Take On Africa - 25,000km by bicycle

[hlloyd33]

Hi,
Thought I'd mention that I've completed my 'Take On Africa' cycle ride from the UK to Cape Town.

It took 20 months to cycle 25,000km through 24 countries.

A few highlights / good reads:

• Cycling across the Western Sahara
• 2 weeks cycling the back roads of Guinea Bissau
• 2 weeks paddling a pirogue down the Niger River in Guinea
• Crossing from Gabon to Rep. Congo on the ****test road ever!
• Spending 3 months in the DRC: cycling from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, getting lost in the forest, drinking beer with my pet python and a five-day train ride.
• Encoutering a lion on the road in Botswana and a jackal stealing my food in Namibia

.
If you're interested, you can read my journal/blog and see loads more photos here

 

[Ruined Adventures]

Sounds like quite the adventure, especially on a bicycle :Wow1:

I really enjoyed your journal entry about the Baobob in Senegal & Gambia. The African Legend about the tree was very interesting for me. My sister lives in Madagascar where there are tons of Baobob so I forwarded the story for them to enjoy.

Thanks for sharing your story here and welcome to Expo! How far are you thru your Great Divide journey?

 

[hlloyd33]

Now in Nevada having biked about 3750km through Canada and US.
Continuing through to Panama probably. Until May maybe...

Glad u enjoyed reading!

 

[Ruined Adventures]

Now in Nevada having biked about 3750km through Canada and US.
Continuing through to Panama probably. Until May maybe...

Glad u enjoyed reading!

Very cool. Well hopefully we will cross paths with you somewhere along the way!

 

[Victorian]

Wow, nice trip! Having done West Africa by motorcycle myself and many bicycle trips in North America... Can't imagine cycling in Africa... That is a BIT to extreme for me

Anyhow, good luck in your travels!

 

[TurboChris]

Wow and more wow.......what an adventure!

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

What an accomplishment - I've just skimmed your site but it's wonderful. I'll go back and read at length.

 

[Scott Brady]

I love the kids running your direction - fantastic

 

[hlloyd33]

There is just no escape from the kids in the DRC... not with the roads like they are! But they do have their uses... dragging the bike uphill through the sand is much easier with their help!
Well, it's much easier to see the funny side of it all now!

 

[bajadulce]

Read a few posts and watched a few vids from your blog.. pretty amazing stuff. One of the vids "across the sahara" and you didn't even have a hat on? ... woah that's hardcore.

Edit:
Just watched the river trip w/ bikes strapped on. Fun fun fun! ...

 

[hlloyd33]

Back from my latest trip (The Great Americas) and now have some time to upload some videos from the Africa trip. So if you're interested, here's one from biking through Guinea and Guinea Bissau...

Biking the Guineas' Backroads

 

[hlloyd33]

A couple more videos. No cycling involved in these. First is a dama mask ceremony (funeral ritual) I saw in Dogon country, Mali and the second is from the train journey I took in the DRC. Both were amazing experiences so thought I would share)...

Video of Dogon Dama Mask Ceremony
Video of 4-day DR Congo Train Journey

 

[hlloyd33]

Hi,
I thought I'd just mention that for the last 10 months, I've been slaving away writing a book about my cycle ride through Africa.
It's from the perspective of a girl cycling alone on the continent. It's about the adventures, about Africa and the people I met. It's about 25,000km on a bike and 1000 beers
It's on Amazon (and you can read the first 3 chapters with Look Inside) in paperback and kindle: Desert Snow - One Girl's Take On Africa By Bike

Would be very happy if anyone read it!

Now the challenge of writing a book is complete, the next adventure is biking across Asia and begins next week... can't wait. Must pack and make a plan.

 

[Victorian]

Happy Travels! Thx for sharing

 

[Kiwi-Yank]

hlloyd -

I take my hat off to you.
you are a FINE example to all of us !!!!!!!

I've done a lot of travelling in Africa ... by road and in 4WD vehicles (not by bicycle). But I have done many 1,000's of km out there in rough places.

The effort that you have made ... puts my own efforts to shame.
That is a most excellent accomplishment!!!

I will try to pick up a copy of your book.

best wishes,
Kiwi-Yank