Agreed. I spent two months traveling around Kenya and Tanzania in 1995 during a year long round-the-world trip, and I have never been so scared during that trip or any other time in my life, than riding the buses in east Africa. The truck and bus drivers are absolutly maniacal! It’s astounding really. Generally speaking, I found east African folk to be very easy going and laid back, but put them behind the wheel of a car and something happens - the transfomation is extraordinary.
I recall reading that Kenya and Tanzania have one of the highest per capita death rates on their roads in the world. Strange, because many of these roads run straight, across open country with great site lines. And very few people actually drive or own cars! It’s quite a disturbing site looking along the sides of the roads - they just leave the wrecks of buses, trucks and cars sitting there. Every 400m is another wreck!
I am not sure if cycling on these same roads would be that safe.
Yup - now resident in Vancouver - done 80% of that route in one form or another. Of course required equimment would be a rear gunner - just like the old irish milk delivery trucks:)
typically the death rate there is caused by a combination of extremly poor driving skills, fatigue from driving excessively long hours plus the road worthyness (or rather lack there of) of the vehicles…
Me too though I’ve been in the States for over ten years now. Going back to S.A for Christmas to see the grandparents and then up to Namibia so I can play with the lions on the beach. We order biltong from Vancouver from time to time. It’s amazing how many South Africans have settled in Vancouver including some of my own extended family.
hmmmm let me see. You leave sunny South Africa and settle in the Northwest where it rains 6 months per year ? There is something wrong with this picture. As for playing with lions in Namibia on the beach, whenever I hear Namibia, I either think of those elephants on the beach, or Frankie Fredricks, the fastest man never to win the Olympic games 100 or 200…
Herman and the boys at SA Sausage are about 10 mins from where I work - of course that’s when I’m not out of town on business (currently in NY) - seldom get homesick except when i stop by for some Castle, biltong and rooibos…last count had 60 000 of us in the Greater Vancouver area
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LOL, didn’t have a choice since it was my parents who immigrated and I was still a minor. At least we settled in Orange County initially which has the same climate as Cape Town pretty much. I am still not used to this weather up here even after several years. Namibia’s beaches are also covered in diamonds, at least that is what my mom used to tell me.
OMG, Castle? lThat is my dad’s favourite and all his friends try and convince him it is rubbish. If you are ever in L.A, stop by the European Deluxe Sausage Kitchen in Beverly Hills. The butcher is a German guy who lived in South Africa for twenty years or so and he makes the best biltong and dried vors ever! I don’t know anyone who makes biltong in Seattle, but there is a butcher funny enough who makes boerewors.
believe it or not I can actually buy castle in the local liquor store - along with Cape Velvet and a Meerlust Merlot or Cabernet:) Herman and the crew slice a mean rump to go with the borewors, biltong and niknaks!! I smell a braai coming on:))
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Niknaks are my faves. I don’t even mind the yellow fingers. Do they have Simba chips, too? You are lucky you are in B.C with all the foods from home. We aren’t so lucky in the States! This will probably disgust you, but I miss Anchovy Paste the most. You know the kind in the little green jars? Very good on buttery toast. Mmmmm…
BTW, I have ordered and been to Herman’s place, too. Nice guy.
any good bike/tri shops in cape town? figure i might try to do ironman ZA and the drive from windhoek to CT’s not THAT bad. obviously nothing in namibia, but was thinking i’d buy a new bike while there. plus if training in namibia i’d have to buy all the tubes/tyres/etc that i’d need until my next trip to CT. . .
Wow, what are you doing in Windhoek? The drive to Cape Town is quite an undertaking. I’ve done it when I was young and it was rather frightening at times. Miles and miles of just you and the desert. I will definitely drop you a note if we end up that way. I’m always looking for someone to run with.
been a lot of years since I went bike shopping in Cape Town…when I left SA they still didn’t have a tri shop in the country - not sure how that has changed - drop Raynard and email - he’ll guide you…of course you would be looking high end based on all the diamonds you pick up every weekend on the beach at Swakopmund…
in namibia i do HIV research for the university of toronto and the university of namibia. sadly, at the moment i’m in edmonton trying to get a thesis done, and won’t be back in NAM/ZA until may. alas. . .
yeah, as an undergrad i managed to string together a bit of an ‘endless summer’ by switching from university of toronto to melbourne uni and back to toronto (via south-east asia and south america) on a very careful schedule.
i must’ve pissed someone off because i’ve been paying for it ever since. edmonton? wtf?
Impressive, Mike. You have an interesting job not to mention noble. Good luck with your research and everything and I hope that the winter isn’t too tough of on you. Edmonton, eh? I doubt I could last a day in the winter. But you’re a tough Canadian with ice in your veins probably so I’m sure you will be fine.
We order biltong from Vancouver from time to time. It’s amazing how many South Africans have settled in Vancouver including some of my own extended family.
I smell a braai coming on:))