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
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
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...
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| 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.
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...
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| Love this machine 5000 ks going strong. |
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| 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....
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| And go the start |
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| 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
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
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
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.
