Monday, August 29, 2011

Boulders, Bogs, Oil Pipelines and Dehydration: Pre-expedition practice 'cycles'

So Peter and I loaded up our bikes and headed into the bush to test our gear, and our bikes. My navigation skills on our 30km and 63km loops led us into dambos (bogs) and up hills to the point Peter wondered if it was a cycling or hiking (carrying bikes) trip. I also confidently insisted 1 water bottle each would be sufficient, which nearly led to dehydration and mutiny.

nothing nicer than cycling through a field of boulders

cycling east (or was it west?) up the oil pipeline to Dar-es-salaam - only 1568km to go!

yes, cycle ending after dark by moonlight

all loaded up, including a bag of fertilizer for ballast


hmm, no bridge?

we have developed a terrific loathing for sand

"CAN YOU SEE THE PATH?"

"NO!"

hope the snakes hear us and move out of the way

hand drawn map - you can't go wrong

beautiful heather, but would have preferred a path

testing the Schwalbe tyres

view from Fort Elwis, built in 1890 to defend against marauding natives


about to cycle off a cliff



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2 comments:

  1. Rachel and MikeAugust 30, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    I think I might recognise that long grass - we ended up cycling through a very similar scarily snakey patch - is it near Ndubaluba? In fact Mike did see a snake there - slithering off in the opposite direction as fast as it could.
    We also encountered a similar road into river scenario............

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  2. ragingpenguinSeptember 1, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    @Rachel/Mike - yes scary snake patch near Ndub's

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