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UPDATED April 28, 2009

BY The TDA Team

IN Tour d'Afrique

no comments

UPDATED April 28, 2009

BY The TDA Team

IN Tour d'Afrique

no comments

One of the Top Five Days of the Tour

372

After a tiring long week in Botswana, we have crossed into Namibia. We were told we had 2 days of dirt from Windhoek to Sesriem; one being 147 km, and the other 155 km. Long, hot, hills, and dirt. I have to say initially many of the riders, including myself, were not looking forward to it, after a tiring week, however, yesterday has proven to be one of the best days of the tour.

 

Yesterday morning we woke up all very cold and tired after a chilly night of frost on the ground. It was our last bush camp on the tour which is actually sad; it was a great bush camp with a big bonfire to warm us up.

We all rigged up, and hit the road and it was a sensational day. The scenery was beautiful; desert-like plains with mountains jutting up all around us. The ride started with a slight climb over Spreetsghoote Pass. As you come over the pass you were struck by a beautiful view across a huge valley. This was followed by a fantastic and fast and challenging descent. We dropped 500m in a mere 4 km.

 

At about 45 km we came across Gecko Camp where we hiked up a little hill to a restaurant with any cold drinks you could imagine and a sensational view. Eventually we tore ourselves away and rode another 30 km to Solitaire where there was another restaurant famous for their apple crumble – which happens to be my favourite desert. So I stuffed myself with a game burger and apple crumble and a magnum ice cream bar on top. This time I had to be rolled out of there onto my bike and I spent the next 40 km fighting not to be sick from over-eating.

 

The riding was tough, being a mix of sand, loose rock, and it was a long day with some riders getting into camp as the sun disappeared behind the dunes. But every single kilometer was worth it; being so beautiful and such a welcome change from the riding in Botswana. Iit has definitely been voted as one of the top 5 days on the tour.

 

Today we have a rest day in Sesriem which is a small little resort/camp at the gate to the sand dunes. Most riders and staff were up at 4:30am to head to see the sunrise over the dunes. It was hard but I dragged myself out of bed. Again it was well worth it as the dunes were very, very impressive.

 

Ahead is another 5 days of long days in the dirt before our next rest day at Felix Unite Camp on the border with South Africa….

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