12,000km for the Heart Foundation
 

Hi all,

I won't lie, this is basically a blatant plea to help out with my fundraising efforts but I'm trying to exhaust all avenues I can, hopefully you can take the time to read :)


Next year I'm taking 5 months off work and taking part in the Tour d'Afrique (http://www.tourdafrique.com). This has been a dream/goal I've been working toward for the last 4 years. The trip is from Cairo Egypt all the way south through 10 countries to Cape Town in South Africa and is regarded as one of the most challenging cycling events out there.

One of the reasons I am doing this is to raise money for the Heart Foundation who have helped me and my family in the past. My goal is to raise $12,000 - one for each kilometre I will cycle. So far I am 1/3 of the way to my goal.

If you would like to help by donating any amount to the cause, please check out the website I have setup for the ride at http://www.weetbicksgonewild.com. I will also be posting updates as I can through-out the trip.

I would also be hugely appreciative if you can try to spread the word and tell as many folks about it as possible, the more people who are aware of it and can help support then the closer I get to my goal.

cheers!

GL mate, that's awesome.

cheers :)

I'll donate. GL and hope you don't get stabbed/raped/mugged etc.

Cheers xor, I'm keeping a close eye on 'African affairs' leading up to it :) There have been some incidents over the last couple of years which have me a little worried, but I know that the tour company keeps a close eye on all of this and if certain areas look too dangerous they will bus through them instead of cycling.

$50 from the Teapot family.

Cheers GT (and family) you guys are legends! Appreciate it made _b

Donated, and you will know which one is me *wink*wink*.

Got it mate, sent you an e-mail cheers!

Very generous donation from Zeek, I am assuming an NZG person as the name had 'nzg' after it, appreciate it! Still plenty of time to donate if you want to :)

_b

I am a poor student with fuck all dollars to donate, but I've shared it on my fb in case any of my peeps want to donate.

Fly out in 3 days and ride starts in 11, thanks again to all those who kindly donated _b

Good Luck _b

Hey all,

quick update, am in Luxor after 6 days riding from Cario, we have covered about 750km in that time. Started with a full police convoy through the streets of Giza, bound for the pyramids where we started the ride. After that was a 40km convoy out of Cairo which was a real experience! A total of 134km for the first day.

Then bound for the Red Sea. Day 2 spent riding along the Red Sea which was a 170km epic. Fortunately we have had roaring tailwinds which has made riding easy, though still pretty bloody sore after long distances!

Day 3 was more riding in the desert as we headed further south, around 100km. Day 4 we rode to Safaga and camped on the beach of the Red Sea... and had showers! Day 5 was riding back into the desert as we are heading to Luxor, a 50km climb through the mountains before dropping down.

Day 6 was a 106km ride to Luxor, first half in desert and second half along the canals lined with screaming children waving their sugar cane - and whipping a few of the unlucky riders :)

So am here safely in Luxor. Next 2 days will be spent following the Nile south to Aswan where we will have another rest day, and then will catch the Ferry to Wadi Halfa and Sudan.

POIDH

ok some pics, don't expect many more after Egypt on here, if you want to see pics add me on FB - username weetbicks


downtown Giza


Pyramids


The kiwi riders, 3 from Christchurch, one North Canterbury and one outside of Wellington


Awaiting the start of the ride which began at the Pyramids. We convoyed with Police escort there.


Sphinx


Out in the middle of nowhere


typical lunch


Donkey photo op, I prefer the bike.


coffee and tea in Idfu


Nile near Aswan


Riders in the group into Aswan, some Egyptian national riders joined us for Egypt section.


Sightseeing, valley of the Queens

Added. Good luck and stay safe.

Am now in Gonder Ethiopia after 8 brutal days riding. Blog up soon and photos on fb which I have made public so hopefully you can see

Hi all, update from the road. The tour is now in Nanyuki in Kenya. We have cycled through Ethiopia over the last 3 weeks and it has been some tough riding. Ethiopia is an unforgiving country with hilly terrain, brutal temperatures, and illness. I was struck down with Giardia in the first part of Ethiopia which put me out of riding for about a week. 75% of people on the tour were sick with vomiting or diarrhea. Ethiopia is a beautiful country of amazing scenery and friendly people (mostly). There is a real problem here however of children and rock throwing. Every rider was attacked by children with stones at some point, and a few were hit resulting in cuts and bruises. Children see it as some kind of game but don't realise the damage it does. Other children beat riders with sticks or cracked whips - its crazy!

Safely through Ethiopia we crossed the border into Kenya a few days back. Because of the current elections here, and the threat of violence after what happened in 2007, the tour decided the safest thing is to bus part of Kenya so we took a 2 day bus ride from near Marsabit down to Nanyuki where we are now for 5 days rest while the schedule catches up. Hopefully things remain peaceful here post election and we can get back on the bikes and cycle to Nairobi then Tanzania, if not we will be on the bus again. Kenya is a great place and the people are great, here in Nanyuki it is a very peaceful atmosphere.


Climbing Blue Nile Gorge with baboons


Tent life


An Odinga rally in Kenya


Team kiwi for the team time trial.


Blue Nile Falls


Sandstorm!


Relentless!


Getting some speed up

Am now in Lilongwe Malawi. Gone thru Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi in the last few weeks. Only 6 more weeks left til Cape Town.

Great pics, thanks!

Am in Ghanzi Botswana a few days from Windhoek. Averaging 150km a day in this 10 day stretch. Cape Town about 2 and a half weeks away

Achievement unlocked

Fuck yeah! Nice!

_b Congrats

Wow, epic. Well done man _b

Grats bro! True southern man :)

I think it's about time this can be unstickied. Overall ended up raising about $7,500 for heart foundation so pretty stoked with that, and the trip itself was just magic. Thank you to all who donated.

/thread