George Herald | Eco-warrior tackles the Sahara

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Eco-warrior tackles the Sahara
10:44 (GMT+2), Thu, 18 August 2011

The wind in the Sahara will make or break you, says Kayden Kleinhans. He navigated the Saharan desert by night with a small torch light strapped to the front of the bike. "Still I ran short as I was forced to trade a tin of Zambuck ointment for two litres of water with a travelling nomad."

GEORGE NEWS - South African eco-warrior, environmental activist, and founder of the Global Wheeling Foundation, Kayden Kleinhans called in George on his Around The World Eco Charity Bike Ride.

While raising funds for his foundation, he has covered over 16 000 kms across three continents on a bicycle. His aim is to create awareness of the environment, and to raise money to plant trees.

Kayden has agreed to support Global Wheeling by spreading awareness of the foundation and its core values. Companies and individuals can sponsor the ride by buying stages of the trip at $20 per carbon-free kilometre. All profits will go to to the support of the Bums on Bikes initiative and the Tree Planting Programme.

He is also spreading word of the Recycle a Bike programme. It is the Foundation’s aim to create drop-off points, in various cities around the globe, for used bicycles to be fixed and shipped to Africa to be given to underprivileged children and their families. His blog on traversing the Sahara reads: - "Leaving the Dakhla peninsular in the disputed region of Western Sahara, I was convinced the worst was over.

The deeper into the desert you venture, less and less (provisions) are available. The tiny town of Al Agroub, a mere 78 kms from Dakhla, was the last spot for anything fresh for hundreds of kilometers. I rolled out of the tiny village of 12 dwellings with my onions, tomatoes, green peppers and eggplant wrapped tightly in a plastic bag."

"The wind in the Sahara will make or break you, and I had been dealt a bad hand as the weather gods decided to send head-winds so strong, they halved my average speed. "In the process doubling the time and stress loads on my supplies. With distances in excess of 170km between water stops, fighting head-winds, makes it virtually impossible to cover the required distances on the amount of food and water supplies that you can physically carry, as a one-and-half-day ride becomes a three day ride."

Minimalist
Whilst having a chat on the verandah of a local motorbike gathering place in George, he said: "Living with the bare minimum is what you get used to. I often sleep in a tent next to the road."

At the Ivory Coast he encountered some drunken rebels and on the borders of Nigeria he was turned away and refused entry.

He then flew to Cape Town and continued his journey from there. After his African stint, he has his sights set on South Ame-rica. He aims to chalk up 40 000 kms, on his round-the-world trip covering 40 countries.
His biggest champion is his mom, Kerry Kleynhans who does fundraising and provides the back-up needed. For more information contact her at 082 550 3541.

"I would like to leave a legacy, that is what I am trying to do," said the 27 year old, who has seen more continents than most seasoned travelers. To find out more about his endeavours - check his website: www.globalwheeling.org