Check Point 1 – Done!

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Peter

A tired Kev and team pulled into Toshari Lodge at about 3 on the 21st. 1900 long, dusty km’s down, 7100 to go. We all pitched our tents on a thin strip of grass next to a walk way. 60 crews, not much space. The sundowners started early, apparently the drive was thirsty work for all the crews. We had a great dinner and then the party got started. At some point in the evening Shirley was elephantnapped. We managed to get her back after an intensive coordinated search. She was a bit shaken, but is happy to be reunited with the rest of the team. DJ Wags (not even joking) continued long into the evening as 200 people dressed as the animal kingdom got into gear!
At some point in the evening the smell of bacon filled the air, this wasn’t the start of our neighbours day, but the end of his evening! We got up at 5 the next morning, packed our tents and headed for Etosha.

Check Point 01

Check Point 01

Check Point 01

Check Point 01

Close Proximity Camping

Close Proximity Camping

Shirley

Shirley

Forgive us for not posting more pictures on this…but we had a few drinks at the checkpoint party…and then a few more.

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Camping in a car

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Ryan

Not just for the sake of alliteration! Pete and Amanda’s mattress got a puncture in the night and brought to an abrupt end the string of four nights of camping in a tent. Camping has been fun and rekindled all the childhood memories but when you are on the move and constantly setting up and breaking down your home, the flame of fun is extinguished quite quickly. On the banks of the Kavango river at about 23:48 the mattress let out its last breath and Mand’s and Pete were forced to climb into Kevin and spend the remainder of the night. Needless to say Mike and I did the majority of the driving from Ndhovu River Lodge to Katima Mulilo the next day with Kev’s back seat now providing a place to rest weary heads. When we arrived  at the border town of Katima Mulilo there was no question that we would be staying in a hotel!

Check out Amanda in bed and then some other pictures from Ndhovu River Lodge:

Camping in a car

Camping in a car

Beers, Hippos and happiness!

Beers, Hippos and happiness!

Sunrise

Sunrise

On the banks of the Kavango

On the banks of the Kavango

Novare

Novare Investments

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Danger Donations

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Ryan

As you have probably noticed…we have been a little quiet on posting and updating you on our progress in the Put Foot Rally. This is due to a number of factors including limited internet connectivity and endless hours on the road but mostly due to the dangerous nature of what we are doing. We are really putting our bodies on the line in the name of charity and ask you to show your support by making some danger donations to Abraham Kriel. If we don’t make it out alive we need to at least know that it was worth it. To illustrate just how dangerous it has been check out some of the signs we have encountered.

 

Elephant...just in case the sign is not clear

Elephant…just in case the sign is not clear

Bat eared Fox or Wild dog...or both

Bat eared Fox or Wild dog…or both

Kudu (presumably this sign is referring to all antelope otherwise they don't care for Impala much)

Kudu (presumably this sign is referring to all antelope otherwise they don’t care for Impala much)

Cow - these are everywhere and probably warrant a sign

Cow – these are everywhere and probably warrant a sign

oh…we were obviously just kidding about it being dangerous…Namibia has been nothing but hospitable and we have never felt unsafe…and also expect a string of posts as we have just arrived at Protea Hotel Livingstone and have some rapido wifi! Oh…and this place is insane…a little Zambian Oasis!

Thank you once again to Novare for sponsoring our first stage through Namibia

Novare

Novare Investments

Categories: Donations, Stage 01 | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bush Baby Lodge

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Ryan

We stayed at Bush Baby Lodge last night…well camped. It was necessary to qualify the camping bit as it was freeezing and far from having the comfort that the word “lodge” conjures up. Another indication of our commitment to this cause – it is hardcore out here…no not really…we are just soft.

It was nonetheless beautiful and although we didn’t see any of the lodges namesake scurrying around the trees we were fortunate enough to see 4 rhino…one of which could not have been more than a month old – shampies!

Dusk

Dusk

Just before Dusk

Just before Dusk

Somewhere between dusk and dark

Somewhere between dusk and dark

Novare

Novare Investments

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More donations

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Ryan

We have just got in another string of very generous donations. Check out the list below. We will make specific fuss of everyone as soon as we get back into less remote areas where the interweb streams around in more abundance. Thank you to everyone though who has been donating while we have been dragged by Kevin the rally car around places like Etosha National Park – tough…very tough out here.

We will do a tally soon and post a more current total for funds raised!

More Funds Just In

More Funds Just In

Categories: Abraham Kriel, Donations | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Etosha

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Ryan

We woke up a little early…and tender this morning. Although there were drinks consumed, said tenderness was more from lack of sleep induced by bodies unconditioned to camping and loud unruly behavior. We left the first checkpoint party and campover by 6 am and were in Etosha National park early enough to catch some really cool sightings. Etosha is wide and open and very different to Kruger and some of the other parks in SA. It was super dusty but super cool – check out some of the images captured!

DCIM100GOPRO

Elly the elephant

Shirly

Shirly the elephant

More aminals...of the striped variety

More aminals…of the striped variety


This stage has very generously been sponsored by Novare:

Novare

Novare Investments

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A true send off

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Ryan

Check out what the kids at Abraham Kriel did as a send off for us! Another reminder of why we are Putting Foot!

Posters

Posters

The Kids at AK

The Kids at AK

Hand Paintings - too much fun

Hand Paintings – too much fun

The real reason to Put Foot

The real reason to Put Foot

So creative
So creative

 

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And we are off!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Ryan
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The Boys

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Kevin – First on the starting line! Can you say eager!

And we are off!

And we are off!

This stage has very kindly been sponsored by:

Novare Investments

Novare Investments

Categories: Stage 01, Stage Sponsors | Leave a comment

Fire and Ice

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Ryan

The guys just checked into the Protea Hotel – Fire and Ice in Cape Town! How cool and hospitable! We could not have asked for a better way to prepare for the start of the Put Foot Rally 2013! Thank you Protea Hospitality Group!

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Kevin and the team outside the Protea

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Going to sleep well tonight

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How cool!

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Never felt more welcome!

 

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Protea Hotel Ryalls

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Ryan

Protea Hotel Ryalls in Blantyre Malawi has just confirmed our accommodation! Protea Hotels, in general, have been amazing and we are now covered for more than a weeks worth of accommodation! This is an amazing contribution to our cause and ability to raise funds and awareness for Abraham Kriel!

Protea Hotel Ryalls

Protea Hotel Ryalls

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