Dodging Elephants is the story of how one ordinary woman raced across Africa on her bike. Flung from the corporate hamster wheel, she set off with very little training, plenty of Christmas fat, a custom-made bike and absolutely no idea of what she was letting herself in for. The Tour D'Afrique is the longest bike race on earth.12,000 kilometres from Cairo to Cape Town through ten countries and with 63 competitors lined up at the start. Each chapter has a different story to tell; new places and peoples, high mountains, ...
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Dodging Elephants is the story of how one ordinary woman raced across Africa on her bike. Flung from the corporate hamster wheel, she set off with very little training, plenty of Christmas fat, a custom-made bike and absolutely no idea of what she was letting herself in for. The Tour D'Afrique is the longest bike race on earth.12,000 kilometres from Cairo to Cape Town through ten countries and with 63 competitors lined up at the start. Each chapter has a different story to tell; new places and peoples, high mountains, burning desert sands, thick mud, biting tsetse flies (known as the devil), and vibrant African dawns and dusks. During the journey, the riders are beaten with whips, stoned by local cattle raiders, held up at gun point and face malaria and typhoid in camp. They cycle through the dry season in the Sudan with temperatures reaching 51 degrees, and then hit the rainy season in Tanzania with mud up to their knees and tents permanently wet through. You really feel for them! When the only landmark for miles is the skeleton of a camel that looks smugly happier than you imagine they do and you think it impossible to push those pedals around once more, even vicariously, something will jolt everything right back into perspective. From penis envy every time nature calls along the trail, to the "night of shame" from which no one is exempt by the time the finish line beckons; from the naked mile, to the 'who stole the shitter' shambles, Dodging Elephants will put a silly grin on your face. Maybe best to read this one in private or you might get some odd looks. Oh yes, and there's a near death experience with an elephant. You'll encounter the highs as well as the lows, with Africa forming a beautiful backdrop along the way. The race begins in Egypt on the eve of the Arab Spring, goes through the Sudan as the south declares independence and becomes the newest country on earth, continues through the worst drought for thirty years in Northern Kenya before landing on the pristine highways built by ubiquitous Chinese contractors, entering Zambia where old and new Africa collide, and ending up in South Africa at election time. This is a proper old-fashioned adventure. A romp through Africa told with humour and charm. As you read "The End", you'll either be reaching for your laptop to sign up for next year, or reaching for another nice glass of red wine and thanking your lucky stars that you don't have to!
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Add this copy of Dodging Elephants: Leaving the Rat Race for a Bike Race to cart. $5.80, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
Add this copy of Dodging Elephants: Leaving the rat race for a bike race to cart. $7.23, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of Dodging Elephants: Leaving the Rat Race for a Bike Race to cart. $25.68, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
Add this copy of Dodging Elephants: Leaving the Rat Race for a Bike Race to cart. $54.18, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
