BIGGER TENT

So the next day we went back to the shop and Gerald exchange his 2 persons tent to a family tent... now the tent was so big that we had to open the balcony door to get more space while putting the tent up... "Hey come to visit me in Paris...you can sleep in my tent"...

TESTING THE TENT

Here Gerald testing his new tent in a small flat...he seems to be happy about the mattress and the sleeping bag but the tent is too small to keep his bicycle in during the night...

AU VIEUX CAMPEUR

Au Vieux Campeur is a paradise for all kind of sport gear... The shops are situated in the "Quartier Latin" near Sorbonne University, there are at least 10 shops all have special outdoor sport equipment, tents for Himalaya etc...Here Gerald is looking for a sleeping bag and for a good mattress...Something light but comfortable...

CAMPING GEAR...

Still missing the tent and the sleeping bag but I have most of my camping gear...A personal set of plates, mug, ultra light titanium cuttelery set, antibacterial wipes are very important all the time...on the trip lots of people get sick, so the best way to try to stay healthy is keeping my hands clean all the time...
Malaria tablet has to be taken during almost the whole trip and smaller bags are for gear that I want to keep out of dust, a belt back is for hiding my passport and money while walking around African towns...

PERSONAL HYGENE

This will be my portable bathroom... toilet seat with baby wipes and antibacterial wipes... Solar heated hot water with limited water supply to wash... micro fiber towels, light and compact...

MAPS

A collections of African maps to follow the right road...

TRYING TO STAY CLEAN

Here is something very useful and so light... Mosquito net is the most important sleeping partner during the whole trip... Malaria is very bad in certain countries and even he will take Malaria medication from Sudan onwards he has to sleep under a net for extra protection...
The small pocket washing leaves are very handy for the trip, they are eco friendly and biodegradable. the packet of 50 leaves is a size of a match box... and it really works...
Gerald has taken all needed vaccinations: Yellow fever, Rabies, DTP, Meningitis, Hepatitis A & B x3, Cholera.

TRAVELLING LIGHT

The right type of clothing is very important for this trip... suitable material for difficult hot and cool conditions, easy to wash and light weight... In Cape Town Gerald found most of his after cycling clothes at the Capestorm shop, they have a good selection for all type out doors activities...

HERE IT IS

Here it is, Geralds new bike on the way from the shop to the airplane that will take it to Cape Town. The count down is for the 2010 Soccer World Cup held in South Africa. Gerald who is a big fan of soccer will actually arrive to South Africa by bicycle and not by plane than most of the fans...

PREPARATION FOR THE RACE

Of course the training for the race is the most important part of the preparations... Here Gerald in Pretoria with his friend Felix leaving for a ride still looking nice and fresh...After few days of training Gerald found out that his bicycle is not the best for the race...So he got a new one made specially for him with all the special part for this long African crossing...