More than 6 000 kilometres on the clock for Keegan
By day 36 Keegan Longueira has already clocked in more than 6 000km in his #Cairo2capetown journey.
Keegan set out on January 2 with two things in mind, one was to raise funds for Operation Smile, giving as many children as possible cleft pallet surgeries, and the other was to attempt to break Dutchman, Robert Knol’s record.
When last we heard from Keegan, he had just crossed the Zambian border. On Saturday, Keegan was well on his way crossing Tanzania taking on ever more hill climbs.
“Riding through the Tanzanian mist, it rained most of the day. I watched as locals huddled under patchy straw umbrellas while roasting corn,” he said.
According to Ms Paige Cook, Cape Trek media liaison and Keegan’s beloved, Keegan had conquered 6 000km by completing roughly 220km in the extreme heat just out of Iringa.
“Some beautiful clouds and light wind from 15:00, which helped with the heat,” he added while commenting that his bike felt better today, thanking everyone for their prayers.
On February 3 Keegan had added another 200km to the tally as he entered Arusha, adding that from there on he would be riding on only dirt roads for the next five days.
The following day Keegan had the misfortune of snapping a chain as well as some gear trouble but he managed to sort things out and was well on his way again.
That Thursday morning Keegan received a call from DJ Fresh to see how his journey was fairing. Fresh recapped on why Keegan was cycling, for Operation Smile, and asked him about his journey of self-discovery as well as some of the cities he had seen, including so far Cairo, Aswan, Khartoum, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Dodoma.
“Tanzania has been exhausting and the most challenging of my days. It’s been rough terrain and big hills but it’s over,” said Keegan as he made his way into Zambia heading towards Lake Lusaka. He added that he is looking forward to being able to ride alongside his dad for a couple of days on his journey.
Keegan has the support of the community who have been following his every pedal-stroke through Africa.
“Well done Keegan! Heard all this morning. Keep going,” said Tarryn Dale on Facebook, other comments include “Listened to the interview, wow I am inspired dude. All the best,” – Lerato Waga Monareng and “All the best on your journey. Listened to your interview this morning. Safe travels,” – Robyn Britten.
“We look forward to working with you and changing a life, one smile at a time,” said Paige.
Keegan and the Cape Trek Project would like to thank the following schools for accepting the Schools’ Challenge to raise money for Operation Smile. They are Audeamus, Robert Carruthers, Cambridge Academy, Laerskool Kragbron and St Thomas Aquinas.
“A Grade 5 girl in Laerskool Kragbron made a poster of me and told her teacher I’m her hero. I was sitting at the border when I got it and it brought me to tears,” he said as he looked at the poster thinking that if he could just inspire this little girl, that every kilometre, injury, head ache, all blood shed and all difficulties, would have been worth it.
“This world record attempt, a life changing encounter, please won’t you help change a child’s life by donating to Operation Smile,” asked Keegan as he rode on.
