A 10 Month Take On Africa By Numbers

Helen Lloyd    Helen Lloyd     cycling, Helen, statistics, take on africa

Over ten months ago I left the UK to cycle to Cape Town. Ten months has taken me to Accra in Ghana. It’s been a fantastic journey so far. Here are a few stats from the trip to date…

Days since leaving the UK: 305
Nights spent in Africa: 253
Nights spent in Africa without paying for accommodation: 146
Days spent cycling: 151
Number of days cycling alone (on this ‘solo’ adventure): 57
Most consecutive days without using the bike: 24

Kilometres cycled: 12,580
Kilometres paddled: 350

Average daily distance cycled (cycling days only) in kilometres: 83
Average daily distance cycled (rest days included) in kilometres: 41

Number of countries travelled through: 13
Number of times I have crossed the Guinean border (legally or otherwise): 8

Most kilometres cycled in one day: 178
Biggest hill cycled up: 1609m
Maximum recorded temperature I have cycled in, in Fahrenheit: 111
Top speed in kilometres per hour: 64

Most consecutive days without a shower: 15
Most consecutive days wearing the same bike shorts without washing them: 12
Number of hot showers in Africa: 4

Number of snakes and scorpions seen (alive): 11
Number of termites embedded in my leg: 1
Mosquito bites: 1655*

Cycle tourers met in Africa: 5
Number of times I have locked my bike in Africa: 9
Number of times I have worn a bike helmet: 2
Number of puncture repair patches used: 4
Most books I had in my panniers at any given time: 11

Marriage proposals: 5
Accidents caused: 2
Number of times I have fallen off: 1
Number of times I have been hit by passing traffic: 1

Times I have been given incorrect change: 43*
Bribes demanded: 2
Bribes paid: 0

Pairs of sunglasses lost: 3
Flip-flops broken: 4

Mayonnaise sandwiches eaten: 92*
Bananas eaten: lost count

Beers drunk: 355
Average kilometres cycled per beer: 35.4

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