NO MORE CYCLING. Yippee!!!!

It's our final day together as a group.
Was lovely to be in a hotel last night even if there was no time to enjoy it. We had our celebration dinner but everyone was too exhausted to be good for much.
Everything is sore (and there is a lot of chaffing) but not too bad all things considered.

BUT WE'VE MADE IT.....

We were all up at 6am again this morning but we were fairly buoyant (if sore) as we are going on safari today.
We are also visiting a school project later this afternoon and then it is our farewell dinner tonight.

Even our super-strength Action Challenge leader said this is one of the toughest challenges he has done in the last 10 years.

Feels good to be at the end, but head a bit all over the place as no time to process anything. An amazing experience though and feel privileged to have met some amazing people, got round the Kilibeast and seen the inside of an incredible bit of Africa.

The expectation:

Coasting down Kilimanjaro. Blue skies, the sun on our faces, gentle cycling, downhill all the way.

 The reality:

TODAY WAS THE TOUGHEST DAY FOR ME BY MILES!!!!  

It was 120km (yes, 120km) of hard-core mountain biking, lots of long, long, long climbs on rocky roads which we weren’t prepared for. There were more than a few dark moments I can tell you.

Basically it took all day to cycle round the whole of Kilimanjaro in extreme heat and gale force hot winds which slowed us down and meant it was dark before we finished.

It was pretty scary at the end but exciting as we finished on a very busy main road through Arusha in the dark with a police escort. I did it but I have no idea how….

I feel pretty numb all over, emotional rollercoaster .

I’m sure the elation of it all will hit home soon.

Anyway, off for dinner now and best of all flushing toilets.

Will update you shortly when normal service and spirit is resumed.............

Sorry for the recent silence but we’ve been deep in Massai territory, in the middle of nowhere heading towards the Tanzania border with no mobile signal.

Monday was a challenge but mostly enjoyable, with the Massai providing us with excellent lodgings in a very remote place with hot showers, fed by a very elaborate water heating system, and toilets which even had seats, and most impressively electric light!  Go on the Massai!

Our favourite sign of the day read 'No trespassing - we don't call 911' under a picture of a gun. Out here I've a feeling they really do mean it as well.

Tuesday though has been so, so tough. We cycled 96km with at least a third of it being uphill – we all survived but with the loss of a lot of blood, sweat and tears. There really were some proper tears today with the majority at their limit, even some of the hard-core elite. We made it to Kilimanjaro but it was so, so hard, for me anyway.

There have been a few accidents along the way today, but the Popes remain relatively (ha ha) in tact. Luckily the team are all okay but completely exhausted with some nasty bruises.Such a great group of people and we are all proud of each other.

We are at camp now, part of the way up Kilimanjaro and at the moment in the middle of a pretty impressive dust storm. We are completely caked in dust with one hole in the ground and no shower tonight. No matter, I couldn't get any more dirty anyway so a cold beer and hey ho.

Am going to bed now (9.30pm) or should I say lying in my own filth until our wake-up call at 5.30am.

We’ve beat Kilimanjaro though – well at least the bottom of it.

Tomorrow we get to cycle down it…..

Sunday was a tough day but the best for me so far. 80km of sandy rocky roads and intense heat. Some times approaching our limits but we made it. We visited a school and there were some definite high points. Camping in the wilderness surrounded by hills and green farmland. We are being very well received by the locals who don't really know what to make of it but v excited & friendly. Despite aches, pains & chaffed areas Pope spirits remain high - long as there's beer. Rob & Mikey managed game of football and for first time ever the Tanzanians were beat by the international team 2-1 hurrah fr the boys. Kate lay on the ground cheering. We all bricking it a bit about tomorrow but on we go and loving it!....

Oucha. That was a tough ride today and it's one of the easier ones!  Some massive hills, unreal heat and mountain biking through sand and rocks.
Burning through 4000 calories a day which means you can eat many many biscuits, hurrah!
One poor person down with serious heat stroke already.

We are bit nervous about tomorrow - it's meant to be a real challenge, lots of steep hills and much, much tougher than today......

We saw some amazing views though and had a great reception everywhere from the locals, which makes you feel good and helps you push on.

Have just got into camp and we are scheduled to play football with the kids this evening. No rest for the wicked but I don't fancy our chances much.

Everything hurting and, as they say, hurting in places I didn’t know I had.

However so far spirits remain high.


 

Nice end to the day. Managed to find a bar, have a couple of beers (well, it is Saturday night) and a sing a long with the locals. Very amusing.
I wanted to stay drinking rum and, you know me, organising the singalong but had to put my sensible head on as we've got 78k ahead of us on Sunday.
So, off to the tent instead....

A tired hello to everyone! Just finished day one of the ride which was about 50 miles. Set off at 7am.....Bumpy, dusty and hard not to crash but not too bad cycling. It was hot this afternoon, although bearable, with cloud cover this morning which gave us some respite. We've had lots of attention from the locals and some extra security from the "unseen" police. Had a carb-loaded lunch of chip omelette - yes you read it right - chip omelette yum yum.
We have arrived at camp in good spirits and with a bucket to wash in. Luxury.
Off to have dinner and quite possibly an early night.
Day two here we come!
Bring it on......

Arrived very early in Nairobi after a pretty good flight, nodding dogs but no sleep really. Spent couple of hours driving out of Nairobi...had lunch then on to our camp. We have tiny tents but working toilets and cold showers...bonus! Lovely smiley guys looking after us...just sitting watching African sunset waiting for our supper, can't complain!

Everyone has selected and pimped up their bike and we are all pretty tired from the journey, but excited to get going. We hit the road at 7am tomorrow!....

 

More updates shortly

My luggage

Waiting at the bus stop.

Sponsor us !

do it !

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/robmikekatecycleafrica

Oh ....

...I've got a cold as well.

Phhsssst tissue.

Awake !

Awake early , with the expectation.
Hello , my name's Mike & I'm a cycling addict! Ha, I wish. I do love to cycle but if I was addicted I might have done some training for our trip, from Nairobi Kenya to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
This will be my 4th cycling adventure raising money for ICT. My first one , & still my favourite, was to cycle in Tanzania. I'm hyped to be going back. Africa is a fascinating place, & where we all came from, of course, if the scientists are to be believed. Best of all it can be knock out beautiful. Some people there are needing some financial help though, & that ultimately is what ths is all about.
Along with Tanzania I've cycled in Cambodia & Sri Lanka on similar jaunts. I've always had a great time, although sometimes they can be tough on the old leggys. I've met some top people on the rides. One of the cool things about it is a lot of different people, from around the world, are doing it for different reasons & you are all thrown together. You meet some great characters. I'm looking forward to making some new mates & there has been a bit of a regime change at the charity we are doing the ride for, International Childcare Trust, so I'm looking forward to meeting the new peeps.

I've never kept a blog before & any previous attempts to keep a diary have failed so I'm not sure if this will survive, I hope so though. The main reason for doing it was to keep the memories of the little crazy things that tend to happen on these trips by posting pics. Not sure if I can even do that   with this online bloggy business ... oh I'm so old. It's slowly dawning on me that most of the trip is camping, so I'm not anticipated daily wifi connections. It'll probably be a case of updating it at the end, when we go to Zanzibar (!) for some R&R.

I've been pretty busy recently, scince the beginning of June working on a film called the Monuments Men . http://www.monumentsmen.com/
It's been fairly consuming & I've not had time or inclination to train for the ride. Previously  I've been cycling to work (working at my own flat this time) & doing some training rides before the trips. This time, nada...so we'll see how that goes. I imagine I will suffer for my laziness.
The other thing taking up my time has been a new (to us) cottage Amanda (my lovely lady friend) & I , have acquired in Devon.  We've been going down there getting it into shape on our spare weekends. Which gives my an excuse to post my first pic.

Here it is ....cute huh ?

Anyway all this flim flam is masking my excuse for being a fat lard ball who has not really been on a bike for a good few months .... perfect preparation.

So, let me add my thanks to anyone who is reading who has donated money to the fund, you've done a great thing & we will ride to earn it & meet some of the young ones your money will go to help ... & hopefully post some pics.

One of the great elements of this trip is I get to hang out with my Bruv & Sis. I am proud of them for taking the leap of signing up. I hope they get as much out of it as I have in the past. I doubt we have traveled together for more than a weekend scince we were nippers so, that's going to be great to spend a few weeks of adventure together ...isn't it...isn't it ? Of course it is.

So, I better go & pack, gotta be at LHR for 5 pm ....exciting !

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed with your generous donations, fantastic support, only a few hours to go feeling quite nervous now, but...

Ere's why we're doin' it...
£5 pays for nutritious meals for 20 street children in Tanzania
£20 pays for school uniforms for four children in India
£50 pays for malaria treatment for 10 children in Kenya
£100 pays the monthly rent of a night shelter for street children


Makes you think a bit?

A warm blog welcome from me.
Hopefully we will be able to keep you updated from the African savannah - apparently the phone signal is a lot better there  ; )
Two days until we depart and we are all feeling rather tired!...but excited and looking forward to blowing all the cobwebs away whilst avoiding creepy-crawlies, lions, mad bull elephants and frankly our worst enemy - the shits.
We hope to be able to upload some photos as we go along, knowing my brothers there will be a fair few of my big bottom and me red-faced doing the walk of shame pushing my bike up various hills.
A big thank you again to everyone who has supported us in the form of cash, we hope we don't let you down. We are pleased to report that so far Team Pope have raised just over £5500 (this includes our extremely generous online and offline donations) for the International Childcare Trust - more on the good works they do later and hopefully some first-hand photos of where your money is going.
Here is an overview of our route so you can all cheer us on (and have a good laugh).
More soon, see you on the other side!....
xx