africa-bike

Spencer Ian and I watched one of Joanna Lumley’s series on her trip along the Nile and it really came home to us as to what it must have been like for you on your own! We saw her on the ferry at Aswan and of course the deserts along the way. She has four, four by fours with her of course one expects that, but imagining you on your own we are full of admiration! Incredible, particularly as we only saw a very small part of what you have achieved already. Please keep going and keep safe. We look forward to seeing you home and well. All the best. Janice and Ian Frigard

Pernille Terlonge

HI Spencer, just read through the blog and looked at your progress. Power to you my friend! You really are amazing, and to think you are doing this for the children of the world! I hope you meet many of them on the way, and you remain safe for the rest of your journey home. I will keep watching your progress, and send you all the best thoughts and wishes possible-amandla!! Drive safe.
Pernille

Hello to All
Firstly I managed to retrieve most of my stolen items, with a little help from the police. However, no sign of cameras, and also lost the footage that was shot in Namibia and most painful of all, my diary, but then it could have been worse!

Have now been in Luanda for five days and have had a great reception. Firstly the road from the Angolan border through to Huambo and then onto Luanda proved to be one of the highlights of my journey so far. It was the most incredible drive on the roughest road yet, well it was not a road, more a river with potholes the size of cars. The sides of the road being littered with abandoned Russian tanks. It took twelve hours to cover 420 kms which included a fall down a bank plus the bike, but no injuries. The bright red mud left puddles that were almost fluorescent orange, flanked by the greenest land that I have ever seen, back dropped by a bright red sky. Huambo, mid-way between the border and Luanda, was once touted as the future capital of Angola but in 1993 a vicious 52 day siege and bombing led to the city being reduced to a pile of rubble. Signs of recovery are there but most of the buildings are just shells full of bullet holes. Many have no fronts but are inhabited, so you can see people leading their daily domestic lives. Despite this Angolans are extremely friendly and the welcome from everyone has been extraordinary. They are very proud of their country, and rightly so, as it is stunning. All National Parks were devastated during the war but at present thay have ‘Operation Noah’s Ark’ and are airlifting and road hauling 500 elephants, 200 zebras etc. to try to bring tourism back to life. ‘Save the Children’ in Huambo and in Luanda have been nothing short of wonderful. They have assisted in every way possible and provided me with accommodation in a guest house next to the HQ. STC has a very large project in Angola, about 70 staff, running orphanages, creches, AIDS clinics and education centres. I have visited several of these and became a teacher again. These children have almost nothing and yet they have happy, smiling faces and are incredibly lively. Some photos will be posted on the Gallery shortly. I was invited to the British Ambassador’s Residence for lunch and also met the Angolan Minister for Health and was interviewd on radio and TV. Angola has been a memorable and heart warming experience and once again I must thank The BHC in Namibia for expediting my entry into this wonderful country as without help I would still be sitting on the border. Thanks to Al Mcleod and Fabrice Beutler, STC in Luanda, and to all who made me so welcome. Next stop is DRC.
P.S. Carl, who I first met way back in Eygpt, and who is making his way around Africa by any means possible has kept in touch en route over the last few thousand klms. He was with me when we had our gear stolen at the border in no man’s land and his camera, his prize possession, was stolen. He is also on a very tight budget and there is no way he can replace his valuables. It is probable that he will now not complete his expedition. A great pity.