Thank You

Thank You

Thank You, Merci Beacoup, Gracias, Shukran, Jeri Jef, Tana Te, Abaraka, Nawari, Asante Sana, Ke a leboga, Ngiyabonga, Ndiyabulela After 10 months on the road I’m now back in the UK.. with a bump! Gone were the brilliantly blue skies when I started compiling this list, warm days (compared to Africa!) and beautiful evening sunsets,…

Stripping down the bike in Cape Town for the flight home

Good Bye Africa

My remaining time in Cape Town being a tourist, just like many others before me and also meeting other tourists in the places I stayed. I stayed the last few days at the Amber Tree Backpackers lodge, recommended to me by Maurice Raleigh whom I had met at Jollyboys backpackers in Livingstone. Maurice also on…

This is taking a while - Time for a brew!

The Argus Cape Town Cycle Tour

Malawi, Nkhata Bay and I was talking to Dominicue, a very affable friendly fellow travelling with his family though Africa. After several minutes exchanging our thoughts and details of our respective travels we moved onto discussion of the future places we were looking to travel to and through. Dominicue casually mentioned a cycle event I…

Sunset in Gordon's Bay - Wild fire improved the colours!

Cape Town Here I Am

Its been almost nine and a half months, but finally Cape Town, here I am! When I set off from the UK on May 14th 2014 I hadn’t said I was definitely going to Cape Town, the distance was large and I didn’t want to set a goal that I may not have achieved, I…

Catching baitfish in Struisbaai harbour

Not Far Now

Not Far Now and the weather has been very good to me. Most of the time I do not suffer bad weather, luckily being stopped or able to shelter from inclement weather. My luck continues to hold as I near the end of my African journey and as I move further along the coast and from…

I am the ....

The Garden Route

Kenton on Sea was a lovely place but merely a taster as I entered the Garden Route, an area in South Africa on the Southern coast stretching from Storms River to Mossel Bay. The climate seems to change as does the fauna and flora, pine trees being grown for wood harvesting and sawmills giving off…

Kenton-On-Sea - view along from the beach

Tapering or Just Going Slow

My slower rate of journey continued in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. With Cape Town in sight I’m not sure if I’m tapering or just going slow! Either way it’s nice to see places for a while longer and Port Alfred’s a nice friendly town, quiet, not too busy and the home to a…

Mandela Statue in Pretoria

Johannesburg for Christmas

Cycling into Johannesburg for Christmas No one told me Johannesburg is so hilly. Starting several miles out the hills start, combined with high temperatures made for a tiring ride into the largest city in South Africa, also referred to as Joburg or Jozi, home to around 13 million people. As I neared the Golf club…

South Africa – Here I Come – Oh don’t Forget Botswana

The last two weeks have whizzed by since leaving Jollyboys backpackers in Livingstone, Zambia. I’ve ridden just under 900 miles through Botswana quickly despite stopping in the capital Gaborone and arrived in South Africa, the country of my final destination, Cape Town. The time spent at Jollyboys backpackers thoroughly enjoyable, staying longer than originally intended…

Zambia – Lusaka and a relaxing time fishing

Really, that many?  Time has flown since departing the UK. I have now cycled in 13 different countries, 1 British Territory, Gibraltar and crossed 16 borders since the middle of May. Looking forward there are not that many more to go! After seeing an abundance of wildlife near Mfuwe, Zambia my next target location was…

Malawi and the Lake

Malawi and the Lake The Sahara difficult? No it was easy, much easier than I thought it would be. Now parts of Tanzania, er yes parts of Tanzania have been hard. Hot, dry, arid and in some places windy, mostly blowing from the wrong direction oh and hilly. Whilst food and water stops are easy…

Buildings In Amongst The Rocks

Goodbye Arusha – Heading South In Tanzania

Staying at The Greenhouse in Arusha, I’d intended to stay one night, that became three after suffering from a stomach bug. Going to the hospital to rule out Malaria was pretty simple although very time consuming. The process is pretty simple, register then pay, see the doctor, then pay, have tests, see the doctor, then…