Imagine waking up one day and deciding to take a year to cycle around the African continent. Well...that's exactly what Riaan, a 29 year old Capetonian has done.
The best part is the adventure, Africa365, has a website with stories and photographs.
He's been thrown into jail, endured unimaginable heat, insect plagues and a serious fall which had to be stitched without anesthetic.
'50 km\h on a gravel mountain pass near
Tchibanga in Gabon is how and where it happened. My checklist of
injuries were as follows : cut elbow ; cut on my head ; swollen and
bruised hip ; grased knee , back and shoulder , and a bruised ego . No
, the latter was not the case actually. I can remember the first thing
i thought to myself , even before the dust had settled , is that my
fall would have made good television . I also queried my lack of spare
brake pads which was the primary reason for my demise i think . But
ironically i was congratulating myself for not dying and for " over
packing " the medicine kit . The cut on my elbow needed a stitch or two
but being a 100 odd km from the nearest hospital i had to resort to
steri strips and bandages . But thats enough about the fall although
for those concerned ones out there i am well on the way to recovery .
Thank you .
I made good time to Mouila but my
equipment proved it wasnt as tough as me . I neede new front and rear
sprockets, a new chain those all important brake pads . Mouila was not
in a position to assist me and with my gear been quite specificI had to
get to Libreville to repair my bike . I fortunately found a lift
directly to libreville the very next day . Once in libre i visited the
Soth African Embassy , who surprisingly enough were expecting me . They
in true SA fashion helped me find a good bicycle mechanic and some
comfortable accomad. Being a day before christmas i was also invited to
spend Christmas day with some of the embassy staff . I was extremely
greatful for their hospitality and their presents too . They gave me
chocalate , something which the africa365 budget cannot afford . DHL in
Libreville were also kind enough to sponsor the transport of the new
bicycle parts from SA , as they were not locally available . This meant
, because of the holidays inbetween , i happened to welcome in the new
year with my fellow Safricans in Libreville , Gabon . . No alchohol for
me as i had to be up bright and early on new years day to find a lift
back to my original breakdown point , Mouila . This backtracking only
goes to re affirm my comitment to complete this trip around the
continent, single handedly and unaided.
Go check it out.
Remember the cube? That thing that all the nerds could twist a couple of times and all the colours landed up where they were supposed to.
