2a) Bicycle Tour Planning Via Namibia 2008

To celebrate our first year with the street kids shelter I will be cycling to South Africa, Cape Town, on the first of August 2008. Last year I cycled to Pretoria via Mozambique in 30 days to raise funds for our project. We were so desperate to start a shelter for the children that raising funds cycling was the only way out. This turned out to be a huge success. Godknows Maseko [founder of STEKA (Step Kids Awareness)] and four of his friends walked from Blantyre to Mzuzu, an 800 km walk in 21 days to raise awareness. We have a street-kid ministry in Blantyre, Malawi that feeds, schools and loves these young ones. With the growing economy, we see more and more cars streaming to the city, inviting more and more street children that live in horrific situations. My heart is sold out to these children because of the way life is treating them. In spite of the dire circumstances they find themselves in, I must be honest, I admire the determination in them to survive even though my belief is that they are not created nor do they deserve this kind of life style.

Up to date we have helped 42 children: some of them back with their families, some with extended families and sadly, some back on the street. At this stage we have 14 children that we permanently shelter. It gives us pleasure to see these children back at school and the change resulting from what a little bit of TLC can do. We have paid a deposit on a second house that came available next door. On the 1st of May we will shelter a further 12 to 15 kids. Because of certain generous donations and gifts, we are able to contribute to their good health through three good meals a day.

This year I am going to cycle to Cape Town +- 4300km in 31 days. I will start my journey in Malawi, then cycle on through Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia, and then turn southwards to end in Cape Town, an average of 162 km per day with 5 rest days in between, breaking up the 162km in four sessions: 40km per session per day. This starting date will be exactly one year since we first opened the house in Blantyre, largely due to the funds raised on my last year’s June cycle trip, so it will double as a kind of celebration.

My aim is to raise R1000 000 RSA. With the funds we want to start our own building project to be able to locate both houses on one property, making provision for further expansion at a future date. Presently we are renting but feel we can utilize this money for something better. With the help of friends and well-wishers in Malawi, U.K., S.A., Canada and Holland, I believe this can be accomplished.

My diet while cycling will be fresh bananas, water, and the odd coke or fanta. A soya and peanut plus sugar mixture, a formulated milkshake diluted with water. Extra vitamins and energy bars. If I can get tinned sardines and bread then I can fill on to the diet. I need to have a lot of protein to change it into fuel as soon as possible. Also on my way, whenever a restaurant will be available, I will surely make use of that. Local people will also invite me into there houses to help and feed me.

With my previous trip I did not once need to fold out my tent, this year I am going to take a one a man, small blow-up mattress and one man tent for safety. Every night I found an African hotel, friends or strangers that invited me over.

We will update my progress on the Internet twice a day. Photos will be updated from Internet cafes as I go.

Itinerary for August 2008;
Malawi
Matope 53
Mwansa 74
Mozambique
Moatize 103
Matema 33
Chiuta
Bene 114
Cassacatiza 129
Zambia
Katete 30
Sinda
Petauke
Nyimba 145
Kachalola 102
Rufunsa 76
Chongwe
Lusaka 162
Chilanga
T-Junction 55
Mazabuka 69
Magoye
Monze
Chisekesi
Pemba
Batoka
Choma 130
Tara
Kalomo
Zimba
Livingstone 254
Kazungula 57
Mambova
Katundu 89
Sesheke 42
Namibia
Katima Mulilo 5
Kongola 109
Ishesha
T-Junction 198
Andara
Katere
Ndonga
Rundu 100
Turn Off 197
Grootfontein 73
Kombat
Otavi 83
Hohental
Platveld
Okave
Otjiwarongo 117
Sukses
Okahandja 171
Teufelsbach
Brakwater
Windhoek 72
Aris
Rehoboth 83
Kalkrand 97
Mariental 97
Gideon 62
Brukkaros
Tses
Gariganus
Keetmanshoop 162
Grunau 161
South Africa
Vioolsdrif 134
Steinkopf 74
Springbok
Kamieskroon
Karkams
Garies
Bitterfontein 259
Vanrynsdorp
Klawer
Clanwilliam
Citrusdal
Piketberg
Moorreesburg
Malmesbury
Cape Town 303
Total 4274

Route in white, and double click on picture



I have meditated for a while now on cycling to Lilongwe in the Central region. On Friday the 23de I just did that.

From Blantyre to Balaka then Salima and on the fourth day Lilongwe. In Lilongwe I met our High Commissioner for South Africa and her first secretary. With her blessing I left for Blantyre on the Wednesday through Dedza via Balaka the arrived safely in Blantyre on Friday night. The round trip was 700km. The idea was to test my new equipment sponsored by a lot of my friends from abroad. I thoroughly enjoyed my new one man tent that came from the USA. A local couple and last year’s bloggerupperdater imported the the 8’ tent via a ministry. What a blessing. I also tried a new protein past consisting of soya, peanut butter, vegetable oil and a lot of vitamins. It’s called Sibusiso and it’s manufactured in Durban South Africa. I also had nutren avtiv from Nestle. So all this mixed with bananas and a lot of water with ORS (Oral rehydration Salt), helped ` me for the 7 days of cycling. Tuesday in Lilongwe was a rest day that I set apart for meetings and later that night sharing at a church group.

The photo was taken by one of my friends from Standard Bank. This was on my way home from Dedza.
Overall I enjoyed my new bike and equipment; although the road was full of heels and some nice down heels my fitness level had a good boost. The road is not the safest road for cycling, but I could make a final decision not to follow this road in August.

Disappointment of the trip is the poverty that this country is living in and the way they act if we refuse them any money. This spirit of poverty is holding these people down and it is creating aggressiveness and racism. I do have some horrible stories to tell but decided that I will have a positive attitude towards all Malawians. Looking at the xenophobia in South Africa I can only be grateful that nothing seriously happened while on the road.

Father also reassured me of His presents by reminding me of His word in Proverbs 3:26For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]

I have two months left to d-date and I am very excited what the Lord has done in my life. One of my objectives is to touch other people lives.

Duncan Mlanjira who won the NAMISA (National Media of Southern Africa) award by keeping people up to date last year while I was cycling, has printed a full page press release on my next cycling tour. It was published on Thursday 29th May in The Daily Times. So we are proud of Duncan and we off to a good start.

This is me standing in front of our street kids shelter in Nyambadwe - Blantyre


Please keep me in your prayers for the final stage of preparations.