November 15 marks another phase in adventurer Jelle Veyt’s attempt to climb the Seven Summits by cycling, hiking and rowing to all of them from his home in Belgium. He has just finished 10 weeks of handbiking and kayaking to the tip of North Africa. Now he hops back on the bike for a further 15,000km to Mt Kilimanjaro. So far, he has covered more than 30,000km and climbed three of the highest peaks in Europe, Asia and Oceania.
At the Rock of Gibraltar. Photo: Jelle Veyt
Spain proved more difficult than expected. Veyt and a partner endured tumultuous rain and struggled up mountain bypaths to avoid busy highways. Then while crossing the Strait of Gilbraltar, west winds whipped the ocean into a frenzy. For the next 30km, he kept one eye on the waves and another on the heavy shipping traffic. It was a relief when he finally reached Ceuta, on the north coast of Africa.
Veyt’s route to Kilimanjaro. Photo: Jelle Veyt
Africa will mark his greatest challenge yet. First, a 7,000km detour by bicycle through the rolling red dunes of Western Sahara, thereby skirting the heart of the great desert. Then he will have to cross rivers, mountains and dirt roads to avoid the political unrest in Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
You can follow his progress at https://www.jelleveyt.be/blog/
