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Friends, countrymen, Romans lend me your eyes for one moment. This will be my first attempt putting pen to paper before I embark and then settle into my long ride to Cape Town. It will be no mean feat: travelling just over six thousand kilometres in sixty odd days passing through seven countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
For many, it might be hard to imagine my 6”6” frame (some say 6”7”) on a bike grinding it out through the gentle flats of Suffolk let alone peddling the contours of seven, hot (and getting hotter) African countries for over 60 days. I too find it hard to believe that this is really happening and it’s only around the proverbial corner (this coming Friday 12th April). This might not be a shock to many, but I am by no means an adept cyclist and my sophomoric albeit altruistic approach to this should be inspiration to open up an account on JustGiving and donate to both these two very deserving charities.
I have just recovered from a very tough boot camp at the stunning Borana Lodge situated in the shadow of Mt. Kenya. It is placed six n half thousand feet above sea level and is a blood dopers wet dream. Sir Wiggo would be barreling the stuff up and putting it in his cellar. Such an amazing place - until now I had only seen the back half of an elephant in the wild and am pleased to report I completed the second half and more this time.
I also had the chance to get on a mountain bike … This was my first time on a bicycle since pulling the trigger on this expedition and I fell off almost instantly… No knocks but a red face, turns out the brakes were on the opposite handles. Still, a pretty shameful display, but nonetheless another excuse for you to put some money in the kitty.
Those worried about my fitness going into this, don’t be. I’ve traded in the white caps and embassies for the yuppie staple avocado and toast for the last few weeks. Breakfast of champions. Gone full hipster, thoroughly on the wagon and been doing yoga to keep the limbs well licked. Currently, no niggles so to speak of and weighing in at 208 pounds; still I’m worried about my neck and twiga back being on a bicycle for extended periods. Advice so far has consisted of being recommended a stick tied to my back for support. Not inspired by this. Any suggestions out there?
How will I survive out there? This is a very valid question. Using both western and eastern ideas and practises as well as my African bush craft skills; I will improvise, adapt and overcome all that steps in my path. I will be like the Viet Cong living off a bag of rice and my own hands for 6 or so weeks. Luckily, I will be travelling through some of the most densely populated regions of Africa and maybe to lift the veil to some minds on this part of Africa - there will be an abundance of food and water for me to digest badly.
Most importantly, I want to thank each and every one of my kind donors, just wow. Blown away with the support, smashing my target in record time and just incredibly humbled to contribute a small part to these two magnificent causes. I have started to send out thank yous to you kind people; if you want a private message from yours truly and haven’t already donated to both charities you can on my JustGiving page and for the Charlie Watkins Foundation here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlie-watkins-foundation
By the time you read this I will have set off, so any donation received will get a special mention on my many public platforms as I head South by Southwest. There is a very special honour up for grabs in these first few weeks and that is the christening of my bike - the deal - whoever donates the most can name it. Tori Black or BikeyMcBikeFace etc etc. Deadline 1st of May.
For those who know me well, it took great pains to setup my first instagram and with recent scandals with Cambridge Analytica you can see why it took me until now to pay the piper. If you want to follow me down through the bread basket of Africa and out the other side, find me here https://www.instagram.com/mannontherun8/ - I am on a steady 28 followers as a write this and yes, this is shameless self promotion, but it’s all for charity. If you are not on instagram maybe this is also time to pull the pin and join up - the anti-establishment, now back in renewables, and pregnant Francis Mann is signing up in solidarity. What more do you need?
If I can have the elan and nonchalance as Deigo (pictured) on the bike ill be a happy peddler. He is one of our old, much loved pair of Staffy brothers along with Zola. They have been adopted, re-homed and happily settled in with a new family as their new play-things. Both brothers along with many others will be sorely missed.
These last few rushed and stricken days in Kenya have been a mixed bag of emotions, having lived and worked here for the past 6 months I do feel a tingle in the sentimentals - especially leaving such a great country, friends and admirers behind me (for now).
These posts will probably get shorter the more I suffer down to Cape Town and the real test will be writing something actually worthwhile and interesting for those genuinely curious (probably just for a few sad people). I’ll try and to make it a bit sharper next time. So, to sum up my time here succinctly and in no means a disrespect to such a stunning country, city and people -
Kenya: beautiful
Nairobi: ochre and dusty
The people: enthusiastic
Food: forgettable (igale - like plaster of Paris, avoid)
Work: great.
Boss: Italian
Documentary: don’t hold your breath
Political situation: Kenyatta in
Police: bad
Golf: didn’t break 90
Honey Badgers: much love to all
Diego and Zola: godspeed
I am now at the point where the African continent is all before me with all roads leading to Cape Town. There is no point of return, the dye is cast and the Rubicon has been forded, damned and crossed. I feel truly blessed to have been shown this much support, my thoughts will be with all those who have so exorbitantly sponsored me, and especially towards the two great men I am doing this in memory of - my old man and Charlie.
Let this be the hour, strength and honour, peace n love, now for wrath and ruin etc etc
For those genuinely interested in my prep/route/gear - pay close attention.
The route
My route starting on the 13th of April will take me from Nairobi to Arusha, wiggling down to Mgadu then to Mbeya, which will then take me to the border town of Kasumulu. Once in Malawi I will take the badly named M5 down Lake Malawi (this stretch will be ironically beautiful) through to Karonga following to the bottom of the Nyika National park, whilst striking out South-West to get down to Chipata - on the way passing through places like Rumini and Kusungu. Once in Zambia, I will be taking the Great East African Road to Lusaka and from there Kafue to Livingstone. I will have a chance to finally shower under Vic Falls and then head into Botswana. Here riding along the Elephant Highways as they’re known, passing through places like Muan and Ghanzi before reaching the border with Namibia. I will pass through the border town of Gobabis, putting me on the road to Windhoek - where I will have a day or two to buy up some desert gear before striking south to Mariental and Keetmanshoop. Then the final stretch, as I go over the border into South Africa - with Springbok, Garies then finally roll into Cape Town!
Kit List - very useful/interesting if you’re stupid enough to think this is a good idea.
*about 30 kgs with my bike
Bike Gear
60 cm trek road bike (xxl), all Shimano components with fat Deutsche Continental tyres
65 Litre saddle bags
Front handle bar pannier
16 - 1 multifunction tool
Bracket/rack
Bike lock
1 helmet
2 cycling shirts
1 cycling shorts
1 pair cycling shoes
Tyre repair kit
Lights front and back
Cycling computer (speedo/kms etc not as glamorous as it sounds)
Lightweight bike pump
Spare chain
Spare tyre
Spare brake pads
Inner tubes
Camping n Clothes
Outdoor Army Camouflage Tent - Lightweight - Single Layer- For Two (oi oi)
Travelling towel
Sleeping bag
Alec Greenwell’s roll mat
Swiss army knife
Headlight,
Mess Tin
KFS
Couple tins (not what you think)
Bag of rice
1 pair of Safari boots
2 short sleeve shirts
2 t shirts
1 long sleeve t-shirt (Chelsea football shirt - Conte in)
1 pair of trousers
boxers/socks
1 waterproof jacket
1 gillet
Medkit
Energy supplements (big up to Ipswich Cycling shop)
2 pairs of sunglasses
1 sunhat
1 cap
Other
Edward’s Kindle (cheers and much love for all the books incredibly generous hopefully have time to get through the complete works of Shakespeare)
Laptop
Camera
Headphones
Power monkey
Maps (keeping it old school)
