Take On Africa

You are browsing the archives of Equipment.

Below are three photographs showing all the gear and equipment I arrived in Africa with on my bike.
I have since got rid of the MSR stove and fuel bottle as I had problems with this and I forgot the bike helmet in Bissau (although I never actually strapped it on my head before then anyway).
Regarding [...]

(Joliba Fila - Joliba meaning ‘Great River’ and Fila meaning ‘2′ in Manding)
Travels down the Niger River – 350km, Faranah to Kouroussa (Guinea)
6th - 22nd February 2010
The Idea
The idea of a boat trip came about during discussions with Lars, way back in the early days of cycling through the Western Sahara. Several long days riding [...]

I’m hoping to do a podcast interview with Brian in the coming months, but for now the internet connections in this part of West Africa are too slow.
So, for now, I’ve answered a few of his questions here over at his Korean World blog.
Below is a copy of the interview….
1. What is principle reason you [...]

3 weeks, 4 countries, 7 boat rides, 1200km cycled.
There have been good days and bad days, the best days and worst ones. At times it’s been tough and tiring, and yes there have even been tears. At times it’s been thrilling and exciting, and I’ve thought I must be the luckiest person alive. All times [...]

Gateway to the Sahara
Guelmim, the ‘gateway to the Sahara’ as it is known, which hints at it’s former importance as a trading post on the caravan routes of old, had few distractions for a solo cyclist like myself. I spent little more than 24 hours in town and fairly evenly divided this time between sleeping, [...]

One dedicated reader commented recently that I’ve not mentioned many troubles encountered. The simple reason for this is that, so far, I’ve not encountered many problems.
Well, nothing that has caused me any serious issues. Certainly nothing that’s made me think, ‘why exactly am I doing this?’ or ‘what I’d give right now to be back [...]

The sun’s out but the cycling’s hard…
Since leaving Rochefort on Monday, rather late it has to be said… the campsite was lovely and the owners lovelier. I also had access to the mains for charging the various electronic gadgets and to the internet for catching up with everyone I’ve left behind.
Another reason for hanging around [...]

The Story of the Leatherman and Other Things…
The Leatherman
I stop for a snack at a forest cross-roads – a nectarine and apple ought to see me through to lunch. So out comes the leatherman to slice the juicy fruit, which is rapidly devoured. To search for a much needed tissue, I carefully place my shiny-new, [...]

I have just bought a ferry ticket to France - and so on the 20th July I shall be arriving in St. Malo; looking forward to two years cycling across two continents to reach Cape Town, some 20,000km away.
So the departure date is fixed and getting ever nearer. As it does, I’m getting increasingly excited [...]

I’ve recently started reading again. This happens periodically. I won’t read a single book for months and then something will spark my interest and I’m off. All my spare time is spent reading. I confine myself to my room with a book and large mug of tea, emerging at regular intervals to refill the mug [...]