Staff
I am thrilled to be part of the team as Assistant Tour Director/Communications! I have a background in radio news reporting, writing and anchoring. Recently, I’ve been in a remote British Columbia river valley working as a chef for a fly-in ecolodge offering grizzly bear-viewing tours. Living in a rainforest teeming with grizzlies (and the occasional cougar) means cycling is not an option (unless you’d like to become somebody’s dinner!) so I’m really looking forward to dusting off my bike and getting back in the saddle.
The first time I rode a bicycle with no hands I was about ten, trying to eat licorice and impress the neighbourhood kids with my coolness. Much to their delight, I bailed into a ditch, sending glistening sticks of red licorice hurtling through the air.
With high school came a hip young teacher with a passion for cycling who let the mountain bike team wear jerseys that read, "CARS SUCK," (the last word of which the school board promptly made everyone cover with duct tape). On my first race I miscalculated a turn and came tearing around a corner into a crowd of spectators, sending lawn chairs flying and proud grandparents diving for cover.
When I’m not entertaining crowds with my lack of coordination, I enjoy eating mangoes, reminiscing through olfactory nostalgia, imbibing a cold beer, and sidesplitting laughter. Can’t wait to meet you all in Cairo!
Last week a trip to Africa existed only in my dreams, this week it has become a reality. Excitement, craziness and at times disbelief are a few of the thoughts running through my mind. I am a registered nurse from a small town in British Columbia and I will be assisting Caroline, attending to your medical needs. I enjoy biking and mostly ride cross-country and downhill trails. Although I lack experience biking long distances I plan to bike as much as my responsibilities and body allows me. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing this amazing, wonderful experience
Elasto, who currently works for
Africycle in Malawi, will be joining the expedition in that country to help with keeping bicycles on the road.
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Janet Farquharson
 South Africa
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Janet Farquharson from Cape Town is an overlander through and through and first timer on the team for TDA.
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Martin Kavita Wambua
 Kenya
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With academic training in clearing and forwarding Martin opted to pursue a career as a bike mechanic.
Martin is one of the few top mechanics in Kenya with good experience in handling both regular and high-end bikes. He is a highly-capable mechanic and this has seen him hold the position of Head Mechanic in the following bike shops, CBD bike shop and Jack’s Bike Garage.
Martin is quick and skilled with tools with a proper understanding of mechanical concepts as they relate to the bike. This saw him earn the tightly contested position of a bike mechanic at World Bike. This is an international network of bicycle designers and industry leaders, and international development professionals, that were working together to design a low cost prototype bikes to be used in solid waste management (transportation) in one of the biggest slums in Kenya, Kibera.
He is currently Team leader of mechanized division at Wheels of Africa. And now second to Tour D’Afrique as an assistant mechanic.
Other than the mechanical skills, Martin remains a respected in the Nairobi cycling fraternity and has been involved in several cycling activities within the club including training of new cyclists, providing mechanic support to the club tours.
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Ferdi Labuschagne
South Africa
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Ferdi Labuschagne is mad as a hatter also a first timer.
Call me a glutton for punishment, or perhaps I'm just a glutton. Something about Africa has me coming back for a second helping. Could it be the falafel of the North, or Ethiopia's injera? Maybe it's ugali and beans, or South African bobotie. Whatever it is, I'm hungry for more.
See you in Cairo
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Paul McManus
 United States
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This will be my second trip from Cairo to Cape working for the Tour d' Afrique. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing some adventures (and beer).
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Caroline Murray
South Africa
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I am resident in the beautiful city of Cape Town where I practice as a registered nurse. My professional interests are in emergency medicine and sports medicine. I work in an emergency room in the city, and am also part of an events medical team that does several extreme events during the course of the year, including the Cape Epic Cycle ride. (I am an expert at treating saddle sores!)
I love to travel and have spent a number of years working on cruise ships. I have also spent some time backpacking through Europe, South America and Central and East Africa. I enjoy the outdoors, and 4x4 driving, and am passionate about cycling. (Non- competitive slow but sure!) I also enjoy hiking and playing squash.
I look forward to this great adventure, and am privileged to have the opportunity to take care of the riders medical needs.
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Ronel Swart
South Africa
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Ronel Swart was on the team last year from Cairo to Nairobi and kept everybody at the lunch stop well fed. This time she will do her bit on the second half.
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Sharita van der Merwe
South Africa
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Chris Van Waning
United States
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My name is Christopher VanWaning, I am 36 years old and live on Maui where I have been for the last 6 years. I grew up outside Chicago and moved to Colorado when I was 20. I studied civil engineering at Colorado State University. While in Colorado I was a very serious cross-country mt bike racer. Since moving to Maui I have become more of a road biker but still love mt biking the most. I have been a mechanic for 18 years and am looking forward to this adventure.
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Gert Van Zyl
South Africa
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Gert van Zyl is looking forward to the second half of the tour when he will join. Another first timer on a TDA trip.
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Errol Venter
South Africa
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Errol Venter is from Durban and this is by far not his first TDA project. He stopped counting after he did the second half last year. He will be a great source of info as the cyclist battle their way down.
When I was a kid I use to race around the neighbourhood on my fancy pants 10 speed and pretend I was a Tour de France rider. I spend hours racing up and down the streets of my small town until the street lights came on. It was one mean boy in the neighbourhood who told me that girls couldn't race the tour that made me throw in the towel. One day I was offered the opportunity to ride with the 2007 Cancervive Peloton Project. A non-stop, ride through the night, 120km a day peloton ride in support of cancer survivorship and the dreams of the little girl with the pigtails were reborn. I have since replaced my addiction to shoes with an addiction to bikes, Stella, Lola, Betty, Finn and the yet to be named 29er make up my family. I'm a recovering student, having recently completed my BA in Communications and I'm looking forward to using my newly acquired skill set in the middle of Africa.
- I was raised in a small town called Okotoks which makes me an Okotokian. If you're from Canada you will recognize my town by the big rock on the label of Big Rock Beer.
- If you want me to dance put on Boogie Shoes by KC and the Sunshine Band.
- My favourite pastime is to lull bike boys into submission then 'chick' them up the hill.
- I have a collection of 'floaty' pens. The ones that you tilt and the ship goes down and tilt back and it goes back to the harbour. I have a collection from all over the world. If you can help me find one from anywhere in Africa you will be forever in the ranks of my favourite, most awesome people ever.
- I have a secret love for really, really bad dance music from the 90's. If you catch me dancing on my bike with my ipod in you'll know I'm rockin' out to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.
Canada
Malawi
