Africa by a bicycle

Day Of Actually Publishing My Blog For The First Time

2005-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I tried to get my blog going since Cape Town. It was only here in Port Elizabeth that I actually found an internet cafe that is not outrageously expensive and incredibly slow. I bought myself 2 hours of internet time for R30 and might actually get my journal updated and my email done. Wow!!!!!!

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Just Chilling Out

2005-04-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

The trip to Addo Elephant Park has been organized for Saturday. I have a few days to chill. Perhaps go to the library to read some books. I still have to buy a watch and mosquito nets and seam sealers.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Trying To Fix Saddle

2005-04-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Went to bike shops again to try to fix the saddle. Still no use. Oh well, guess the old saddle will have to do till I find a permanent solution.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Tour Of Kragga Kamma

2005-04-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hook up with the American couple to go to the Kragga Kamma Private Game Park. It worked out to be R300 split between the 3 of us for the taxi ride and R30 entrance fee each. We saw giraffes, Red Hartebeests, Cheetahs, White Rhinos, Impalas, Common Reedbucks, Springboks, Bushbucks, Wildebeest, Waterbucks, Burchell's Zebras, Bonteboks, Nyalas, Lechwes, Warthogs and Ostriches. The american couple had already been to the Kruger. And they said that this little park wasn't too bad at all and they were glad that they came.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Day Trip To Cape Recife

2005-04-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Pierre, the nice Frenchman agree to take the girls(Christina and Andrea) to Cape Recife. And I decided to tag along. Pierre showed me how to pick sea snails. Nice a windy day at the Cape, then back to the hostel.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Time To Move For Better Camping

2005-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

The manager at Kings Beach Backpacker was a real dickhead. What a difference from the nice lady that check me in. It was just a horrible atmosphere with this guy hanging around all day. Time to go somehwere cheaper and bring out my tent. Went to Helicharter Backpacker to set up my tent. R35 for a spot on the grass. There were also more people here. I thought I had a much better chance of getting a trip to Addo here than Kings'.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

2005-04-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Jeffreys Bay to Port Elizabeth. A pretty ordinary day. Arrived at Port Elizabeth at around 1:00 PM. Tried to find a place that will stored my bike and luggauge when I take the bus back to Cape Town. I got tired of waiting for the boss to show up to ask at the Helicharter Backpacker. So I took a dorm for R60 at Kings Beach Backpacker thinking that I will leave everything there. And the lday wanted to charge me like R20 per day for the storage of my bike and panniers. Then at night I got a phone called from Eric. Then I realized that he was already in Cape Town and he was flying out Sunday morning. So I phoned the bus companies in town. Basically I have to go on Stand-By to buy a ticket for 7:30 AM tomorrow morning, And I will arrived in Cape Town at 6:00 PM at night. It just didn't amke too much sense to go back to Cape Town. I SMS Eric and later he phoned me back to reconfirmed that I am not going back to Cape Town.

Riding Time: 4.47.35 hours Max: 52.1KM/H Av: 17.3KM/H Distance: 83.05KM Odometer: 815.9KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Rest Day In Jefferys Bay

2005-04-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to stay here for the day so I can work on email and this daily journal. Clinton, the manager is a really cool guy and I can use his computer here. I had been sitting in front of this compter since 8:00 AM. It is almost 1:00 PM now. I took a maybe 30 minutes break to walk down to the beach with Ian to look for oysters. I will go buy some food and after lunch I will work on the email part. Because internet is so very expensive. I have to do things a bit different. There is no internet connection on this particular computer. Therefore, I will write everything on a Notepad, then burn it either on a floppy or a CD. Then head out to a internet cafe and send it. But first, LUNCH!!!! Back from lunch and now onto email.

P.S. As you know I couldn't get anything done in Jeffreys Bay. But I did get to use the computer for the whole day to make all my drafts. That actually save me quite a lot of money.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Surf Mecca Of South Africa

2005-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Storms River Village to Jeffreys Bay. Went to the bike shop at 8:00 AM. The mechanic tighten the cassette for me for free. And I was on my way. Then I had a fierce tailwind with me the whole day except when I arrived at the turn off to Jeffreys Bay. Just a few hills in between, but it was a great riding day. Arrived at Jeffreys Bay at around 3:00 PM. Jefferys Bay is very quiet right now. Winter is getting near and everyone is waiting for the big storm to generate those perfect waves. In the mean time, I have the whole dormitory to myself. R50 for dorm at the Misty Lodge At Supertube.

Riding Time: 5.42.29 hours Max: 62.3KM/H Av: 19.8KM/H Distance: 113.37KM Odometer: 732.9KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Highest Bungee Jump In The World

2005-04-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

Knysna to Storms River Village. Took long time to get going again, left at about 7:35 AM. Stopped by Plettenberg Bay to have a look. Then I took the R109 to go into the Nature's Valley and the Grootrivier Pass. It was nice but nothing like what another guy me that it was the most beautiful part of South Africa. So when I was back on the N2, I decided to skip the second part and continued on the N2 to see the highest bungee jump in the world. That was interesting, but it was a cloudy day. I couldn't see so much. Then it started to rain. Time to test my waterproof clothes that got all kinds of holes in them from my crash in Switzerland. But it didn't turn out too bad at all. I stayed quite dry. I guess I will find out on a real rain storm. I also noticed that my cassette was loose. Arrived at Storms River Village at around 5:00 PM. The bike shop was already closed. Have to go tomorrow at 8:00 AM to get it fix. R50 for camping at Tube And Axe. This is the first backpackers that I actually encounter some tourists.

Riding Time: 6.47.45 hours Max: 49.5KM/H Av: 16.0KM/H Distance: 108.99KM Odometer: 619.5KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Rest Day In Knysna

2005-04-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Rest day in Knysna. Just walked to the heads and back. It is very quiet everywhere is this is the off-season for tourist.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

More Hills On The Garden Route

2005-04-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mossel Bay to Knysna. The hills are back with a vengence. The wind wasn't so bad this morning. Arrived at Knysna at around 5:00 PM. R50 for camping at the Overlander Lodge.

Riding Time: 6.38.32 hours Max: 56.5KM/H Av: 16.6KM/H Distance: 110.83KM Odometer: 510.5KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Wind At Your Back

2005-04-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

Riversdale to Mossel Bay. After the first 15KM, I finally hit some stretches fairly flat roads. Not only that, I have my first good tailwind. And the old saddle made a world of difference. It was actually fun to sit on the saddle again. The garden route so far had been pretty boring. Just road with trees. I am sure if you go on treks, you will find some nice forest. But I can find nice forest in many places that I had been already. Arrived in Mossel BAy at around 1:00 PM. R50 for camping at the Mossel Bay Backpackers.

Riding Time: 5.00.20 hours Max: 62.2KM/H Av: 18.9KM/H Distance: 95.06KM Odometer: 399.7KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

End Of The Road For The New Saddle

2005-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Swellendam to Riversdale. Mossel Bay was just a little too far out of reach today. My plan for South Africa is to ride to where ever I can find cheap camping. I did saw something interesting today. As I was coming down a hill quite fast, I saw 2 man walking on the highway. One was carrying a normal backpack and the other was dragging a cross on his shoulder. That would have made a really good photo. But as usual, I was going too fast and had no time to stop to take pictures or talk to these guys. Damn, next time I have to stop. It took me forever to get going this morning also. I didn't leave till around 7:45 AM. Arrived at Riversdale at around 3:00 PM. I decided the experiment with the new saddle is over. It was just too painful. I tried to take the rails off the new saddle. The front mount for the screw just snapped so that I could not unscrew it. The same thing was happening to my old saddle. So I put my old saddle back on just the way it was. I think the people at the bike shop did bend the rails back a bit, so it wasn't as bad as before. R40 for camping at the caravan park.

Riding Time: 5.51.05 hours Max: 54.4KM/H Av: 14.7KM/H Distance: 86.56KM Odometer: 304.6KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Now, That's A Bit Better

2005-04-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

Caledon to Swellendam. Finally, a more respectable day for distance. Gone today was the fierce headwind that had been with me for the last 2 days. 7KM pass Caledon on N2 going east, I ran into where the road collapsed. Had to dismount all my panniers and climb the little mud hill to the other side with all my stuff. This is still a much better option than to take the side road and go for an extra 20KM. The headwind came back at around 3:00 PM. But I was close enough to Swellendam that I wasn't too bad. R40 for camping at the Swellendam Backpackers Adventure Lodge.

Riding Time: 7.31.38 hours Max: 62.1KM/H Av: 14.9KM/H Distance: 112.85KM Odometer: 217.9KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Another Crappy Day For Me

2005-04-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Kleinmond to Caledon. Another not very impressive day for me. Left at about 7:00 AM. But right away I encountered a strong headwind. And more hills today. Arrived at Caledon just before noon. The N2 was closed 7KM pass Caledon. I was very tired plus my butt was killing me, so I stayed in Caledon. I just hope that this new saddle will break in soon. The cheapest place I could find was a B&B for R100. Ouch!!!! And I left in the morning the next day forgotten all about the free breakfast, damn!!!!!

Riding Time: 4.12.23 hours Max: 48.5KM/H Av: 11.3KM/H Distance: 47.78KM Odometer: 105.1KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

First Day On The Bike

2005-04-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Strand to Kleinmond. This is it, my first day on the bike. I had wanted to get to Hermanus to see some whales. But the first group of people that convinced me not to go there was a film crew just outside of Strand of the coastal road. This is the wrong season for whales watching plus I will see whales along this road, and I if I don't see them here then I will not see them in Hermanus either. There was a good headwind all morning. It was also quite hilly. I arrived in Kleinmond at around noon. I went to the Dental Surgery. The Dentist also convinced me that there are no whales in Hermanus. Anyway, these old legs of mine were extremely tired from many months of inactivities. And Pottie's dentist friend invited me to stay at his house. I accepted it because I was so tired.

Riding Time: 3.31.18 hours Max: 46.8KM/H Av: 16.2KM/H Distance: 57.33KM Odometer: 57.3KM

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

My First Ever Cell Phone

2005-04-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

I had to get my cell phone sorted out today because I want to leave tomorrow. So my planned day ride from Cape Town to Strand was cancelled. The Motorola phone turned out to be something that might not work for me. As the owner wasn't even sure that the phone was indeed tri-band and the adpater wasn't universal. So I went to the little shop just beside Pick N' Pay. I was told that there might be a used Nokia that I can buy for R900. That sound really great at this point. Waited a bit for the owner to show up with his phone. Everything worked great. So I bought it for R900. I just have to pick up the manual when I go back to Cape Town to visit Eric in May as he didn't have it with him then. I got the pay as you go plan that works only in South Africa. When I arrived in another country, I have to go through the whole process again minus buying another phone.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Cancelled Day Ride To Stellenbosch

2005-04-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Day ride to Stellenbosch and back to Strand cancelled. I was stilled suffering from whatever sickness that I had. I just lay in my bed all day.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Brush With Sickness

2005-04-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Pottie convinced me that at least I should get a cell phone if I can't get travel insurance. The best deal that I found was for a used Motorola for about R500. He said he could show me the phone on Monday. On the walk from Somerset Mall back to Strand. I started to feel not so great. It must have be the pies that I was eating or the chicken that I had this morning. By the time I was walking in Strand's beach. I was exhausted. I had to go back to the house to ly down. But sleep wasn't possible cause my stomach was just churning overtime. It was around 10:00 PM, time to brush my teeth and go to bed. After brushing, I can feel it was coming. Before I knew it, all the food that I had today came flying out of my mouth. I felt better after my puking session. Now, I can actually sleep.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Just Another Day

2005-04-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Not sure what da heck I did today.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Pain In The Butt!!!!

2005-04-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

Went out this morning to test the new saddle. While it does eliminate the numbness you get from 1 spot, it creates excruciating pains in other areas. Damn, another trip to Cape Town to get my old saddle back just in case I can never get used to this saddle. Thankfully, the man still has the saddle at this shop. On my way back I picked up the last piece of supplies that I needed from the supermarket to make my splash guard for the back wheel.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Fixing The Bike

2005-04-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

I went back to the same bike shop again to check on the saddle. Well, it was more bad news. The owner told me that he can't replace the rails on that model of Salle Italia. Originally, I had wanted to buy the Brooks saddle thinking that it would be cheap here cause of the English ties. The Brooks has to be specially imported. That would means it will be super expensive. And the guy at the shop was willing to give me a deal on another new Selle Italia. But this one has the cutout in the middle. I bought it thinking that if I don't like the saddle, I can always just swap over the rails. So, it was R700 for the saddle and R250 for the bike shorts. And I gave my old saddle to the shop owner.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

No Pain No Gain

2005-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Had a real problem getting out of bed this morning. I am paying for the price of my little excursion up Table Mountain on Sunday. It really hit me today. This also brings back memory of Torres Del Paine when my feet were so badly damage that I had problem walking for over a month. But this was not so bad, I was just a little sore. I went to Cape Town and found a bike shop that could replace the bend rails on my saddle. Also bought a used Lonely Planet Southern Africa Guide Book for R140, half the price of a new book.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

The Big Day With The Dentist

2005-04-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

I had a dental appointment today. But I just cannot remember what time it was suppose to be. I really wanted to stay in Cape Town to shop for some of my supplies. So, I took the 8:20 AM train back to Strand. Only to find out that my appointment was at 5:30 PM when I was back in Strand. Went back to Somerset Mall to shop for supplies again. I got the bad news that I did past the 24 hrs limit as long as the Trans-Africa insurance is concern. And I think that I could still get insurance just for South Africa. But that idea just didn't appeal to me. It was very expensive and just for 80 days. I guess no insurance for South Africa. Went to my dental appoinment later on and got more bad news. One of my tooth in the back has to come out, there was no way to salvage it. Man, I had to come all the way to Africa to get my tooth pulled. At least it was a bargain. It costed me about R400 to have the tooth pulled and some filling work. But now I will have to rest, no strenous excercise.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Walking To The Top Of Table Mountain

2005-04-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Woke up to a beautiful morning. It was the first sunny day since I been Strand. By the time I ate and got myself ready, it was already 9:30 AM. And this being Sunday, the next train doesn't leave for Cape Town till 11:00 AM. So I waited and waited. Had to go to the Tourist Information Office again to ask a few more questions. Then it was time to walk. At the beginning of the hill that leads up to the lower cable car station, I got lucky and got a lift all the way to the station. Then had to walk another 1.5Km to Platteklip Gorge. This is the fastest and the easiest way to walk up. It took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes to go up. But I sure was out of shape. I was very tired when I arrived at the top. And these fit young men that I went pass before had finally caught up to me. Damn!!!!! I needed to get fitter. It was very flat at the top, that was something I had never seen before. But the view from the top to me was not all that great. The view from the Christ Statue at Corcovado in Rio, Brazil was much better. But that's me, I always compare to the things I had seem in the past. Then it was time to get back down to catch the last train back to Strand. I started running down. It was great at the beginning, running down at a real good pace. It almost brought back memory of my Inca Trails and Torres Del Paine. But that rush didn't last long. I had to stop running half way down. My ankles, calfs and knees was begging me to stop. I used to be able to run down like that for hours. Oh well, thats life. 45 minutes later, I was back at the bottom. Had to be quick now caused I had not much time to walk back to the train station. Then I was half jogging and half walking trying to get to the train station. I arrived at just before 6:00 PM, bought a ticket to Strand. Then to find out that there is no more train to Strand. I misread the schedule. The last train leave from Bellvile to Strand at 6:00 PM. There are no more buses. And to get to Strand by taxi would be very very expensive. So, time to look for a place to stay in Cape Town. Ended up staying at Long Street Backpackers for R70 for the dormitory. Met an interesting character that just loves his guns and all the pigs and other wild animals that he had killed. This is not the place to be if you want some peace and quiet. It was right in the middle of all the actions. The screaming, honking, drinking actions, etc.... started to taper off after 4:00 AM. All I remember in my semi-concious state was that it was quite peaceful early in the morning.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Day Trip By Car

2005-04-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

Pottie had some business in Kleinmond. I decided to tag along for the ride. Along the Coastal Road to Kleinmond. We encountered lots of Baboons just loitering around in the middle of the road. That gave me the impression that I was going to run into Baboons everywhere. That turn out not to be true as I later found out. But just to see them wandering around reminds me that I am indeed in Africa. Then latter we went to his dentist friend's house for some afternoon tea. Time to head back to Strand.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Shopping For Supplies

2005-04-01T06:46:00.000-08:00

Went to Somerset Mall in Somerset to try to get some of these things that I needed. Talked to a few agencies about travel insurance. I got all kinds of quotes. And each one tells me a different story about my current situation. Some told me, I have to buy it within 24 hrs after my arrival in South Africa. Some say I can only buy insurance for South Africa. While others claim that I can buy insurance for the whole of Africa. Either way, I will have to wait a little till Monday for more info. It didn't really matter at this point as I have already pass the 24 hrs period.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Second Day In Africa

2005-03-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

Took the 10:30 AM train from Strand to Cape Town. The Metro train is extremely slow. It took me about 1 and a half hour to get to Cape Town. By the time I visited the Tourist Information Office, it was already too late to go up Table Mountain. Instead I went to the Victoria Waterfront. There sure was lots of tourists there doing who knows what. I guess I know what, it was shopping. When I was back in Strand, I made up a list of things that I still need for my bike and other essentials.

Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

First Day In Africa

2005-03-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry for this late update. Internet is very slow and expensive in Africa. I am actually writing this on Apr 21, 2005. Staying at this great place call the Misty Lodge At Supertube. The owner is a great guy and allowed me to use his computer.
By the way, everyone, my name is Tony. This is my first time in Afrca. I had been feeling sick since last night from Zurich. But I had always been like that. Getting nervous before going on a trip is normal for me. Anyway, my plane landed in Johannesburg. I picked up all my stuff and went through customs. Then I was taken to the domestic transfer. Then I made the mistake of listening to one of these helpers that is always hanging around. He told me I had to go to the domestic terminal to check in. Took me about 15 minutes to get over there. On top of that, there was a huge line-up. The boy also told me that I had to pay extra for my bike for the section between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Guess that is the last time I will listen to these helpers again. But it all ended well. I did not miss the plane to Cape Town.
When I walked out of the arrival terminal in Cape Town, there was Pottie waiting for me. He droved me back to Strand(about 50Km from Cape Town), set me up in one of his spare rooms. This room was great, I had my own kitchen and shower in there. Then I didn't do much as I was quite tired and just wanted to relax for my first day in Africa.

P.S. I had such a problem with the internet in South Africa. This is actually Apr 28 and I am in Port Elizabeth.
Tony
Visit my site: www.bikertony.com

Test

2005-01-19T01:52:00.000-08:00

This is a test!