motorbike / mountain bike dude

So we were cycling through seriously beautiful tropical african villages, palm trees, happy villagers, open roads, healthy crops and high plantations everywhere. We stop for a midmorning water/fruit. And Lo and behold, what comes pootaling right at us, wobbling all over the road, was the happiest, roundest guy, straight out of god knows where.

He's riding a mountain bike but with a small motorbike engine. Absolute genius. It has an air horn, it has a big lever to switch between moutain bike and motorbike. It has a chain on both sides, one for each mode. It has tiny petrol tank sat on the middle bar, he's says in broken english that it does 100km on a full tank, a full tank being 2 litres. He created quite a stir and was suddenly overtaken by the sheer amount of people that he had just wowed, he said quite abruptly 'now i must visit my parents' - he jumped on, kickstarted and pootled off rather haphazardly down the dusty track. With Mike Pope, swearing that its the most dangerous thing he's ever seen.

Now after reading about the boy who made a windmill from scrap and was has been snapped up by the press. I was all set to give this lad the world wide media attention he deserved but alas, it wasn't meant to be, it had been imported from asia.

Back to Blighty Safe and Sound - Cycle Tanzania was a Success.

Dear all, Thankyou so much for supporting the project in Tanzania. It was quite an epic adventure. We cycled from Dar to Faranji Trust, a project setup to aid street children back into the education system whilst also educating them on HIV and Aids which is a massive problem. As a fundraising group we raised over £160,000 for the project with donations still coming in. If you didn't get round to donating this time, not to worry its still not too late. Also if you supported last years ride then your still on the email list to keep you updated. The cycle itself took us through glorious safari parks, military zones, across tiny bridges, through very remote areas, along the coastline, up and down rather large rolling hills and into the project. The photos from Cycle Tanzania are here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/matttinsley/sets/72157622548740545/ Or I find it easier to view all the pictures as a slideshow http://www.flickr.com/photos/matttinsley/sets/72157622548740545/show/with/4047253608/ We also adventured into deepest Malawi - http://www.flickr.com/photos/matttinsley/sets/72157622673309694/with/4047459550/ The slideshow - http://www.flickr.com/photos/matttinsley/sets/72157622673309694/show/with/4047459550/ All the very best Matt   Matthew Tinsley // MTVFX +44(0) 7726473824 // matt@matttinsley.com

Guardian article Dar

 

Touchdown in Malawi

All is now good, after 10 hours at airport the plane finally took off and flew us to the rather industrial capital of Malawi, Lillongwe. Now driving the 300km to Lake of Stars festival in a rented 4x4. Just had lunch next to the beautiful lake, lots of happy healthy people with broad smiles. Should be at festival site by sunset. Life’s good, I trust all is good back home.

 

Finished the ride

After 400 odd kms, 3 nights camping under stars, many many street kids high fived along the route, great people met, fair bit of dancing all thrown in the week, we are now chilling out on a white sand palm tree lined beach. Apologies for not finishing blog every day but batteries were down on the old telephone. I’ll throw in a few anecdotes from the week. One memorable moment was meeting a guy on a converted mountain bike which he had put a small motorbike engine on which has a 200km range. Took a few pictures of it which I’ll post all in good time. We visited the faraja trust, a street kid centre, getting the orphans off the street into remedial care to prepare them for school. Quite a moving experience. HIV is down in the area, which shows education centre is also working. Although malaria is rife throughout the slum. Everyone whom has sponsored me has contributed to helping this forgotten part of the world get better social and medical care. We had a fun game of football with the kids, it was a draw at fulltime, onto penalties with them taking the cup on 4-3. Another classic English defeat, good times though.

 

 

Day 3

One of the toughest days on a bike, but also the most adrenaline fuelled. Visited old slave trade forts before setting off, quite biblical views of the boats, fishermen and structures not much different to how they would have been hundreds of years ago. Then 20km heading out of town along dusty roads, then the adventures start. 20km along an old railway track with the path only room for one bike. A few thin bridges pretty high up above the rivers. A few beautiful off road sections through the trees. The distances were estimates and we hit our lunch spot 3 hours late. The food truck was stuck on the road and not able to get to us so we had to sit pretty tight for 8 hours or so. Made friends with a few locals though.

 

Day 2

Beautiful day today, 60kms along a busy road then last 20km through the bush. Really felt like we were on safari during the last leg. Road opened up to huge sandy bay. Jumped in very warm sea on arrival at lodge. The heat today though was very unbearable, that will be my greatest challenge. People are becoming friendlier as we leave the city. Happy faces to be seen and met.

 

 

Day 1

My bleeming screen didn't work on the plane. So drank terrible wine and slept. Arrived in Dar, lovely hotel, I was first in the pool. Fitted bikes today, mine is correct size this year! Sound system working a treat. Just been to the British High Commission for tea and cucumber sandwiches. Very nice. Had a pleasant cycle along the coast to settle into the saddle. Looking forward to decent hack along the coast tomorrow.

Tubes

My day was going so well until I to get a tube. Haven't been on one in
weeks. Too many tourists crammed into too small a place.

I'd much rather be cycling across Westminster bridge pulling faces in
all their photos as I do most days.

Still in work

Looking at last years blog, I was in work late, the night before heading off. 

Nothing has changed. I'm still here at midnight the night before departure. 

It shall all be forgotten as soon as I step foot onto that Tanzanian soil. 

36 hours to go

So today’s my last day of this project, my bags are thinking of getting packed, my hairs needs a cut and its 36 hours till I head to the airport. Bring it on.