Tour of Freaks in Nairobi

In Cairo we met  TDA 2009 at the Cataract Pyramids Resort. Everyone still had crisp clothing, new gear and bicycles of all sorts. Some signed up for  a holiday, adventure and even a race. After photos at the pyramids it was time to find out who was gonna set the pace.

Egypt was flat, paved and even had a cool breeze. Nonetheless it was exhausting with its noisy mosques, crazy taxis and "good price on my felucca please". After a crazy ferry ride from Aswan we met Abdul Bagi with his toothless smile. Locals were really friendly, helpful and we learned that "Inshallah" means it might take a while. 

We got into a system and days turned into weeks. But what a relief at the Ethiopian border when I spoke the words: "Give me a beer please". Rocks, injera, "you! you! ferengi, give me a buck" soon followed. The days got tough and most of the cyclists got on the truck. The day into Gondor seemed like the last straw that was going to break the camels back. But when Lloyd Strong rolled in at dark he showed that heroes don't slack. 

Northern Kenya was the real kick in the head. Guaranteed when it rains in the desert everyone will swap a bicycle for a bed. In the last three days we have consumed a lot of alcohol to ease the pain. Funny thing, in the southern hemisphere I feel more sane.

For the rest of the tour I want to wish all of you good luck. And please be nice to Errol and the new crew when they get the trucks stuck. 

TDA 2009 for me has come to an end. So I say goodbye to old colleagues and newfound friends.

Wimpie Van Zyl.  Support Crew