Cycling The Globe

Distance: 116.9 km
Ride time: 7:50:07
Average: 14.9 km/h
Max speed: 34.2 km/h
Total: 44716 km

Knowing that I would be doing a lot of climbing in the beginning of the day, I was on the bike with the first rays of light. In fact there was even a bit of fog hanging over Rosh Pinah in the morning, resulting in a very pleasent ride. Soon enough the sun was out in full force again, however…

I was steadily spending the next hours climbing from 400 to 1200 meters of altitude. The climb was not too steep and the wind was in my favour, so it was infact as easy a climb as they get. Furthermore the tarmac was in absolut steller condition – what a difference from the dirt road I had been riding the other day.

There is 160 km from Rosh Pinah to Aus with absolutely nothing in between. The distances and remoteness is starting to resemble the Australian outback or the Andes region of South America.

I took 8 liters of water…

As the sun got really strong I opted for a couple of hours of siesta. To my surprise the Namibians had built small rest areas every 10 or 20 km complete with tables and shade for the sun – perfect for a cyclist! I enjoyed reading a good book while the wind kept me reletively cool in the shade.

Later in the afternoon some clouds rolled in, and it was possible to continue. I rode straight until sunset where finding a place to pitch the tent was not hard – there is really nothing to disturb you out here.

As darkness came the stars appeared in numbers that once again reminded me of the Australian outback or the pampas of Argentina. It felt good to be out here where you feel small but where you think big.

The African adventure is indeed underway!