Angolan Visa Update

Since I've arrived home Hanret has been spoiling me a great deal!
I had a champagne brunch on Sunday with my two closest, bestest friends. Hanret and Elise. Sunday evening Hanret and I went to the opening of the show, "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Teatro in Monte Casino. Hanret's been cooking all my favorite food! Pork chops, Lamb shanks, Oxtail!!! YUM!! :-))

Yum Yum - Lamb Shank!!!

Oxtail with mashed potato and salad!!

I would be lying if I said that I don't enjoy being home. Of course I enjoy being home!!! The open road is beckoning though!! But it's not like that would make any difference to the Angolan Embassy!

I went to the Angolan Embassy in Pretoria this morning. A good friend of mine and fellow adventurer, Shayne Robinson, was so kind to give me a lift! First, when we got there, the security guard nearly had a cardial infarction because we drove in at the gate!! (ooops. LoL)
Then they informed me that the Embassy is only open for visa applications on Mondays and Tuesdays. (Lesson #64839387293867: Ask specific questions when dealing with any institution that has even the slightest connection to any kind of government). I phoned yesterday to double check on their office hours. They did tell me what their office hours are but neglected to tell me that I can only apply for my visa on Mondays and Tuesdays. My own fault as well...I should be more specific!!!

Upon my return to South Africa I was told that the Angolan Consulate in Johannesburg had closed down. I phoned the number I was given, just to double check. The answer on the other side: "Roman's pizza...how can we help you"? Wahahahahaha!!! "Can I have a four seasons with extra cheese and an Angolan visa on it"???? :-))

Today, at the Embassy, I was informed that the Consulate had NOT closed down. "Do you have a number for them", I asked. "No, sorry". (But of course you don't).
It took me having to phone the Angolan Embassy in Cape Town to get the number for the Angolan Consulate in Johannesburg!!! So I eventually do get hold of the Consulate and quadruple check on what their requirements are. Everything is pretty much the same, BUT, "all your documentation needs to be in portuguese". Oh and you need proof of returning flight ticket. "Ummmm...and if I'm not flying"? I ask. "Then your vehicles registration documentation etc".
"And if I'm cycling"? - At this point I had to take the phone away from my ear because the exclamation and laughter that followed got quite hectic! Then I could hear the whole office in the background chipping in.

After they all eventually managed to calm themselves down to a mild panic, the woman came back to me and said that I would need a letter stating my mission...and that also needs to be in Portuguese.

What this all means is that I have to get my new friends in Angola to edit my letters of invitation. (I have 2). They are both in Portuguese, but now I have to have them faxed to a different address altogether. All my other letters have to be translated into Portuguese. (This is currently being done). And then hopefully I can go to the consulate either tomorrow or latest Friday. And then we'll try AGAIN!!

A few people have asked what I plan on doing regarding the countries that still lie ahead? Well, that's my focus whilst in South Africa right now. In the meantime, I'm having all my documentation done in English, Portuguese, French...and if I can find someone to help me, Arabic as well...just for good measure!!!!





Current documentation.

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Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future

This time last year, on 21 December 2009, I was busy making my way from Thabazimbi in the North West province to a little town called 'Rooiberg'.
Thinking back now, it surprises me that I remember it so vividly. I can remember exactly what I felt, the surroundings, what the road looked like, the weather...every detail.



As I left from Thabazimbi aka 'Thaba' (as the locals call it), I stopped off about 10 km out of town at the turn off to Rooiberg for something to drink and a smoke. Yes...a smoke. I'm sure a lot of people were baffled at the fact that I cycled between 80 and 100 kilometers everyday and smoking whilst doing so.

Yes, not the healthiest or most exemplary of habits, but we all have our vices.
I'm not in the business of saving the world...just Africa. ;-)

As I stood there next to the road, watching cars, bakkies, buses and trucks drive by...an eagle swooped down to pick up some road kill conveniently lying in the middle of the road. A lizard that had fallen victim to human beings' engine driven comfortable modes of transport.

I was excited to have an eagle in arm's reach, yet nervous for the poor thing trying to time it just right, as to not share the lizard's fate.

It was a long day, but I felt so happy. Just Luna (My bike) and I, sharing the open road, surrounded by nature's beauty in all it's splendor.
That night I stayed at a rather 'upmarket' lodge called 'Tilodi Lodge'...filled with tourists. I stayed in a 'luxury tent'...which was fabulous!



I remember the feelings I had. Feelings of contentment, joy, achievement and peace.
And with the splendid sunset, surrounded by nature and all the beautiful animals...how could I but not feel this way.



That was one year ago today. Time flies!!

As my followers know, I was planning on setting off in February 2011 on my journey to becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the entire African continent on a bicycle.

The last year has been focussed on discovery and learning.
Discovering the true drive behind my passions and dreams. And learning more about myself.
When I got back home from my trip around South Africa...I had decided to cancel the trip around Africa. In all honesty, that decision was made to appease my nearest and dearest who felt I needed to 'settle down' and not chase after lofty dreams.

But, as I would discover, one cannot deny that which lies deep within your being.

It was in July 2010, whilst sick in bed (or rather on Hanret's couch) watching the Tour de France that it hit me.
Cycling around Africa is what I want to do, it is my dream...seemingly impossible to others or not...I have to do what I have to do. I could not allow others' fears to keep me from living my dream any longer. I had a choice, and I made it. I chose to GO FOR IT!

From July up until now, I have spent my time planning the trip, seeking sponsors, typing up proposals, doing presentations, sending out press releases, doing interviews for radio, magazines, newspapers, planning and setting up fund raisers (with a lot of help from my awesome friends), envisioning, planning, researching...trying to make it work.

I had a fundraiser in Cape Town at the beginning of November.
I truly believed that this would give me the boost I needed towards fulfilling my dream. The event had other plans though.
It did not pan out as I had planned at all. I felt disappointed and frustrated. I allowed my disappointment to affect my performance. I wasn't on the bike as much as I should've been, I disappointed my friends, supporters...disappointed myself.

On returning home to Johannesburg or 'Jozi', I had to face some criticism (understandably) and I had to sit myself down and ask some difficult questions.

In the last month I've been on a journey of discovering what it is that drives me, what it is I aim to achieve with this expedition and what is important to me?

It has been an amazing experience of growth, learning and discovering.
And although I have discovered so much about the why, where, what, how and who...this is only the beginning.
Three years after initially having taken that leap towards pursuing my dream...I now only get into the core of it all.

A lot has changed, and there's a lot of planning going on. The festive season will not be a quiet, relaxing time of year for me in any way, shape or form.

Now:
Certainties:
* I will not be leaving in February 2011
* I will cycle around Africa, launching in the near future
* I am not giving up on my dream
* Planning is in progress
* There is a plan

Uncertainties:
* I don't know exactly when I will be leaving
* I don't have it all figured out to a T yet. Maybe I never will.

On this journey of discovery I have come to realize, amongst a whole lot of other things, that there are 2 things that have never changed since I started working on fulfilling my dream in 2007.

1. Music was always going to be a part of this journey
2. I always envisioned ending the journey with a concert

So that serves as a hint to what I have in the pipeline. :)

I wish you all a very merry Christmas filled with love, laughter, joy and peace with your loved ones!

Looking forward to the new year!!!




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Taking Old Faithful

I have decided to take Luna, my 'old' bike on this expedition.
At first I thought it almost 'unfair' to put her through having to carry myself and all my gear right around Africa. Seeing as I've already put her through having to carry myself and all my gear through and around South Africa.

And in all honesty, I wasn't sure whether she'd be up to going around the second largest continent on this planet.

But, after much consideration, (and a lack of finding a bike sponsor) I have now decided to take my 'Old Faithful' with me on this trip.
I will be taking her to my favorite cycling shop, Linden Cycles, to have them take her apart, clean and replace whatever needs cleaning and replacing. I might have to make a few adjustments and change something here and there...but overall I am very happy to take her.

I love this bike. We've been through so much together. And it only seems fitting that we tackle this, my biggest undertaking yet, together. I've never had any problems with this bike. She's a very hard worker and always willing to go wherever I want her to. No complaints, no hesitation. :)

So my dear friends...I give you Luna, my sole companion on this trip!

(She is a Corratec, Superbow Race Mountainbike)


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The Elephant

The other day I had a fabulous chat with Sarah Outen, all the way over in London in the UK.

She asked me a question.
She asked me about my background on my blog. The Elephant.
I then realized that it is something I haven't actually explained. Because there is a reason for that particular background.

Elephants actually play a rather significant role in my life. I don't even know if I've ever told my friends about it.
To me the elephant symbolizes - Strength, Wisdom, and power of the feminine...be it that the females are the leaders in the herd. (Matriarchal)

I have always loved elephants. Growing up, we had an elephant's foot in our house. (Maybe a bit disgusting I know)
But as a child, I was absolutely fascinated with that foot. (Ok so I've never claimed to be all that 'normal') :D

When my 'adventure-self' had the opportunity to 'come out of the closet' the first time...six years ago, it was the elephant that got me through some really tough times. I can recall one particularly tough moment (like one of those moments where you think...this is it...I'm not gonna make it...it's over) where we were busy cycling through Israel. We'd been cycling all day in semi-desert terrains in 47deg Celsius heat...and we had ONE more mountain to climb. We'd run out of water, food, money, smokes, light...and even enthusiasm.

My partner turned to me and said: "How do you eat an elephant"?
I thought the dehydration had got to him!
And he answered: "Piece by piece".
And that little piece of wisdom got me through to the end and is still a source of motivation to me to this day!

Since then, my journey...on the road and off, has been filled with the symbol of the elephant.

Interesting fact: In just about EVERY home, hotel, guest-house, lodge that I've stayed in on my trips through and around South Africa...there's been an elephant. Either a statue or a painting or a fountain etc. And that has always made me feel...safe. It's a very reassuring symbol to me.

The bike I rode on from Johannesburg to Cape Town on my trip around South Africa was named "Gaja"...which is Indonesian for 'elephant'.

I definitely hope that I will come across one of these majestic creatures on my journey around Africa!!
In a way, I do see the spirit of the elephant in me...

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36 Days

36 Days to go for 'Stuck On The Bike'!

134 Days to D-Day for Africa!

The Facebook Support Group has now grown to almost 1100 members.
Stuck On The Bike supporters are now up to 100. (Though I am aiming to get 8000)

My supporting audience has now grown to, mainly, the following countries:

South Africa (of course) ;)
United Kingdom
Australia
Slovenia
Canada
Denmark
New Zealand
Russia
Germany
United States

Wonderful! :)

Concerning my Needs List: (generously donated by followers and supporters - Thank you very much!!)
* Custom made carrier racks
* Leatherman multi-tool
* Camelbak

Training has come to a halt as I'm fighting off a mild case of food poisoning and there are a lot of changes happening in and around me. (Not because of the food poisoning) :D

But - all is well and I am as happy go lucky as ever. ;)

There are still a lot to be ticked off on my ever growing to-do list. But I am getting there. I have achieved a helluva lot in the last month, though as happy as I am with that, I keep reminding myself that NOW is NO time to lay slack!! Now is the time to push harder than ever!

I have a couple of meetings this week with different people on discussing possibilities concerning potential media partners. So will keep you all appraised.

One day at a time...one proverbial foot in front of the other!

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Countdown Excitement

With two different countdowns currently happening in my life, excitement topped with anticipation and drizzled with a touch of trepidation fills me. (Guess who's been watching cooking shows) :D

Stuck On The Bike is coming along nicely. Hard work and perseverance has payed off nicely...though now the trick is to not lay slack.
There are currently just over 80 people either 'attending' or 'maybe attending' the event on my Facebook group. Now I just need to multiply that by a hundred!!

The beauty of this event is that you do not have to physically 'attend' this event to attend. If that makes any sense in its obscurity. :D
It is quite simply as follows:
You can 'attend' by quite simply donating R100. For your R100 you will then receive Verity Price's next CD - "From Africa With Love" as well as a bonus 'commemorative' CD at the end of my trip around Africa.
You can visit this page to do so -----> Online Page (Remember to include 'Jolandie Rust' in the 'Company' field on the online ordering form)

Those who do not live in South Africa will receive an exclusive download of the album.

So with only 4 months to go till I launch for my mammoth journey around Africa and only 40 DAYS till 'Stuck on The Bike'...I find myself in a very calm space, strangely enough.

Maybe it's just because it's Sunday and Sundays are my 'lazy' days.
Tomorrow might prove to be very different. :)



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Dawn of a new week

Right, new week ahead with its own challenges awaiting.

Looking forward to it.
This week I HAVE to sort a couple of things.

1. Most importantly...secure venue for Stuck On The Bike. This has proven to be challenging.

2. Really get into training. Not really worried about fitness...but am worried about being saddle fit for Stuck On The Bike.

3. Media partners. There are quite a few possibilities, so will get cracking tomorrow.

4. Also need to organise a stationary bike for Stuck on The Bike. Though that'll be easy.

So, new week, renewed enthusiasm.

Here we go.... :)

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Yes Please??

There are some things I just do not understand. I try to. I really do. But just don't get it.

Since I decided (about a month ago) that I was going ahead with the Africa trip, I have been working my butt off to achieve what needs to be achieved in order for me to live my dream.
I am a firm believer in that one has to work at what one wishes to achieve.

Though this week seems to be the week that will test my determination. I have had, and know I will have many more similar challenges.

I have sent out my proposal to NUMEROUS potential sponsors and partners. I have got Proudly SA to endorse my trip. I have pleaded with numerous organizations. I have put my story on so many sites and forums that even I can't keep them straight anymore. I can't even remember when the last time was I got to bed before 2am.

And this week the answers start flogging in. All along the lines of: "Sorry, but no".

Now don't get me wrong. This does not discourage me in any way. On the contrary it just makes the fire within me which is my passion for what I wish to achieve with my life burn even wilder. So to speak. :)
And I have achieved small triumphs along the way.

I have now decided...enough is enough, it's time.
It's time to step up my game. It's time to take out my miracle bag.
No more time for idle chatter. It's time for action in a big way.
Something radical is needed...and I have an idea. :)

No more no's accepted here. So you can say anything to me...just don't say no!!

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" - Winston Churchill


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Calm Before The Storm

Although I am not on the bike as often as I'd like, (I have this uncanny ability to convince myself I have a very good reason for not doing certain things...really don't have a good reason here! Bad Jolandie :D) I have been 'training' for the October event.

Seeing as I know I might have to spend more than 24 hours on a stationary bike, I thought I'd see with how little sleep I can cope. (wasn't planned, just happened)
So I have slept 10 hours in the last 3 days. And am hppay to rpoert taht I am pfercetly fnie! :D :D
As any of my close friends know, I am fond of my sleep. So this promises to be an interesting challenge.

Also when I get tired I tend to get a little 'unhinged'...in a very funny way. I'll start laughing at everything and you may ask me something and I'll just stare at you...then burst out laughing. Yep...this is going to be interesting. LoL

I plan on unleashing the fury of the adventurer on my unsuspecting future supporters and sponsors this coming week. No holding back. Just do what I have to do and not postpone on ANYTHING!

Venue for 20 Oct event is now between Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Joburg - well this is my hometown. Wanted to say all my friends are here but realized in the meantime that's not true. My friends are scattered ALL over. Though my nearest and dearest friends are here...most of them.
Cape Town - The mother city. I actually do have a whole bunch of friends in Cpt...come to think of it. And this is where my journey will start and end.

Mmmmm....decisions decisions.
Will know this week.

Very excited and really looking forward to kicking butt this week.

:)


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Frustration

I think I have mentioned where my patience fail me. I have a great amount of patience, except.... when it comes to the trip. LoL

You can ask me to queue for you, go do your shopping for you, untie a crazy knot for you....I won't mind. But when it comes to the trip and organizing everything needed, my patience seem to disappear into the great void.

I am pressed for time to organize the fundraising event taking place on the 20-10-2010. I still have to secure a venue, get press release out, organize details with charities etc etc etc. Absolutely crazy. And thing is, people tend to just not get back to you. This holds up everything. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Okay: step one - secure venue.
I will do this first thing next week. I'll just have to go see these people, because they don't follow up on queries.

After the venue is secured, things should go more smoothly.

Okay...off to work for the night.


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Proudly South African

I am very happy to announce that the Proudly South African campaign now officially endorses this project!!!! Wooohooooo!!! :)

Progress....progress.... "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

Every day I take a step closer to reaching my goals and fulfilling my dream.

A big thank you to Proudly South African for your support and endorsement!

Absolutely wonderful!!!


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Effort Equals Results

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I posted a saying to my Facebook today that goes: "If you wish to reach success, you need to not only BELIEVE in yourself and your capabilities...but quite simply KNOW it!"

I have come to really believe (Sorry...KNOW) :p this over the past couple of months.
I have always subscribed to the notion of 'Creative Visualization'. I try and avoid negative thinking, I do what I like to call - 'magical manifesting meditation' every night before I go to sleep. But have learned that apart from thinking and believing and visualizing, one needs to also 'act'.

No use in thinking: "I believe I'm going to win the lotto, I believe I'm going to win the lotto.." and then you don't buy a ticket.

I know I am capable of completing this trip around Africa. I know it won't always be easy and there will be times when I might break down in tears, throw my bike to the ground, maybe even curse in my video diary...but more than anything...I KNOW I can do this. I have been acting on this 'knowing' with great fervor.

Results are starting to show, though as patient an individual as I am...I do not have patience when it comes to this trip. I try my very best to be patient for replies and responses...
I just want things to happen and get sorted NOW. :D

Like for instance: I have made contact with people in 7 of the countries I will be travelling through...which is a wonderful result in a week's time. But it's like I have this unreasonable expectation that when I send requests to 1000 people in one day...they will all reply the same day! Yeh right. This is Africa after all with it's own idea of how time works.

I am now registered, and have created completed profiles on almost a dozen online travel sites. It's getting hard to keep track of all the sites I am on. LoL
Now all I need to do is be active on all this sites (not like it takes time) and rack up a whole lot of contacts in all the countries I will be travelling through. So that's ONE of the things on my growing to-do list. Oi vey!!! :D

I am also starting a new job from tomorrow where I will be working from 3pm in the afternoons to around 11pm at night.

I aim at getting back in the gym from tomorrow...train at least an hour a day. I have never trained for any of my trips, but have decided I would actually like to not have to suffer through the first couple of weeks so much this time round.

And then I still need to organise: Outdoor gear, cycling gear, medical stuff, communications equipment, visas, new passport, 2 fundraisers, launch event....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

As they say: "Sleep is for sissies". (And once again we would all like to know who 'THEY' are????)

All About The Gear

Okay so I have now decided on what gear I want. Acquiring it all is another story...LoL

But I'll get there.

The Bike:



Specialized Tricross (Either Sport or Comp)

The Panniers

Rear: Arkel GT 54



Front: Arkel GT 18



Handlebar: Arkel Big Boy Bag



The Pannier Racks: Old Man Mountain

Rear:



Front:



Tyres and Tubes:

Continenental Touring Plus



Tubes: Doesn't really matter as long as it's a decent Shrader valved tube



Some kit and components:

Shimano Deore 10 speed:



Shimano Pedals:



Shoes I currently have:



Helmet:



OUTDOOR:

















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I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

"What would you do if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends..." Joe Cocker - A little help from my friends.(Originally by the Beatles)

One of my favourite songs...and one that fills me with the greatest feeling of gratitude and love imaginable.

Whenever I might feel a little blue or like I can't carry on...I just sing this song and it picks me right back up.

I am truly, truly blessed to have such unbelievably, terrifically wonderful friends and caring, giving souls in my life.

Every now and then I do, in all honesty, feel a bit overwhelmed and maybe like I'm aiming to achieve the impossible. The feeling will sometimes creep, slowly, right into my core...but before it can take hold of me, I remember...

I remember how others believe in me
I remember how others support me
I remember how much I am loved

And my fire roars again.

Thank You!!!

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161 Days To Go!

The days are ticking by, the to do list is just mutating into something out of a nightmare (hehe...not quite that bad but overwhelming at times) and I find my brain just going into 'hibernation' mode.

There's so much to do, so many people to contact, so much to keep abreast of...EISH! (For my non South-African audience: Eish means: An expression of surprise, wonder or frustration here in Mzansi)okay okay (Mzansi = A popular word for South Africa)

A little lesson on South African lingo. ;)

On the upside: My Facebook group has now grown to almost 1000 members!!! Yes, minute in the greater scale of things...but it excites me okay! LoL :)

I have also joined and written on all the pages of the countries I will be travelling through on facebook and have been getting some feedback.

I now have contacts for Namibia, DRC, Gabon, Morocco and Tanzania.

I also might have two fundraising events coming up in October...you'll know when I know.

Oh...and I finally told my dad today that I'm leaving on the 11-02-2011 to cycle around Africa. I will refrain from posting his reply here!!! :d

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Spring Is Here!

I must admit, I am more of a spring and summer person than autumn and winter.

I can handle heat, this I know from cycling through Israel.

I remember at one point we stopped for a break just short of the Dead Sea. We had very little money with us...but thought it well spent on ice-cream and copious amounts of Coca-cola!! LoL I was so exhausted and decided to take a nap in the shade underneath a palm tree next to a camel...when I woke up (pretty sure the camel woke me) I was soaked in perspiration and on my phone's thermometer it read 47 degrees Celsius!!! (115 deg Fahrenheit)

So heat I can handle. Cold - I'd rather not.

It would seem I am pretty intent on letting the WHOLE of Africa know who I am and what I am doing/planning on doing. I went on just about every facebook page of every country I plan on travelling through. Joined each page and messaged the members. (Or rather wrote on the wall). Hey...every bit helps!

And if I have to tell a BILLION people about who I am and what my dream is in order to make that dream a reality...then I will do it!

I should be back in the gym, 5 days a week this week.
Have been to the gym for the last two days.

Having been sick, on and off, for almost 3 months sort of kept me away from the gym.

Plus I have to get saddle fit again!!! Ouch. Hehehehe.

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Organizing, Organizing, Organizing...

Okay, so today I've been following up on contacts made yesterday. Replying to messages sent to me on facebook and mail etc, fellow adventurers coming from all over the world. Crazy! But wonderful. :-)

Thank goodness for Google translate! People must think I am a very talented linguist as I've received messages in French (of which I know a LITTLE bit) and dutch ex. Mirjam Wouters, a fellow adventure and cycling enthusiast. (which I can mostly understand, seeing as my mother tongue is Afrikaans). But still!

I can say, however, that I am updating my French. With the wonderful help of a very good friend of mine (who I am sure I drive insane sometimes) :-) ...and watching Euro news in French. And audio CD's.

Today I sent a query to Trappers Trading, on potential sponsorship for outdoor gear. Also to Netcare for medical requirements and Shoprite for food requirements. So we'll see.

Aaaaaanndddd...SO very excited about the upcoming fund raising event. Can't wait to make it public. Just have to secure a venue. Mmmmmmm....

Okay, now I've used up my productivity quota for today...will continue tomorrow.

Thank you everybody for all the wonderful support!!

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First woman around South Africa solo

On 3 October 2009, I launched the second phase of my project, to circumnavigate South Africa, solo, thereby being the first person to do so! This trip was in order to raise enough awareness and funds for me to live her dream of becoming the first woman to cycle around the entire African continent.

I kicked off my circumnavigation of South Africa from Melville, Johannesburg and cycled along the border to Richards Bay, along the KZN coast before entering the Eastern Cape and eventually reaching Cape Town on 14 November 2009.

I left Cape Town, after a few days rest and maintenance, on 17 November 2009 to begin the return leg of my journey. The trip back to Johannesburg saw me travelling through the Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo.

I arrived back in Johannesburg on Sunday 10 January 2010 having covered

5 951 kilometers and 100 days on the road. I had become the first woman ever to have cycled around South Africa on my own!

This journey marked the longest time I had spent on the road on my own. And what an incredible journey it was.

It is now 7 months later and I really do miss the feeling of just hitting the open road early in the morning, not knowing what may lie ahead.

But I better enjoy this time off the road, seeing as I will spend a much longer time away from home when tackling the third largest continent in the world!!

Cycling Solo - Johannesburg to Cape Town

After having cycled through Israel in 2004, the bug had definitely not just bitten me...but taken a whole chomp!!!

On March 3rd I set off to cycle solo from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

This was my first excursion undertaken in my own home country.

I wanted to test myself physically, mentally and emotionally. Seeing as I want to take on the whole of Africa, I knew I'd need to be strong in all categories.

But then I am also superbly stubborn!!! So difficult situations just pose as a fun obstacle to me.

In those days I racked up the first of many amazing, heartwarming and tear-jerking experiences. First of many to come!

I was absolutely amazed and humbled at the support I received from people all over the country.

I completed the trip and arrived in Cape Town 15 days later. Having covered 1500 kilometers.

It was right then that I knew, unequivocally, that I can do this thing!!!