances have been continually around 160/170km. And our pace has been quite high too ... so we are all a little bushed and tired ... and ready to enjoy the day off tomorrow.
Hoping to go on a flight over the Okavango Delta tomorrow ...
Thanks to my fossils for their visit to the Falls ... it was great to see you!
Congrats to my boet - Andre - on the purchase of his new house!
The temperatures have also been quite high ... but more importantly, the sun just somehow seems to burn so much more intensely out here.

Well that is all for now. This country is really great and I'll be coming back here soon ... so if anyone is planning a holiday and wants to come with me ... see you soon.

cheers

patty

And more thru Botswana

2007-04-21T02:05:00.000+02:00

And who said there are no Tigers in Africa (my new squeaky bell ... the Croc lost his voice)
Chasing down Remy on the LONG, STRAIGHT roads of Botswana
The African Tigers ... Team Time Trial

Windie (Ethiopia), Dave (Stellenbosch), Patty, Josh and Douglas (Kenya)

More Botswana

2007-04-21T02:01:00.000+02:00

More monsters right next to the National Road thru Botswana
Ex-Fatty Patty cruising thru Botswana

Botswana pics ...

2007-04-21T01:45:00.000+02:00

Big monsters on the Chobe River
The sun setting on the Chobe River

Livingstone Police Station

2007-04-16T08:56:00.000+02:00

Some of these offences are real funny ...

Images of Zambia

2007-04-16T08:46:00.000+02:00

At the school supported by Markus' charity (Christain Children's Fund)

Markus and Rachel ... his sponsored child

Zambezi Sun, Livingstone ... luxury towards the end of a trip

Well, lets open this bag on the truck, at the border crossing, and lighten the load ...

But they say you get wet at the falls

Livingstone Update

2007-04-16T08:33:00.000+02:00

Off to Botswana

So tomorrow we are off into another new country! We will have a timetrial out of Livingstone and off to the Botswana border. Hopefully we will get a TV and cricket coverage ... and hopefully the Proteas will not wilt one more time ... :-(

We then have several long days on very flat, very straight (up to 140km without a bend!!) roads between lots of elephants and other wildlife ... this is what I've waited for ... for a long time now!

Well, cheers to all ... and a special Hi to all those people I hear are regularly checking this blog ... Linda, Leon, Janeen, the Thomas family, Phil and Tara, Trina, Joke, John, J. Zuma and D. Tutu, Nix and everyone else ... I know there are many more, but these few stick out somehow from comments and messages via my fossils and brother ...

cheers for now

Hi there all ... from the Smoke that Thunders

It has been an interesting, exciting and restful last few days!!

We left Lusaka a few days ago ... straight into the same tedious, monotonous rolling hills and tall grass along the same tar roads heading for Livingstone. At some stage between causing shit with Phil and racing up some little hill I realised I was a little bored. Phil felt much the same ... and we plotted our plan to head of for Livingstone a little earlier.

Basically we felt we were a little bored of the same faces, same people, same routine, same roads and wanted to go and chill a few days. The second day out of Lusaka George (who felt the same), Phil and myself headed off for Livingstone ... two days before everyone else. It was a real good idea .. as we have had a real good break from the people and off the bike ... including the two planned rest days in Livingstone.

The day turned a little stressful yesterday ... firstly I played probably my worst round of golf ever (luckily Phil and Andy Paton were not much better) ... then Nurse Elaine got mugged/robbed (she is perfectly fine and uninjured, but has to trek off back to Lusaka to get a new passport ... aagghh) and in the evening poor George took a nasty tumble down a three meter deep well and injured his back a little - well not so little ... vasbyt ouman ... wishing you all the best and a quick recovery onto your bike again.

Livingstone

The falls are brilliant ... unbelievable water ... unfortunately too much for rafting, and one gets TOTALLY soaked when going down to the falls!! The Zambezi Sun (where my folks are currently staying) is a real great hotel, good food and right next to the falls. I'm staying at a small lodge - the Bushfront - also very decent, extremely friendly and nice. I missed the booze cruise last night - for Marc's 50th and for general unwinding - as I was helping Elaine at the cop-shop ... an experience on its own - very friendly, but slow, tedious and tough with different languages and cultural experiences. ;-)

We've done a lot of relaxing, some drinking and just general chilling. This Internet availability story though gets no better ... actually a slight pain in the arse if I may say so. It is so tough to get a good connection anywhere!

I missed the canoeing this morning ... after looking after George a little and heading back to where I was staying it was 01h00 ... and I was not keen to get up at 07h00 ... at least not on a rest day! So I enjoyed an awesome breakfast with my folks.

Cheers Howard

Well, we lost another person from the trip ... cheers Howard, it was good to meet you and I wish you all the best for the rest of your trip. I believe you will not mind too much - and actually agree - if I do point out that this trip was not the best thing for you ... you want your space and freedom thru Africa and I really hope you find that thru the last part of your trip ;-)

Cheers to the last member of the Grumpy Old Men ;-)

Dear Leigh-Anne

As most of you know, Leigh-Anne left us a while ago. I must say upfront that I have decided not to gossip thru my blog, or point fingers and critisize people on the tour ... but herewith I do wish to point out one or two things that you have indicated on your blog.

You seem to indicate that the Tour organisors/staff were not helpful, supportive and that they "neglected" you when you came down with Malaria. You seem to lay a fair amount of blame on the nurse not doing what you felt was her responsibility, and your expectations for certain care or attention which you believe you were supposed to get.

Leigh-Anne ... please remember that you had left the tour a week earlier - but this never excluded that the Tour was still accomodating to you and your needs. You approached the nurse very shortly before our departure, wanting her to go North up the country to fetch a friend (slightly impossible I'd say), then to maybe find your friends number ... which you didn't even have or make easily available. You were obviously not well and the Tour did offer to take you to the hospital and eventually they were the ones that informed and spoke to the camp's owners to help and organise your travel and appropriate care at a clinic or hospital,

Please don't get me wrong Leigh-Anne ... I'm not unsupportive of your dreams and ways of travelling thru Africa. I'm glad to have met you and wish you all the best for the future ... but I do believe you have given a very false perception and review of the Tour organisors, their conduct and help they offered to you in this case.

My new motto in life ...

I wish a long life to my ENEMIES
So they may see all my SUCCESS

(poster in a shop somewhere in Zambia)

Lusaka

2007-04-11T08:40:00.000+02:00

Well I'm bushed ... tired and sore head. Gotta go pack and hit the sack ... aagghh ... and 160km tomorrow.

We had a good dinner at the Deputy German Ambassador yesterday ... really nice to hear some other news, information and ideas about a country on the trip. Good German food is also always welcome!!

Tausend Dank fuer die Einladung.

Today's trip out to Markus' sponsored child and the school/community development programmes was also real interesting. We were treated like semi-royalty and really enjoyed the dancing, food and children. It is an eye-opener to see first hand how little so many people really have. And nearly comical to listen to the over-zealous politicians hijacking the proceedings to contribute their little bit of propaganda ... ;-)

For now - good night ... I gotta rush and really need a good night's sleep.

Cheers

Zambia

2007-04-11T08:29:00.000+02:00

And this against a decent head-wind ...

Welcome to Zambia ...

"Guys ... I hope you all closed your tents!!!"

Typical tall grass verges throughout Zambia

More pics

2007-04-11T08:14:00.000+02:00

I'm in the middle of town ... no need to tell me ...

The powder enables the man to make the woman much happier ... ??

Pictures in Africa

2007-04-11T08:00:00.000+02:00

As opposed to "used condoms"?

This should have been in Ethiopia

Hello from Lusaka

2007-04-10T01:56:00.000+02:00

Hi there all.

well we made it too Lusaka ... that was one tough section!!! Hills, hills and more hills ... endless rolling hills. Not as steep as Ethiopia, but tough, endless stuff. The distances have also been much longer ... and very noticeable in the legs. Somewhat monotonous at times ... continuous tarred hill roads with tall grasses on the sides. Much fewer people, minimal Coke stops, few (but fast, self-centred, dangerous) cars and buses and vegetation all round.

It is the first time on the tour that I actually questioned myself why I was doing this ... during a brief tired, strained, aching moment ... which flashed by as soon as it appeared!!

It is actually quite interesting how tired and run down some people are ... actually to see how different people are suffering at different times. Some - including myself - took strain a while ago and now are racing along and enjoying every second; whereas others are only now going thru a definite slump.

Talking about slumps and taking strain ... we lost another cyclist in Lilongwe. Tom V. decided to pack up and leave. Sorry to loose you, but I fully understand your decision. There goes one of the stalwarts of the Grump Old Men ;-)

We have now unfortunately lost four cyclists in total ... Tom B., Leigh-Anne, Eric and Tom V. Nice to have met all of you and wishing all of you lots of fun and adventures for the future. There are several more who are taking a lot of strain ... and a few close to cracking totally ...

Well that is more or less all for now. I've got to rush off to the hairdresser ... to get rid of the stupid three stripes on my kop - I've got a dinner appointment and can't go like this. Then off to the hotel to replace the cassette on my bike and relax a little. Tomorrow is our off day - but I'm off with Marcus to see some charity projects and another angle to Zambia and their people.

I've got loads of lekker pictures on my camera ... no promises ... but I'll try to get them onto a USB drive and come back to this Internet Cafe tomorrow evening ... lets see how tired I am.

Some extra info:

We've crossed the 7880km mark ... so less than 4000km left.
My fossils are joining me at Victoria Falls in four days ... yeeha!
We've got more long distances coming up ... Thursday, Friday, Saturday all around 170km!!
Siggie ... you are still crazy! ;-)
Termites DO eat tents!
The sun is hot out here
If you wish to loose weight ... do the Tour d'Afrique

Ciao

What lies ahead ...

2007-04-04T09:03:00.000+02:00

Howdee and good night ...

I'm off for one more drink ... maybe two or three ... but then a good night's sleep and a well deserved rest tomorrow. The section from Iringa to Lilongwe has been quite tough and tiring ... and the route to follow is no easier.

I'm simply off to do some banking tomorrow ... get my Zambian Kwacha here in Lilongwe - apparently the changers at the border are notoriously criminal ...

We leave on Good Friday with five tough days ... 150km, 195km (aagghh), 154km, 125km, 104km
One rest day in Lusaka ... but real busy ... joining Marcus on a charity event and dinner at the "deputy" German Ambassador
Then three quick days to Vic Falls ... and a visit from my Fossils ... Yeeha!!! Also two off days ... to drink, raft, sleep and drink ...

Well for now, keep well and have fun .. I definitely am!!

Thoughts of the trip

2007-04-04T08:48:00.000+02:00

Me and my Boet ... in Malawi ... enjoying a much needed breather climbing from Chitimba to Mzuzu

Some more ideas, facts and thoughts:

I've lost lotsa weight ... not sure what my current measurements are ... but my arm warmers are totally useless (can't stay up on my arm) and my casual trousers are way to big ... looking for a decent clothes shop in Lilongwe tomorrow.
Cheers again to Donna, Ruth and Trina ... from BC, Canada ... it was fun to have you here. Trina ... I hope you have apologised to Donna for causing such a major cycling accident ... tut, tut, tut ... at least you made it up with those nice M&Ms!! ;-)
"Rolling Hills" is really becoming a terrible term on our trip ... especially cause we constantly have them at the moment ... and the same term is being used for rolling mountains and rolling hills ... so we never know what to expect.
We have been VERY lucky with the rain!!! I've only had one day with a ten minute light shower and ten minute torrential down pour ... on the whole trip. A couple of nights with severe or slight rain ... and some major morning dew which leaves the tents sopping wet. Overall - absolutely nothing. Last year they had three weeks of rain every day during Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi!!!
Ethiopia still stands out as the most memorable and beautiful country on the trip. Sudan as the most impressive ... just the vast open nothingness and freedom of the open sand. Malawi is the friendliest, and Tanzania the lushest and greenest of them all.
My Nile Crocodile ... plastic horn on my bike ... lost his voice and had to be removed. I actually seem faster and more mobile with less wind resistance!

More images in Malawi

2007-04-04T08:31:00.000+02:00

A very hairy caterpillar ... and no relation to Splat, Squish or Squash

The Royal Wave after a hard day in the saddle ... and Remy trying to hide ... sorry mate, the wheel is see-through

On the road - in Malawi

2007-04-04T08:28:00.000+02:00

Along the road

2007-04-04T08:18:00.000+02:00

Siggy ... we normally wear our bib shorts under our t-shirts ...? You are a funny, crazy guy Siggy ... and I'm glad you're staying on till Vic Falls!

Allan ... at 71 years old ... my hat (helmet) goes off to you!! Welcome and enjoy ... both the rest and the cycling.

Andrew's chain broke 5km from the end ... and poor Patrick and Remy had to push him all the way ;-) ... Actually Andy really didn't want the help ... forget it mate, we gonna help if you want it or not.

Party Time

2007-04-04T07:54:00.000+02:00

Adidas Boy ... aka Patrick
The winner ... The Snows of Kilimanjaro (aka Marcus)
Remy, Patrick and Crazy Siggy after a couple ...

Hi there all from Lilongwe - Malawi. Staying at a real nice Camp/Overland Hostel ... we're all real buggered - tired, sore and stiff from the cycling.

The pics above are from our Mustache Party in Chitimba Bay ... therefore the stupid goatee I have been carrying around for a while ... and more than happy to have gotten rid of again!!!

Patrick has been admitted ...

2007-04-03T02:55:00.000+02:00

We are sorry to announce we cannot guarantee when the next update will be posted by Patrick Thomas.

He was last seen in public behaving well beyond the realm of any mentally healthy human being ... from the picture provided we believe most of you will agree he was not in major pain - he simply seems to have lost his mind somewhere in Africa ...

Rest in Peace ... Splat

2007-04-03T02:47:00.000+02:00

Dear Splat

It was real nice to get to know you with my mates from Canada and England. It was a brief encounter and I hope we were a decent passing view before you left us for the chameleon heavens above.

You were one of the cutest little creatures ... eyeballing us and dancing across the road in your slow, animated and unique way. Unfortunately our language barrier (such a common thing in Africa) hindered your progress in life as you failed to listen to our cries of encouragement to reach the other side of the road ... but you did do well to dodge the first few vehicles - better than I could ever have done!

Lastly also apologies for our laughter afterwards ... maybe it was just our way of coping with the loss ... but you must admit in the greater picture of things around it was a sweet, traumatic, but also a real funny encounter.

RIP and we'll remember you for a long time!

Malawi ... "The Warm Heart of Africa"

2007-04-03T02:08:00.000+02:00

My cottage on Chitimba Beach
Lake Malawi ... at Chitimba Beach

Howdee all!

I'm still well and really enjoying Malawi ... Malawi is real beautiful, unbelievably friendly and very hilly. It is not as lush and green as Tanzania, but still awesome views and landscape structures. Malawi is correctly classified as "The Warm Heart of Africa" ... the people are unbelievable friendly and polite. Lotsa children - who also beg and scream a little when you pass, but really not too much.

It is actually quite funny ... they always exclaim: "Give me my money" and "What is my name?" ... the odd thing is that they say these incorrect sentences thru out the country and not just in one area.

We spent a rest day on Lake Malawi ... absolutely beautiful and all I ever imagined it to be. I have wanted to come here for such a long time already ... and it was worth the wait. For anyone coming up to Malawi ... I can definitely recommend the camp we stayed at ... Chitimba Beach. Andre (my brother) joined us there on our rest day ... bringing lots of goodies and bike spares.

Thanks a lot boet ... much appreciated. Thanks to my fossils also for the chocolates, Richard for the Lindt Chocs and Lise and the gang for dropping Andre off.

It was real nice to see him again ... and he did well to cycle the next morning with us. Andre borrowed Dean's bike (thanks mate) ... and climbed the morning with us ... and was it a climb!!! For someone who has not cycled for a good year it was a real tough route. At least we had awesome views of the lake and surroundings while climbing, climbing and climbing some more.

The weather has been a lot cooler and threatening with rain continually ... yesterday went thru the real dark clouds and missed the rain by very little ... other riders got more than totally drenched!!! The nights are a little cooler as well and lotsa dew drenches anything left out at night.

We are off to Lilongwe tomorrow ... sitting in Kasungu today, 138km North of the capital. We have a rest day in Lilongwe ... before we attack the real long killer days in Zambia over the week that follows.

The traffic hear is quite minimal ... even along the well tarred national roads ... but the people do race along at high speeds and don't care much about the locals, kids, cattle and obstructions on the roads. We do seem to get some respect ... but the speed of the vehicles is still real scary!

Tanzania

2007-04-03T01:49:00.000+02:00

After one of the longest and best downhill stretches ever!

Lotsa tea in Tanzania

More of amazing Tanzania

2007-04-03T01:35:00.000+02:00

Sunflowers are visible ALL over Tanzania

Beautiful Tanzania

2007-04-03T01:08:00.000+02:00

Dodoma Road

2007-03-28T00:45:00.000+02:00

The pics above show you some of the more torrid stages of the Dodoma Road from Arusha, via Dodoma (capital of Tanzania) to Iringa ... lots of getting stuck for the trucks and lots of cleaning of bicycles every evening.

The roads now are basically tarred all the way to Cape Town ... and quite good quality so far. We have all slipped our slicks/smooth tyres back on and our average speeds and effort outputs have changed considerably. Malawi should still be fairly hilly ... or "rolling hills" - which can be quite confusing if you use that term for both Dutch riders and Canadian riders ... they seem to have different perspectives of that term. Zambia and Botswana are quite flat and in Namibia we will get a brief section of dirt roads again around Ai-Ais.

welcome to Mbeya

2007-03-28T00:30:00.000+02:00

We crossed the half-way mark last week ... I was thinking of doing the trip as a Duathlon?
The sunsets out here are absolutely stunning

Hi there all!

Arrived in Mbeya at about 11h15 ... had an amazing ride! Although only 94km today - it ended with a 25km climb ... and what a climb it was! I'm feeling real strong again and really enjoying the riding at the moment ... not that I stopped enjoying it, just that I was real irritated with the little niggles and complaints of my aging body.

The countryside here is very lush, green and lots of wonderful rolling hills. It has been quite a bit cooler over the last three days - a bit of night showers and overcast during the day ... thank God, cause the sun here is real brutal and intense when it does pop out of the cloud cover.

We have one night here in Mbeya and head off tomorrow for Malawi. Friday night we will be on Lake Malawi ... YEEHA ... swimming!!! And Andre will be visiting with half a bike shop of spares for fellow riders and some sweets and newspapers for me. And yes I can afford to eat the chocolates Oli ... I am whithering away here and need to get some fat back on my bones.

Dodoma Road

2007-03-25T03:23:00.000+02:00

What a road!!! The road from Arusha south thru the capital - Dodoma - and on to Iringa is an absolute nightmare ... especially in the rainy season. The road is a dirt road, in poor condition and becomes an absolute mud bath when the rain comes down. We were lucky as it only rained the first day and firat three nights ... enough though to make it an intersting experience ... photos at a later stage will show more.

The first two days were real tough going, the trucks got stuck ... real deep in the mud for several hours ... and therefore only arrived at camp real late ... with food, tents, clothes, etc. On the seond day of delays and logistical problems we lost three riders, who went too far along the road and were not traceable on the same day ... they luckily had cash for a hotel (of sorts) and made their way on to Dodoma the next day.

The rough roads have also led to several falls, tumbles, scrapes and bruises. Walter seems to be the worst off with a nasty infection to a wound on his elbow and he is out of riding for a good week ... so decided to take the week off in Zanzibar ... you lucky devil you.

Infections seem to be a big problem at the moment ... lots of infected wounds and tiny scrapes. Basically due to the mud and dirt, us being real tired, the heat and the humidity.

The great thing though is the absolute beauty of the countryside ... Tanzania is lush, green, open, less inhabited than most places on our route, friendly and simply amazing. the roads have been fun ... sometimes less so if you arrive in camp sweaty, muddy and real dirty and have to wash down with wet wipes due to water rashining in a bush camp ... ;-)

Some other little comments:

The world is small ... Phil came to me the other day and asked "what can you tell me about Naomi Folb?" ... Naomi was at school with me and we still keep in touch. Phils mom was hiking in Scotland recently and started talking to Naomi ... they soon put two and two together and found a common link.
Trina and Marc both have "HERO" staus on this trip. Trina for supplying M&Ms in the middle of Tanzania, on a hot night in the middle of the bush and Marc for supplying a chilled bottle of 2001 Stellenzicht Cab Sauv on the same night ... awesome!
I'm STILL real happy! all is well, and looking forward to the weeks to come!!

cheers all and lots of love ... ex-fatty patty

Alive in Iringa

2007-03-25T03:05:00.000+02:00

Well howdee all. No pictures this time ... the computers are all a little slow and not too practical.

I'm well, strong and really enjoying the riding again ... not that i was not enjoying it as such - it was just a bit irritating being unwell and not doing what i wish to do. My stomach has settled very well and i'ver been riding very well again ... possibly too well and fast over the real shit roads ... getting some bruising and blood in the urine ... but that seems to be par for the course on this trip ... one ailment after the next ...

We arrived in Iringa yesterday and have a rest day today ... after seven days of tough riding. Iringa isn't anything amazing, and we are mainly using the day to relax, re-pack and major bicycle repairs, ceaning and conversions to tar roads again.

We have crossed the 6000km mark this week ... and have therefore passed the half way mark in kilometers ... yeeha!! BUT ... we only have 39 more riding days left and six rest places to relax in between ... which means an average of 150km, per day from tomorrow onwards ... aagghh ... that will be fun. The roads are more or less all tar - in reasonably good conditions. I therefor spent the morning putting slicks on my bike and had to rplace my saddle and removed my suspension seatpost. The bike also needed a real good clean after six days of mud, rain, dust, bumping. grinding and general abuse!!!

We said goodbye to Eric last week ... he has decided to return to Nairobi, where he was really taken by a hospital and the many AIDS orphans. He has achieved and experienced the most important aspects of this trip and feels he has another calling elsewhere ... good luck Eric and if you change your mind ... PLEASE do come join us for the last section ... we miss you.

We also say cheers to Richie, Donna, Trina and Ruth ... four sectional riders who just did Arusha to Iringa ... you definitelly chose the most amazing and beautiful section on the route ... cheers and keep reading here ...

Well, I'm looking forward to the tar roads again ... they definitely suit me better than the off-road ... although the last few days have been great fun!! I'm looking forward to seeing Andre (my brother) in Malawi in a weeks time ... with all the goodies I ordered!!

Pics

2007-03-22T10:10:00.000+02:00

From Arusha onwards

2007-03-22T09:50:00.000+02:00

Well I've had a good three days rest ... well, relatively good. Been sitting on the toilet more than the last two months combined ...

I have been able to relax though. The camp has been very pleasant and quiet with a good 22 riders off on the three day safari ... I presume they will be back when I head back to camp just now. Didn't do too much yesterday and basic admin and necessary stuff today.

Tigers!? In Africa!?

Tomorrow we head off on a tough seven day stretch before our next rest day in Iringa ... and seven days of gravel roads - which turn to mammoth mud baths when the rain comes down ... which it will. Two years ago the truck with the rider's tents and equipment didn't make it to the next camp till after midnight ... great. On the plus side though - it is apparently the most beautiful section of the whole trip!!

I don't have much more to say for now ...

No gnus is good gnus

... cause I didn't do too much. Got some sad news though ... one of the (really nice) riders has decided to leave the tour ... can't divulge the name yet, but I'm definitely gonna miss em ... if you get to read this, please consider coming back in a couple of weeks ... ;-)

That is all for now folks ... gotta get back to clean my bike, which has been sitting in the rain and mud for three days!!

Ciao

Ngoragora Crater

2007-03-21T10:17:00.000+02:00

I've had the worst stomach runs ever ... still feeling shitty and lost shit loads of weight!! aagghh. otherwise real well and happy.

Here are some pics from Ngoragora Crater.

Cheers,

ex-fatty

Pics

2007-03-21T10:11:00.000+02:00

ICE CREAM!!!

One Legged Cyclist

Zzzzzz...

2007-03-16T11:50:00.000+02:00

Post Lunch snooze for Patty

Patty's Tent

The Equator!

2007-03-16T11:49:00.000+02:00

Photos of Kenya

2007-03-16T11:45:00.000+02:00

Party pics from way back in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia

2007-03-16T11:39:00.000+02:00

Patrick as the pope and Eric as Patrick FAn and Shanny as Patrick

Several Ps All Round

This is SO embarrassing!

2007-03-16T00:50:00.000+02:00

Half Way Toga Party

2007-03-16T00:47:00.000+02:00

Duncan, Elaine and Shanny

POK, Wimpie, Miles

Remy and Wimpie

More Pics

2007-03-16T00:41:00.000+02:00

Dave

Dirty, tired Chris

Wimpie

The Next Day or So

2007-03-16T00:40:00.001+02:00

Well ... I'm going to relax ... trying to find a TV now to watch the cricket and then just chill for two days! YEEHA!!

Ngoragora Crater

2007-03-16T00:40:00.000+02:00

BEAUTIFUL!!! The crater lies 180km from Arusha and borders onto the Serengeti. I opted not to do the three day Safari ... firstly I want to do the Serengeti when they have the Migrations and secondly I wanted to rest totally on the second and third days of my three days rest in Arusha.

The crater is from a 2.5 million year old eruption ... the ash falling in a northerly direction scorched and created the plains of the Serengeti. The crater itself is 20km in diameter and several hundred meters deep. A large lake lies in the base covering about 30% of the floor.
There are no major trees and you see animals in pockets here and there as you decent the rough and bouncy roads to the base.

We got to see elephants (only males in the base of the crater ... the females are all up on the rim), buffalo, Gnu, Impala, warthogs, nine lions ... trying to hunt, hippo ... and more. Also far too many Game vehicles ... racing far too fast all over the place.

A thoroughly enjoyable and beautiful trip ... but give me Etosha or Kruger ANY day!!

The trip was slightly tarnished by the drivers really dangerous driving ... four wheel drive Toyota minibus ... fast, overtaking on solid lines, over blind rises, etc and all that with poor brakes ... I did politely explain to him later (after a brief outburst during the drive as he tried some major stunt) that it was not appreciated.

Kenya ... that was quick

2007-03-16T00:39:00.000+02:00

That seemed real quick ... Kenya seemed to fly by!! Not a bad country at all ... but didn't see or experience anything real major and fantastic! The city ... i.e. Nairobi was large, busy and neither beautiful nor ugly. The countryside was great ... but nowhere close to as beautiful (consistently) as Ethiopia or Tanzania so far. The Masai and others were all very well dressed and interesting ... but closer to Egypt in their overbearing want and need to sell and force themselves on you ... BACK OFF!!! I want to relax and enjoy ... not be forced ...

The children were not the problem we originally expected ... it seems that Isiolo was just a real severe outpost of "civilization" and the locals grasped to anything they could get from the tourists at this stage.

So overall ... from what I experienced and saw ... Kenya "WAS". Yes, it merely "was". I'm a little disappointed ... I expected more of it ... it always seems to BE Africa in the books and movies ... but in the end (admittedly flying thru) it was nice ... like a cup of tea.

Welcome to Tanzania

2007-03-16T00:38:00.000+02:00

Well, we are resting up for three days ... yes a whole three days ... YEEHA ... in and around Arusha, just South of the Kenya-Tanzania border.

It is a relatively bustling, lively town ... the departure point for basically ALL Safari trips to Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngoragora, etc. It is also home to a long term UN led Rwandan War Crimes Tribunal ... set to run on till 2010.

We are staying at a nice camp site, just outside the city centre ... nice bar, lounge and food available ... clean toilets and HOT showers!!!

Our second more major bought of stomach ailments is making the rounds ... and this one really did get me laid low! And running ...

We've had three new additions to the EFI loss list ... the saddest one going to George ... sorry mate, I really wished you could go all the way. George has fought severe back spasms, stomach problems, children from hell, major butt sores and more ... and just kept going. Until this week ... aagghh.

Sitting in Nairobi

2007-03-12T02:50:00.000+02:00

Hi there all. Rest day in Nairobi. Feeling a lot better, still a bit snotty and bunged up ... but have been cycling again after one day off earlier in the week.

From Nanyuki we went a slow 2km thru to the Equator ... yeeha!! It seems stupid and simple, but it is psychologically lekker to be back in the Southern Hemisphere ... and just a tad closer to home. We stopped off at the Equator for some photos ... and several loners in our group simply cycled past and didn't bother sharing the moment - everyone to their own, but it is a bit weird how some people are so distant and separate from this group ... one wonders why they even bothered doing the trip in this way??

The landscape has turned much more green and lush since then ... the temperatures have risen and we have noticeable humidity. Although the roads are tarred ... they are rather appalling in places ... not just the odd pothole ... but cracked up and crumbling severely in places.

The night before Nairobi we camped again in a nice over lander camp (something - Savage) ... green, lush, pool, river and DSTV ... got to watch the Sharks give the Cheetahs a lesson in the Super 14.

The ride to Nairobi was fine till we started our convoy ... 42km outside of Nairobi. It was painfully slow and painful. The town itself is nothing great ... lots of big open, green spaces ... but really rather common. Traffic is plentiful and crazy enough - but we have had so much worse before.

This morning we had a little press conference and charity angle to the tour. We have handed over several bikes to local organisations and presented the general charity angle of the trip to the press, with input from several sponsors and affiliated charity organisations.

We are currently in town - bustling and busy on a Monday morning/lunchtime ... done our shopping (and money just seems to fly), had lunch and need to get back to camp to clean and fix my bike just now.

Douglas - the blind cyclist, cycling with Josh on a Tandem (both are from Nairobi) - has invited us all for dinner tonight ... so hear goes ... still have a lot to do.

cheers

Impressions of Kenya

2007-03-09T09:29:00.000+02:00

Well, to be honest I cannot give you too much details about Kenya (am planning to do a little summary of the first four countries when I get to Arusha) we really have not seen much ... Northern Kenya is arid, dry, hot, empty and has real shit roads!!! But immensely beautiful!

One sees very few people ... but dressed very nicely in traditional garb. Unfortunately they really do not like photos to be taken and get very aggressive if one tries.

There is little to no electricity in the small villages we passed thru ... i.e. no cold drinks. The first real town, and noticeable civilization was Isiolo yesterday. It was quite disappointing with regards to hagglers trying to sell stuff, and many, many beggars and street children.

The children here are very scruffy, don't smile, beg continually and are all sniffing glue and other drugs. It was quite disappointing ... but we'll see how this changes further south.

On a positive note ... we DID get ice cream ... YEEHA.

cheers for now!

Nanyuki

2007-03-09T09:18:00.000+02:00

Hi there all ... am eventually able to enter my own blog directly onto the net again.

The hell roads of Northern Kenya are eventually behind us!! They have been real bad ... corrugated, rocky, painful and no chance to get into any rhythm ... plus temperatures around the 45 degrees!! We ended the off-road yesterday - pulling into Isiolo - with cold cooldrinks and beers ... first time in a very long time!

I'm still suffering from my bloody cold/flu/virus ... it goes well for a couple a days and then I get laid low again ... currently painful and blocked sinuses ... went onto antibiotics so will hopefully kick it in the butt real quick.

We arrived in Nanuki this morning ... travelling past Mount Kenya ... and will cross the Equator first thing in the morning. Oh yes ... we have a swimming pool at this hotel ... YEEHA ... first one of the trip. Toga Party tonight!

Basically a Half Way Party ... not close to half way regarding our mileage - but two months down, next week!! We then also have three days off in Arusha ... we need the rest!!