27th July 2011
Heathrow departure with obscene amounts of luggage. Unlike the Menorca trip, we thankfully didn't misread the departure time. Huge thanks to George Manners for the lift to the airport in the beast of a van.
28th July 2011
Mozambique here we come. Unnervingly smooth arrival in Maputo, complete with undamaged bikes and no delays. Something tells us it won't all be this easy. Oh, and it's Ben's dad's birthday today - Happy 70th birthday Papi! Enjoy the party and sorry we couldn't be there....
Sunday Times, Travel Section, 31st July
31st July 2011
Coverage in The Sunday Times to promote Tusk and Life Cycle Africa caused much excitement! Plus 20km cycle to check the bikes are sound and to look around Maputo. Can't wait to get going tomorrow...
1st August 2011
Day1 Maputo to Komatipoort 107km:
And we're off! Smog-heavy dawn exit from Maputo in rush hour on the Mozambique equivalent of the M25. Yuk. Buses and lorries drive on the hard shoulder here. Terrifying. Both our saddles are spectacularly uncomfortable!? Made it to South Africa!
And we're off! Smog-heavy dawn exit from Maputo in rush hour on the Mozambique equivalent of the M25. Yuk. Buses and lorries drive on the hard shoulder here. Terrifying. Both our saddles are spectacularly uncomfortable!? Made it to South Africa!
2nd August 2011
Day 2 Komatipoort to Nelspruit 112km:
A HUGE day heading west on the N4 again with more juggernaut roulette - looking forward to getting off this road tomorrow. Additional challenge of upset stomachs today - wouldn't wish it on anyone. In wildlife news, we spotted warthogs, vervet monkeys (Ben's favourite - cue overexcitement and much shouting!), hornbills and an unidentified antelope which we're going to have to look up. Not amused by the steep climb into Nelspruit. Broken
A HUGE day heading west on the N4 again with more juggernaut roulette - looking forward to getting off this road tomorrow. Additional challenge of upset stomachs today - wouldn't wish it on anyone. In wildlife news, we spotted warthogs, vervet monkeys (Ben's favourite - cue overexcitement and much shouting!), hornbills and an unidentified antelope which we're going to have to look up. Not amused by the steep climb into Nelspruit. Broken
3rd August 2011
Day 3 Nelspruit to Sabie 67km:
Off the main road (finally) and into hills, hills, hills...and more hills. Climbed over 1,400m through incredible mountain and pine scenery. Epic 10km steep downhill shredded our nerves - in retrospect the overtaking manoeuvre past a truck at 60kmh was probably unnecessary. Saddle-soreness update: bubble-wrapping the saddle has worked wonders - plus you get a satisfying pop on every bump!
Off the main road (finally) and into hills, hills, hills...and more hills. Climbed over 1,400m through incredible mountain and pine scenery. Epic 10km steep downhill shredded our nerves - in retrospect the overtaking manoeuvre past a truck at 60kmh was probably unnecessary. Saddle-soreness update: bubble-wrapping the saddle has worked wonders - plus you get a satisfying pop on every bump!
4th August 2011
Day 4 Sabie to Graskop 32km:
Short steep day. Fewer hills from now on, please. Highs of the day were the stunning views and a new trip top speed of 74.8km/h! Lows were 70 min climbs and the knowledge we have more of this tomorrow. Ben also spent the evening fighting off a vampire dog at the hostel. Don't ask.
Short steep day. Fewer hills from now on, please. Highs of the day were the stunning views and a new trip top speed of 74.8km/h! Lows were 70 min climbs and the knowledge we have more of this tomorrow. Ben also spent the evening fighting off a vampire dog at the hostel. Don't ask.
5th August 2011
Day 5 Graskop to Blyde River Canyon 53km:
Amazing scenery - mountains and canyons. Fast downhills beat yesterday's - 75.9km/h! Lots of singing from Sallie :)
Amazing scenery - mountains and canyons. Fast downhills beat yesterday's - 75.9km/h! Lots of singing from Sallie :)
6th August 2011
Rest day at Blyde River Canyon.
Awesome landscape!
Happily eating lots and drinking red wine.
Tent attacked by baboons!
Awesome landscape!
Happily eating lots and drinking red wine.
Tent attacked by baboons!
7th August 2011
Day 7 Blye River Canyon to Burgersfort 83km:
We are overwhelmed by generosity. Thanks to Beth and Ben for an awesome picnic lunch, and to the Fouche family for taking us in for the night!!
We are overwhelmed by generosity. Thanks to Beth and Ben for an awesome picnic lunch, and to the Fouche family for taking us in for the night!!
8th August 2011
Day 8 Burgersfort to Lydenburg 67km:
We are still going up!!! yet more hard mountain climbs leaving us extremely tired and wanting more of the signs like the one on the right.
We are still going up!!! yet more hard mountain climbs leaving us extremely tired and wanting more of the signs like the one on the right.
9th August 2011
Lydenburg to Dulstroom 66km:
We have reached over 2050m above sea level and our legs are feeling it! Hopefully will find some flatter land tomorrow (beginning to doubt there is any in S Africa!). Scenic camping spot in fly fishing country. Ben's beard growth is making good progress.
We have reached over 2050m above sea level and our legs are feeling it! Hopefully will find some flatter land tomorrow (beginning to doubt there is any in S Africa!). Scenic camping spot in fly fishing country. Ben's beard growth is making good progress.
10th August 2011
Dulstroom to Middelburg 109km:
Day starts with a frozen tent, frozen saddles, and being woken by a freight train at 3am. But the roads are flatter, thankfully, and we head west through farming country. Turns out a frozen saddle is actually quite nice! The road surface is more typical of the ones we're used to seeing here...
Day starts with a frozen tent, frozen saddles, and being woken by a freight train at 3am. But the roads are flatter, thankfully, and we head west through farming country. Turns out a frozen saddle is actually quite nice! The road surface is more typical of the ones we're used to seeing here...
11th August 2011
Middelburg to Pretoria 145km:
VERY LONG day's cycle today and on busy highways with many many large trucks. We made it to Pretoria in fading light and rush hour madness!
Thank you soooo much to all the people generously sponsoring us along the way, like Sonnet from Middelburg (left)
VERY LONG day's cycle today and on busy highways with many many large trucks. We made it to Pretoria in fading light and rush hour madness!
Thank you soooo much to all the people generously sponsoring us along the way, like Sonnet from Middelburg (left)
12th August 2011
Rest day - playing with vultures: www.vultureconservation.co.za
13th August 2011
Pretoria to Rustenburg
Roads have flattened out, which is great! The dust is not so good, especially when combined with leg cramps. However, we have passed the 1000km point!!!!
Roads have flattened out, which is great! The dust is not so good, especially when combined with leg cramps. However, we have passed the 1000km point!!!!
14th August 2011
Rustenburg to Groot Marico
Everything hurts. Really quite tired now. It's 8.30 and can't stay awake. Rock'n'roll living in the cycle lane. Botswana tomorrow.
Everything hurts. Really quite tired now. It's 8.30 and can't stay awake. Rock'n'roll living in the cycle lane. Botswana tomorrow.
15th August 2011
Day 15 Groot Marico to Lobatse 75km:
Made it to Botswana. Just. A bout of food poisoning means Sallie says goodbye to South Africa by vomiting on it and passing out. Can't take her anywhere...
Made it to Botswana. Just. A bout of food poisoning means Sallie says goodbye to South Africa by vomiting on it and passing out. Can't take her anywhere...
16th August 2011
Lobatse to Mokolodi reserve 67km:
Sallie's up and smiling! In Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Warning on arrival: "Careful of the wild animals here- we have a rhino who heads up to thebar at night..." We'll see him there..
Sallie's up and smiling! In Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Warning on arrival: "Careful of the wild animals here- we have a rhino who heads up to thebar at night..." We'll see him there..
17th August 2011
We LOVE Mokolodi - Impala, kudu, ostrich, baboons, guinea fowl, vervet monkeys, hippo, mongoose, egyptian goose and crocodile.... Huge thanks to John, Anney and Thato Aves for making us feel so welcome and for looking after us so well :)
18th August 2011
Mokolodi to Kanye 96km:
Temporarily run out of tar road - cue gravel skids, Ben hits a boulder and breaks a pannier, almost flattened by a steamroller, and Sallie falls off her bike twice.
Temporarily run out of tar road - cue gravel skids, Ben hits a boulder and breaks a pannier, almost flattened by a steamroller, and Sallie falls off her bike twice.
19th August 2011
Kanye to Jwaneng 105km:
On the Trans-Kalahari Highway. Dead flat, dead straight and a mind-numbing lack of variety in landscape. Highlight of the day...? A 30 degree left turn.
On the Trans-Kalahari Highway. Dead flat, dead straight and a mind-numbing lack of variety in landscape. Highlight of the day...? A 30 degree left turn.
20th August 2011
Hot! Hot! Hot! The farmer's tans are spectacular. Pushing bikes through sand to bush camp is excruciatingly tiring
21st August 2011
Did we mention it's really quite hot in the Kalahari...! New levels of grubbiness - we haven't been able to wash for 4 days. The tent may soon be declared a biohazard.
22nd August 2011
It's all about the food. We've discovered fat cakes (donuts without sugar). At 5p each you can't say no. Eating 15 before lunch seems excessive. Gale winds creating a delightful sandblasting effect. Nothing quite like a gritty pasta lunch.
23rd August 2011
Resting up with Polly and Gregg. In fancy dress, of course...
24th August 2011
Another 110km through red sand dunes, along river beds and below circling vultures.
25th August 2011
Kalahari camping next to meerkat colony. Simples.
26th August 2011
Over 2,000km done. Bye Botswana. Namibia and one more desert to go.
27th August 2011
Trongololos, salt pans & sand dunes....and a random surprise encounter with Dr Thomas!
28th August 2011
Namibia and the creepy crawlie count has risen exponentially.
29th August 2011
Gravel road, headwind, flies, heat, one upset stomach....and our first two punctures. Pitiful progress.
30th August 2011
Same as Day 29 only longer and hotter. We got so thirsty that we stole some water. Sorry.
31st August 2011
Back on tar roads, for an hour, then back to our old friend gravel. Found some cheetahs though- EXCITING!
1st September 2011
138km through incredibly desolate and beautiful landscape. Ate 138,000 calories to recover :)
2nd September 2011
Insanely dramatic scenery all day with endless roads stretching demoralisingly into the horizon. Still that's another 113km done. So that just leaves the 120km to the Atlantic coast and we'll have done it!! Fingers crossed no drama tomorrow.
3rd September 2011
The final day. Epic scenery and a brutally tough final 20km into a sand-whipping gale force headwind, but after 2,800km, 34 days, four countries, 120 power bars and only 2 punctures....WE HAVE MADE IT!
