Cycling Around South Africa

Eric and Amaya have recently completed a cycling trip from France all the way down to Cape Town (South Africa). Instead of stopping, they decided it was just too much fun, and have continued on to enjoy some of South Africa's finest scenery. I figured the Namibian desert was crazy enough to tackle on two wheels - but they discovered the Kingdom of Lesotho has some mighty fine mountain passes, and they obviously thought it would be a good idea to check them out. It sounds like this may be their last dispatch from Africa for now.

Some excerpts from their latest update:

One gentleman who passed as we were cycling under the scorching sun of the Free State, actually went home, prepared two big bottles of ice water and then drove back present us with the refreshing drinks. We've been showered with kindness during our three months in South Africa and we love it!

The township dwellings closest to the highway are a mishmash of materials that appear to have been hastily cobbled together. Young men loiter by the roadside and children play in patches of bare earth outside their ramshackle homes.

There are proud men on horseback and timid boys riding donkeys, all wrapped in a thick traditional blanket designed to keep the cold and rain out. Higher and higher we climb and it feels like we're riding right through the roof of Africa. The scenery is spectacular ...

For Amaya and Eric's full account see their website and you can also donate to the charity they're doing it all for.

_{Village in the Kingdom of Lesotho -- Image © Amaya Andrea Williams and Eric Schambion}