Everyone I’ve ridden with in NCCC over the past several years probably heard that my goal was to do a bike tour in Southern Africa. I finally got the chance this March. This trip story is actually two rides in one. My wife Pam came to South Africa with me, and after spending a few days shopping and sightseeing in Capetown we did a four day tour of the “Winelands” to the east. Then, after viewing wildlife in Kruger National Park for a few days, Pam flew home and I joined an organized ride from Victoria Falls (Zambia), through Botswana and ending in Windhoek, capital of Namibia. Capetown Winelands We had never been to Africa before, and of course weren’t sure what...

by Bill Heidler On Sept. 27-30 I rode from Santa Cruz to San Luis Obispo via the Big Sur coast. You can get to Santa Cruz via a tedious drive from North County, or by flying to San Jose and taking the Highway 17 bus down to the coast. My first day ride was 50 fairly easy miles to Monterey, I camped in the Veteran’s Park up the hill from town. The spectacular scenery started the following day. I rode the 17-Mile Drive past Pebble Beach and other golf courses, then a late breakfast in Carmel, then on south. I had a strong tailwind and the hills that day weren’t that difficult. The third day was much more challenging; starting from Pfeiffer Big...