ELEPHANTS AND CYCLING

BEYOND NATA: 7 December 2016.

I stayed at Nata and moved to Elephant sands Safari Lodge, approximately 50 Km from Nata towards Kasane.

Elephant Sands is a family owned lodge and founders of the "Water for Elephants" project. Due to lack of water in this region they pump fresh water for elephants.

This video will explain all in detail.


Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

PORTABLE WORLD @ 18 kmh - Francistown to Nata

FRANCISTOWN TO NATA - 6 DECEMBER 2016

When we are young there are many possibilities in our minds. Slowly, we start striking out some uncomfortable things as unworthy and difficult things as unfeasible. This happens with all realms of life, adventure included. As soon as we get an automobile, cycle becomes a difficult or atleast uncomfortable thing and hence unworthy and unfeasible. Then we loose touch with nature, ease of doing things makes us complacent and most of the times incompetent.

Any thing difficult is worth doing. It is difficult to ride a cycle for 10 hours when you are not trying to prove anything. Just for the sake of it. Maybe, to prove it yourself, that it is in you.

Franistown to Nata distance is about 187 km. It took me almost 10 hours to cover that distance at a speed more than 18 kmh. This was the first time that I achieved this speed consistently for a period of 10 hrs.

The road to Nata single carriageway with very small shoulder. Heavy truck/trailer move to and fro  between Kazangula (Zambia/ Zimbabwe) to inland Botswana.

I was  now inside the wilderness area and saw Elephants roaming across the main street.

There are two things I noticed while cycling which are worth remembering:

1. Cycling a viable transportation tool. It has lost its edge due to rapid modernization but it will come back as a environmental and health enhancing conveyance.

2. Adventure industry and new technologies will upgrade and bring cycle into the main stream.

Someone once said that "Whenever I see an adult riding a cycle, I regain my faith in humanity"

Well, I am here to establish faith in humanity.

PORTABLE WORLD @18 KMH - 3

PALAPYE TO FRANCISTOWN: 4 December 2016

The best thing about cycling is that you absorb your surrounding. You feel the climate, the wind, smell the vegetation. You become part of surrounding rather than just the consumer.

I started very early,  and climbed 193 meters, wind was against me. The first half of cycling took me to Serule which was about 80 Km from Palapye it took me 5 hrs and 42 minute. Speed was shameful but I prodded. Stopped at petrol filling stationhich had a tiny outlet.I refilled water bottles and had salted crackers.

Palapye Hotel.

I started noticing changes in vegetation and I also started noticing changes in my energy level. I had another 92 Km ahead of me to cover in atrocious heat of the day.

From Serule my speed was better than the first half. I reached outskirts of Francistown by 6 PM

The human body can only do so much then the heart and spirit must take over.

- Sohn Kee Chung

At times while cycling I used to get into the groove or a meditative state when you feel that you are stationary but your surroundings are moving past you, something like a train journey. Other times, it felt like three way wrestling match between between me, the cycle and the road in which the cycle and the road ganged up against me.

By the end of the day I roughly covered 450 Km in all.

Then I felt better.

PORTABLE WORLD @18 KMH - 2

December 3, 2016

MAHALAPYE TO PALAPYE

I woke up late. First day tiredness was there but the enthusiasm didn't wane.

The ignorance of self in the dream state stopped when I woke up. How should I wake up from hypnosis of this state (awake)? Is there a way?

Starting anything worthwhile is hardest.

You reason that things will be better after a while. Once you start it is just matter of time. Time, if you have.

Surprisingly, I was looking forward to tackle today's miles. Maybe, in the back of my mind i knew that today is a short day and I needed to do only 65 Km.

There were strong headwinds and my speed was extra slow.It took me 5 hrs and 15 minutes to cover a distance of 64.5km @ 12,3 kmh. 

Somewhere on the way I had a burger and reached Palapye at Lunch Time.

Portable World @ 18 Kmph - Part 1: Gaborone to Mahalapye

PORTABLE WORLD @ 18KM/HR.

I decided to do something which I never did before. I planned to cycled a distance of approximately 600 km to test myself for bigger journeys of future.

While travelling remember that if you want to observe everything, walk; if you want to notice everything, cycle; if you want to see something, drive automobile; if you want to see nothing, fly.

There are two ways to enhance the quality of all our experiences. 1. By Education. 2. By Exploration. I wish to cover "Exploration" here.

Exploration can be done by many ways but the most common method is by travelling. The moment we  hear the world Travel, two things come to our mind. 1. Time and 2. Money.

In order to overcome the money conundrum I decided to do some research and read books by people who have seen the entire world with limited resources. I read a book  "Grand Adventure" by Alastair Humphreys. I decided to test myself to see if I, a man of 55 years can cycle any substantial distance in a week. This will embolden me for bigger projects.

I have a Travel bike (Please see the previous post)). Travel bikes are relatively cheaper and can be borrowed or bought second hand. Once you buy, it lasts forever and need little repair or servicing.

So, on the morning of a very normal day of 2 December 2016, I went out of front door of my house in Mogoditshane, Botswana, to start a very long journey. As a beginner I was extra scared, therefore, my wife and I decided to make it a fully supported venture. 

All my luggage and spares were carried by my wife in her car. We decided that I will start about 5 hrs ahead of her and after covering a distance of about 100 km., we will meet for lunch somewhere in between. She will continue to such a location that will enable me to cover a distance of 160-200 km per day, to be together at the end of each day. This way, we were accessible to each other and will be able to approach and rescue in case of any emergency.

I stopped at Artesia to refill and hydrate properly. and again at Debete where I had lunch. I passed Tropic of Capricorn before entering picturesque Seronga Valley.  

The Tropic of Capricorn (or the Southern Tropic) is the circle of latitude that contains the sub-solar point on the December (or southern) solstice. It is thus the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead. Its northern equivalent is the Tropic of Cancer (Wikipedia)

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.

Seronga valley is another picturesque spot along this route. One should stop and enjoy the view.

On first day I covered a distance of 169 km, average temperature during the day was 35.4 degree Celsius. It took me under 10 hours, my speed was pathetic at 16.3 kph but  I reached outskirts of Mahalapye.

High temperature made me stop. It is the first and last days of any expedition which are most difficult, but at the same time these two days are most memorable.

Tomorrow, on 3 December it will be a shorter ride. I need to ease out for bigger rides on this trip.

Part 2: Portable World - Mahalapye to palapye: To be Contd...

The Bike - SAN-BIKE

The SAN BIKE was designed and assembled by Faisal Thakur, Bike has following features:

Frame: Surly
Rims: Jalco - ATBAZZO Alloy
Tyre: Schwalbe Marathon
Saddle: Royal Gel
Handle: Suncross
Panniers: b'Twin
Tail Light: USB Chargeable
Front Light: AAA Battery Operated
Crank: FireX

It is a sturdy bike and I have experimented it on rough terrain, hard shoulders and off road. Together, We will do many journeys and make memories.