Preparations

   Well, we have our tickets. I guess that means it is official. Here are our Itineraries. The part I am most nervous about are the flights. Well, really the luggage on the flights. I've had my bags lost a few times in the past, and this is one of those times where it would mess everything up. Not having the bikes would make this tough.

   So Steph and I also have somewhere to stay in Cape Town! Chris and Tamlyn have offered to host us via Couch Surfing. Chris is currently planning a trip from Cape Town to Dublin Ireland, so his knowledge and research will be very helpful for us. Especially because he is from africa, and can tell us a lot of stuff we can't really glean from the internet. Oh yeah, he is doing this trip on a scooter. It's almost a bicycle :P

   I really can't say enough about couchsurfing.org. A seriously cool site. It really makes it more affordable and enjoyable. We can't wait to meet all these new people, with completely different backgrounds and views. 

   Our first 4-6 days will be in Cape Town. We'll be getting the last minute supplies (bear mace, bike tubes, food etc.) and making last minute tweeks to our plan. We will also get to explore this cool city. That mountain in the center is called Table mountain. It is supposed to be a pretty cool hike. 

Cape Town, South Africa

   The first few weeks we plan on taking it at a pretty slow pace, until our bodies mold to the bicycles and we stop complaining about our butts, shoulders and so on. Or will that ever stop? Who knows. 

   We both stop working on Friday, and hopefully this weekend we will be off on our trial ride. As of right now, we are planning on circling the lake reservoir system (Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon lakes). This will help us "calibrate" so to speak. We'll get a good idea of how far we can pedal, using how much water in several different terrains. The weather for it will be in the high 90's low 100's, and therefore simulating the hottest temperatures we could encounter in africa during our trip.