We booked in at die Koeistal on the SW outskirts of Moorreesburg. It is part of the setup of Wilinda Hanekom, with whom I stayed during my visist to Carine at the beginning of August. Supper was at "smorgasbord" of mince and spinach with some cheese added as we had no spices! Riley brought an avo with and we also shared a bread roll. Pudding was a couple of pieces of chocolate!
I spent most of the afternoon updating my blog. After supper we both spent some time reading various articles on our phones and then went for walk to the pool. Sat there for a while cooling down my feet and doing some star gazing. I did manage to point out the evening star, three kings and southern cross, which is not visible in the northern hemisphere, to Riley. We retired to bed at 21:30 mand planned to get going at 06:30.
We rose at about 06:00 and Riley took quite awhile to pack his bike. He had some issues with his bag moving around so he decided to try it lengthwise today. In the end we only got going at 07:05.
When we got to the main road through Moorreesburg, I told Riley he must go left while I go right! He was quick to point out that that was not what Komoot, on which he loaded today's route, recommend! I looked my map and immediately realised that he was right! The road I tried to send him down was the road to Hopefield! I therefore decided to ride with him until we are on the correct road out of Moorreesburg. That took me down a 2km detour, but it was well worth it. When Riley agreed that he was on the right road, we bit our good byes and I turned around to head back to Malmesbury.
My route for the day was the same as the previous day, just in the opposite direction. The wind was howling all night and while Riley was going to have this wind on his back while I had to ride into it. The further I went, the higher to temperature rose! By 10:00 my Garmin indicated 44.7! The wind did tone down from earlier this morning and was actually a blessing as it cooled things down a little.
After 21km the wind changed direction from SE to NE and suddenly I had the benefit of a wind on my back! This lasted up to Malmesbury. On the way I stopped at a pool of water and submergged by bandana to cool my head. In Malmesbury I bought a 1.5 liter bottle of water, drank half and filled my water bottle with the other half. The wind changed to SE again, but was not too strong. At Kalbaskraal I stopped at a Spaza shop and bought a bag of ice. I first filled my water bottle with ice, then threw some ice down the inside of my cycling jersey at the back and front and put some ice blocks in the big hole on top of my helmet. On the way to Philidelphia I kept on filling may water bottle with ice. I also stopped a a stream and cooled my head with a wet bandana.
Just before I crossed the Philidelphia tar road, I realised that I have a rear flat! Stopped and pumped it! I very quickly realised that this flat was not going to seal itself. I did have a bottle of sealant with me and stopped to put this in and hope for the best. I do have a number of friends who would have been more than willing to come and fetch me, but I felt that phoning anybody at 13:30 on Christmas day while they are in the middle of their Christmas dinner, was asking a bit much. So with a quick prayer I pumped the tyre as hard as I could and hit the road. Wel, my prayers were answered, as the sealant did the trick!
In Melkbosstrand I stopped for some more water and treated myself to an ice cream. The temperature now came down to 36. What a blessing is it to be able to cycle next to the sea! I did managed to maintain a reasonable pace on the cycle path to Blouberg and arrived home just before 15:30.
Total time 8:15; distance 109.49. Average speed 13.3 kph.
In the meantime Riley had his own issues. When he contacted me at 19:45 it was to inform me that he is back in Moorreesburg. He had 4 punctures and broke a spoke! The only option is to wait until Thursday, get a lift to Malmesbury and see if bike Addict can sort him out.