2018 Africa – Legs and Feets

Back in the Desert Windhoek – Sesriem 20-23 April

We are back in the desert and riding on gravel road.

We saw several signs reminding us we were to watch for wildlife.

We crossed the Torpic of Capricorn on the 20 April.

After a long climb we saw this encouraging sign.

After reaching the top we has a steep downhill. Fortunately this road was surfaced with pavers. After several stops, walking a short distance and cooling our disk brakes with water we decided to walk the remainder of the hill.

The next day back to flat. This is a photo of our early morning shadow.

At our lunch stop we found this giraffe track. Looking at the landscape we did not think there was enough browse for a giraffe.

Our camp was at Dunes on the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. There were two resorts one we had a special dinner where the cheif offered several varieties of wild meat

Off To Botswana – Victoria Falls to Maun April 7-12

Botswana (historically named Bechuanaland) was a British protectorate until September 1966. That is why we are riding our bicycle on the left side of the road. This 50th year anniversery sign was at the border crossing from Zambia into Botswana. The country is very proud of its zebra which has been encorporated into its Coat of Arms.

Botswana is considered topographically flat with 70% of its terrirory being the Kalahari Desert. The highest climb day we have this week is 580m on paved roads. This is why we are zooming down the road riding close to 100 miles a day.

Our first day is a relatively short 81km, 72km is still in Zambia. Just a short ride outside of Livingstone we see two big Giraffes crossing the road. At Kazungula we come to an interesting four country intersection. Ninibia has a long narrow finger defined by the north with the Zambezi River and the south by the Chobe RIver. Where the two rivers meet is the tip of the Namabia finger. North of the Zambezi River is Zambia, South and west of the confluence of the Chobe is Namabia, for a small couple meters is Botswana and to the east is Zimbabwe. At this river crossing there is a line of trucks trying to access all four of these countries on two small barges that can haul about 3 trucks each. We all have to check out of Zambia take the barge across the river and then check in and receive a visa for Botswana.

There is a bridge being constructed across the Zambezi at this crossing but it has been being built for several years and will take several more to complete.

That night we camped in Kasane. As a last minute decision we decided to take the river cruse in Chobe National Park. The cruse circled the Sidudu/Kazajuku Island something the Botswana government went to international court against Nanibia to retain.

We saw hippopotamus, gazelle, and crocodile.

The 8th we rode 171km to Elephant camp. The name of the camp did not disappoint us. On the way to camp Feets found this big bull elephant grazing along the road.

In camp this evening we saw a herd of elephants walked through camp. We of course kept our distance so our photos were not very good.

The next day we had lunch under a Bayobab tree and saw the largest ardvark.

Maun was a wonderful camp at a resort with swimming pool and excellent food.

Three days in Livingstone Zambezi and Victoria Falls Zimbabwe 3-6 April

We arrived in Livingstone, Zambezi early afternoon. Because it was raining on and off we knew we needed to find a high ground to place our tent. After much searching we found a nice little spot under two bushes. The problem of course is that it would drip all night if it did rain but the heavy drops would be broken by the branches. Besides it was a high gournd. We were thankful for sellecting this spot. Some of the riders with larger tents were forced to camp in the larger spots and these spots turned into lakes during the first night.

At 2:30 p.m. there was another bike donation where the bicycles were given to a school that loaned them to students so they could travel to school. Several students were there who had received the bicycles and gave testamonies of how it helped keep them in school. There was also a group of drummers and dancers proforming a local dance. These kids were sweating with the exertion. We think the dance was a mating dance since the women would hold their head and shoulders absolutely still while walking at a very slow pace. The active parts were their hips which would gyrate at a very fast rate in circles. The men would do things like pushups and other moves to show off their virility. Several individuals were sellected from the cyclists to participate including feets who of course choose legs as a partner.

Several of the segment riders left us at this stop and we did receive two new staff members. We also received new parts for the Gates drive/Rohloff hub. The old spline setup we currently had needed greasing every few days. The two sent us in Bahir Dar on February 8 were warn out. The new replacement was the older threaded system. This screwed tight to the hub and had no slop. We replaced parts on the 4th.

Removing the old gear.

The new gear unit.

Threads on to the hub

Now reinstall the parts and put the bike back together.

That evening we had signed up for a steam locamotive trip that from Livingstone to the Victoria Falls Bridge opened in September 1905. The original use was to be for trains but now it provides one vehicle at a time crossing for vehicles. On busy days the trucks and cars are backed up.

Ofcoursefeets had to pull the wistle and sense she was the stocker on the bicycle, stock the fire of the engine.

We did step across the boarder into Zimbabwe.

We also had a wonderful meal

The 5th we rode to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe a major tourist town with some very high end resorts and restaurants. Though the tour did not go into this country we got up early in the morning and rode across the boarder. The Visa was a simple process and we rode on into town.