Neelix, Ghost Rider, The Gardener & The Tree - Wonders (Official Music V...

A great morning

https://youtu.be/ESqrQMtmwrM

Dealing with the lifes sometimes unforseen mishaps

So where do I start...

Let's see in 2014 around about May I managed to fracture my C7 vertebrae while surfing down in a beautiful part of Cape Town known as Cape Point Nature Reserve. It was a wet and stormy autumn day and myself and my mate Liam where super amped we loaded up our cars and raced off along the coast splashing through huge puddles listening to some energizing music probably mixture of punk, drum and base with a bit of hip hop knowing me.
We were in separate cars and doing a bit of low flying, taking in the scenery which is mind blowing beautiful no matter how often you see it.

I was really looking forward to getting into the water and filming this day,i have
always kind of seen myself as a guy that likes to be behind the lens and spreading the stoke...
But this never really worked out my camera memory conked out as i entered the surf zone, so turned around and swam back in to fetch a board and go surf.

We were at a spot called Black Rocks a pretty epic wave in the right conditions. Well being amped up I decided to take my smallest board out my 5.10  Ranga Quad fin with a bat wing tail.

This is really one of the most innovative boards I have ever owned works in everything from 2ft mush to 6ft plus perfect walls, as long as you have the power to paddle her in. I was way to psyched up to wait my turn in the line up so I went searching on the inside and managed to sneak one or two.
Eventually with out realizing it i was way to deep....

I remember taking off and not really making it into the wave it was to fast for me and my little board, so I stood up anyway and landed up going head first over the falls. I dived straight into a rock i just remember a flash of extreme pain then darkness. The next thing i know I'm bumping up against some rocks and the water is knee deep, I take a moment trying to gather myself slowly processing that all parts of me are functioning and just taking in that i was ALIVE I realized something was really wrong but was unsure what or where because my body was pumped up on adrenaline the so called fight or flight mode.
I slowly managed to stand check my board was okay as this is always of utmost importance, there was not a ding to be seen so super stoked.

I got to the beach by just kind of drifting in a body boarder came past asked if i was okay, I was like aah I'm not really sure.
Well I made it back to the car and in the process realized that i had done something really bad to my neck it was making some gnarly noises, I could not even lift my arms to get my wet suit off, Luckily the body boarder was there to help legend.
As soon as i got the suit half way down i engineered a kind of collar out of a blanket in my car which really helped. By know my fight was beginning to go out of me and I was heading towards shock.
I knew i needed to keep going as i was deep in the reserve and needed to get myself to help. Being the kind of character I am I'm normally pretty prepared for almost anything so smashed a future life shake concoction and a energy bar got the car packed and decided best plan was to head back to civilization, Kommetjie.

So I put my trusty Subaru wagon into drive, got my phone out first thing i did was record a voice note which i know is saved somewhere. I remember stating that i had hurt myself really badly and needed to get to hospital and i had some reason to believe that i was insured so I was amped to maybe make some money out of this! That never happened...

Know the whole time during this Liam was still out getting wave after wave with no idea of what I was going through you really never expect anything like this to happen. We so often think that we are indestructible until we are taught our lesson that we are quite fragile and need to respect our body....

So first person I get hold of is Gareth Morrison a solid KomSkom guy who is normally hanging around in the Kom "working" he say's. So I manage to get hold of him and head to his spot in old Kom, obviously i did not hear him properly because when i got there no one was home.

I was like WHAT a dick, so I dialed 112 our equivalent of 911 explained the situation and said I would be at the local pub the Green Room as that is were he was with Donovan having a cold one. I got there and they were like whats up? Not much i think I maybe "Broke" my neck not to worry though a ambulance was on the way.... At least I got some beer. Well Netcare 911 got there pretty fast I walked out to meet them first thing they asked was were is the victim?

I was like me it's me, they were shocked they immediately proceeded to immobilize me these ladies were so professional it was such a relief when they took over. I never had medical aid so we headed to Victoria hospital were they told us we needed to get to Groote Schuur in the City. Being strapped down onto a hard wooden board can get pretty uncomfortable after a while.    

Too be continued... 

Spike Surf Report 24 Sept 2016

Bijou To The Burn By Bicycle - An Afrikaburn Outreach fundraiser

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Wow time does fly hey...

So I'm riding to AfrikaBurn with some cool peeps. 

#BijouToBurnByBicycle

We doing this to raise funds to collect all the bikes left behind, restore them and put them back out to people who need them...

Also taking the idea of radical self reliance to the next level.

Prepping so last minute getting a trailer built by AMS Mechanical services for my GtZasker 29er,

Trying to pull all the strings together.....

If you would like to make a donation towards our endeavour please check out this site.

http://www.globalwheeling.org/

We leave 25 April Thursday Morning from Bijou Hq in Observatory at around 7:30 am heading out to Malmsbury for our first stop...

Day 1 Thursday 24 April

Cape Town too Malmsbury

85km

From Tears to Elation

Wow where do I start well I had organized a lift from my home Base Muizenberg at about 06:30 to get to Observatory to the Bijou Afrika Burn HQ but he decided to over sleep....

So I packed all my stuff onto my un-tested single wheel trailer with the help of my beautiful lady Shani, I was up in arms because I was never going to make it in time.

She made sure I left with a massive hug and a big smile what a awesome partner to have at your side.

I was off trailer and all in peak hour traffic and it was tough the trailer wobbled but I mad it even thou I was 30 minutes late...

I got to Afrika Burn Hq with everyone awaiting my arrival and they where all stoked flip it was good to become one of a team of awesome like minded people...

 

    Katja,Kevin and Gerhard.

Well with a quick photo session and hello to this who did not know each other we were of on our adventure, an Adventure for a purpose.

We have two support vehicles and 4 bikes permantly on the road , some have hardly ever cycled some just looking for adventure. But I am awed by the instant camaraderie and can do attitude.

 

    Kayden & Katya doing there thing.

We left Cape Town via the cycle route heading thru the heart of the industrial area onto the west coast just chatting smelling the awesome mix of smells and pretty much just getting to know each other.

We cycled through Melkbos of R27 down into Philidelphia a awesome little town that if you don't know  go find it. Here we ate lunch it was epic with 25km to go we headed out towards Malmsbury for the last push.

We got here and where put up at a amazing guest house called Manasse Manor.

Gerhard Van Eck

And here starts day 2 next overnight Guinevere Guest Farm today should be awesome.

Day 2 Friday 25 April

Malmsbury to Tulbagh

Massive Trucks No shoulder 

Well we left Malmsbury after a awesome nights sleep at Manasse Manour, such nice people they even helped me ad onto my trailer.

Watching the night change to dawn on their balcony with sheep bleating in the background is something special.

We stopped at a rad bike shop called Kroff cycles where we got some disk brake pad for Katja's bike and some new ones for mine too as I was worried about the weight of the trailer coming down some of the passes!

We crept out of Malmsbury onto some awesome back country roads with acres and acres of farm land  .

Katja grinding through farmland

Everyone was feeling strong and their were smiles all around the comraderie was and is awesome, what a laaker (nice) group of people.

We picked up a reporter for the local Malmsbury paper so if anyone comes across it please pass it along.

We had our halfway stop at a little place called Du Vlei a really cool little lunch spot with some epic people. 

Lunch at Du Vlei

After this we had to head out onto one of the more dangerous parts of the route. So had a little briefing  By Kayden Klienhans I donned a high visibility vest and my helmet and headed out onto the R46 no shoulder big trucks and hi speed cars it was stressful but the team worked like a well oil machine.Two bakkies working as buffers and then us.

We made it safely back onto the shoulder, we headed passed Gouda where we had stop to stick a tube in Katja's rear tyre as it was not handling the road and started to warp.

A De stress

We found a beatiful river to take a swim and met a man who has been living on the side of the road for 17 years.

Cool Down

After that it was the long flat burn against the setting sun to get to Guinevere Guest farm, which we made just before sunset not with out some fun and games along the way though.

My trailer was taking strain and wheels were falling of literally as Packed cars of Weekend warrior mountain bikers flew past heading in for the TransKaroo race.

Well we made it to Guinevere to catch the sunset and a quick swim thank you so much to Carli and Will for their epicness and hospitality and our amazing breakfast sponsored nogall.

Felix And I

Blown away by this ride thank you universe.

Day 3 Saturday 26 April

Tulbagh to Karoo Port 

A day of Climbing 

Wow what a awesome night we had at Guinevere a braai, cyclists pulling in and preparing for the TransKaroo. 

It was great seeing the weekend warrior in full force and then us just a group of cyclists taking it easy our hearts beating to a different drum....

I won't lie I am itching to race again i think it's good for the soul....

So this morning I decided to stay behind and use Guinevere's workshop to modify and get my trailer ready for the R366 dirt and desert.

I was grinding chopping adding and totally lost track of time whoops..

So I left Guinevere at a round about 11am and had a bit of catching up to do, I rode out and put my head down what a epic ride along the R46 we are blessed to live in such a beautiful country truly.

My phone was ringing with Kayden and Gerhard checking up on me, they were already passing the Toll Huis on Mitchell's pass.

I had some catching up to do at least they were going to do some final shopping and water re filling.

Mitchell's pass what a climb what a epic epic ride and just put my head down and rode by the time I got to the Toll Huis tears of pain were rolling down my cheeks, which soon turned to whoops of elation as i crested the pass and rolled down into Ceres trailer and all.

I caught up with the crew got a rushed shop in and found a ATM for some cash and we rolled out as Ceres was crazy with Saturday morning kayoss of a small town.

Kayden warned us today would be tough and time was becoming a factor as the sun sets early and we still had Theronsberg pass ahead.

Off we headed Kayden, Katja Jannel and Myself with Gerhard driving the support vehicle.

My gosh Theronsberg pass was a beast 1091m of climbing epicness,

I took a break under a tree about half way up after a Adventure Motorcyclist just put his head down shaking as if to say "bru are you MENTAL!"

While doing this I sent out a quick tweet and got tuned buy Kayden come know hurry up. So I did A man on a racer passed me and shouted "YOU CAN DO IT 2KM TO GO".

I spotted Kayden under a tree we used one of my handy Holdfast straps as a tow rope and got ourselves to the top.

Back too Sea Cape Town Too India Via port Louis Mauritius Aboard M/V MARANJOS.

Monday  Day 1

21 October 2013

01h00 

leaving Cape Town

34'45,079E 19'14,625E 

So we have just passed Gaanbaai. What a crazy last 2 days, I was sitting on my couch last night applying for jobs crawling the net, when I get a message from a mate, hey bru what's your number you wanna help take a boat too India leaving TOMMOROW MORNING, I was like aah okay!

Next thing you know here I am On Solo watch on 86m Palate carrier On her last voyage to India too be scrapped. Russian Captain and Chief both named Sergiv which makes life simple, One other Saffa and a mixed batch of Namibians and Eastern Europeans. I even have officer status, My own cabin and 3 meals a day, well I might miss breakfast seeing I finish my watch at 4am....

Apparently she used to carry potatoes and stuff up too Rwanda and places in Africa. She was built in 1978 in Norway.

First night watch in a while and just sliding back into the groove a bit nervous when seeing lights but all the knowledge is still hidden in this brain of mine feels good. Awesome evening full moon a couple of dolphins round. The sea has calmed down the South Easter is but a light breeze and we cruising along at about 7.5 knots.

Well I'm going too get back too keeping my eye on things and will try keep this as updated as possible, though there is no Wifi aboard.

Wednesday Day 3

Off St Francis

34'18,90S 25'25,20E 14h26

Well it's been pretty uneventfull so far cruising along at around 9 knots, Seeing lots of whales while on watch which is 4 hours and I sit through two of them 12 >16h00 and then 12> 4am and that's pretty much my day in a nutshell. So stoked we have aircon in our rooms cause it is going too get very warm in the next couple of days.

The route we taking is up the coast as far as about East London then we going too head towards Madagascar flip wish we where stopping there....  Then we head up past Reunion onto Port Louis in Mauritius.

If the sea state stays nice to us we should be in Port Louis by around the 2nd.

Well I just finished a movie called The Impossible wow go find it and watch it.

Passing time playing need for speed.

At the end of my watch things got a but busy, I had too dodge some fishing boats.

Well we have officially headed off into the deep blue of the Indian Ocean next bit of land I shall see will probably be Madagascar.  So time for lots of reading walking circles around the aft deck for exercise and what ever else I can find to occupy myself....

Monday Day 8

32'07,64 S 34'22,45E

03:07 5.2 kn

Braaivlies on the boat epic dinner chops wors and mash I was stoked ha ha.

Well the weather has been pretty miserable for the last couple of day 3 - 5 m swells and gale force easterlie winds which equals rather uncomfortable sailing...

We have been rocking and rolling all over the show and this also has the negative effect of slowing us down somewhat! Even on a boat this size I sleep with one hand always ready too grab on and braced for the worst. I really hope we do get some calmer seas but the weather reports are not on our side so far but one can only hope.

This language barrier again it gets too me I was speaking with the young Able Seaman ( deckhand ) today and he was saying the same thing communication is a reall problem, for instance the other night I had a alarm go off, know I cannot read what it's for because it's in Russian I think so I phone the engineer on watch all I get is a grunt well I said alarm and he said? Pretty funny but also scary in some ways.

On a another subject that bothers me over the last couple of days being quite far offshore you are allowed to throw 90% of your rubbish of into the ocean there are pretty strick guidelines though, but NOT PLASTIC but do these guys give a damn everything just goes overboard! It makes me wonder how many other boats do this pretty scary thought....

Sunday Day 14

25'24,75 S 048'24,20 E

01:50 8.2 kts

Well first bit of rain a thunderstorm too top it off, such a epic thing too watch as it just slides over and carrys on over this massive ocean....

We are passing Madagascar at the moment, I cannot see it as we are too far offshore. You know lands there as life has returned we've had some tiny little birds that hung out in the mess for a afternoon they where super cute but did not hang out for too long. Then with the rain this evening came dragonflies loads of them.

I took myself outside this evening and sat and watched the show that nature put on and also to enjoy the fresh rain soaked air, seeing as we are getting into the warmer climates these days.

Hopefully we should be in  Mauritius by Wednesday woo hoo then another two long weeks too India....

You really know that you have too set the clocks forward when it starts getting light at 03:53 ha ha!

Wednesday Day 24

13 November 2013

06'39,51S 062'58,76E

12:16 8.6kts

So here I sit on the bridge of this vessel watching over a vast empty blue ocean. We have not seen too many other ships over the last couple of days and if we do we are very cautious because we are in pirate prowled waters.... Every night for the last 3 or 4 nights we have sailed black ship, meaning that we have not had any navigational lights on pretty dodgy I reckon. 

To tell the truth I cannot wait too get to India boredom is at a maximum, the worst part of it is that when we got too Maurituis we stayed at anchor for 3 days no shore leave nothing. 

I was really banking on getting some shore time so I could attend too some online business, like wishing my GRANDFATHER HAPPY BIRTHDAY and paying rent. Would have been epic to just get a bit of change too.

Watching....

We are know sailing to Alang which is north of Mumbai as this is where the break up yards are. I suppose it's not too far too go know, we have done over 3000Nm and only have about 1800Nm to go hopefully about another 10 days. We should arrive around the 23 of November....

Okay I shall return too staring over this great Indian Ocean watching the flying fish, we should cross the equator later today or early tomorrow. 

Oh ya some where is getting some cracking surf as we have been rolling around in some good clean long range swell for the last couple of days aaaaah wish I was getting barreled!

Okay we'll wish me luck.

Friday Day 27

15 November 2013

01'35,15N 065'33,26E

03:10 8.4kts

We crossed the equator this afternoon at about 14h30 yeew!

We even had a ceremony was good fun, we all got sprayed down with the fire hose and drank some wine around the braai. We even got Diplomas's to mark the occasion, it was an epic change in the routine and probably the first time the whole crew has been on deck this trip.

Well 8 days to go too India not long know then home too plan the next adventure, I reckon that's the plan.

Almost full moon out here on the vast Indian Ocean and the sea she is like a millpond this morning really beautiful. 

It's amazing how empty this part of the ocean is we have only seen maybe 3 ships since we left Maurituis pretty crazy.

I won't lie I can't wait to get too India it's been a long journey....

Day 29

Sunday 17 November 2013

05'35,64N 066'48,01E

12:44 7.0kts

6 days to go yeeeew...

Day 50!!!!!!

Sunday 8 December 2013

At Anchor

23:03

Oh my we are in India but this is crazy and in humane we have been stuck at anchor for over a week we wait with no news and no definite time or date that we shall be going home.

Our water runs low. We are off Alaing were ships drive up on to the beach too die there are about 20 or so ships along the beach in various states of being broken apart.

This is getting ridiculous no news it is crazy that they can do this just leave us here aaaah going slightly crazy!

Day 67!!!!!!

Wednesday 25 December 

At Anchor off Alang

21'25,12N. 072'15,15

MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO ALL.

Yes so we are still stranded at anchor off Alang it's hard to believe that we have been at sea for 67 days when this was supposed to take just a month. It's crazy sitting here with pretty much no contact with the outside world, everyday hoping that they will finish this process and that we can go home.

Living on a diet of pasta, some kind of pork which I don't eat and eggs, i cannot wait to eat one of my Grans home cooked meals...

We have also managed to get our hands on some whiskey by trading with the local Indian fisherman who come and holler at us almost every day, at least that helps some days go by a little faster!

There may be some respite we have word that we should be home before New Years know that would be epic.

 Today I'm really missing home Christmas lunch with the family would have been awesome, alas I'm sitting on anchor watch on the bridge listening to Xmas carols on my laptop staring out at this brown ocean....

Christmas cards I made for the crew, trying to lift our spirits...

Day 75 

Thursday 2 January 2014

Ahmedabad  Airport

FREEDOM YEEEW

Wow we free and know it's all a fond memory. We disembarked this morning at about 04:30 am!

I had the honor of steering her onto the beach what an experience not something I shall quickly forget thanks so much Sergey Moroz for giving me the helm....

Okay we'll know its travelling time it's going to be a adventure too say the least we boarded the bus this morning early at Alang went through customs bleary eyed since I had been up since 11am on Wednesday the 1st then onto a hotel in Bhavangar. We got a room, got som breakfast and lunch while we awaited our flights and passports to arrive...

From there into Good by to the Ukranian crew and into a taxi for about 180 km drive to Ahmedabad and know ahead of us airports and aeroplanes....

- Ahmedabad to Mumbai  21:25 > 22:50 2nd January 

- Mumbai to Nairobi  03:10 > 06:35 3rd January 

- Nairobi to Johannesburg 20:35 > 23:50 3rd January 

- Johannesburg to Cape Town 07:00 > 09:10 4th January

 Okay well we about too check into our first leg cannot wait to get onto that plane and sneak in some shut eye! Almost home time for that new leaf....

Friday 3 January

35000 feet Above Kenya

Drinking Amurula at 6am in the morning that's a first for me and at 35000 feet ha ha....

We just flew past Mnt Kenya pretty awesome!

Getting thru the day at Nairobi airport with some help from Tusker beer.

Saturday 4th January 

On the home stretch, and it looks like there should be surf stoked for that.

Managed too get some sleep in last night at OR Tambo  airport we found a patch of fake grass opposite Woolworths stretched out my sarong and passed out, I was broken from the last couple of days travel.

Well amped too see my friends and family this has been a cool adventure one I shall surely tell my kids one day. 

Know it's time to get started on 2014, have too find a new place to live, get back to gym and get on my bike and into the water oh ya don't forget it's time to find a job....

I hope u enjoyed this little story.

Till Next time...

Autism Awareness Ride In Solidarity with World Autism Week

Autism Awareness Ride In Solidarity with World Autism Week

Argus 2013 29er all the way

What a amazing ride.

So another argus cycle tour under the belt and my what fun did I have this year, I decided to stick too riding my lovely GT Zasker 29er and wow what a great choice I made what a absolutely enjoyable ride.

No hand pain disk brakes rock in a pelaton and the noise my off road Continental tires make well one word, AWESOME.

My Baby GT Zasker Elite.

I tell you what though rocking up at the Argus on ya MTB, in such an early group you really do feel like the minority, I mean I hardly saw another mountain bike, it was quite eerie to say the least! I won't lie though I did love the attention......

It was amazing the responses you get riding on those big wheels.

This year I got to start up in the F group(06h40 start) which makes a massive difference to your ride, the group well they wanna race, the pelaton it works like a well oiled machine.
People talk too you they use hand signals and all these small things make the ride so much more enjoyable, I really take my hats off too those further back I know how much hard work it is.
 

Don't get me wrong there where still quite a few close calls, like coming down hospital bend at 50+ plus km's per hour and as u get too the bottom all u hear is shouting, all you can smell is burning brake pads, this is where u start appreciating your disks! Or at the end of the Blue Route freeway where I think someone in front dropped their spares back and everyone slammed on brakes, with disks and big tires you just stop but those little racing tires have no wear near the stopping power and come screaming literally shouting BRAKE AAAAAh, I flipping love it, love racing love speed love the adrenaline.

Well I loved every moment of this years ride but boy did not expect the output and cadence that you have too keep up, in the Mountains yes you work hard and have big climbs and technical sections but on the road its just flat out spinning, but what epic training.

Thanks to IonOnTheAction  for the pic easy to use camera, and all the Help from Maruwaan at Caladonian cycles Legend.

Camissa Bicycles: Bullitt Cargo Bikes - South Africa

Camissa Bicycles: Bullitt Cargo Bikes - South Africa: If you are a business or individual that needs to carry stuff quickly around the city - then feast your senses on the Bullitt, the world's...

Summer Has Arrived

Epic Times Ahead

So It's been a while....

Hout Bay From Chapmans Peak

What a epic city we live in, seems like it just suddenly comes alive with the return of the summer wind our "beloved South Easter."

Suddenly there girls running around in almost nothing, Endless party's and events too go too. Long hot summer days with ample time for the beach and all those other activities we love so so much.

Summer Fun

I am stoked I am moving to a Beautiful new spot in St James right next to one of my most favorite beaches with warm waves all summer as long as the wind blows amped for some epic fun board sessions and lots of Beach Time.

On another note I broke my collarbone about 3 weeks ago what a horrible injury. I could not do anything for the first two weeks except lie on the couch I was going stir crazy....
Good lesson learned though we are not as INDESTRUCTIBLE as we think we are....

I cannot wait to get back on my bike and start riding again and back in the water on my boards gonna be sooo so good...

Ps keep a look out for a new project of mine GONE WALKING SA..... 

Hole In The wall Transkie

Watch this space catch u soon....

A wacky Weekend

Weekend of 9 June 2012

Well some weekend landed up working at the Wacky Wine Festival in Robertson for Blend events, got a free tank of fuel and I got to race this morning in the Robertson MtB race!

What a epic race this morning, I almost did not make there though.
After spending the night in the back of my little green bakkie good old faithful.

Hanging out In The Muizenberg

So been busy cruising,riding, trying to survive!

Life's been fun , just finished a surf lesson and now hanging out at empire cafe updating learning playing on the web!

It has been a while since I last posted in my this space not good, not good at all gotta be more on top of it!

Lots has been going on, went to try out for the next Top Billing it was a lot of fun, and I think it went well,holding thumbs I find out today if I make it through to the next round amped.

Yesterday while standing in the queue, they came up too me and asked me to do come do a little interview at the beach which so could be quite fun.

Okay well I got to go back to the beach time to go meet Simba and Dean should be fun.....

Daboon does Joberg2C 2012

9 days 910 km's really...

What a crazy last couple of day's Aidan rocks I do not know how he managed it but he secured our entry's only early this morning.
I was acting very nonchalant about this whole thing in my head we were always riding but to actually have it confirmed it moves my excitement level right up.

I left Grahamstown this afternoon a bit late, I waited to see my my lady for a quick bite before hitting the open road, what a amazing drive hit the R390 past Gariep dam so picturesque and quite hardly any cars nothing like some local tips to make ya drive so much better☺.

Okay well tomorrow is a big day got to get to Gauteng registration, race briefing then the journey begins, flip I am quivering in anticipation for this adventure!
Off to bed for me up early and onwards to new places.

 

Mielies & Porcupine Quills 

http://youtu.be/Hr4u-AOMmc0 

Day 1 27 April

Gosh this is amazing mind blowing,epic. We just took it so easy Aidan Brown my partner and legend, he hooked me up massively.
Aidan has not trained one day today was his first day back on a bike in 6 months we made it 100 + km, I loved every minute taking it easy meeting awesome people and helping out peeps along the way!

Well it's dinner time I gonna go eat expect more tomorrow.

DAy 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5VImLRDTc 

90+ km over 5hrs in the saddle....

 I mean is this actually real I think I am still dreaming really I do.

What a day what a ride, Keeping the Gees.

Well i tell you what the training I did really paid off, it is so epic to just have the power to go and go. Aidan Brown my partner on the other hand has not ridden a bike in over 6 months and he is suffering, hats off to him for slogging it out muscle memory rocks hey bud.

I could not have asked for a more awesome person to ride with. All day we laugh even when he is hurting he still keeps up the chirps and the GEES!

 We hang with the marshals have a laugh take our time at what is normally a water point but on this race we call them DELi's cause that is just what they are....

Chat to the back markers push them up hills I have even been picking up litter, and the locals well they are just so awesome hanging giving support and all ways amped for a chat even if it is a bit right wing sometimes laugh.

 I just want too say once again a massive thanks to all that helped me get here and are still helping me, Gavin @ Cape Xtreme, Maruwaan @ Caledonian cycles, Craig & Farmer Glenn  for the sponsored entry, Megan @ Holdfast ,Aidan Brown, Megan Payne and every one else for you know who you are...

The Guys making sure we all good legends.

Craig Woppo taking some time to enjoy the trails legend....
Okay well it's debrief time. Long day ahead tomorrow so time to chill....

Amped for it.

PS check out the web http://www.joberg2c.co.za/

DAy 3 

Awesome 124 ks 8h16 in the saddle.

Day 3 Footage 

What a amazing day from freezing my arse off this morning too shoving water down my throat to keep me hydrated.

Aidan was not feeling to great this morning but he still got on his Scott put his head kept up the laughs and running commentary what a  trooper, he really keeps me entertained all day.

 Today was the longest day so far but just awesome every crank turn.

I mean the single track was too die for it's not every day you get to ride on trails like this.

The people along the route riders and supporters are just absolutely amazing.

Aidan and I have picked up the nick name of SOUTies, first it was engels(  all slang for englishman) then we changed it,
so when ever we go through a spectator point they cheer for us souties love it...

Love this machine 5000 ks going strong.

That's me

 Tonight we stay on Sterkfontien dam it is so beautiful out here, tomorrow we head into Natal apparently it's gonna be tough but I am so ready for it lots of single track and climbing to come.

I won't lie my bum is a little sore  but I can deal with that anything to be part of such an amazing event....

And go the start

Our race lead vehicle

Okay well once again it's dinner time and de brief time oooh cannot wait to chow down.

Day4

 7h29 122km

Winterton

Giving back 

 

What a day, that was tough really tough, but I won’t lie I enjoyed every second of it.

My partner Aidan Brown dropped out for today as he was battling a bit of a cold and did not feel great,

 I reckon good decision on his behalf,

I won’t lie I did miss his chirps and camaraderie.

 

The ride well I actually do not really know what to say….Mind blowing, spectacular, fast and flowing are just a few words that come tomind.

 

The panoramas of the Drakensburg, 

the huge drop off the "great wall my bru", 

straight into some mind blowing single track that I literally screamed in pure ecstasy that’s how flipping awesome it was.

 

There was quite a bit of climbing today and a definite couple of sense of humor failures for some,

 but it was worth every second of it.

Well done to the trail builders, those were mental, I mean my hands started cramping it was so long.

 

I had a great wipe out today I flew straight into a acacia tree broke a couple off branches, I came out fine lucky for me, unlucky for the tree.

 

The last riders just came in; they started at 7am and just finished at 17h54.

Hats off to them for finishing, which is one hell of a long day in the saddle.

 

We at Winterton tonight and it is warm, it’s good even though the heat was pretty tough in the saddle.

All these towns are so welcoming it is so cool, from the kids washing our bikes to the moms doing the food and our dirty laundry; everyone just climbs in and helps.

 

 

 

It’s absolutely amazing how many lives  this race touches ..

Day 5

5h29 112km

Family time 

What a day, what a amazing journey. The most amazing people I have met I cannot even count on both my hands and toes.

Today was great two big climbs a game reserve, some awesome fast sections and forest again, it felt great to be in the forest.

I had a bit of bad luck though, seems I lost my cellphone today and prior to that my brand new first ascent jacket, oh well it happens hey. Even had two nosebleeds, today I think that it was from the dust mostly.

So no more photos for know I will see if I can get some pictures from other people.

Tomorrow comes some real climbing some 2000 m up too Underberg , apparently some super fast  and sketchy descents , I am amped,  I mean  how lucky can one be to take part in an adventure like this. It’s a dream come true.

So far my Giant anthem has been great too me, thanks to the guys at Bobby’s cycles for the mechanical help, Big shout to Gavin at Cape Xtreme  for the help with the entry u made this journey of a lifetime possible.

Farmer Glen and Craig aka Woppo you guys rocks it is mind blowing what you guys have achieved, thanks so much for Giving me the chance to ride in the incredible event.

What a amazing place we staying at tonight the hospitality here and at every other stop is absolutely amazing thank you so much.

Okay sleepy time….

Day 7 

82k 3h42

Mckenzie club

Camp Life 

What an amazing day of riding, mind blowing, fast flowing, forest single track.
What more could you ask for.
This morning started quite cold, we had horses start the race today mind blowing!

My race partner Aidan Brown joined the race again today, but I did not see him at all.

I am so fortunate to participate in a event like this so so lucky!

On another note today was so beautiful, the landscape was amazing what a way to see this wonderful country from the saddle of my MtB.

I seem to have lost my phone on the single track the other day whoops so sorry for the lack of of photos.





What a Ride

So what a ride what a adventure.

It's kinda weird been home not, not waking every morning to another day of amazing riding.
But it is good to lie in my own bed wake up and stare at the ocean.







As always I wing everything so on the final day arriving in Scottburggh I had no way of getting back to my car in Jozi, Luckily I made some friends along the route and between Aidan myself, mostly Aidan we managed to get me a lift back to his place in Jozi.

This led too 23 hrs of traveling Durban to Jozi To Grahamstown. I arrived in Jozi around 10pm showered ate had some coffee packed my trust cabby and headed to Grahamstown, but by 4am in the morning I was way too tired too drive so I parked under a bridge and took a couple of zzzs.