Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Previous participants in the Freedom Challenge have battled through snowstorms and subzero temperatures. As a result, the event has developed a reputation of being the toughest endurance race in the South Africa.
2010 will be no different as the 2010 Freedom Challenge will again take place in the heart of the South African winter. The Freedom Challenge race office today announced that the 2300 kilometre non-stop unsupported Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa will start on Saturday 12 June 2010. Riders will leave Pietermaritzburg in batches spread over the next week with the last batch leaving on Saturday 19 June 2010.
Riders will then mountain bike on the Freedom Trail which takes them through the Sisonke section of southern Kwa Zulu Natal and into the Drakensberg before heading across the basin of the Great Karoo and into the Cape mountains. They will finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town.In addition to the non-stop Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa, the Freedom Challenge will simultaneously host the 6 day Ride to Rhodes which takes riders from Pietermaritzburg over the first 500 kilometres of the route towards Cape Town. Covering the Sisonke and Maluti sections of the trail, riders will head through the deep river valleys, and over the high watersheds of the Umkomaas, Umzimkulu and Umzimvubu River catchements before crossing the floodplains of the Knira River and climbing up the face of the Drakensberg escarpment.
Those wanting to toughen up the test of 2300 kilometres of non-stop mountain biking can enter the Freedom Challenge Extreme Triathlon. On Friday 17 June 2010 they will start in Durban and run 85 kms up the valleys if the Umgeni and Umzimduzi Rivers to Pietermaritzburg in the Freedom Challenge Duzi Trail run. The following day they will set off from Pietermaritzburg on mountain bikes as part of the Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa. They must arrive in Paarl in time to compete in the 4 day 240 kilometre Berg River Canoe Marathon.
Beleef die dag vir dag ervarings en omswerwings van my gedurende 'n Freedom Challenge..... " You have never lived until you have challenged life, and for those who have, life has a flavour the protected will never know " Marnitz Nienaber " Make your journey count, make a difference " David Grier Miles for Smiles
10/21/2009
10/06/2009
2009 Race Preview
Some have been preparing the full 12 months and a few just a couple weeks, but for all the waiting is almost over. The 6th edition of the Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa is upon us.
2009 sees a record field as the event continues to grow and at last count we have 37 intrepid entrants who will be riding from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to Diemersfontein Wine Estate between Wellington and Paarl. The field is spread over four days with the first batch starting this Saturday the 13th June. Amongst that group is a select five who will be taking on the Extreme Triathlon. They will most likely start a little slowly with heavy legs having completed the inaugural 88km Dusi Trail Run the preceding day from Durban. To complete their challenge they have a two day canoe leg down the Berg River to Velddrif waiting for them 21 days later.
Looking at the field it is very hard to pick a race winner as the combination of weather conditions, mechanical issues, navigation errors, injuries and many other variable factors affect the progress made by riders. The entrants have been roughly weighted to have the faster riders in the final batch starting Tuesday the 16th, but the eventual winner (calculated on elapsed time) could come from any of the four batches. In the past, winning breaks have been made as early as the first day and as late as the Karoo. If a winter storm system comes in during the first week it could split the field between those who conquer the high lying areas of the Southern Drakensberg before it hits and those left behind who battle through extreme cold and possibly snow at these altitudes.
The 2008 race winner, Tim James, coming back to defend his title starting in the final batch. He will be a marked man and will have to keep an eye out for all the unknown riders from amongst the field. There are quite a few riders who have also previously finished the race and they will benefit from a basic knowledge of the route. One will have to wait and see who emerges from the large group of first timers as potential race winners, but to win this race will most likely require some bold moves from the outset.
Despite it having the race element at the front, for most of the field the main goal is to get to the finish in one piece inside of the 26 day cut-off. That in itself is an achievement of the highest order and a journey to remember. During the first week a group of 21 will also be tackling the section of the route to Rhodes with backup support, this is quite an adventure in itself.
Good luck to all entrants, as one of the hardest parts of the race (just getting to the startline) is almost over.
2009 sees a record field as the event continues to grow and at last count we have 37 intrepid entrants who will be riding from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to Diemersfontein Wine Estate between Wellington and Paarl. The field is spread over four days with the first batch starting this Saturday the 13th June. Amongst that group is a select five who will be taking on the Extreme Triathlon. They will most likely start a little slowly with heavy legs having completed the inaugural 88km Dusi Trail Run the preceding day from Durban. To complete their challenge they have a two day canoe leg down the Berg River to Velddrif waiting for them 21 days later.
Looking at the field it is very hard to pick a race winner as the combination of weather conditions, mechanical issues, navigation errors, injuries and many other variable factors affect the progress made by riders. The entrants have been roughly weighted to have the faster riders in the final batch starting Tuesday the 16th, but the eventual winner (calculated on elapsed time) could come from any of the four batches. In the past, winning breaks have been made as early as the first day and as late as the Karoo. If a winter storm system comes in during the first week it could split the field between those who conquer the high lying areas of the Southern Drakensberg before it hits and those left behind who battle through extreme cold and possibly snow at these altitudes.
The 2008 race winner, Tim James, coming back to defend his title starting in the final batch. He will be a marked man and will have to keep an eye out for all the unknown riders from amongst the field. There are quite a few riders who have also previously finished the race and they will benefit from a basic knowledge of the route. One will have to wait and see who emerges from the large group of first timers as potential race winners, but to win this race will most likely require some bold moves from the outset.
Despite it having the race element at the front, for most of the field the main goal is to get to the finish in one piece inside of the 26 day cut-off. That in itself is an achievement of the highest order and a journey to remember. During the first week a group of 21 will also be tackling the section of the route to Rhodes with backup support, this is quite an adventure in itself.
Good luck to all entrants, as one of the hardest parts of the race (just getting to the startline) is almost over.
7/09/2009
Strong women in Africa
Strong women in Africa
Thursday, 09 July 2009
“Strong women in Africa” is the title of a song by South African singer/songwriter Edi Niederlander on her album Dreamland. It could as easily be given to the three women who completed the 2009 Freedom Challenge mountain bike race across South Africa.
Arriving in Diemersfontein on Sunday 5 July 2009, 21 days 13 hours and 30 minutes after starting her epic 2350km journey from Pietermaritzburg, was the first women rider home, Fiona Coward. She described her ride as a “huge experience”.
Riders who completed the 2009 Freedom Challenge have carried their bikes through the rivers of southern Kwa Zulu Natal and 1000 metres up the face of the Maluti Drakensberg on Lehana’s Pass before crossing a further five major mountain ranges. They have battled through snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures and ridden from before sunrise to after sunset day after day for three weeks. They have passed through passed through wilderness areas and national parks. They have experienced the diversity of South Africa and her people. They have been tested physically and emotionally.
Following Fiona into the Diemersfontein finish two days later were Esti du Plessis and Estelle Labuschagne, the other two women to finish the 2009 Freedom Challenge. Esti, who had left Pietermaritzburg a day after Estelle and Fiona, caught up with Estelle at the final support station at Trouthaven near Rawsonville. From there the two took on the testing Stettynskloof portage together. Arriving at Diemersfontein, where they too received the traditional Basutho blankets presented to all Freedom Challenge finishers, Esti was also presented with the Spirit of the Freedom Challenge stone saddle. In a race where there is no prize money or place prizes, the stone saddle, which is crafted from “’n klip van die Karoo”, is the only individual prize and is awarded to that participant who best manifests the appreciation of the country that the Freedom Challenge seeks to engender.
In an event where 25% of the starting field subsequently withdrew, it was notable that the three women who started all went on to finish. In so doing, they also doubled the number of women who have completed this demanding race. Discussing women’s participation in this event 2008 Freedom Challenge finisher, Di Thomas said “We may be built like gazelles, but we've got the hearts of lions and what better way to give vent to our roaring spirits, than to take on such an extreme challenge and emerge victorious”
With the women all home attention now turns to the progress of those riders who are still riding the Freedom Trail and battling to reach Diemersfontein before the 26 day cut-off. Included amongst them are GIANT rider Siceko Maraneni, at 25 the youngest participant in the field who has been riding alone since Prince Albert, 27 year old Gregg Donnagh who has been afflicted with nausea but seems to have pushed through and is also riding alone, not-so-fat Umzimkulu farmer Eric Egeland and riding partner Bruce Young, and, further back, crocodile fighter Tim van Coller who took a bad fall approaching the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve, on the second day of riding and has soldiered on largely alone for a further 20 days.
Thursday, 09 July 2009
“Strong women in Africa” is the title of a song by South African singer/songwriter Edi Niederlander on her album Dreamland. It could as easily be given to the three women who completed the 2009 Freedom Challenge mountain bike race across South Africa.
Arriving in Diemersfontein on Sunday 5 July 2009, 21 days 13 hours and 30 minutes after starting her epic 2350km journey from Pietermaritzburg, was the first women rider home, Fiona Coward. She described her ride as a “huge experience”.
Riders who completed the 2009 Freedom Challenge have carried their bikes through the rivers of southern Kwa Zulu Natal and 1000 metres up the face of the Maluti Drakensberg on Lehana’s Pass before crossing a further five major mountain ranges. They have battled through snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures and ridden from before sunrise to after sunset day after day for three weeks. They have passed through passed through wilderness areas and national parks. They have experienced the diversity of South Africa and her people. They have been tested physically and emotionally.
Following Fiona into the Diemersfontein finish two days later were Esti du Plessis and Estelle Labuschagne, the other two women to finish the 2009 Freedom Challenge. Esti, who had left Pietermaritzburg a day after Estelle and Fiona, caught up with Estelle at the final support station at Trouthaven near Rawsonville. From there the two took on the testing Stettynskloof portage together. Arriving at Diemersfontein, where they too received the traditional Basutho blankets presented to all Freedom Challenge finishers, Esti was also presented with the Spirit of the Freedom Challenge stone saddle. In a race where there is no prize money or place prizes, the stone saddle, which is crafted from “’n klip van die Karoo”, is the only individual prize and is awarded to that participant who best manifests the appreciation of the country that the Freedom Challenge seeks to engender.
In an event where 25% of the starting field subsequently withdrew, it was notable that the three women who started all went on to finish. In so doing, they also doubled the number of women who have completed this demanding race. Discussing women’s participation in this event 2008 Freedom Challenge finisher, Di Thomas said “We may be built like gazelles, but we've got the hearts of lions and what better way to give vent to our roaring spirits, than to take on such an extreme challenge and emerge victorious”
With the women all home attention now turns to the progress of those riders who are still riding the Freedom Trail and battling to reach Diemersfontein before the 26 day cut-off. Included amongst them are GIANT rider Siceko Maraneni, at 25 the youngest participant in the field who has been riding alone since Prince Albert, 27 year old Gregg Donnagh who has been afflicted with nausea but seems to have pushed through and is also riding alone, not-so-fat Umzimkulu farmer Eric Egeland and riding partner Bruce Young, and, further back, crocodile fighter Tim van Coller who took a bad fall approaching the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve, on the second day of riding and has soldiered on largely alone for a further 20 days.
7/07/2009
So who's left out there......
So who's left out there...
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
As at 6am on the 7th July 2009
Sean and Derek made it to Diemersfontein last night completing the race in 22 days - well done guys
At Trouthaven last night: Error Estelle and Brett who are on track to finish in 23 days. Louis and Pierre who are on 22 days are also due to finish today. Estie and Andre, Derrick “2 bike” Baard on 21 days should also finish today.
Greg on 22 days arrived in Montague at 17h15 yesterday afternoon. There is lots of respect for Greg. Aafter getting so sick in Prince Albert he has clawed his way back and might now even finish on Thursday 9th in a total 24 days.
Siseko, slept at McGgregors, who has been out there for 24 days, is seriously running out of time. Carol, the lady who runs the guest house in McGregors is a really super hostess and will make sure Siseko is well looked after.
Eric(21 days) and Bruce (22 days) were in Rouxpos last night (unconfirmed) and are cutting it fine – they really don't want to get back to work!
Tim van Coller on 21 days was in Dam se Drift last night (unconfirmed). Sadly it does not look like he will make the cutoff but judging by his race so far I'm sure he will push on to the finish anyway. He might even wait for Mike Roy who is officially out of the race but is still making his way to Diemersfontein albeit on the touring route.
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
As at 6am on the 7th July 2009
Sean and Derek made it to Diemersfontein last night completing the race in 22 days - well done guys
At Trouthaven last night: Error Estelle and Brett who are on track to finish in 23 days. Louis and Pierre who are on 22 days are also due to finish today. Estie and Andre, Derrick “2 bike” Baard on 21 days should also finish today.
Greg on 22 days arrived in Montague at 17h15 yesterday afternoon. There is lots of respect for Greg. Aafter getting so sick in Prince Albert he has clawed his way back and might now even finish on Thursday 9th in a total 24 days.
Siseko, slept at McGgregors, who has been out there for 24 days, is seriously running out of time. Carol, the lady who runs the guest house in McGregors is a really super hostess and will make sure Siseko is well looked after.
Eric(21 days) and Bruce (22 days) were in Rouxpos last night (unconfirmed) and are cutting it fine – they really don't want to get back to work!
Tim van Coller on 21 days was in Dam se Drift last night (unconfirmed). Sadly it does not look like he will make the cutoff but judging by his race so far I'm sure he will push on to the finish anyway. He might even wait for Mike Roy who is officially out of the race but is still making his way to Diemersfontein albeit on the touring route.
Damsel in Distress....
Damsel in Distress..
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
Di Thomas
P.S. to a "lady's" perspective
I am told by Johann Rissik, that Estelle would not let him touch her bike! She had everything fully under control. Clearly her military background has served her well in this regard and I am filled with admiration, but I am guessing that I speak for most of the other ladies in this race - past & present - when I say that while I am no princess, I certainly have no objection to a knight in shining armour, especially if, in addition to effectively wielding his steely lance, he is also a whizz with a multi-tool!
While I have no qualms about passing him on the uphills, I would not dream of emasculating him by insisting on fixing my own bike! I am also not adverse to bartering coffee making & laundry duties for bike washing.
I can whip up a 5-course meal for 12 at a moments notice - no sweat, but ask me to replace a broken derailleur or turn it into a single speed and I break out into buckets of the salty stuff! I can manage the bare basics: plug a tyre, fit a tube, fix a chain, but when it comes to the more complex stuff, I am lost. I have always ridden on a prayer and so far it's worked for me. I have never had more than a punctured tyre on a major event and even then, good old Stan has worked his magic almost before I've registered the leak. I am not sure, though, how long my luck can hold.
Of course, I COULD make it my business to attend workshops , hone my skills and go out there fully confident of my abilities, but I just can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to venture into this mainly-man's-world of mechanical mysteries, especially when there are so many Sir Lancelots out there carrying the fixit gene. Why else would it be so fascinating & effortless for you guys and so boring & alien to us ladies?
I realize I'm walking a thin line and I could easily find myself stranded with broken bike and not a knight in sight, but still, I'm prepared to take my chances...
P.P.S. Having said all of the above, I would quite understand if you told me to PO!
P.P.P.S. If any of the ladies alluded to in these musings feel that they have been maligned by being included in the ranks of the mechanically challenged, please feel free to set the record straight.
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
Di Thomas
P.S. to a "lady's" perspective
I am told by Johann Rissik, that Estelle would not let him touch her bike! She had everything fully under control. Clearly her military background has served her well in this regard and I am filled with admiration, but I am guessing that I speak for most of the other ladies in this race - past & present - when I say that while I am no princess, I certainly have no objection to a knight in shining armour, especially if, in addition to effectively wielding his steely lance, he is also a whizz with a multi-tool!
While I have no qualms about passing him on the uphills, I would not dream of emasculating him by insisting on fixing my own bike! I am also not adverse to bartering coffee making & laundry duties for bike washing.
I can whip up a 5-course meal for 12 at a moments notice - no sweat, but ask me to replace a broken derailleur or turn it into a single speed and I break out into buckets of the salty stuff! I can manage the bare basics: plug a tyre, fit a tube, fix a chain, but when it comes to the more complex stuff, I am lost. I have always ridden on a prayer and so far it's worked for me. I have never had more than a punctured tyre on a major event and even then, good old Stan has worked his magic almost before I've registered the leak. I am not sure, though, how long my luck can hold.
Of course, I COULD make it my business to attend workshops , hone my skills and go out there fully confident of my abilities, but I just can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to venture into this mainly-man's-world of mechanical mysteries, especially when there are so many Sir Lancelots out there carrying the fixit gene. Why else would it be so fascinating & effortless for you guys and so boring & alien to us ladies?
I realize I'm walking a thin line and I could easily find myself stranded with broken bike and not a knight in sight, but still, I'm prepared to take my chances...
P.P.S. Having said all of the above, I would quite understand if you told me to PO!
P.P.P.S. If any of the ladies alluded to in these musings feel that they have been maligned by being included in the ranks of the mechanically challenged, please feel free to set the record straight.
7/06/2009
The other dice that never was
The other dice that never was
Monday, 06 July 2009
So there were five paddlers who lined up at the Mark Street weir for the start of our inaugural one stop Berg. Race organisor, David, offered to paddle a double with Aussie Dave Barr, being unsure of the latter's river paddling proficiency. Not wanting to miss out on a good thing Eugene and Trevor also upgraded to a double and then there was Andrew in his single.
Just as the launch of the Duzi Trail run was brought about by the change in the Comrades date so the idea of the One Stop Berg had been brought about by the late change in date of the Berg River Canoe Marathon which meant that it no longer fitted in with the cycle for those wanting to do the Extreme Triathlon.
We set off at first light. Ahead of us lay 240 kms to Veldrif. For the day the first 108 kms of paddling would need to be completed in daylight because of rapids, tree blocks and obscure channels and then there was another 12kms of flat water across the Misverstand Dam to the overnight stop at the dam wall.
After the first few admin stops we were progressing at the desired speed of 10km/hr. We meet up with the seconds at Skooltjie bridge and had a quick bite to eat whilst we watched the front runners in a provincial race go paddling past. We then hooked in with the rest of that race field and continued down the river, spurred on by the comraderie and sitting on the waves of these other paddlers.
And then we arrived at the first major obstacle, Clay Rapid, to find carnage. Paddlers swimming all over the bottom of the rapid. Andrew shot through clean as did the Daves but Eugene and Trevor went bush climbing before joining the swimming masses. 10 minutes later we hit the first of the tree sections and after picking our way through it the Daves took their first swim.
Whilst Andrew disappeared downstream the doubles show was left to get back on the road (river?) again - which it did but not for long. Then followed more tree blocks and twisty turny eddy out scratchy paddling in the middle of which the Daves put a tree stump through the cockpit of their double. This was followed by a long stop and attempted MacGiver fix with leatherman, sticks and duct tape. Then more tree blocks and getting out, fighting through the bushes and after a while it felt like taking a tandem through Stettynskloof.
Where the first 25 kms took us just over 2hrs 30 mins the next 20 took us 5 hours. By then blisters had set in, backsides were already numb, one boat was broken. Arriving at the lunch stop near 3pm with 45 kms of paddling completed and needing at least an hour to repair the damaged double it was quite apparent that it would be a battle to just get through the next 20kms before nightfall, never mind the 60kms before the river started opening up.
A council of war followed in which it was concluded that:
1.To complete a One-Stop Berg with only one overnight stop you need to know the river very well;
2. You also cannot afford to lose any time to boat damage.
3. It is a HUGE undertaking which is probably beyond the reach of many experienced paddlers;
4. It was just not going to happen for us in 2009.
So we decided that those who could would return in a week's time to do the 4-day Berg River Canoe Marathon and in so doing qualify for the Lehana Club. Andrew immediately elected to do this (he had clearly enjoyed the company fo the other paddlers). Those extreme triathletes who could not return for the 4-day event but still wanted to bring finality to their journey across South Africa would reassemble in the morning further downstream and paddle the last 45 kilometres through to the Atlantic Ocean at Velddrif which is what Dave, Eugene and Trevor opted to do.
The three, who had run the 85km Duzi Trail Run and cycled the 2350 km Freedom Challenge, arrived at Kersefontein to complete their paddle. It was a glorious day and they no doubt felt that it would be a cruise through to the finish - that was until they got 15kms out and the tide started pushing in and the wind got up a bit. Nevertheless they got there, got their blankets and headed off to bed.
As for the Extreme Triathlon - well the Duzi Trail Run worked very well. Perhaps next year we will hold it on the 16th of June which will enable those who want to to go on and do the 4 day Berg River Canoe Marathon.
As for the Non-stop Berg - it does seem like a race worth doing. Perhaps now is just not the time for it.
To Trevor, Dave and Ugene one can only repeat what was said to them by some of the other paddlers with whom they paddled for a part of Saturday - Respect.
Monday, 06 July 2009
So there were five paddlers who lined up at the Mark Street weir for the start of our inaugural one stop Berg. Race organisor, David, offered to paddle a double with Aussie Dave Barr, being unsure of the latter's river paddling proficiency. Not wanting to miss out on a good thing Eugene and Trevor also upgraded to a double and then there was Andrew in his single.
Just as the launch of the Duzi Trail run was brought about by the change in the Comrades date so the idea of the One Stop Berg had been brought about by the late change in date of the Berg River Canoe Marathon which meant that it no longer fitted in with the cycle for those wanting to do the Extreme Triathlon.
We set off at first light. Ahead of us lay 240 kms to Veldrif. For the day the first 108 kms of paddling would need to be completed in daylight because of rapids, tree blocks and obscure channels and then there was another 12kms of flat water across the Misverstand Dam to the overnight stop at the dam wall.
After the first few admin stops we were progressing at the desired speed of 10km/hr. We meet up with the seconds at Skooltjie bridge and had a quick bite to eat whilst we watched the front runners in a provincial race go paddling past. We then hooked in with the rest of that race field and continued down the river, spurred on by the comraderie and sitting on the waves of these other paddlers.
And then we arrived at the first major obstacle, Clay Rapid, to find carnage. Paddlers swimming all over the bottom of the rapid. Andrew shot through clean as did the Daves but Eugene and Trevor went bush climbing before joining the swimming masses. 10 minutes later we hit the first of the tree sections and after picking our way through it the Daves took their first swim.
Whilst Andrew disappeared downstream the doubles show was left to get back on the road (river?) again - which it did but not for long. Then followed more tree blocks and twisty turny eddy out scratchy paddling in the middle of which the Daves put a tree stump through the cockpit of their double. This was followed by a long stop and attempted MacGiver fix with leatherman, sticks and duct tape. Then more tree blocks and getting out, fighting through the bushes and after a while it felt like taking a tandem through Stettynskloof.
Where the first 25 kms took us just over 2hrs 30 mins the next 20 took us 5 hours. By then blisters had set in, backsides were already numb, one boat was broken. Arriving at the lunch stop near 3pm with 45 kms of paddling completed and needing at least an hour to repair the damaged double it was quite apparent that it would be a battle to just get through the next 20kms before nightfall, never mind the 60kms before the river started opening up.
A council of war followed in which it was concluded that:
1.To complete a One-Stop Berg with only one overnight stop you need to know the river very well;
2. You also cannot afford to lose any time to boat damage.
3. It is a HUGE undertaking which is probably beyond the reach of many experienced paddlers;
4. It was just not going to happen for us in 2009.
So we decided that those who could would return in a week's time to do the 4-day Berg River Canoe Marathon and in so doing qualify for the Lehana Club. Andrew immediately elected to do this (he had clearly enjoyed the company fo the other paddlers). Those extreme triathletes who could not return for the 4-day event but still wanted to bring finality to their journey across South Africa would reassemble in the morning further downstream and paddle the last 45 kilometres through to the Atlantic Ocean at Velddrif which is what Dave, Eugene and Trevor opted to do.
The three, who had run the 85km Duzi Trail Run and cycled the 2350 km Freedom Challenge, arrived at Kersefontein to complete their paddle. It was a glorious day and they no doubt felt that it would be a cruise through to the finish - that was until they got 15kms out and the tide started pushing in and the wind got up a bit. Nevertheless they got there, got their blankets and headed off to bed.
As for the Extreme Triathlon - well the Duzi Trail Run worked very well. Perhaps next year we will hold it on the 16th of June which will enable those who want to to go on and do the 4 day Berg River Canoe Marathon.
As for the Non-stop Berg - it does seem like a race worth doing. Perhaps now is just not the time for it.
To Trevor, Dave and Ugene one can only repeat what was said to them by some of the other paddlers with whom they paddled for a part of Saturday - Respect.
7/05/2009
2009 Freedom Terugblik
Die hele ekspedisie het 4 jaar gelede begin toe ek toevallig op die internet van die Freedom Challenge gelees het.
Ek het Earl Wakeford daarvan vertel en hy het 3 jaar gelede daaraan deelgeneem, my ander groot vriend Carl Crous het dit verlede jaar gedoen. Ek het albei op die internet deurgesien en hulle het my gemotiveer om dit self aan te pak, en vanjaar was toe die jaar.
Ek het so 60% geweet waarvoor ek myself inlaat en my voorbereiding was redelik goed, daar is egter geen voorbereiding soos die Freedom self nie. Indien jy nie fiks genoeg is nie sal jy fiks genoeg wees teen die tyd wat jy Rhodes haal.
Mense vra my baie hoekom ek aan die Freedom deelgeneem het en die antwoord is eenvoudig : Dis 'n challenge met jouself, jy meet jou teen jouself, eintlik bepaal jy hoe hardegat jy met jouself kan wees. Die ander ding was dat ek iets benodig om oor te praat op die stoep van die ouetehuis as ek eendag f*ckup soos 'n bobbejaan op die stoep sit met my knopkierie, onthou jy nog in ons jong dae ou Carl toe ons die Freedom gedoen het, daai donnerse riete in Stetteynskloof ...............
Die ander baie belangrike rede was die kinders, dit was die ideale geleentheid om fondse in te samel vir die kinders met leukemia wat dit so brood nodig het, indien julle nog skenkings wil maak, doen dit gerus op http://www.beitel.co.za/ julle geld is nou baie veilig, ek kan nie meer verdwaal nie, alhoewel ek van die swartverbrande, grou grys plek waar ek woon graag na Stetteyns sal wil verdwaal.
Wat benodig jy om aan die Freedom deel te neem ?
1. Moerse goeie pêlle, pêlle soos Eduard, Earl en Rudi wat enige tyd van die dag of nag in 'n kar spring en vir jou nuwe skoene bring, omdat myne soos Christo van Chesney World sê : Marnitz het 'n nuwe ingelse woord vir sy skoene, hulle is "f*ckup", kabels vir jou reël, omdat die modder oral ingekruip het. Manne soos Earl wat al my baie pelle ingelig hou oor my vordering en sorg dat my geliefde by die eindpunt was, manne soos Rudi wat my op hoogte van die weer hou, al het hy weerhou om my te sê dat dit op 'n keer minus 13 was, en al het hy by 'n ander geleentheid vir my die matige tempratuur van De Doorns in die weskaap gegee. Kyk weervoorspellings is voorspellings, die regte temprature en omstandighede is wat jy aanvoel.
2. SMS boodskappe, dis ongelooflik wat dit vir jou beteken, ek het tot 40 op 'n slag gekry wanneer daar sein was, en laat ek nou net bietjie begin moun dat dit swaar gaan dan verdubbel hulle sommer. Die boodskappe dra jou in die goeie en slegte tye, dis kos vir die kop wat bepaal waar die lyf moet gaan.
3. The Body goes where the Mind goes, 'n feit soos 'n koei, ek het 'n baie slegte dag oppad na Cambria beleef, ek was gatvol, gatvol verby, my 12de dag alleen, met die reënwind in my gesig, polisiehond modder en ratte wat nie meer wil werk nie, alleen teen die natuur, nie gatvol genoeg om op te hou nie maar dam naby. So het ek vir Melanie ingelig naby die plaas Doringrivier, haar woorde aan my was : Kom dan huistoe, wetende dat ek nooit doen wat sy sê nie. Sy het dadelik huilende al my pelle van my toestand ingelig gepleit dat hulle my moet motiveer. Dadelik het die boodskappe ingestroom en 30 km verder op die uitkyk punt, het ek die boodskappe gelees en myself reggeruk, weer die mooi in die natuur raakgesien, die wind, reën en modder aanvaar, en nie aangedonner nie maar voortgegaan op die verkennings ekspedisie, ek het dadelik beter gevoel en met 'n jubel in my hart na Cambria aangery !
4. 'n Kamera, een van hierie klein digitale goed, wat is die ekstra gewig nou eintlik in vergelyking met dit wat jy vir jou pelle by die huis kan wys. Ek het 'n klein Canon A550 wat nou al 3 Epic en 2 Freedoms oorleef het. 'n Kamera maak dat jy bietjie stop om die mooi en die swaar af te neem, dit gee jou kans om in te neem en so bietjie te rus, en dit verwyder jou van die wille jaagtog waarmee jy besig is.
5. Vewyder enige en alle moontlike Irretasies en Frustrasies, soos die Bybel sê :" Kap af met 'n byl dit wat pla." Fokus op die positiewe, al beur jy voort teen 5 km/u oor 'n uur sal jy 5 km verder wees as waar jy begin het.
a. Irretasies soos wind, reën, sneeu en modder, word oorwin met die regte klere, spandeer tyd op navorsing, kyk wat die tungstens soos Tim en Andrew dra. Wanneer jy koud en nat is dink jy nie rasioneel nie, daarom is dit uiters belangrik om warm en snoesig te bly, en wanneer dit minus 13 word dink rein gedagtes, die beelde van Melanie in 'n stywe bikini op 'n wilde strand het altyd my hart warm gemaak. Skoene, Shimano blyk die uithouers te wees my Spesialized Taho's het sommer al oppad na Lehana's hulle gat en my voetsool gesien, alhoewel ek met 'n stel Spesializes MTB's klaargemaak het.
b. Irretasies soos die werkverrigting van jou fiets, die modder, sneeu en roete grid maar 'n fiets, so nou en dan gooi die baas die fiets ook nog, net om die werking verder op te donner. Dis nie 'n vereiste om 'n mechanic te wees nie, dis verpligtend, weet hoe elke part werk en watse plan jy kan maak om dit te maak werk, indien dit beyond repairs raak. Vat nou maar die rooiwyn kurkprop conversion wat ons op Carl se fiets gepleeg het nadat die shifters se rook uitgekom het, en hulle sê 'n boer maak 'n plan, kom ek se julle 'n Freedom Fighter kom sommer met drie. Was jou fiets so gereeld as moontlik, as die modder tot in die diepste binneste van jou poephol kom, waar dink jy gaan dit orals in jou fiets wat nie eens klere dra nie, skoon stilstaande water langs die pad en 'n spaar waterbottel werk 100.
6. Ken die Roete, dis ook nie 'n vereiste nie dis verpligtend, indien jy nie 'n vliegtuig het of die roete oefen nie, google earth werk net so goed en as niks vir jou logies lyk nie stop en vra, die mense ken die omgewing. Gebruik die roete aanwysings as aanvullende inligting, kaarte lieg nie, berge en rieviere bly dieselfde, maar die boer se vrou kan dalk vir hom 'n skraper vir sy verjaardag koop en hy besluit om die hele wêreld vol paaie te stoot, 'n groen huis kan nou pienk geverf wees en iemand kan besluit om die wattles af te saag. Indien jy twyfel maak soos Tim sê, hou wes, die enigste tyd wat jy in 'n ander rigting beweeg is oppad na Cambria.
Gebruik jou kompas, ek het nooit in die nag verdwaal nie, omdat ek net op my kaart en kompas staat gemaak het. Indien jy die roete so goed soos Tim en Andrew ken spaar jy ongeveer 2 ure per dag, dit sluit die verdwaal aksies uit. Moenie die moer in raak vir David en Andrè wat die roete aanwysings skryf nie, onthou die roete strek oor 2200km, een kilometer kan dalk ses wees, die skool en winkel op pad na Blackfontain het dalk in 2008 se storm vergaan en vele meer. Hoe gouer jy dit aanvaar hoe beter gaan jy vorder.
7. Langste op die Fiets is die wenner, die racer wat die langste op die fiets bly sal die wenner wees, dit beteken ook dat hy die minste gaan slaap en die meeste ongerief gaan hê. Dit beteken nie dat die ou wat die vinnigste bo-oor die container op Lehana's pas, die race gaan wen nie, nee 'n lekker konstante pas met die minste inspanning doen die ding. Gebruik die sonlig, moenie tyd mors nie, relax wanneer dit donker word, dit geld alleenlik indien jy die race wil wen, maak net seker Tim en Andrew neem nie deel nie, dan staan jy dalk 'n kans.
Wat het ek geleer ?
Wat het ek geleer ?
1. Dat daar 'n Vader in die Hemel is en dat ek baie beskerm Engele het, luister maar na daai beskerm engele wanneer hulle met jou praat. Beskerm engele soos oom Gawie Combrinck van Gansvlei Schufteberge het my van 'n gewisse ontmoeting met Rageltjie de Beer gered. Die oneindig baie kere wat ek vir die Here dankie gesê het dat ek op die regte pad is en veilig by my bestemming aangekom het. Daar is verseker 'n Vader in die Hemel wat die pragtige roete geskape het.
2. Mens gaan nie maklik dood nie, jy kom naby daaraan maar jy gaan nie maklik dood nie.
3. Dat ek verskriklik baie uiters goeie pelle het, pelle wat enigiets in hulle vermoë sal doen om my te help, dankie maaters ek waardeer dit opreg !!!!
4. Dat ek net 4 ure slaap nodig het, en dat jy op 'n fiets ook kan slaap mits daar nie sinkplaat pad is nie.
5. Dat my Pa en die Onnies nie my gat hard genoeg gebliksem het nie, indien hulle dit ordentlik gedoen het so my gat nie so seer geword het nie, en sou daar nou nie 'n afdruk van 'n Gobi Fizik op my agterend gewees het nie. Gelukkig vir Blue Steel was daar nie een seer op my alie nie, en die tea tree oil in die Blue Steel het sommer vir die snye op die bene en hande ook gehelp.
Hoe het ek verander ?
1. Ek weeg nou net oor die 80 kg, sowat 10 kg verloor en Melanie dink nou ek is verskriklik sexy, ek dink dis maar net omdat sy my lanklaas gesien het, sy lyk ook nie heltemal dieselfde nie, na al die ontberings lyk sy nou vir my baie meer aanvallig, kan my hande nie van haar afhou nie........
2. Ek eet nou enigiets, selfs beestong wat ek na bewering nooit geëet het omdat 'n bees sy eie poephol kan aflek. Na army was ek ook genees van oatspap en peanutbotter en stroop brood, self dit eet ek nou. Indien jy tussen 10 en 15 000 KCal per dag verbrand sal jy ook enigiets eet, pasop net vir die gedroogte vrugte, dit gee aanleiding tot goorpens wat op sy beurt ontploffings in die agter ruim veroorsaak.
3. My lippe lyk soos omgekeerde Jeep Tyres, my voete voel soos Skurwe jantjies en my enkels lyk soos Pofmuise. My eens liquid energie pensie wat my die nodige momentum op afdraandes voorsien het en die six pack van vergange dae wil wil sy voorskyn maak, my kniee is lekker seer agv die power training en ek het skielik 'n tennis elmboog ontwikkel en ek het nie eens tennis gespeel nie.
4. My kuite is nou amper so dik soos my bobene, 'n parmantige stellietjie spiere, ek is verseker nou stoot fiks, soos Crouse altyd se : " Hy het nie 'n probleem met stoot nie, net solank jy alle fasette van die woordjie uitleef "
5. My kop is nou reg aangeskroef, of is dit dalk nou verkeerd aangeskroef, hier waar ek nou is voel ek nie heeltemal tuis nie, maak nie saak of dit nou reg of verkeerd is ek worry ook nie meer nie.
6. Ek het gedink ek sal dit nooit weer doen nie, maar hier beplan ek al klaar aan volgende jaar se Freedom, ek dink dis 'n siekte. Voor ek kan deelneem sal ek net 'n paar gevraagde veranderings aan die huis vir Melanie moet aanbring, 'n gesins vakansie hier en daar, en dan benodig ek ook die geskikte werkgewer wat my gaan afgee vir die malligheid. Ek is nou 'n sakeman die mooi woord vir werkloos as gevolg van die Freedom, ek sou dit nooit anders wou hê nie en sal elke keer dieselfde keuse uitvoer.
Die groot dice waarvoor almal hul lippe afgelek het.
Ek en Commander Crous is ou pelle en die verdrag vooraf gesluit was dat ons nie vir mekaar gaan wag nie, elkeen vir homself en ons twee teen die res. Ongelukkig het ons paaie die eerste dag geskei en my woorde aan hom was : " Sien jou op die pad " Ek ken hom en huimelik het ek geweet hy gaan my jaag, daarom dat ek gatskoon gemaak het en gehoop het om ver genoeg voor hom te kop voordat hy met sy meedoonlose aanval begin.
Die aanval het by Vaalbank begin toe ene meneer Andrè Britz so bietjie gestir het en vir Crouse ingelig het dat hy my nooit gaan vang nie, al aansporing wat Crouse nodig gehad het. Met sy oë op skrefies het die aanval begin en so het Christo van Chesney World, Phillip van Toekomst en Hannes van Bucklands hom verder aangespoor. Op sy aantog het hy troepe versamel en afgestaan en my sweet geruik en net wanneer hy dink hy het my, was ek weer 'n dag voor hom.
By Doringfontein het hy my sweet finaal geruik en die opmars was onstuitbaar, nie eers papwiele en ratte kon hom keer nie, hy was nou alleen en het die nag op Cambria so paar kilometer van my op 'n tuinbankie geslaap, so uitgeput dat hy skoon vergeet het dat hy 'n spaceblanket het, half verkluim het hy die oggend by Kudu Kaya opgedaag net om te hoor ek is reeds weg.
By Dam se Drift is ek ingelig van die opmars en ek het dadelik geweet dis Crous. Ek het soos die wind gery en was 8H00 op Willomore met die keuse om in die snerpende koue aan te beweeg na Rondawel 90 km verder. Dit was net te koud en ek het tot die besef gekom dat een van ons moet besgee, ons sou mekaar doodjaag.
Ek dink as die opmars vroëer begin het kon ons dalk 'n ding of twee vir Tim en Andrew gewys het nie dat dit in my gat sit om sub 14 dae te ry nie, maar so dice doen snaakse dinge. Ek gee toe maar boedel oor en Crous kom na middernag, heel in sy moer in en half verkluim by Willomore aan, 6H00 gereed vir my aanval indien daar een was. Sy woorde aan my : " Jou bliksem ek jaag jou al vir dae, onthou net waar ever jy vanaand slaap, more sal jy my daarkry."
Crous spreek waarhede en dit wat hy sê bedoel hy, immers ken ek hom baie goed, en so besluit ons te koste van die hele land wat in afwagting sit en wag vir die middernagtelike wegsluip sessie om verder saam te ry, ek en hy en Steve Honey nog 'n sterk ryer.
Ek en Crous is menig maal deur mede ryers aangehits om weg te breek, hulle sou my wakker maak om in die nag soos 'n skelm te verdwyn net om 'n halfuur later vir Crous wakker te maak en hom van my wegsluip sessie in te lig.
Daar is egter 'n hegte bloedbroerband tussen my en Crous ons het 'n goeie verstandhouding, hy die verstand en ek die houding en omgekeerd, en saam sou ons oor die lyn ry. In die toekoms as ons soos grys bobbejane op die stoep met ons knopkieries sit sal ons terugdink aan die ervaring ...........
Daar is egter 'n hegte bloedbroerband tussen my en Crous ons het 'n goeie verstandhouding, hy die verstand en ek die houding en omgekeerd, en saam sou ons oor die lyn ry. In die toekoms as ons soos grys bobbejane op die stoep met ons knopkieries sit sal ons terugdink aan die ervaring ...........
Motivering
1. Iets om terug te dink op my ou dag.
2. Die leukemia kinders, ek hoop daar is genoeg ingesamel vir hulle.
3. Die song van Nickelback :
If today was your last day.
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your tears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
The first step you take is the longest stride
If today was you last day and tomorrow was to late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past ?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day ?
What if, what if today was your last day ?
Against the grain should be the way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts ‘ cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day and tomorrow to late ?
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call on those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one your dreaming of?
Swear up and down God above?
That you're finally fall in love, if today was your last day?
If today was your last day
Would you make it your work by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never to late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
‘Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
‘Cause the hands of time are never on your side
'n Laaste Woord van Dank
Aan al die racers, ek weet julle almal is great en ek hoop dit was vir julle net so onvergeetlike life changing experience soos vir my !!!!
Aan Theresa wat heeltyd moes weet waarheen ons oppad is en waar ons is, dankie dat jy ook ons geliefdes op hoogte gehou het.
Dankie ook aan al die wonderlike support stations, almal was uitstekend, die nederige gasvryheid waarmee julle ons stinkende vuilgatte, soms humorlose racers ontvang het, die manier waarop julle ons "opgecharge" het en die hemelse kos en diens, ons almal waardeer dit opreg.
Dankie ook aan die kameraspan wat met ons, gesnork en slapende moan en groan nagmerries, oor die weg moes kom. Andrew en Richard knap gedaan ek haal my hoed af vir julle, spesifiek vir Richard wat met sy vellies Lehana's en Stetteynskloof saam met ons ervaar het. Hoop iemand gee jou die nodige sponser sodat jy die roete volgende jaar op 'n mtb kan ervaar.
Dankie ook aan David wat dit vir ons moontlik gemaak het om aan die race deel te neem. Ek weet nou nog nie of sommige van die roete aanwysings doelbewus verkeerd was om dit deel te maak van die ervaring nie, hoe sou Carl dan anders op die tuinbankie geslaap het en waaroor sou ons dan gepraat het ?
Dankie vir die Liewe Vader wat ons beskerm het en vir die great pêlle en ondersteuners wat ons elke trap en tree bygestaan het.
Heellaas dankie aan my wonderlike vrou Melanie wat 'n gedeelte van die malligheid verstaan en my 'n 1000 % ondersteun in al die mal dinge wat ek aanvang, sonder jou en my wonderlike kinders in my gedagtes was die ervaring nooit moontlik nie.
Laat my dink aan 'n paar van my se goed :
Dis 'n one day game kêrels, elke dag is 'n one day game !!!!!!
Moenie beplan nie donner net voort !!!!!!!!
Ek wil nou huis toe gaan na mamma toe ...........
1. Iets om terug te dink op my ou dag.
2. Die leukemia kinders, ek hoop daar is genoeg ingesamel vir hulle.
3. Die song van Nickelback :
If today was your last day.
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your tears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
The first step you take is the longest stride
If today was you last day and tomorrow was to late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past ?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day ?
What if, what if today was your last day ?
Against the grain should be the way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts ‘ cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day and tomorrow to late ?
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call on those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one your dreaming of?
Swear up and down God above?
That you're finally fall in love, if today was your last day?
If today was your last day
Would you make it your work by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never to late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
‘Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
‘Cause the hands of time are never on your side
'n Laaste Woord van Dank
Aan al die racers, ek weet julle almal is great en ek hoop dit was vir julle net so onvergeetlike life changing experience soos vir my !!!!
Aan Theresa wat heeltyd moes weet waarheen ons oppad is en waar ons is, dankie dat jy ook ons geliefdes op hoogte gehou het.
Dankie ook aan al die wonderlike support stations, almal was uitstekend, die nederige gasvryheid waarmee julle ons stinkende vuilgatte, soms humorlose racers ontvang het, die manier waarop julle ons "opgecharge" het en die hemelse kos en diens, ons almal waardeer dit opreg.
Dankie ook aan die kameraspan wat met ons, gesnork en slapende moan en groan nagmerries, oor die weg moes kom. Andrew en Richard knap gedaan ek haal my hoed af vir julle, spesifiek vir Richard wat met sy vellies Lehana's en Stetteynskloof saam met ons ervaar het. Hoop iemand gee jou die nodige sponser sodat jy die roete volgende jaar op 'n mtb kan ervaar.
Dankie ook aan David wat dit vir ons moontlik gemaak het om aan die race deel te neem. Ek weet nou nog nie of sommige van die roete aanwysings doelbewus verkeerd was om dit deel te maak van die ervaring nie, hoe sou Carl dan anders op die tuinbankie geslaap het en waaroor sou ons dan gepraat het ?
Dankie vir die Liewe Vader wat ons beskerm het en vir die great pêlle en ondersteuners wat ons elke trap en tree bygestaan het.
Heellaas dankie aan my wonderlike vrou Melanie wat 'n gedeelte van die malligheid verstaan en my 'n 1000 % ondersteun in al die mal dinge wat ek aanvang, sonder jou en my wonderlike kinders in my gedagtes was die ervaring nooit moontlik nie.
Laat my dink aan 'n paar van my se goed :
Dis 'n one day game kêrels, elke dag is 'n one day game !!!!!!
Moenie beplan nie donner net voort !!!!!!!!
Ek wil nou huis toe gaan na mamma toe ...........
7/03/2009
2009 Freedom Finish
Ek weet dit gaan erg wees, net van wat ek al gehoor het. Nogal 'n contrapsie om die fiets te strip en op jou rugsak vas te maak. Die ekstra 15 kg, nou 25 kg saam met die rugsak, voel jy dadelik.
Die eens pratige proteas verander in bose ranke, hak aan alles, weerhou jou van beweging, tap jou energie. Ons maak 'n fout en donner in die duiwel se riete in, so dig is die riete dat jy 'n meter van mekaar af mekaar nie kan sien nie. Dis nie nodig om mekaar te sien nie, jy hoor die swaar asemhaling en die nou bekende swets.
Val vas in die riete, kan nie beweeg nie, dog hier gaan ons dood. Nie so maklik nie, jy kruip letterlik 'n meter bo die grond op die rietevlot, en as kruip nie werk nie, leopard crawl jy met jou bagasie, maar uit die helhole moet ons.
Neem ons 'n halfuur om 25 m te vorder, ons moet op die hoë grond kom, ek is so de bliksem in toe ek daar uitkom, ek klim amper oor die berg terug Rawsonville toe. Op die hoë grond gaan dit baie beter, fokus net om daar uit te kom, gelukkig met al die gestoei vergeet jy van die gewig wat jy saam karwei.
13H00 uit die helhole slaan my hande op na bo en dank die Here, ek weet nou hoekom vorige racers met groot ontsag praat van die kloof en nie wil terugkeer nie, maar wat laat tungstens soos Tim James, Andrew, Mike, Comander Crous en die ander jaar na jaar terugkeer. Is dit dalk die ultimate oorlog teen jouself ?
Maar ons is uit en dis al wat tel, ek wil nou net klaarmaak, die 11 km teerpad na die afdraai is maklik maar mergelend irreteerend, dis teer, vrot karre en lorries, die nasionale blom die, plastiek sak, hang die wêreld vol aan die protea's.
Klaarmaak, klaarmaak dis al waaraan ek nou dink, my vrou en my pelle is almal daar. Dis 'n moerse lekker afdraande na die prentjie mooi Diemersfontein. Dis net na 4 en daar staan 'n magdom mense, ek kry daai opgewonde hartseer huil gevoel, oorstelp van vreugde ek kan nie vir Mel genoeg soen en druk nie. Dis net na 4, ons is klaar, wat nou ?
Dag 18 Montagu - Trouthaven
Begin vroeg 4H30 reeds op die pad in die perske reën, ek sit terug en geniet die nuwe geselskap en ons raak die pad byster op die teer oppad na McGregor, kan jy dit glo, op teer
nogal ?
Na 'n oorlegpleging met die kaarte wat nie lieg nie, vind ons weer ons pad na McGregor waar ons die lekkerste plaas ontbyt in weke in weke geniet.
Met ronde vol magies val ons weer in die pad, verloor weer die pad onder die kraglyne oppad na Kasra, die tandem wys ons die regte pad en toe ons 'n gerustheid in ons harte kry, besluit Crouse se fiets dis weer tyd om iets anders te breek. Die ketting is in die speke vasgetrek, die hanger is morsaf en die agterste derailer se nek, dink dis as gevolg van die gesukkel om die kurkprop ratte te kry en die skop op as agterste derailer. Ons stop toe maar, ek wurg die ketting uit die speke en buig toe maar die derailer so soortvan reg sodat ons teen13H00 in Kasra kan eet.
Op pad na die laaste portage vir die dag, dink aan tant Soekie Fourie van die plaas Spreeufontein se sê goed : "Hou links sover God land geskep het, maar julle gaan da nou na 'n plek waar 'n bobbejaan met 'n knopkierie nie eers gaan nie"
Dis nogal waar van die race, daar is nogal baie plekke waar ek nie gedink ek sal op of af gaan nie. Stel dit so die Freedom is goeie training vir die Epic, die Epic is nie goeie training vir die Freedom nie. Ek en die Commander kry ook toe sommer die geleentheid om bietjie met die tandem te ry, wat 'n ervaring ek haal my hoed af vir Mike en Glen.
Dis my lekkerste dag in die saal ek raak skoon verbouereerd met al die geselskap om my, ons is 6 wat saamry en daar is baie om oor te praat. So ry ons al geselsende, coke drinkende in 15 ure na Trouthaven, 19H00 daar. Dis verseker die dag wat ek die meeste geniet het en ek glo dis hoe die race ervaar moet word. More die Kloof, en Commander Crous gaan ons die weg wys.
nogal ?
Na 'n oorlegpleging met die kaarte wat nie lieg nie, vind ons weer ons pad na McGregor waar ons die lekkerste plaas ontbyt in weke in weke geniet.
Met ronde vol magies val ons weer in die pad, verloor weer die pad onder die kraglyne oppad na Kasra, die tandem wys ons die regte pad en toe ons 'n gerustheid in ons harte kry, besluit Crouse se fiets dis weer tyd om iets anders te breek. Die ketting is in die speke vasgetrek, die hanger is morsaf en die agterste derailer se nek, dink dis as gevolg van die gesukkel om die kurkprop ratte te kry en die skop op as agterste derailer. Ons stop toe maar, ek wurg die ketting uit die speke en buig toe maar die derailer so soortvan reg sodat ons teen13H00 in Kasra kan eet.
Op pad na die laaste portage vir die dag, dink aan tant Soekie Fourie van die plaas Spreeufontein se sê goed : "Hou links sover God land geskep het, maar julle gaan da nou na 'n plek waar 'n bobbejaan met 'n knopkierie nie eers gaan nie"
Dis nogal waar van die race, daar is nogal baie plekke waar ek nie gedink ek sal op of af gaan nie. Stel dit so die Freedom is goeie training vir die Epic, die Epic is nie goeie training vir die Freedom nie. Ek en die Commander kry ook toe sommer die geleentheid om bietjie met die tandem te ry, wat 'n ervaring ek haal my hoed af vir Mike en Glen.
Dis my lekkerste dag in die saal ek raak skoon verbouereerd met al die geselskap om my, ons is 6 wat saamry en daar is baie om oor te praat. So ry ons al geselsende, coke drinkende in 15 ure na Trouthaven, 19H00 daar. Dis verseker die dag wat ek die meeste geniet het en ek glo dis hoe die race ervaar moet word. More die Kloof, en Commander Crous gaan ons die weg wys.
7/02/2009
Dag 17 Rouxpos - Montagu
Spring 6H00 met net 4 ure slaap weg by Rouxpos, die aarde is meer gelyk en ons vorder goed. Carl is amper weer 'n nuwe mens met nuwe probleme, sy fiets se shifters het die gees gegee, hy het sy fiets vlinters gejaag agter my aan, hopelik bly daar iets oor voor ons die einde bereik.
Ons stop by 'n opstal so 10 km weg van Tant Soekie, Carl wil sekermaak ons is op die regte pad, hy en Jaco Strydom het verlede jaar 'n wilde Kaapse draai gemaak oppad na Tant Soekie. So met die intrapslag bedel Cral sommer vir 'n koppie boeretroos, die jonge dame gee in aan sy versoek en ek besluit om sommer plan te maak met sy ratlose fiets, Montagu is no ver en die slakke pas waarteen ons aan karring gaan nie juis help nie.
Ek maak 'n plan met 'n kurkprop en siedaar Crous het weer ratte, nie almal nie, maar dis beter as niks.
Richard van die D4 Produksie kameraspan duik op en die geleentheid om dalk op die kassie te verskyn pomp nuwe bloed in ons are, die slakkepas van vroegdag verander in 'n wilde jaagtog, hoe dan anders, jy kan mos nie moeg en afgeleef op die kassie verskyn nie ?
Ons stop by Tant Soekie van Spreeufontein, Carl skenk sy Rouxpos vrugte rol en Tant Soekie dring aan om 'n koppie tee vir ons te maak, ek drink nie tee nie, dis vir die Ingelse, maar hoe wys mens sulke gasvryheid van die hand ? Tant Soekie stap al aan in die jare, sy bly alleen sonder kind of kraai op die plaas en sy is lus vir gesels, ons vra uit oor die roete en sy sê iets van ons wil nou gaan waar 'n bobbejaan met 'n kierie nie waag nie, en ek begin wonder oor wat vir ons wag ?
Richard van D4 Produksies vra of ek sal belangstel om kameraman te speel op die pad na Anysberg, en ek gryp die kans, nie aldag wat 'n man die geleentheid kry om 'n stukkie vir die kassie te skiet nie. Die pad na Anysberg is toe nie so erg soos Tant Soekie gemaak het nie, of dis dalk die Wes Tranvaal bobbejane wat veel erger gewoont is. Ons geniet middag ete by Anysberg en val sommer met nuwe krag in die pad na Montagu, ek lees iets van 'n 30 km afdraande.
Ons bereik die kruin van Ouberg Pas en ek kan dit nie glo nie, iewers het David se roete beskrywing 'n tikkie waarheid in, dis werklik 'n 30 km afdraande na Montagu, snaaks dat David ons nie teen die afdraande laat opry het nie, seker maar 'n foutjie begaan in sy roete beplanning. Carl praat iets van ek moet stadig, 'n man kan baie nerwe verloor as jy neerkom op die pas, maar dis 'n moerse afdraande en ek los die brieke en geniet die wind deur my hare.
Net na sewe val on my Montagu Hotel in Bath straat in, nogal 'n baie gepaste straat naam vir 'n paar vrot fietsryers, ek ontmoet vir Mike Woolnough en Glenn Harrison die tandem manne en ek wonder hoe op des aarde het hulle die tandem so ver gekry ? Ons besluit om saam met die manne in die pad te val op pad na die einde no so 200km ver, kan nie wag om Mel en die kinders weer te sien nie, en laat slaap, sommer baie laat slaap.
7/01/2009
Dag 16 Prince Albert - Rouxpos
Na 'n goeie nag rus verlaat ek sneeuwitjie se bed, 6H00 val ons in die pad, die koue lig laat my hoes dat die kranse antwoord gee, op 'n staduim is ek baie my longe val uit. Eerste lig is ons bo op die pas, en Crous lig my in dat hy volstrek weier om saam met my te alvorens ek met my kursus antibiotika begin, longontsteking is blykbaar volgens hom nie iets waarmee mens speel nie. Ek gee toe maar toe en sluk die eerste knewel van die super sterk pille, sal my hartklop maar mooi dophou en probeer om nie te hard te werk teen die berge uit nie.
Ons vorder goed behoort net na 11H00 in die Hel te wees en toe begin die tyre sepie. Steve bars sy agterwiel op die 1ste lekker afdraande en ek met my piekante nou nie meer so momentum volle lyfie moet 3 km terugry om te help.
Op die volgende bult sien ons Carl se agterband trek los en die tjoep peel al uit. Niks wat hierdie Freedom Challenge mechanic nie met vier cableties kan regmaak nie, onder in die Hel koop Carl 'n tyre by 'n aspirant student mountain biker, eers wil die man niks weet nie weet nie, maar toe Carl die note waai toe gee hy in, hoe dan anders, Carl koop toe sommer sy spaar tjoep en bomme ook. Met die ryslag is Carl se agterwiel weer pap, sit 'n nuwe tjoep in en daar gaat ons Leer toe.
Ons vorder vinnig op die leer, omtrent 'n uur toe is ons bo, Steve ondek hy het sy badjie verloor en terwyl ek en Carl 'n lui lekker uiltjie in die laat middag son pak, vat Steve die pad af met die Leer opsoek na sy badjie. So uur gaan verby voordat Steve verskyn met sy badjie, ons val in die pad, so bietjie ongelukkig met die tyd wat ons verloor het, maar baie gelukkig met die geselskap.
Die Leer |
Aan die bokant van Horlosiekrans berei ek my voor volgens die geskrifte in die roete aanwysings vir die beste afdraande op die Freedom Challenge, jy kan glo tot 78km/u behaal en ek is mos gebou vir afdraandes. Oopbek los handles vat ek die voortou, gevolg deur Steve en dan Carl en ek geniet die afdraande ter dee. Ondergekom ontdek ons Carl is verlore, geen teken van sy liggie nie, niks nie, die vermoede ontstaan dat hy weer probleme met sy bande gekry het en ek en Steve ry nou die opdraande uit opsoek na Carl. Carl is nêrens te vinde nie, en lekker omgekrap probeer ek die afdraande weer geniet, steeds geen teken van Carl nie, hy is skoonveld weg, waarna toe weet ons nie.
Kom 'n uur later by Oom Gerhard en Tannie Ronel van Rouxpos uit, net om Crous knippel dik uitgerus in die kombuis aan te tref, sy laaste buiteband en tjoep het die gees gegee teen die afdraande, al genade was om 'n naby gelee vir 'n geleentheid na Rouxpos te vra. In die harwar van soeke na Crous het ons sonder medewete verby die behulpsame boer se plaas gery in ons soeke na Crous, hulle val toe in die pad nadat ons lankal verby was en ons mis mekaar. My ongelukkigheid met Crous dat hy ons net so in die donker laat soek blaas so bietjie af met my oog op die heerlike bord kerrie en rys en die wafels wat vir ons wag.
Na nog 'n koningsmaal, vang ek 'n lekker stort, ek is tot die dood toe moeg, seker maar die pille ook en slaap is nou brood nodig. Richard die kamera man lag lekker is sy mou vir my terwyl ek die hoofstuk tik, my kop knik soos 'n pet shop slangetjie, maar tik wil ek tik.......
Vraag waarvoor is sinkplaatpad goed ?
Eerstens om jou wakker te hou, dan om die juwele los te skud wat jy so vassit het en om al die plaak van jou tande los te maak omdat jy nie jou tande borsel nie.
Dag 15 Willomore - Prince Albert
Ek en Steve het beplan om 5H30 in die lang pad te val. Ek wonder of Carl my gevang het, die wonder verdwyn gou toe ek sy Ibus langs my fiets gewaar, die ou Bliksem, dis net Carl wat dit kon doen.
Daar is dalk nog 'n kans as ek in die donker verdwyn, ek oorweeg dit, die pad is droog, die wind waai nie, ek is sterk Carl is nie in sig nie en hy moet baie moeg wees.
Voor ek verder kan wonder stap hy die onbytlokaal binne met die woorde " More Marnitz ek het jou mos gesê , ek het jou !" en my keuse word vir my opgemaak, ons gaan saam ry. Die jaagtog het Crous oud gemaak, hy het lekker gesuffer in die wilde jaagtog, met pap wiele gesukkel, by The Haven in Cambria ge-eindig en toe maar op die bank buite geslaap, alles aangetrek wat hy het en toe maar met sy hande in sy rugsak ge-eindig om te beskerm teen die koue.
Carl is op soos ou skoene, baie ou skoene, hy sukkel om by te bly, maar hy byt vas soos 'n bosluis vir lewe en dood, ons stop om te eet en hy verseker my :" Moenie worry nie, jy kan maar wegry, maar ek verseker jou maak nie saak waar jy vanaand slaap nie, ek slaap saam met jou..." Die wille jaagtog om my te vang, het Carl geëet, sy gesig verimppeld sy hande teer en sy gees van oorwinning vuurwarm, dit wil gedoen wees,dis lekker om weer bekende geselskap te hê, die pad is sommer baie makliker en korter.
Carl is op soos ou skoene, baie ou skoene, hy sukkel om by te bly, maar hy byt vas soos 'n bosluis vir lewe en dood, ons stop om te eet en hy verseker my :" Moenie worry nie, jy kan maar wegry, maar ek verseker jou maak nie saak waar jy vanaand slaap nie, ek slaap saam met jou..." Die wille jaagtog om my te vang, het Carl geëet, sy gesig verimppeld sy hande teer en sy gees van oorwinning vuurwarm, dit wil gedoen wees,dis lekker om weer bekende geselskap te hê, die pad is sommer baie makliker en korter.
Die stuk is regig 'n eentonige, verlate sanderige sinkplaatpad, gelukkig word ons uit die eentonigheid geruk deur die Mirenski's se pampoenkoekies en gasvryheid, sien sommer weer kans vir die laaste 80 km sinkplaatpad. Carl is siek, voel glad nie goed nie, hy doen afstand van die lekker pampoen koekkies net voor ons die teer kruis, lê onder 'n bos om kragte op te beur en hy verseker my weereens, hy slaap saam met my onder dieselfde dak vannaand.
Ons pak die laaste kilo's aan na Prince Albert en net toe ons weer lekker gatvol is vir die sinkplaat sandpad en , verskyn Johann Rissik met lekker koffie en beskuit, ongelooflik, ek het al van die man en sy koffie gehoor en hier is hy nou in lewende lywe voor ons. Die laaste 40 km gebeur sommer net terwyl die son die lug vol rooi en oranje kleure tooi met die sonsondergang, ons betree die volgende wonderwerk Dennehof Gastehuis.
Carl soek 'n drup en ons maak 'n draai by die hospitaal, Carl is glad nie lekker nie, die dokter sê hy het baie rus nodig en weier botweg sy drup, dit sal 'n ekstra lading op sy hart plaas. Volgende is ek en my nou baie ernstige blaf aan die beurt, dit klink vir hom baie na aan longontsteking, ek het ook ernstige rus nodig anders gaan ek in die hospitaal eindig, hy stel voor ek begin dadelik met antibiotika, maar dan kan ek nie ry nie.
Terug by Dennehof het Ria vir ons 'n hemelse bord beesstert voorberei, die konings maal word afgesluk met 'n glas rooiwyn of twee en slaaptyd breek aan. Ek het net een probleem, hoe betree ek met my vuil sweetgat die spierwit dons duvet, hulle kan ons mos nie hier laat slaap nie, ons is heeltemal te vuil daarvoor. Johann Rissik was my fiets silwer skoon, en kry nuwe ratkabels, ek behoort nou weer die gebruik van al my ratte te hê.
Ek wonder oor wat die laaste paar dae vir ons gaan inhou, maar voor ek te veel kan wonder verval ek in 'n diep slaap onder sneeuwitjie se snoesige beddegoed.
Carl soek 'n drup en ons maak 'n draai by die hospitaal, Carl is glad nie lekker nie, die dokter sê hy het baie rus nodig en weier botweg sy drup, dit sal 'n ekstra lading op sy hart plaas. Volgende is ek en my nou baie ernstige blaf aan die beurt, dit klink vir hom baie na aan longontsteking, ek het ook ernstige rus nodig anders gaan ek in die hospitaal eindig, hy stel voor ek begin dadelik met antibiotika, maar dan kan ek nie ry nie.
Terug by Dennehof het Ria vir ons 'n hemelse bord beesstert voorberei, die konings maal word afgesluk met 'n glas rooiwyn of twee en slaaptyd breek aan. Ek het net een probleem, hoe betree ek met my vuil sweetgat die spierwit dons duvet, hulle kan ons mos nie hier laat slaap nie, ons is heeltemal te vuil daarvoor. Johann Rissik was my fiets silwer skoon, en kry nuwe ratkabels, ek behoort nou weer die gebruik van al my ratte te hê.
Ek wonder oor wat die laaste paar dae vir ons gaan inhou, maar voor ek te veel kan wonder verval ek in 'n diep slaap onder sneeuwitjie se snoesige beddegoed.
6/30/2009
A " Lady's" Perspective
A "lady's" perspective
Di Thomas
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
When I was asked to write a lady's perspective on this race, the first thought I had was that I'm sure many do not consider us mountain biking chicks to be "ladies" in the conventional sense of the word. Who can blame them, what with all the sideways-blowing-of-snot, immodest squatting behind non-existent bushes, mud bespatted, sweating bodies and foul language!
I am reminded of Carl Crouse's comment to me last year: "Ek sal nooit toelaat dat my vrou so iets doen nie!" It was bad enough having to deal with the notion of a woman along, but when she opened her mouth and all manner of choice expletives poured forth, it was just too much: " Nee man, jy moenie so vloek nie!" he felt obliged to admonish. I was undaunted: " Hang onto your helmet dude. Die vloekery het nie eers BEGIN nie!" These $%^&%&% sore knees/ thornbushes/mountains/marshlands/torrential downpours/freezing temperatures/ ^$££$ narratives are not going to get the *&^&* better of me!!
He could only hope I was wrong and that my true feminine nature would kick in soon and I'd see the folly of my ways and realize that this was a MAN'S terrain.
Thing is, though there's no denying that men have the advantage from a pure brute strength perspective ( even Tim James who is tiny - we could probably wear the same clothes - weighs 12kgs more than I do), we "ladies" have a different kind of muscle. It's a tenacity born of eons of labor & childbirth, stoked by centuries of abuse and marginalization in a MAN'S world. We may be built like gazelles, but we've got the hearts of lions and what better way to give vent to our roaring spirits, than to take on such an extreme challenge and emerge victorious DESPITE our comparative lack of physical stature!
I reckon it's time for the full-scale launch of "Action Barbie". Let's teach our daughters what they're really capable of and guys, why not cheer them on, instead of allowing the old Male Ego to rear it's threatened head?
I won't mention names, but one of the R2R guys specifically asked his friend not to get me in the same photo as him. OK, he was laughing & at least he had the good grace to admit that he did not want his mates back home to know that a woman was able to keep up with him, but there was more than a grain of truth in his joking.
My dear husband, Steve, reckons we're just in it to be around REAL MEN.
Yeah! Ken se moer! Give us the Fat Farmers, et al any day. Not to mention the uber athletes who cry real tears on the phone to their wives when the going gets tough! What a turn on!
Seriously, though, it's really not a battle of the sexes, but a personal journey for everyone who undertakes it and just as most of the "Real Men" also turn out to be real GENTLEmen, so too, are each of the ladies that has undertaken this race so much more than the stereotype and I think you'll find they clean up pretty well and that they can be feminine and sweet and alluring if they want to be. They just don't always want to be.
God, it's liberating to chuck away the hair dryer, the make-up, the perfume & the entire wardrobe and spend 3 weeks without a thought to your appearance, reveling in the sheer simplicity of it all. Granted there's no time or energy to care about such things and no one to see you anyway except the REAL MEN, who anyway have forgotten by this stage that you are a woman!
Not surprising, the way you wolf back man-sized portions at every opportunity, not to mention your matted hair; swollen, piggy eyes; chapped lips; craters where your boobs used to be and the fact that you are beginning to exude a certain pungent aroma that will not fade despite the most ardent clothes laundering - 'n ingebakte stink, I call it and the only remedy is to pile on the outer layers in an effort & bury the pong.
There is no doubt that this journey is a huge undertaking and it is guaranteed to take even the toughest of the tough way out of their comfort zone, but the rewards are indescribable and the experience seems to bury deeply under the skin of all who have ventured there.
Most women would never consider taking on such an "adventure" and up until
2009 there has never been more than one lone female on the start line. This year has seen that figure jump by a massive 200% and we now have 3 ladies en route to Cape Town: Fiona Coward, Estelle Labuschagne & Esti Du Plessis and by all accounts they are doing our sex proud and taking it all in stride.
YOU GO GIRLS!!
Di Thomas
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
When I was asked to write a lady's perspective on this race, the first thought I had was that I'm sure many do not consider us mountain biking chicks to be "ladies" in the conventional sense of the word. Who can blame them, what with all the sideways-blowing-of-snot, immodest squatting behind non-existent bushes, mud bespatted, sweating bodies and foul language!
I am reminded of Carl Crouse's comment to me last year: "Ek sal nooit toelaat dat my vrou so iets doen nie!" It was bad enough having to deal with the notion of a woman along, but when she opened her mouth and all manner of choice expletives poured forth, it was just too much: " Nee man, jy moenie so vloek nie!" he felt obliged to admonish. I was undaunted: " Hang onto your helmet dude. Die vloekery het nie eers BEGIN nie!" These $%^&%&% sore knees/ thornbushes/mountains/marshlands/torrential downpours/freezing temperatures/ ^$££$ narratives are not going to get the *&^&* better of me!!
He could only hope I was wrong and that my true feminine nature would kick in soon and I'd see the folly of my ways and realize that this was a MAN'S terrain.
Thing is, though there's no denying that men have the advantage from a pure brute strength perspective ( even Tim James who is tiny - we could probably wear the same clothes - weighs 12kgs more than I do), we "ladies" have a different kind of muscle. It's a tenacity born of eons of labor & childbirth, stoked by centuries of abuse and marginalization in a MAN'S world. We may be built like gazelles, but we've got the hearts of lions and what better way to give vent to our roaring spirits, than to take on such an extreme challenge and emerge victorious DESPITE our comparative lack of physical stature!
I reckon it's time for the full-scale launch of "Action Barbie". Let's teach our daughters what they're really capable of and guys, why not cheer them on, instead of allowing the old Male Ego to rear it's threatened head?
I won't mention names, but one of the R2R guys specifically asked his friend not to get me in the same photo as him. OK, he was laughing & at least he had the good grace to admit that he did not want his mates back home to know that a woman was able to keep up with him, but there was more than a grain of truth in his joking.
My dear husband, Steve, reckons we're just in it to be around REAL MEN.
Yeah! Ken se moer! Give us the Fat Farmers, et al any day. Not to mention the uber athletes who cry real tears on the phone to their wives when the going gets tough! What a turn on!
Seriously, though, it's really not a battle of the sexes, but a personal journey for everyone who undertakes it and just as most of the "Real Men" also turn out to be real GENTLEmen, so too, are each of the ladies that has undertaken this race so much more than the stereotype and I think you'll find they clean up pretty well and that they can be feminine and sweet and alluring if they want to be. They just don't always want to be.
God, it's liberating to chuck away the hair dryer, the make-up, the perfume & the entire wardrobe and spend 3 weeks without a thought to your appearance, reveling in the sheer simplicity of it all. Granted there's no time or energy to care about such things and no one to see you anyway except the REAL MEN, who anyway have forgotten by this stage that you are a woman!
Not surprising, the way you wolf back man-sized portions at every opportunity, not to mention your matted hair; swollen, piggy eyes; chapped lips; craters where your boobs used to be and the fact that you are beginning to exude a certain pungent aroma that will not fade despite the most ardent clothes laundering - 'n ingebakte stink, I call it and the only remedy is to pile on the outer layers in an effort & bury the pong.
There is no doubt that this journey is a huge undertaking and it is guaranteed to take even the toughest of the tough way out of their comfort zone, but the rewards are indescribable and the experience seems to bury deeply under the skin of all who have ventured there.
Most women would never consider taking on such an "adventure" and up until
2009 there has never been more than one lone female on the start line. This year has seen that figure jump by a massive 200% and we now have 3 ladies en route to Cape Town: Fiona Coward, Estelle Labuschagne & Esti Du Plessis and by all accounts they are doing our sex proud and taking it all in stride.
YOU GO GIRLS!!
Veteran rider breaks Freedom Challenge record
Tuesday 30 June 2009
4…3…2…1…1 – the hours of sleep that veteran mountain biker Tim James of Team Squirt riding Scott had over the last 5 nights of his record-breaking ride to the finish of the 2009 Freedom Challenge non-stop mountain bike race across South Africa at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town.
Having left Pietermaritzburg on 16 June 2009 with the last batch of riders to start, James set the early pace in the race. On the first day of riding he pushed through the initial support station at Mc Kenzie Country Club situated on the watershed between the Umkomaas and Umzimkulu Rivers and arrived at the second support station in the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve at midnight, having ridden 203 kms and climbed over 5000 metres. He arrived at the village of Rhodes 500 kms from the start in 3 days – an achievement that was only made possible when he took on the 1000 metre climb up the escarpment of the Maluti Drakensberg on the footpath of Lehana’s Pass at night.
This initial effort appeared to be taking its toll as James’ progress then slowed over the next three days. By the end of the sixth day of riding the lead shifted to Andrew Barnes. Barnes, who is 20 years younger than James, left Pietermaritzburg four days before him and was riding about 400 kilometres ahead of him. For the next five days the initiative lay with Barnes who appeared to be riding strongly and consistently. Maintaining a punishing schedule of limited sleep James not only managed to hold to his own strategy for breaking the race record but also to keep in touch with the pace of Barnes. However, he admits that the effort was taking its toll.
Approaching the town of Willowmore late at night on the 11th day of the riding he was physically and mentally depleted and was tormenting himself with thoughts of withdrawal. However, he was then buoyed by the news that Barnes up ahead of him had been delayed in the Swartberg by a snowstorm and he continued onwards.
Rather than stopping at Willowmore James’ began a really big push. He slept for two hours at Rondawel in the Moordenaars Karoo. He then rode for 22 hours and 237 kms through Prince Albert, up the Swartberg Pass, into the Gamkaskloof and took on the portage up Ladder. He arrive at Rouxpos on the slopes of the Swartberg after midnight. After sleeping at Rouxpos for 2 hours, James continued on to the Anysberg Nature Reserve, where he catnapped for an hour, before riding across the Little Karoo to Montagu. He crossed the Breede River to reach Macgregor in the early evening and then took on the Coenieskraal climb to arrive at the Oestervanger Guest House in the Agterkliphoogte Valley well after midnight. After sleeping for an hour he then rode past the Brandvlei Dam and up alongside the Holsloot River before taking on the 8 km portage up the Stettynskloof in the Du Toits Kloof mountains and continued through to the finish at Diemersfontein.
James arrived at the finish at Deimersfontein on 9.45 pm on Monday night. His total riding time for the 2350 kms from Pietermaritzburg was 13 days 15 hours and 45 minutes. He broke the previous race record by 21 hours.
Talking at the finish, where he received the Basutho blanket given to all Freedom Challenge finishers, James spoke of the incredible effort that had been required and how punishing it had been. However, apart from saddle sores the only other ailment of which he spoke was a burnt tongue – the result of hurriedly drinking hot soup as he rushed through support stations.
Having completed the event for the third year in a row, James indicated that he had found this year’s ride particularly taxing. Whilst his record raises the bar he pointed out that it serves also to show others what is possible. However, even if others are able to better his time it remains to be seen whether any rider will be able to match his finishing places in successive years of 2nd, 1st and 1st.
With James having claimed first place and Barnes confirmed in second, attention now turns to the race for third place where Freedom Challenge veteran Francois Riekert has been riding with the tandem of Mike Woolnough and Glenn Harrison of Snapper Display. Whilst the tandem have been battling with bike problems and injuries they have also had to try to fend off the chase of Marnitz Nienaber of the North West.
Nienaber, in turn, is doing his best to not only secure third place but, in the process, beat his North West riding partner, mielie farmer Carl Crous. By Monday night the Riekert and the tandem had arrived in Prince Albert, Nienaber, who started in Pietermaritzburg 2 days later, had arrived in Willowmore.
Crous, in the meantime, appears to be putting in an incredible charge – on Sunday he rode from the support station at Toekomst on the banks of the Darlington Dam, through Bucklands above the Groot Rivier Poort and down the Osseberg jeep track into Cambria. On Monday he left Cambria, rode up the length Baviaanskloof and, arriving at Willowmore well after midnight, found Nienaber sleeping. Whilst the two will ride together into Tuesday it remains to be seen how far this will continue.
4…3…2…1…1 – the hours of sleep that veteran mountain biker Tim James of Team Squirt riding Scott had over the last 5 nights of his record-breaking ride to the finish of the 2009 Freedom Challenge non-stop mountain bike race across South Africa at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town.
Having left Pietermaritzburg on 16 June 2009 with the last batch of riders to start, James set the early pace in the race. On the first day of riding he pushed through the initial support station at Mc Kenzie Country Club situated on the watershed between the Umkomaas and Umzimkulu Rivers and arrived at the second support station in the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve at midnight, having ridden 203 kms and climbed over 5000 metres. He arrived at the village of Rhodes 500 kms from the start in 3 days – an achievement that was only made possible when he took on the 1000 metre climb up the escarpment of the Maluti Drakensberg on the footpath of Lehana’s Pass at night.
This initial effort appeared to be taking its toll as James’ progress then slowed over the next three days. By the end of the sixth day of riding the lead shifted to Andrew Barnes. Barnes, who is 20 years younger than James, left Pietermaritzburg four days before him and was riding about 400 kilometres ahead of him. For the next five days the initiative lay with Barnes who appeared to be riding strongly and consistently. Maintaining a punishing schedule of limited sleep James not only managed to hold to his own strategy for breaking the race record but also to keep in touch with the pace of Barnes. However, he admits that the effort was taking its toll.
Approaching the town of Willowmore late at night on the 11th day of the riding he was physically and mentally depleted and was tormenting himself with thoughts of withdrawal. However, he was then buoyed by the news that Barnes up ahead of him had been delayed in the Swartberg by a snowstorm and he continued onwards.
Rather than stopping at Willowmore James’ began a really big push. He slept for two hours at Rondawel in the Moordenaars Karoo. He then rode for 22 hours and 237 kms through Prince Albert, up the Swartberg Pass, into the Gamkaskloof and took on the portage up Ladder. He arrive at Rouxpos on the slopes of the Swartberg after midnight. After sleeping at Rouxpos for 2 hours, James continued on to the Anysberg Nature Reserve, where he catnapped for an hour, before riding across the Little Karoo to Montagu. He crossed the Breede River to reach Macgregor in the early evening and then took on the Coenieskraal climb to arrive at the Oestervanger Guest House in the Agterkliphoogte Valley well after midnight. After sleeping for an hour he then rode past the Brandvlei Dam and up alongside the Holsloot River before taking on the 8 km portage up the Stettynskloof in the Du Toits Kloof mountains and continued through to the finish at Diemersfontein.
James arrived at the finish at Deimersfontein on 9.45 pm on Monday night. His total riding time for the 2350 kms from Pietermaritzburg was 13 days 15 hours and 45 minutes. He broke the previous race record by 21 hours.
Talking at the finish, where he received the Basutho blanket given to all Freedom Challenge finishers, James spoke of the incredible effort that had been required and how punishing it had been. However, apart from saddle sores the only other ailment of which he spoke was a burnt tongue – the result of hurriedly drinking hot soup as he rushed through support stations.
Having completed the event for the third year in a row, James indicated that he had found this year’s ride particularly taxing. Whilst his record raises the bar he pointed out that it serves also to show others what is possible. However, even if others are able to better his time it remains to be seen whether any rider will be able to match his finishing places in successive years of 2nd, 1st and 1st.
With James having claimed first place and Barnes confirmed in second, attention now turns to the race for third place where Freedom Challenge veteran Francois Riekert has been riding with the tandem of Mike Woolnough and Glenn Harrison of Snapper Display. Whilst the tandem have been battling with bike problems and injuries they have also had to try to fend off the chase of Marnitz Nienaber of the North West.
Nienaber, in turn, is doing his best to not only secure third place but, in the process, beat his North West riding partner, mielie farmer Carl Crous. By Monday night the Riekert and the tandem had arrived in Prince Albert, Nienaber, who started in Pietermaritzburg 2 days later, had arrived in Willowmore.
Crous, in the meantime, appears to be putting in an incredible charge – on Sunday he rode from the support station at Toekomst on the banks of the Darlington Dam, through Bucklands above the Groot Rivier Poort and down the Osseberg jeep track into Cambria. On Monday he left Cambria, rode up the length Baviaanskloof and, arriving at Willowmore well after midnight, found Nienaber sleeping. Whilst the two will ride together into Tuesday it remains to be seen how far this will continue.
Dag 14 Cambria - Willomore
David se ma maak vir my die lekkerste oats pap, en ek eet nie eers oats nie< te veel darvan in die army gehad, maar ek moet sê die oats geniet ek sommer baie.
6H00 trek ek weg op bekende terrein, moet sê die "mother of all climbs" is heelwat maklike van Cambria se kant, ek ry bykans die hele pas uit, dalk is ek net baie sterker en meer moedswillig.
Amper bo neem ek een van die mooiste sonsopkomse af in 'n lang tyd, moet sê die laaste paar dae was maar baie bewolk en reënerig en dit het seker die sonsopkoms baie meer spesiaal gemaak.
Onthou my as ek weer gaan jag om dit op 'n mtb te doen, ek het vandag 'n kudu surprise en kon 'n foto op 30m neem, 100m verder surprise ek 'n vrou wat bietjie water terug gee aan moeder aarde, nie dat die aarde eintlik water nodig het nie. Ek wys toe maar aan hulle uit dat daar ook nie 'n te skaam kudu net om die draai is.
Die Baviaans bly mooi, nat of droog, dis altyd 'n plesier om hier te ry en ek ry sommer met nuwe krag na Dam se Drift. By Dam se Drif lig Estelle my in dat daar iemand op my spoor is, hy het glo 9H00 in Cambria aangedoen en dit kan net Commander Carl Crous weer soos Fiona hom nou gedoop het. Soos wat ek vir Crous ken het hy sy troepe tot op die uiterste gedryf en nou gerebelleer hulle, Crous is nou warm op my spoor. Ek besluit om die laaste deel uit die Baviaans gas te gee om die aanval te stuit, en ek trap vir die vale, soms wonder ek of ek nie maar moet oorgee aan die wilde jaagtog en maar saam met Crous die laaste deel moet aanpak nie ?
Ek besef dat die Trans Baviaans eintlik 'n moerse lang afdraande is oppad na Jeffrey's Baai, dit voel nie altyd so wanneer jy daaraan deelneem nie, my hier waar ek nou ry is dit 'n grenslose lang sinkplaat opdraande, ek wurg die fiets om 15 km/u uit hom uit te kry, waar is gister se ooste wind nou ? Net voor Nuwe Kloof pas maak iemand Antartika se deure oop, die son skyn nog maar die warm strale word deur die berge verberg en ek stop om warm klere aan te trek. Ek val die Nuwe Koof pas aan in laaste lig en dis so asof dit makliker gaan in die donker, dis eintlik 'n baie gemaklike mooi pas en ek verwonder my aan die skaduwee's van die rotsformasies wat moeder aarde in boë gebuig het.
Willem WP stop my by sy hek, hy beloer my liggie al van ver af, hy nooi my in vir koffie en koffie klink vir my baie lekker veral in die helse koue. Willem vertel my van Steve Honey een van die challengers wat hy gister in die ysreën te hulp gesnel het, Steve het aan erge hipotermie gely toe hy hulle vind, was nie eers meer instaat om te praat nie, wat te sê van loop of ry. Willem dompel hom toe maar in 'n warm bad en nadat Steve ontdooi het, prop hy hom toe vol warm koffie en kudu biltong. Steve ken ook nou vir Rageltjie de Beer, hy was blykbaar in 'n noue ontmoeting met haar betrokke, Willem kerf van die biltong, dis warm in die kombuis en ek geniet nog 'n koppie gasvrye koffie. Willem sit musiek aan, nogals U2 een van my gunstelinge en ek geniet die musiek tot in my klein toontjie, suiwer musiek met die regte woorde, ons begin gesels oor jag en hy verneem ek het nog nooit 'n kudu gejag nie. Ek moet net keer, Willem wil my vat vir 'n Kudu jag, sommer dadelik, 'n man kan nie die Freedom Challenge doen en nog nooit 'n kudu gejag het nie, moet sê Willem het my amper oortuig........
Ek val weer in die vriesende pad, nou baie kouer na die warm kombuise met ekstra spesiale koffie, biltong en goeie geselskap en ek kan net dink hoe Steve gister in die ysreën moes voel. Willem stuur nog medisyne saam vir Steve en so ses wilde stukke biltong en my kruik loof oor van gasvryheid, net na 20H00 val ek by die Willow's in, ek maak my staan voor die kaggel, trek die laaste hitte uit die lawende vlamme, hier sal 'n man regtig vir Rageltjie ontmoed as jy nie versigtig is nie.
Ek ontmoet vir Steve en hoor sy ontberings aan, die man is baie bly om my te sien en vra of hy more kan saamry en ek dink dis 'n goeie plan, ek het bietjie geselskap nodig en so wonder ek oor Crous, waar is die man, gaan ek voor hom bly tot die einde of gaan hy my more vang ?
Amper bo neem ek een van die mooiste sonsopkomse af in 'n lang tyd, moet sê die laaste paar dae was maar baie bewolk en reënerig en dit het seker die sonsopkoms baie meer spesiaal gemaak.
Onthou my as ek weer gaan jag om dit op 'n mtb te doen, ek het vandag 'n kudu surprise en kon 'n foto op 30m neem, 100m verder surprise ek 'n vrou wat bietjie water terug gee aan moeder aarde, nie dat die aarde eintlik water nodig het nie. Ek wys toe maar aan hulle uit dat daar ook nie 'n te skaam kudu net om die draai is.
Die Baviaans bly mooi, nat of droog, dis altyd 'n plesier om hier te ry en ek ry sommer met nuwe krag na Dam se Drift. By Dam se Drif lig Estelle my in dat daar iemand op my spoor is, hy het glo 9H00 in Cambria aangedoen en dit kan net Commander Carl Crous weer soos Fiona hom nou gedoop het. Soos wat ek vir Crous ken het hy sy troepe tot op die uiterste gedryf en nou gerebelleer hulle, Crous is nou warm op my spoor. Ek besluit om die laaste deel uit die Baviaans gas te gee om die aanval te stuit, en ek trap vir die vale, soms wonder ek of ek nie maar moet oorgee aan die wilde jaagtog en maar saam met Crous die laaste deel moet aanpak nie ?
Ek besef dat die Trans Baviaans eintlik 'n moerse lang afdraande is oppad na Jeffrey's Baai, dit voel nie altyd so wanneer jy daaraan deelneem nie, my hier waar ek nou ry is dit 'n grenslose lang sinkplaat opdraande, ek wurg die fiets om 15 km/u uit hom uit te kry, waar is gister se ooste wind nou ? Net voor Nuwe Kloof pas maak iemand Antartika se deure oop, die son skyn nog maar die warm strale word deur die berge verberg en ek stop om warm klere aan te trek. Ek val die Nuwe Koof pas aan in laaste lig en dis so asof dit makliker gaan in die donker, dis eintlik 'n baie gemaklike mooi pas en ek verwonder my aan die skaduwee's van die rotsformasies wat moeder aarde in boë gebuig het.
Willem WP stop my by sy hek, hy beloer my liggie al van ver af, hy nooi my in vir koffie en koffie klink vir my baie lekker veral in die helse koue. Willem vertel my van Steve Honey een van die challengers wat hy gister in die ysreën te hulp gesnel het, Steve het aan erge hipotermie gely toe hy hulle vind, was nie eers meer instaat om te praat nie, wat te sê van loop of ry. Willem dompel hom toe maar in 'n warm bad en nadat Steve ontdooi het, prop hy hom toe vol warm koffie en kudu biltong. Steve ken ook nou vir Rageltjie de Beer, hy was blykbaar in 'n noue ontmoeting met haar betrokke, Willem kerf van die biltong, dis warm in die kombuis en ek geniet nog 'n koppie gasvrye koffie. Willem sit musiek aan, nogals U2 een van my gunstelinge en ek geniet die musiek tot in my klein toontjie, suiwer musiek met die regte woorde, ons begin gesels oor jag en hy verneem ek het nog nooit 'n kudu gejag nie. Ek moet net keer, Willem wil my vat vir 'n Kudu jag, sommer dadelik, 'n man kan nie die Freedom Challenge doen en nog nooit 'n kudu gejag het nie, moet sê Willem het my amper oortuig........
Ek val weer in die vriesende pad, nou baie kouer na die warm kombuise met ekstra spesiale koffie, biltong en goeie geselskap en ek kan net dink hoe Steve gister in die ysreën moes voel. Willem stuur nog medisyne saam vir Steve en so ses wilde stukke biltong en my kruik loof oor van gasvryheid, net na 20H00 val ek by die Willow's in, ek maak my staan voor die kaggel, trek die laaste hitte uit die lawende vlamme, hier sal 'n man regtig vir Rageltjie ontmoed as jy nie versigtig is nie.
Ek ontmoet vir Steve en hoor sy ontberings aan, die man is baie bly om my te sien en vra of hy more kan saamry en ek dink dis 'n goeie plan, ek het bietjie geselskap nodig en so wonder ek oor Crous, waar is die man, gaan ek voor hom bly tot die einde of gaan hy my more vang ?
6/29/2009
Dag 13 Bucklands - Cambria
Dou voor dag vat Hannes my terug na die plek waar die polisieman my opgelaai het, ek weet nie wat my gisteraand besiel het om in die bakkie in te klim nie, die laaste deel van die pad is amper heelpad afdraande en so teen 8H00 val ek weer in by Hannes vir 'n lekker ontbyt.
Met die wegtrek slag begin dit liggies reën, die wind steek op en soos ek vorder klim die Duiwel agter die berg uit, dit voel of ek in 'n monsoon vasgevang word. Die reën val in vlae neer, die wind waai my rugsak se reën mantel weg, my rugsak en alles binne in is pap sop nat en ek gooi sulke wilde esse in die modder soos die wind my probeer wegwaai. Ek word kinderlik gatvol, ek is moeg vir die reën, gatvol vir die modder wat oral inkruip en alles opdonner, en van die Duiwel se wind wil ek nie eers praat nie. Vir sewe dae swoeg ek elke dag teen 'n geweldadige Weste wind, en op die agtste dag, die dag wat ek saam met die wind moet ry sal die Duiwel 'n Ooste wind afvuur wat die reën so horisontaal in my in my oe in steek........
'n Man se kop moet sterk wees vir die race, want as die kop nie wil nie dan wil die lyf ook nie, die alleen swoeg teen die wind, reën en modder is besig om my stelselmatig af te breek en ek bereik breekpunt, ek gooi die fiets eenkant en ek wonder wat de donner soek ek hier, is dit my straf omdat ek 'n lift by die polisieman gekry het ? So staan ek seker vir 10 minute in die gietende reën, die reën is eintlik besig om my skoon te was en ek besef dit help nie om maar net daar te staan nie, ek kan niemand bel nie en niemand ry die god verlate paaie nie, al genade is ek moet maar opklim en aanry......
Netso voor ek die Grootrivier poort aanvat, lui my sel, dis Melanie, die Here het haar seker gevra om my moed in te praat en ek pak uit, alles uit, ek is klaar en al wat sy vir my sê is : " Kom dan maar huistoe"
Ek is verstom geslaan, my wonderlike vrou wat my altyd in alles ondersteun en motiveer sê ek moet maar huistoe kom, het ek so afgeleef en negatief geklink. Ek besluit dan gaan ek maar huistoe, en die pad na die huis is deur die Grootrivier poort, dieselfde pad as die Freedom Challenge s'n, gelukkig is dit 'n lang pad met lekker styl opdraandes en baie dinktyd. Ek bereik die uitkykpunt en in plaas van reëndruppels word daar 'n arsenaal sms boodskappe op my afgevuur, my wonderlike vrou het al my pêlle ingelig van my mismoedige gemoeds toestand en ek besluit om af te trek en die wêreld te bekyk en die reën bedaar en die son se strale breek deur en ek kry weer nuwe moed.
Met nuwe moed val ek die Osseberg aan, dis so asof die sonstrale al die sukkel van my afdroog, ek sien die mooi weer raak en die lus om klaar te maak helder weer op in my, Osseberg is nie te erg nie en ek vorder gou deur die Grootrivier poort, kruis die rivier dertien keer en voor die son sak staan ek voor die 4m hoë wildshek, ek klim oor en binnekort bevind ek my op die bekende Baviaans pad en ek is sommer weer baie lus vir ry. Die pad ken ek, ek bevind my nou op baie bekende grond, Trans Baviaans grond en ek weet ek gaan lekker ry, ek het dan elkeen van my vorige vyf Trans Baviaans renne geniet.
Ek kom by die support station " The Haven" volgens die roete aanwysings aangedui by dooie mans deur aan, hier is verseker niemand nie, nie 'n siel nie, hier was ook nie 'n siel vir 'n lang tyd nie, die plek is ook nie oop nie, wat nou wonder ek. Ek besluit toe maar om aan te ry na die volgende support station Dam se Drift so 80km verder, ek behoort seker so na middernag daar aan te kom. Uit die bloute lui my selfoon weer, dis Eduard wat baie besorgd oor my doen en late uitvra, hoe voel ek, sien ek nog kans om aan te gaan en waar is ek ?
Ons het nog nooit sein hier gehad nie en hier is ek nou in 'n gesperk met 'n goeie pêl, en die vlammetjie brand sommer baie helderder. Ek bel vir Melanie, bedank haar vir haar geloof in my en al haar ondersteuning en liefde en belowe sommer om baie vinnig te ry, ek mis haar regtig baie.
Ek besluit toe maar terwyl ek nou sein het om uit te vind waar ons nou eintlik moet slaap en waar ek my roomysbak met voorrade gepak kan kry. Ek kan sommer hoor hoe lekker David lag toe hy die oproep antwoord, die oornag plek is geskuif na Kudu Kaya, so entjie verder aan, hy prewel iets van hy het ons gesê die oornag plek het geskuif die aand voor ons weggespring het. By Kudu Kaya aangekom besluit ek om maar oor te slaap, vandag was 'n harde dag vir my gewees, baie amper te hard.....
Ek probeer uitvis waar Crous is, niemand weet nie, hy praat nie en die aarde swyg ook oor sy doen en late.
Met die wegtrek slag begin dit liggies reën, die wind steek op en soos ek vorder klim die Duiwel agter die berg uit, dit voel of ek in 'n monsoon vasgevang word. Die reën val in vlae neer, die wind waai my rugsak se reën mantel weg, my rugsak en alles binne in is pap sop nat en ek gooi sulke wilde esse in die modder soos die wind my probeer wegwaai. Ek word kinderlik gatvol, ek is moeg vir die reën, gatvol vir die modder wat oral inkruip en alles opdonner, en van die Duiwel se wind wil ek nie eers praat nie. Vir sewe dae swoeg ek elke dag teen 'n geweldadige Weste wind, en op die agtste dag, die dag wat ek saam met die wind moet ry sal die Duiwel 'n Ooste wind afvuur wat die reën so horisontaal in my in my oe in steek........
'n Man se kop moet sterk wees vir die race, want as die kop nie wil nie dan wil die lyf ook nie, die alleen swoeg teen die wind, reën en modder is besig om my stelselmatig af te breek en ek bereik breekpunt, ek gooi die fiets eenkant en ek wonder wat de donner soek ek hier, is dit my straf omdat ek 'n lift by die polisieman gekry het ? So staan ek seker vir 10 minute in die gietende reën, die reën is eintlik besig om my skoon te was en ek besef dit help nie om maar net daar te staan nie, ek kan niemand bel nie en niemand ry die god verlate paaie nie, al genade is ek moet maar opklim en aanry......
Die groot besluit op Osseberg uitkykpunt, gaan ek huistoe of ry ek aan. |
Ek is verstom geslaan, my wonderlike vrou wat my altyd in alles ondersteun en motiveer sê ek moet maar huistoe kom, het ek so afgeleef en negatief geklink. Ek besluit dan gaan ek maar huistoe, en die pad na die huis is deur die Grootrivier poort, dieselfde pad as die Freedom Challenge s'n, gelukkig is dit 'n lang pad met lekker styl opdraandes en baie dinktyd. Ek bereik die uitkykpunt en in plaas van reëndruppels word daar 'n arsenaal sms boodskappe op my afgevuur, my wonderlike vrou het al my pêlle ingelig van my mismoedige gemoeds toestand en ek besluit om af te trek en die wêreld te bekyk en die reën bedaar en die son se strale breek deur en ek kry weer nuwe moed.
Osseberg in sonlig. |
Ek kom by die support station " The Haven" volgens die roete aanwysings aangedui by dooie mans deur aan, hier is verseker niemand nie, nie 'n siel nie, hier was ook nie 'n siel vir 'n lang tyd nie, die plek is ook nie oop nie, wat nou wonder ek. Ek besluit toe maar om aan te ry na die volgende support station Dam se Drift so 80km verder, ek behoort seker so na middernag daar aan te kom. Uit die bloute lui my selfoon weer, dis Eduard wat baie besorgd oor my doen en late uitvra, hoe voel ek, sien ek nog kans om aan te gaan en waar is ek ?
Ons het nog nooit sein hier gehad nie en hier is ek nou in 'n gesperk met 'n goeie pêl, en die vlammetjie brand sommer baie helderder. Ek bel vir Melanie, bedank haar vir haar geloof in my en al haar ondersteuning en liefde en belowe sommer om baie vinnig te ry, ek mis haar regtig baie.
Ek besluit toe maar terwyl ek nou sein het om uit te vind waar ons nou eintlik moet slaap en waar ek my roomysbak met voorrade gepak kan kry. Ek kan sommer hoor hoe lekker David lag toe hy die oproep antwoord, die oornag plek is geskuif na Kudu Kaya, so entjie verder aan, hy prewel iets van hy het ons gesê die oornag plek het geskuif die aand voor ons weggespring het. By Kudu Kaya aangekom besluit ek om maar oor te slaap, vandag was 'n harde dag vir my gewees, baie amper te hard.....
Ek probeer uitvis waar Crous is, niemand weet nie, hy praat nie en die aarde swyg ook oor sy doen en late.
Dag 12 Van de Venterskraal - Bucklands
Nie te goed geslaap nie, ek het 'n allemintige hoes aan my, ek hoes nou al so dat jy net sterretjie sien spat eklke keer wat ek hoes. Ek het antibiotika by my, maar dis vir 'n noodgeval en eers wanneer ek naby kom om 'n aar te bars sal ek dit oorweeg. Gedurende die dag kan ek die hoes onder dwang hou, maar in die nag rebbeleer hy en hou hy my die heel nag wakker, iewers gaan ek iets aan die hoes moet doen.
Val so net na 12H00 by Toekomst in, ek val weg aan 'n lekker bord kos wat Phillip Henderson se vrou Lisa vir my voorberei het, ek word tot in die afgrond bedelf en oorlaai met padkos. Ek oorweeg om myself 'n BCO inspuiting te gee, maar ek is bang my alie ruk homself weg voor ek die naald inkry, maar daar is altyd 'n eerste keer. Phillip vra my wat wil ek maak, en ek verduidelik hom ek benodig 'n BCO inspuiting om my imuniteit op te bou en die ondraaglike gehoessery te verjaag. Hy het al baie volstruise en beeste ingespuit en ek buk sodat hy die mal mountain biker kan inspuit.
Vertrek 13H00 kry die damwal maklik, sukkel my gat af om versteekte padjie na die Gwaas vallei te kry, op en af ry ek opsoek na die padjie. Die roete aanwysings sê dis 'n baie swak padjie, maar dit sal verbeter soos ek verder in die vallei opbeweeg. In my geharwar op soek na die padjie verloor ek my waterbotter, los die fiets en sak en hol so 5 km terug, dit was my spaar waterbottel, my eerste een het ek op Struishoek verloor en nou het ek niks. Kry nie die bottel nie skeeu dat die berge antwoord gee. Gelukkig het ek darem 'n pad gekry wat ek vermoed is die Gwaas vallei se pad.
Ek stop by 'n houthuis drink ou brakwater, wurg die water in, die volgende water is seker 40 km verder by die Draaifontein opstal en ek hoop ek hou tot daar, gister was 'n lekker dag, vandag is besig om baie vinnig skeef te loop. Dis warm in die Gwaas vallei, stowwerig, die son brand meedoonloos op my neer en vir eens is ek bly die donkerte sak op my toe, maar met die donkerte keer die welbekende hoes terug, die hoes kom diep uit my longe uit, dis seer en ek snak na asem ek het nou retgte medisyne nodig.
In die donkerte ploeter ek voort, al hoesende 'n polisieman van Kleinpoort ontferm hom oor my en bied aan om my na Hannes van Bucklands te neem, die koue lug is nie goed vir my nie en ek gee in. Uitgedroog al hoesende stap ek by Hannes in, my race is nou eintlik verby, jy mag nie van gemotoriseerde hulp gebruik maak nie. Hannes prop my vol pille en hoes medisyne en dan lekker kos, ek vat 'n lekker bad en kom sit voor die vuur. Ek is nou eintlik baie spyt ek het van die polisieman se hulp gebruik gemaak en Hannes wil weet wat gaan ek nou maak. Wel daar bly net een ding oor, ek moet David inlig oor wat ek aangevang het, ek sal maar op my fiets moet klim en terugry na die plek waar die polisieman my opgelaai het, dis al genade. Hannes bied aan om my terug te vat na die plek waar die polisieman my opgelaai het, daar is nie sein nie en ek stuur dadelik 'n boodskap vir David om hom in te lig oor my oortreding en wat my plan van aksie is. Ons sal more weet wat sy besluit is wanneer hy die boodskap kry, maar nou het ek rus nodig ek moet die hoes op 'n manier afskaf anders gaan ek in 'n hospitaal opeindig.
More oggend vat Hannes my terug na plek waar poliesman my opgelaai het sodat ek die stuk kan ry, en daar begin dit weer reën en dit hou nie op nie, en die wind waai en dit hou nie op nie, en ek raak gatvol sommer baie gatvol en dit gaan verby.
Ek stop by 'n houthuis drink ou brakwater, wurg die water in, die volgende water is seker 40 km verder by die Draaifontein opstal en ek hoop ek hou tot daar, gister was 'n lekker dag, vandag is besig om baie vinnig skeef te loop. Dis warm in die Gwaas vallei, stowwerig, die son brand meedoonloos op my neer en vir eens is ek bly die donkerte sak op my toe, maar met die donkerte keer die welbekende hoes terug, die hoes kom diep uit my longe uit, dis seer en ek snak na asem ek het nou retgte medisyne nodig.
In die donkerte ploeter ek voort, al hoesende 'n polisieman van Kleinpoort ontferm hom oor my en bied aan om my na Hannes van Bucklands te neem, die koue lug is nie goed vir my nie en ek gee in. Uitgedroog al hoesende stap ek by Hannes in, my race is nou eintlik verby, jy mag nie van gemotoriseerde hulp gebruik maak nie. Hannes prop my vol pille en hoes medisyne en dan lekker kos, ek vat 'n lekker bad en kom sit voor die vuur. Ek is nou eintlik baie spyt ek het van die polisieman se hulp gebruik gemaak en Hannes wil weet wat gaan ek nou maak. Wel daar bly net een ding oor, ek moet David inlig oor wat ek aangevang het, ek sal maar op my fiets moet klim en terugry na die plek waar die polisieman my opgelaai het, dis al genade. Hannes bied aan om my terug te vat na die plek waar die polisieman my opgelaai het, daar is nie sein nie en ek stuur dadelik 'n boodskap vir David om hom in te lig oor my oortreding en wat my plan van aksie is. Ons sal more weet wat sy besluit is wanneer hy die boodskap kry, maar nou het ek rus nodig ek moet die hoes op 'n manier afskaf anders gaan ek in 'n hospitaal opeindig.
More oggend vat Hannes my terug na plek waar poliesman my opgelaai het sodat ek die stuk kan ry, en daar begin dit weer reën en dit hou nie op nie, en die wind waai en dit hou nie op nie, en ek raak gatvol sommer baie gatvol en dit gaan verby.
Die dag wat die wind van agter moet wees, is dit 'n plat oosterwind wat die reën horisontaal in my oë steek. Die pad is al so deurdrenk ek ry in 'n modderbad en ek kry myself baie jammer, die lang dae op my eie begin nou byt. By die selfoonmas naby Doringfontein besluit ek, ek het nou genoeg gehad, bel vir Melanie en sê haar ek is klaar. Sy ken my malligheid in my kop en sê toe sommer dat ek dan maar moet huistoe kom, in die wete dat ek nooit doen wat sy sê nie. Sy bel inderhaas al my pelle en vertel hulle van my voornemens en die reën verander in sms boodskappe. My sel piep-piep onophoudelik so asof dit die reën verjaag en soos dit sagter reën en ek weer die mooi kan sien kry ek nuwe moet - ek dink dis al die gebede.
Sit op die oomblik bo op die berg en kyk na die ossewa roete na Cambria. Dankie vir julle boodskappe, sonder julle sou ek nie aangegaan het nie, dankie vir julle Moerse ondersteuning, mis julle baie !
6/28/2009
First rider finishes 2009 Freedom Challenge
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Diemersfontein, WellingtonSaturday 27 June 2009In the fading light of Saturday Andrew Barnes of Pietermaritzburg crested the Du Toits Kloof Pass and started the last 10 km descent down through the Hawekwas forest to the finish of the 2009 Freedom Challenge non-stop mountain bike race from Pietermaritzburg to Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Paarl.
By the time Barnes reached the finish darkness had set in. However, the mood amongst family and friends who were there to meet him was one of levity. He had completed the 2300 km cycle race in 14 days and 13 hours. Although he had narrowly missed the record set in 2008 his ride was quite remarkable. 10 days into the ride and emerging from the Baviaanskloof he was two days ahead of the 2008 record pace. However, the next day as he rode alongside the Droëberge from Willowmore towards Prince Albert he was slowed by gale force headwinds and two days later as he climbed from the Gamkaskloof into the foothills of the Swartberg he was forced to stop riding by a snowstorm. Despite a hard 240 kms of riding the following day that took him through the Anysberg Nature Reserve and on through Montagu and MacGregor to the Agterkliphoogte Valley he was not able to recover the lost time.
Nevertheless, arriving at Diemersfontein where he received the Basutho blanket given to every Freedom Challenge finisher he said of his ride "It was great. My preparation paid off. Until I hit the bad weather I rode to plan. I really enjoyed the riding and I also really enjoyed the people that I met along the route. This race is gold".With Barnes now settled in at Diemersfontein all eyes now turn to 2008 record holder Tim James of Team Squirt riding Scott.
James, who started from Pietermaritzburg four days after Barnes, set the early pace and led the race until a difficult day in the Stormberg saw him lose the initiative to Barnes. When James left Willowmore on Thursday afternoon Barnes still held an effective 7 hour lead over him. After stopping for the night at Rondawel, on Friday, the day that Barnes was finishing in Diemersfontein, James rode through Prince Albert, climbed the Swartberg Pass and descended into the Gamkaskloof. In the early evening he then took on the climb up the Ladder and rode through Vleiland to Rouxpos where, after 237 kms and 20 hours of continuous riding, he finally slept. In the process he moved a day ahead of Barnes.
It must now be seen whether James is able to match Barnes's pace from Rouxpos through to the finish at Diemersfontein. If so he will not only win the 2009 Freedom Challenge but will better his 2008 record by at least a day. However, James will be mindful of the fact that it was at this late stage of the 2008 race that he experienced technical difficulties that slowed his further progress.
Further back on the South Africa's Freedom Trail Marnitz Nienaber from the North West remains settled into third place. Nienaber, who is currently headed for the Baviaanskloof, has been keeping race followers entertained with his tales of daily hardship and splendour. Riders have experienced extreme cold, driving rain and knee deep snow but, as rider Esti du Plessis said, "Every day has brought something incredible". On Thursday night, riding towards Toekomst and the Darlington Dam section of the Addo Elephant National Park, Ugene Nel, who is riding with fellow Freedom Challenge Extreme Triathletes, Trevor Ball and Australian Dave Barr, was charged by a bush pig.
With the worst of the current spate of bad weather now passed, riders in the 2009 Freedom Challenge can now look forward to a few days of good riding.
Diemersfontein, WellingtonSaturday 27 June 2009In the fading light of Saturday Andrew Barnes of Pietermaritzburg crested the Du Toits Kloof Pass and started the last 10 km descent down through the Hawekwas forest to the finish of the 2009 Freedom Challenge non-stop mountain bike race from Pietermaritzburg to Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Paarl.
By the time Barnes reached the finish darkness had set in. However, the mood amongst family and friends who were there to meet him was one of levity. He had completed the 2300 km cycle race in 14 days and 13 hours. Although he had narrowly missed the record set in 2008 his ride was quite remarkable. 10 days into the ride and emerging from the Baviaanskloof he was two days ahead of the 2008 record pace. However, the next day as he rode alongside the Droëberge from Willowmore towards Prince Albert he was slowed by gale force headwinds and two days later as he climbed from the Gamkaskloof into the foothills of the Swartberg he was forced to stop riding by a snowstorm. Despite a hard 240 kms of riding the following day that took him through the Anysberg Nature Reserve and on through Montagu and MacGregor to the Agterkliphoogte Valley he was not able to recover the lost time.
Nevertheless, arriving at Diemersfontein where he received the Basutho blanket given to every Freedom Challenge finisher he said of his ride "It was great. My preparation paid off. Until I hit the bad weather I rode to plan. I really enjoyed the riding and I also really enjoyed the people that I met along the route. This race is gold".With Barnes now settled in at Diemersfontein all eyes now turn to 2008 record holder Tim James of Team Squirt riding Scott.
James, who started from Pietermaritzburg four days after Barnes, set the early pace and led the race until a difficult day in the Stormberg saw him lose the initiative to Barnes. When James left Willowmore on Thursday afternoon Barnes still held an effective 7 hour lead over him. After stopping for the night at Rondawel, on Friday, the day that Barnes was finishing in Diemersfontein, James rode through Prince Albert, climbed the Swartberg Pass and descended into the Gamkaskloof. In the early evening he then took on the climb up the Ladder and rode through Vleiland to Rouxpos where, after 237 kms and 20 hours of continuous riding, he finally slept. In the process he moved a day ahead of Barnes.
It must now be seen whether James is able to match Barnes's pace from Rouxpos through to the finish at Diemersfontein. If so he will not only win the 2009 Freedom Challenge but will better his 2008 record by at least a day. However, James will be mindful of the fact that it was at this late stage of the 2008 race that he experienced technical difficulties that slowed his further progress.
Further back on the South Africa's Freedom Trail Marnitz Nienaber from the North West remains settled into third place. Nienaber, who is currently headed for the Baviaanskloof, has been keeping race followers entertained with his tales of daily hardship and splendour. Riders have experienced extreme cold, driving rain and knee deep snow but, as rider Esti du Plessis said, "Every day has brought something incredible". On Thursday night, riding towards Toekomst and the Darlington Dam section of the Addo Elephant National Park, Ugene Nel, who is riding with fellow Freedom Challenge Extreme Triathletes, Trevor Ball and Australian Dave Barr, was charged by a bush pig.
With the worst of the current spate of bad weather now passed, riders in the 2009 Freedom Challenge can now look forward to a few days of good riding.
6/26/2009
Dag 11 Gansvlei - Van de Venterskraal
Ek stap by my beskerm engel Oom Gawie van Ganslei se deur uit en betree 'n sprokieswêreld, spierwit sneeu lê die hele wêreld vol. Ek het nog nooit so baie sneeu in my lewe gesien nie, dis oral en ek neem die een foto na die ander.
Al ooit gehoor van kraak vars, wel dis kraak vars sneeu en ek maak die eerste nuwe spore in die sprokiewêreld. Van ry is daar nie sprake nie die sneeu is te diep en jy weet nie wat onder die sneeu skuil nie en ek stoot my fiets al huppelend voort. Die sneeu knars onder my voete en die fiets rol redelik maklik daaroor. Bogekom besef ek hoe gelukkig ek eintlik was, Oom Gawie moet 'n regte engel wees, hy was reg op plekke lê die sneeu regtig 'n meter diep, die hele pad is toe gesneeu, ek sou verseker vir rageltjie hier onmoet het. Ek neem 'n paar foto's wat my sekerlik weer sal teruglok vir meer, aan die Coetzerskloof kant van die Schufteberg lê die sneeu nie so dik nie, maar dis nogsteeds prentjie mooi. Mens moet seker maar baie suffer voor die Freedom challenge jou in nooi om sy prag te kan geniet.
Op pad na De Doorns support station neem ek so kort draai seker so kilo of wat afgedwaal, maar ek is glad nie spyt daaroor nie, sien eers twee rooikatte en toe die lang verlore ou chevy, ou bakkies het nog altyd diep spore in my hart getrap. Ek verlang na my ou Ford F250 4x4, dis nou 'n regte bakkie, nee mens kan dit nie 'n bakkie noem nie, 'n hond eet uit 'n bakkie, dis 'n trokkie en my ou Trokkie sou nou lekker hier gery het.
By de Doorns aangekom bevind ek my voor 'n toe deur, daar is nie sein nie en ek dwaal al om die opstal opsoek na 'n inkom plek, moedeloos gaan sit ek op die stoep en wag vir die boer, 'n half uur gaan verby en sielsongelukkig sit ek en wag en ek kry 'n besieling en voel aan die voordeur en wragtig dis oop. Ek stap in al roepende, daar moet iemand binne wees, jy los mos nie 'n huis netso oop nie en toe kom ek op die brief in die kombuis af. Dis 'n self sorg opstal, maak jouself tuis eet genoeg en sterkte vir jou tog vorentoe, o ja maak net die deur toe wanneer jy die huis verlaat. As jy jou huis in jou tuisdorp ooplos sal jy baie bly wees om die mure oor te hê nadat weldoeners die binnegoed oor die aarde versprei het......
Ek maak vir my 'n lekker bord kos warm, drink 'n glas coke of twee en val vernuwe in die Freedom pad, op pad na Vandeventers kraal, nou vir die Struishoek portage, moet die begin in daglig maak, dis glo nie grappies in die nag nie, die hele plek word deur hoë kranse omsingel. Dit word weer 'n dolle gejaag na die laaste ligstrale, ek was nog nooit bang vir die donkerte nie, maar die Freedom Challenge bring 'n versigtigheid in my mee, eintlik meer 'n ontsag vir die donker, alles gebeur stadiger en geskied met baie respek.
Ek betree die Struishoek portage met laaste lig en jy sal dit nie glo nie, iemand het die plek met wit kalk klippe gemerk, en ek beweeg van die een gebleikte klip na die ander. Die portage is nie baie lank nie, seker so vyf kilometer en dis afdraande, maar ongenaakbaar ongelyk en dit sluk tyd in soos ek water van my bottel insluk. Dit hou net aan en aan, onrybaar aan, jy kan stoot of dra maar dit gaan jou dieselfde tyd vat en baie daarvan. Onder aangekom sien ek iemand met 'n flitslig, ek draai om en ontmoet vir Oom David Hobson die baas van Struishoek. Oom David is die man met die briljante gedagte om Struishoek met kalk uit te merk, en nou nooi hy my vir 'n oorslaap, en ek kan sien dis aardse mense die en ek oorweeg dit. Die gedagte dat Carl warm op my spoor is dwing my die donkerte in, dis nog net 40km verder en ek wys Oom David se offer van die hand.
My sel lui, dis Eduard, hy verneem net hoe dit gaan en lig my sommer in dat die boere vir Carl aanhits en opsweep om my in te haal, en ek ken vir Crous, hy het nie baie aansporing nodig nie. Crous het 'n hele peleton opgesaal en dryf nou sy nuutgevonde peleton deur die vlaktes, en wanneer die een ryer afval saal hy die volgende troep op. Carl was lank in die valskerm batejon en ek kan net dink hoe hy sy nuwe troepe aanhits......
So 20km van Vandeventerskraal kry ek die geur van gebraaide skaap tjops, die boere braai en my mond water, drup eintlik vir so skaap tjoppie, man dit sal nou lekker wees en ek ry baie stadig verby in die hoop om raakgesien en jammer gekry te word, maar helaas is die geur van lekker gebraai skaap tjops al wat ek sal smul. Ek kom op die plek waar Vandeventerskraal veronderstel is om te wees, die pad is vars geskraap en ek soek die afdraai na die opstal, maar van 'n afdraai is daar geen sprake nie. Ek ry tot teen die T-aansluiting, draai om retireer terug op my pad soek die afdraai, maar niks. Bel vir David, hy verduidelik iets van 'n paal met die naam Vandeventerskraal in yster letters uitgekerf en 'n Freedom Challenge bokkie bo aan, wat duidelik langs die pad staan, ek moet net daar indraai, wat kan nou so moeilike wees ?
Ek soek die verdomde paal, daar is geen teken van afdraai nie, bel weer vir David en hy verseker my ek moet naby wees want daar is net sein naby die afdraai en soos 'n bloedhond snuffel ek die pad vir engige afdraai. Die skraper wat die pad so lekker gelyk geskraap het, het 'n skouer geskraap en die afdraai toegeskraap, so 10 m weg van die pad in die stuk donkerte vind ek die paal met die yster gekerfde letters, ek sug van verligting en pak die laaste deel van die pad aan na die opstal. Een ding wat my dwars in die krop steek en hoog dedonner in maak, is wanneer ek onndige tyd verspil, jy weet jy's daar, dit moet naby wees, maar jy is nie daar nie, ek het sopas 'n halfuur van rus gemors na die afdraai.
Teen 22H00 betree ek Vandeventerskraal se opstal, smaak my hier het eens op 'n tyd reuse gebly, die plafoone is seker 4 meter hoog, ek dwaal van die een vertrek na die ander, vind die kombuis en begin dadelik smul aan die lekker boere kos. Pensie vol, klaar gestort daal ek in my eie opstal op 'n bed neer, en ek wonder waar bevind Carel Crous en sy peleton hulle nou ?
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