July 13 – Day 12 of the Old Legs Skeleton Coast Tour

In breaking news, George Fletcher crashed out of the Old Legs Tour, after fracturing his femur after taking a clumsy tumble in Katima Mulilo.

In breaking news, George Fletcher crashed out of the Old Legs Tour, after fracturing his femur after taking a clumsy tumble in Katima Mulilo. George is being evacuated to Kasane in Botswana as I type and will be flown to Harare this afternoon for surgery. Huge thanks to perennial sponsors and good guys Alliance Health for facilitating George’s evacuation.

 

Born in December 1940, George has been our absolute inspiration on Tour. He has ridden strongly at the front of the group every day, and has brought his quiet brand of humour to the campfire every night. The only time I saw George get angry was at the top of the Chizarira climb when I tried to put up his stretcher for him. He is a thoroughly decent human being and I am very proud to call him my teammate. And I look forward to riding with George again when he is back on his bike.

 

I was also hugely proud of how the entire Old Legs team pulled together in the crisis to get the job done. We will miss George hugely but remain determined to complete the Tour. And for the record, George said I can have his jelly babies going forward.

 

Day 11 -From Kazangula to Katima Mulilo
Distance – 80 km
Time – 5 hrs 56 min
Ascent – 135 m
Av Heart Rate – 124 bpm
Max Heart Rate – 183 bpm.

 

We crossed the Zambezi River yet again as we rode into Katima Mulilo.
The river turns north at Katima Mulilo in search of it’s source.

 

By my count so far the Old Legs Tour has now crossed this amazing river 6 times on our various Tours. Our crossing points from east to west were Tete, Kanyemba, Chirundu, Vic Falls, Kazangulo and now Katima Mulilo. But maybe the Kazangula crossing should only half count because the Botswana officials wouldn’t allow us passed the third upright.

 

Day 11 was a shortened ride to allow for possible delays at the Zambian Namibian border, but not there was nothing short about the day for the support crews who got to drive another 40 kilometers on the worst road in Africa. We passed more than one 30 ton truck deaded by the dreaded potholes. Thankfully our Isuzus were more than tough enough to cope.

 

We enjoyed banter with some of the truck drivers broken down on the side of the road. Even though their breakdown was already 24 hours old, and with no relief expected any day soon, the drivers were quick to smile and laugh. When we told them we were riding from Harare to Swakopmund on bicycles, they told us we were crazy. I told them they were even more crazy for braving the road in 30 ton rigs. They were carting sulphur from Walvis Bay to Ndola, Zambia. I hope sulphur doesn’t have a best before date because they weren’t expecting their breakdown truck for days. I told them that if they were still stuck on our way back, I’d lend them my bike.

 

Again the cyclists rode away from the support vehicles on the crappy road, and again I almost starved . Thankfully Al was able to forage more donuts. I worry I am going to put on weight riding with him.

 

The bush we rode through was largely bland and innocuous, apart from the Terminalia sericea which were magnificent. It is a new species of tree for me, thanks to Al Watermeyer. I was quick to show off my newly gained knowledge to Adam, over and over and over again. Terminalia sericea are all over the place, once you know what they look like. I am now able to identify them and baobabs at the drop of a hat, and also jacarandas and flamboyants, provided they are in flower. I think Adam is jealous.

 

At the back of the peloton, Al, Adam and I messed around like kids on the last day of school. Meanwhile at the front, the racing snakes were racing. Unfortunately for them, Crash Bellwald took the lead. Even more unfortunately for them , Crash had zero clue as to where he was going and missed the road to the border, and plunged off in the general direction of Angola, dragging the peloton behind him for 5 wasted kilometers. Unfortunately for Crash, his lawyer was one of the riders behind him. I fully expect to see Crash in a tutu.

 

We are camping on the banks of Zambezi in Katima Mulilo. I am very relieved to be able to withdraw my comment about hippos being extinct on this western stretch of the river. We saw a lone hippo yesterday afternoon and he has just grunted as I type. I am sure there are more of them but they are very shy.

 

No names mentioned but Pete Brodie was caught trying to photograph his wounded bottom with his phone. He is also sporting a wounded big toe on his left foot. To ease the pressure on his toe he has cut a large hole on his riding shoe and now looks like a fast bowler on a bike. But apart from his wounded toe and bottom, he is in showroom condition and riding strong.

 

In other breaking news, somehow Crash dodged the Dick of the Day bullet for attempting to invade Angola. Howard was blindsided by Adam and Nick and wore the tutu today for allowing rock rabbits to urinate on his lodgings. I think OJ would get away with murder on this Tour.

 

In closing, huge thanks to the doctors and nurses at Katima Mulilo hospital for looking after George so well. The hospital was clean, looked to be well equipped and the nursing staff well trained. And after a morning of doctors’ consultations and x-rays and a long list of medications, we were asked to pay not a cent for George’s treatment. It would appear that Namibians and visiting cyclists enjoy free health services. If only pensioners in Zimbabwe were looked after as well.

 

We’ve not seen much of Namibia, but the little that we have seen, has impressed.
Until my next blog from a bush camp along the Caprivi Strip, have fun, do good and do epic.
And visit George in hospital if you can – Eric Chicken Legs de Jong

 

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