Heading North

Yesterday Jolandie left Barra do Dande and headed north towards N'zeto! She left town being escourted by the 'Commandant' of the Barra province police - not to make sure that she left and never returned, but for her protection!! This is really wonderful!

Luna ready to head north ...	Luna taking a break!

Jolandie is certain that the real African adventure is about to start. Heading towards the DRC border she is expecting roads that will necessitate some serious bundu-bashing (and I fear take their toll on Luna's shoes). But worst of all, for me that is, is that cell phone reception will be limited at best! Aaaarrgghhh!!!

However, I have plenty photos of a wonderful few days spent in Barra do Danda!!

Arriving in Barra do Dande on Tuesday ...

A warm welcome at Pasargada Lodge where she was staying and the tables set for a feast in honour of ...

Jip, you guessed it!! How awesome???

Fresh from the ocean - to the fire - to the table!!

Arlette Jardim, the owner of Pasargada Lodge gave Jolandie a beautiful Mexican bracelet - a symbol of protection!

A cruise on the Rio Dande - on a not so luxury liner!

But the views are stunningly tranquil!!

Taking in some of the sights ...

All the photos of Jolandie’s time in Angola so far can be seen on her facebook page or on Photobucket – check it out. This is really a beautiful country!

Again, a sincere round of applause to Hoteis Angola for their incredibly generous sponsorship!!

Donations or country sponsorships can be done through Paypal – visit the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page for more details!! Otherwise, send Jolandie or La Domestique a mail.

Please drop by and visit my Facebook Group or my Facebook Page. Click on a country to see many more photographs of my incredible journey around Africa!

• Angola
• Namibia
• South Africa

Lovingly maintained and updated by La Domestique.

Chaos, warmth and beauty

Whilst I was still 'stuck' in Lobito, I received an email from one, Pedro Bandeira from A.M. Travel and Services. A sponsorship proposal from Hoteis Angola.com! Woohoo! They had read about my adventure on an Angolan news website. How the site got to hear about me, I still don't know!

Not only are they sponsoring the Angola leg of my trip, but they also helped me to get an extension on my visa and organised a number of television and radio interviews! Every single day I stand in awe of how 'little miracles' keep coming my way!

Saying farewell to Lobito ... and especially 'my boys', was not easy! But I knew it was time to go, otherwise I'd run the risk of never leaving!

The road from Lobito to Luanda is a challenge! Firstly, the road is very narrow! There is no shoulder to the road, so nowhere to go but straight into the bushes. And you need to be a speed freak to drive on this road! Secondly, the HILLS! Looong climbs that will extract every bit of sweat that your body can possibly produce!

Your prize for your efforts - the scenery! Just when you think that you cannot face getting to the top of a hill just to see the next one ... you get to see the next downhill lead to the ocean! Woohoo!

And the people are so friendly! Here, people only ever either call me 'amiga' (friend), or 'bonita' (beautiful). :-)

On crossing the Kwanza river (the biggest river in Angola), I had the privilege to stay at Kwanza River Lodge. (sponsored accommodation) Here you have the Kwanza river on the one side and the ocean on the other. Unbelievably beautiful. I spent the night chatting and having a glass of Tassenberg (Tassies) with Manny (who runs the lodge) and Bruce (who used to run the lodge).

The next morning my hosts in Luanda, Candido Carneiro and his wife Linda, met me at the lodge. They would accompany me all the way to Luanda! And with them, 2 television crews! The whole day was spent cycling and filming!

My entrance into Luanda caused quite an uproar. The two TV crews, with their camera men filming whilst standing on the back of their trucks. One in front of me, one next to me. Behind me, Candido and Linda in their Land Rover. On top of the Land Rover, two big waving flags. One Angolan, one South African. I felt so proud having my country's flag wave behind me. Announcing my arrival!

It was a little overwhelming at first. The traffic, people calling out at me from all directions, my 'entourage'! That night I had a live interview on Angola's biggest chat show. 'Hora Quenta', with Pedro N'zaji.

Afterwards we had supper at Rialto restaurant. Food, song and dance in my honor. A huge sign with photos of me at the entrance.

I even sang a song in French. And they sang Miriam Makeba songs! The whole of Africa came together in that restaurant. People from as far as Cape Verde were there. It was a very special evening!
 
Afterwards I got to experience 'Luanda by night' and partied at a club called Lookal, right on the beach, till 4 in the morning!

Up at 7 the next morning with a radio interview on 'Bom dia, bom dia'. Afterwards a group of cyclists cycled with me through Luanda. I was also given 2 cases of Red Bull (much needed, but I can't carry it all with me! LoL).

And then, finally, I got to just laze on the beach! Bliss!

From Luanda, I head to Barro do Dande. I will have the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Candido and Linda with me all the way there. Here, we will all stay in a lodge. And then from there, it's just Luna and I ... and the open road toward the DRC!

Before signing off, thanks again to Hoteis Angola for their incredibly generous sponsorship!! Without you guys, making it through Angola would have been so much more difficult!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Donations or country sponsorships can be done through Paypal – visit the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page for more details!! Otherwise, send Jolandie or La Domestique a mail.

Please drop by and visit my Facebook Group or my Facebook Page. Click on a country to see many more photographs of my incredible journey around Africa! Angola Namibia South Africa

Lovingly maintained and updated by La Domestique.

On the road to Cacula

Before leaving Lubango yesterday morning, Jolandie first met with someone for a possible sponsorship. Not a huge sponsorship, but just something that may cover some of her Angola expenses. Please all hold thumbs!!

Then it was back in the saddle, saddle sores and all, heading off in the general direction of Cacula.

People who pass Jolandie along the road are just so incredibly generous. Two South Africans stopped next to her and gave her a Coke and some droëwors – a happy reminder of home!! They were on their way to Lubango and would more than likely pass her on their way back again today – they left with the promise to bring her a chocolate!! How sweet!

(Just realised that I better explain what droëwors is for the non-South African readers: droëwors, along with biltong, are popular South African snack foods. Where droëwors is made by drying traditional, coriander-seed spiced boerewors sausage, biltong is strips of meat, mostly beef but also game or ostrich, that is dried and cured.)

And there Jolandie was, sitting at the side of the road eating some lunch when she could hear a truck approaching in the distance. All of a sudden the truck slams on brakes and screeches to halt. For one moment she thought it was going to crash. But the driver, a Namibian, hopped out and gave her two cans of Coke!!! Apparently the story has spread amongst the truckers about this crazy woman and her bicycle – everybody is being asked to look out for her and to give her something cold to drink or snack on! Incredible!

Unfortunately it isn’t only the highs that constitute a day – the lows also need to be there to provide some balance. Her speedometer re-set itself yet again today – very annoying if maintaining a rather high daily average distance is crucial. And then there was this guy on a motorbike (apparently plenty of those around) who followed her for about 20 km, constantly begging for a kiss!! I thought this was hilarious!! Jolandie was more annoyed than amused!!

Last night a tired and sore Jolandie turned in early. To reach the DRC border by 24 Aug, the coming days are going to be hard!!

Another flag to add to the collection!!



Scouting the road?



Mmmm... I'm not convinced that this is very 'cycling' friendly!

A day at the roadside in Angola!

Donations or country sponsorships can be done through Paypal – visit the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page for more details!! Otherwise, drop Jolandie or Hanret a mail.

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Celebrating 100 days!!

When Jolandie hangs her panniers on Luna this morning and cycles out of Lubango, she will be starting Day 100 on the road!!

I’m therefore taking the liberty of dedicating this post to Jolandie.

I have enormous admiration for your courage, your perseverance and your determination to embark on this incredible journey! And by the ever increasing number of page views and followers on your blog, I have to infer that I am not the only person inspired by you!

If you were home, I’d organise a party with the essential good food, good wine, good company and festive music, but for now I send you a virtual cake. And I invite everybody visiting this page today to leave a comment or send a message and join in celebrating yet another milestone!! (If you want to leave a donation, that would be super awesome!!)

Happy, happy day 100!!! I hope it’s all downhill and that you have a tail wind!!

A quick reminder again that donations or country sponsorships can now be done through Paypal – visit the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page for more details!! Otherwise, drop Jolandie or myself a mail.

Created and posted by La Domestique

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Lingering in Lubango

When Jolandie arrived in Lubango on Sunday, she’d been cycling for an amazing 16 days solid. With no rest days inbetween!! In this time she crossed the border into Angola, covered nearly 1,200 km at an astonishing average of 74 km per day!!! Good going, Jolandie!! That’s awesome!!

She’s taken some time out in Lubango to rest her weary body, take in some sights and to work on raising some funds for the remainder of the trip.

And our Wonder Woman has also managed to get her Whatsapp to work again!! Whatsapp has been our primary source of communication, primarily because it is FREE and money is the one thing Jolandie has very little of! Since crossing into Angola, her Whatsapp hasn’t been working, which has meant that I’ve had one meagre SMS update per day! Now we’re back to chatting, I’m getting plenty gorgeous photographs again (visit her Facebook page for ALL the Angola pics) and I can pinpoint her location daily again!! YAY!!

Chatting to her last night, she said she was really eager to get into the DRC. Physically she is taking some strain. She has saddle sores that are healing very slowly and are rather uncomfortable and painful. Ouch!! Mentally she is quite frustrated with the time constraints the pending expiry of her Angola visa is putting on her (she has until 24 Aug to cover the rest of Angola) and the lack of funding to have this extended for a week or so. But, as we have come to expect from our brave trouper, she is emotionally strong and fine – as long as she doesn’t think about home to often!!

I’ve done some reading up on Lubango, just because I know so little about where Jolandie is at the moment and I have a sense that this place is a well-kept secret of some true African beauty. It would appear that Lubango, the capital of the Angolan province of Huila, was largely unaffected by the terrible civil war that devastated most of Angola. It is said to be a unique, tranquil and picturesque city, nestled in a lush tropical valley and surrounded by mountains.

Towering over the town is a dazzling white marble statue of Cristo Rei (Christ the King). It is a replica of the one in Rio de Janeiro and one of only three of these statues in the world. Just outside Lubango is the Tunda Vala volcanic fissure where you can climb to 2,600 meters above sea level and enjoy the spectacular view of the sheer drop to sea level (some photos below). And then for me, an avid Tour de France follower, the most amazing sight I ever expected to see in Africa – the Leba Mountain Road! This reminds me so much of Alpe-d’Huez, one of the hallowed climbs of the Tour de France and the mountain that decided this year’s race. The Leba Mountain Road winds its way up the mountain through a succession of precipitous switchbacks – it simply looks spectacular!!!

A reminder that a Paypal button is now available for donations or sponsoring a country – check out the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page!! So, if you, your friends or your company want to sponsor her for one of the countries on her journey, check it out. Otherwise, mail Jolandie or myself!!

The incredible statue of Cristo Rei

A view over Lubango

Sitting on top of the world!!

Awesome views!

The amazing Leba Mountain Road! Now those are switchbacks!!

Created and posted by La Domestique

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Good Samaritans, friendly goats and reaching Angola

26 July 2011

I have been cycling for 11 days solid now. No rest days. I just simply can't afford to take a rest day. The time limit on my Angolan visa puts me under enormous pressure. So I simply have to push on.

We (Hanret and I) have worked out that I have to maintain a minimum daily average of 70km, and I can only afford 3 rest days! That's only 3 rest days from Windhoek all the way to the DRC!!!

On my way from Windhoek to the Angolan border, I have experienced immense kindness! FNB Namibia has helped, not only financially (by sponsoring the Namibia leg of my trip), but the staff at branches on my way North have welcomed me with open arms! Helping me with organising sponsored accommodation, taking me out to dinner, making me feel welcome!

I have also experienced kindness from strangers on the road. Like Terry, who I met on my way to Otjiwarongo. Terry drove 70km that evening to fetch me so that I wouldn't have to sleep next to the road! And then there's the family who gave me N$100 at a picnic spot on my way to Oshivelo! Strangers who have given me shelter and even offered their own beds for me to sleep in!

I have given motivational talks at a number of schools in Namibia, as well as to FNB staff at some of the branches on my route going North! The responses have been amazing and I feel so priviledged for the opportunities given to me to share my story!

From Oshivelo onward it became a very different ball game! I had been told that 80% of Namibia's population resides in the North. Meaning: that I would now start to see more and more people! At Oshivelo I went through a control post. Here I got shouted at for attempting to take a photo! Then I had a group of kids surround me and chant: "Miss, miss, give me one dollar".

After that things got better though. I did see more and more people! Mostly friendly. People would wave and greet me with big smiles as I pass them by. Some would just stare with confusion written all over their faces.
Even the goats would run up to the road and bleat at me in greeting!! (I kid you not!!) Halfway between Oshivelo and Ondangwa I spent the night sleeping next to the road. No problems whatsoever!

And now I find myself sitting just a few hundred meters from the Angolan border! Oshikango is a chaotic town! I picked up a tail about 10km from town (local boys riding in my slip stream). In return for my hard work, one of them had to guide me around. I cannot adequitely describe what it is like riding into this town on a bicycle! People shouting at you from all directions in Portuguese, English, Afrikaans, and other local dialects. It feels like there are millions of people here! Even had my first Portuguese conversation! Yay!
Staying at Piscas tonight, for free! Had pizza as my last meal in Namibia!

Tomorrow morning I cross the border and say: BOM DIA ANGOLA! :-)

Last night in Namibia!!!

A Paypal button is now available for donations or sponsoring a country – check out the SPONSOR A COUNTRY page!! So, if you, your friends or your company want to sponsor her for one of the countries on her journey, check it out. Otherwise, mail Jolandie or Hanret!! Next up is Angola – who will we be promoting for a whole month?

Written by Jolandie, posted by La Domestique

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Tomorrow is Jolandie’s day!!!!

Today Jolandie recorded her update interview with Jacaranda FM, so be sure to listen to the news (top of the hour) on Thursday 21 July for updates on Jolandie’s remarkable journey.

A big thank you to FNB Namibia for sponsoring the Namibia leg of the trip!!!

Created and posted by La Domestique


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Leaving Okahandja behind

Sunday, 17 July 2011

Heading to the border is an uphill business. In more ways than one. Jolandie is pressed for time to get to the border to make sure she has a full 30 days available to her in Angola. But, geographically, to get to the border is a steady uphill climb.

When I spoke to her earlier, she was convinced that she had conquered a couple of Category 2 climbs on Sunday. A Cat 2 climb is in simplest terms a climb of 500-800 meters. So, in Tour de France parlance, Jolandie was definitely wearing the Polka Dot jersey at the end of Sunday’s 62 km stage!! Well done!!

Home for the night was a shelter rigged with some of the many grass bales at the side of road. Clever girl!

No warthogs were sighted, but the signs were!

Leaving Okahandja behind – way in the distance. The steady climb to the border has started!

The soft afternoon light makes the road seem a lot more gentle.

Some grass bales provide shelter for Jolandie and Luna!

Climbing the mountains to the Angola border Jolandie relied on U2’s I still haven’t found what I’m looking for for some pedal power on Sunday. Could it be that it is Table Mountain in the Mother City that she’s after? What do you guys think?

A Paypal button will be available soon on Jolandie’s Sponsor a Country page. So, if you, your friends or your company want to sponsor her for one of the countries on her journey, check it out. Otherwise, mail Jolandie or myself!! Next up is Angola – who will we be promoting for a whole month?

A big thank you to FNB Namibia for sponsoring the Namibia leg of the trip!!!

Created and posted by La Domestique

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Ups, Downs and Going Again!!!

Having to return home to sort out my visas, panned out to be a blessing in disguise. I so enjoyed being home! But now it's time to get busy again! I arrived back in Windhoek on Monday evening. It was like I had never left. The only thing that changed was that it's a bit warmer now. Which is a good thing for me. I can handle heat, to extremes. But not cold.

Having to go back and forth, and the struggle with sorting my visas and funding issues and having to say goodbye to the people I love all over again, has been pretty stressful. The aftermath of which only hit me on my return to Windhoek. I hit an emotional low. But I knew I had no time to waste. So with the love and support of my friends, and after I gave myself a good pep talk, I got over it in no time.

I gave two motivational talks at two primary schools in Windhoek on Thursday and Friday. FNB Namibia is sponsoring the Namibia leg of my trip and in return I am giving motivational talks at schools on my route.

The talks were just what I needed! It was so uplifting being surrounded by such positivity and excitement. To see those kids light up like that and be so receptive, was really amazing. They were so eager to interact, ask questions and willing to learn. Their enthusiasm gave me a renewed will not to give up.

The kids at AS Steenkamp Primary School

Friday’s talk was at MH Greeff Primary School. About 200 12-13 year olds packed into the Assembly Hall and pelted me with questions after my talk – this was really an awesome experience. After my talk, the principal thanked me and wished me a safe journey. She handed me an envelope and said: ‘It's from the teachers and these naughty kids’, and smiled. Inside the envelope: N$400. It was so touching! A group of about 20 or 30 kids stayed behind after we had finished. They wanted to know whether they could come and greet me? Of course! I had no problem with that! But they didn't want to talk. They all wanted to give me a hug! I had to hug each and every one of them. It was such a sweet and special moment!

Luna and me inspiring the kids at MH Greeff Primary School!!

The two of us with some of the eager and enthusiastic kids. So sweet!!

And so now, I am back on the road! Luna is going like a dream! I'm not doing too bad either. Saturday’s leg was from Windhoek to Okahandja - 73km. A fine day on the road. Though my butt is not happy with me, all over again! I camped out, at the Kings Highway Rest Camp next to the road. Luna is happily sleeping next to me. It's all back to 'normal'. :-) Really looking forward to crossing into Angola!!

Luna with her new Namibian flag and the road ahead.

A giraffe came out to greet me and wish me well!

Arriving in Okahandja.

Camping out again!!

Be sure to listen to the news on JacarandaFM every Thursday top of the hour for updates!

If you, a group of your friends or your company want to sponsor my journey through a country, please have a look at my Sponsor a Country page and contact myself or Hanret!! I’m desperate for a sponsor for Angola!!

A big thank you to FNB Namibia for sponsoring the Namibia leg of my trip!!!

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Life in Windhoek

I arrived in Windhoek almost a week ago, as you all know. The weekend was spent meeting some of Ray's (my host in Namibia) friends, getting in some rest and catching up on some more mundane duties like doing washing. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I really launched into setting up everything I want to do whilst in town. My first port of call of course being the Angolan embassy!!

I hovered into the embassy on positive thoughts and a Yoda-like attitude as to what needs to be done. "Apply for my visa I will. Give it to me you must". Squash me like a bug, they did! LoL!! I was told that I need to have insurance (which my non-existent budget just doesn't allow), and a letter of invitation.

Okidoki. So my focus then turned on obtaining at letter of invitation. I then had to leave my visa hunt to get to my first live radio interview in Namibia. Had a wonderful time in studio with a lively team at RadioWave!

Thereafter I had a meeting with a potential sponsor and then off to Cycletec to see if we could organise some TLC for Luna! Busy day!!

Tuesday I was off with map in hand, negotiating my way through the city center on Luna on route to an interview with The Namibian.

I had another interview lined up for the afternoon and met up with George, the Namibian country coordinator for Iduka. My interview got postponed and I dropped Luna off at Cycletec for a service.

In between all of this Ray, was on his phone, ringing up all his friends and friends of friends who might have friends in Angola who might be able to help!! :-))

Wednesday was a VERY productive day!! Up and going early with my first meeting with Dixon Norval at First National Bank. (If you've read Riaan's book, you'll know who he is!) Some quick brain storming with the marketing team resulted in some sponsorship from FNB! Woohoo! I can now breathe a bit! In return I will be giving motivational talks at 10 primary schools on route! Awesome! :-)

From there I spent some time in town and even donated blood at a local shopping centre! Quickly ran into an internet café and then off to Cycletec to pick Luna up and get to my interview with Republikein newspaper.

Interview and photos with FNB representatives done, it was off to Namibia Breweries for a meeting with their marketing team! (I will have to wait until next week to divulge news resulting of this meeting)!!

And last night I had dinner at the beautiful River Crossing resort with the social responsibility manager of Desert Star. A great evening, good meal and new friends made!!

I will be back at the embassy this morning pursuing my elusive visa. Last night though, I made us spaghetti bolognaise and played a board game with new friends. :-)

The Namibian getting ready to distribute around Windhoek...

...the story about a woman on a bicycle!!

Windhoek skyscrapers...

...and a Windhoek street market!

Tokkie en Ziggie from Cycletec giving Luna some loving attention!

Finding time in a busy day to donate blood!

Dinner with Rochelle at the beautiful River Crossing resort

Meeting up with Caleb Thole, an Iduka volunteer from Malawi.

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