GETTING THE WORLD IN ORDER

Dear Friends,

I got back safely from South Africa and a trip in which I was tested almost to the limit.  It was a tough trip and I think probably the toughest Ive done.  I believe I was lucky to escape, I could so easily have been trapped if my passport and all my money had been stolen in Kokstad.  The robbers left me with enough resources which they did not find to enable me to make my way to Cape Town, 1000 miles away. 

There were one or two good points:

1.  Reaching Befole primary school after a persistent hunt.
2.  Crossing of Lesotho
3.  Visit to Rorke's Drift battle site
4.  Visiting the spot where WS Churchill was captured in the Boer War
5.  Hitching hiking with the help various farmers and such.
6.  Improved understanding of geography and culture in South Africa

Stolen items in robbery:

Cash
Travel cheques
Credit and Debit card
Drivers Licence
European Health Insurance card
BMC Membership card
Short wave radio
Machete and Masai scabbard
Spare clothes

Important items left to me:

Bus ticket Kokstad to Port Elizabeth - Thanks to the bus conductor I was able to travel thro to Cape Town with only this ticket.
Small stash of sterling and euros - I found one bank in Kokstad which did currency exchange on a Saturday.
Lonely Planet
Torch
Passport
Key to bicycle lock - If the key had gone my bike would have been useless.

Since getting home I have been trying to reinstate the stolen items back into my kit.  Also reassessing and evaluating objectives.  Hopefully I can take away some lessons for the future.

Best Wishes

Andy

ATTACKED in KOKSTAD

Dear Friends,

I was attacked and robbed by two men on the outskirts of Kokstad in Natal Province on the night of the first of Feb at 10 pm.  I made the mistake of camping out too close to town.  The attack lasted 30 mins.  One of the robbers pinned me to the ground while the other rifled through my belongings and took many thinks.  Fortunatly they left my passport and a little money and the bike and some basic gear.  They had knives.  I tried to fight back but my efforts were useless.

I took the long distance bus to the shelter of Cape Town where I am staying at the Blue Mountain Backpackers on Long St.  I have rescheduled my flight to 6th Feb with Emirates.

Sorry to impart this bad news.  I will muddle through and get home in one piece or half in that is not possible.

Best Wishes

Andy

IN KOKSTAD

Dear Friends,

Just had my best days cycling.  70 kms accomplished.  Maybe I will break this fitness business yet.  I have just rolled into the town of Kokstad.  My idea now is to get a bus ticket to Port Elizabeth.

Sorry not so many words.

Love to my friend Inna in Belarus and her beautiful little daughter Zhenia :).

Best Wishes

Andy