The end is in sight! What an incredible experiance! After the early ending to yesterday's ride, we had a relaxing time at Lambazi and were joined by a group of hikers. Breakfast would be at 07:00 and the wheels was due to roll at 08:00. To make sure we get away on time, everybody was notified that we were leaving at 07:45. We managed to get going at 07:43!
Out the way we came in the day before and then left over the river. I had left my "broken" shoes from the previous day behind and were back to my Shimanos. They at least had time to dry out. This was of no avail, as the first river crossing was within the first couple of hundred meters. So they were wet again pretty soon. "Pa for the course" if you do the Wild Ride!
That was followed by a lot of "grass tracking" as we hugged the coastline above the beach. We crossed a couple of small rivers before venturing onto the beach for the first time, but not for long. The wind was allready picking up and came straight from the front. Back onto the grass, hugging the coastline again and crossing little streams every now and then.
Our first major river crossing was after 18 kilometers and 2:10 riding time. This one was about thigh deep at the mouth, but there was a canoest who approached us as we reached the river a little higher up. Martin felt we should support him, so I got a "ride" across while the rest of the guys walked through.
Three kilometers further on we stopped to take a walk up the river and have a look at a waterfall. This was well worth it and we had our sandwiches there while sitting on a rock ledge with a nice overhang. This "detour" took 18 minutes, before we were on our way again. The river crossing was quite easy and only about anckle deep.
About another 5 kilometers futher on we had our next river crossing and this was going to be by canoe, which we had to row across ourselves. On the way here we met some hikers and they asked us to please leave one canoe on the approach side of the river. Martin first took me and our bikes across. He then went back for Paul and Keith with their bikes. Thereafter it was Darren's turn. To adhere to the hiker's request, Martin and Darren went back across, "towing" a second canoe with them. They left one of the canoes and the only ore available there and then rowed back across with their hands! This little exercise took about 15 minutes.
On the otherside we went up a district road for about a kilometer and then around some houses and onto a grass track. A further 2 kilometer along we stopped at a Spaza shop for Coke and cookies.
This was followed by going around some houses and a grass track past some big sand dunes and down to the beach. Going around one house, Keith ran over a chiken, which suddenly appeared from nowhere. Furtunately no damaged was done and it scattered away towards a house, apparantly unharmed! Now we had 20 kilometers left into the head wind and all along the beach.
Martin gave me a piece of elastic, which was attached to his saddle while I held onto the other end. This way he "pulled" me along. I still had to peddle, but not with the same effort as the other guys. I quickly got the hang of this and realised the elastic must be streached just enough so that there is about a wheel length between me and Martin. I did pick up a "small" problem within the first few meters. Something happened and some of the guys stopped while Martin kept on peddling. I was not sure what to do and it got to a point where the elastic was quite taut and I could not get though between the guys, who were shouting for Martin to stop, but he could not hear due to the wind. In the end I let go of the elastic. The result was that Martin got hard "wack" on the back of his leggs!! Not a good result! Thereafter all went well and we manged to maintain a pace of 10-15 kph against the wind, riding in eschelon with the other guys taking turns to "pace" in front with Martin and me behind. This really worked well. The wind was "pumping" but we kept the pace up. There is no way that I would had been able to keep this pace up without the "tow". We did stop once for a breather and like usual the odd rocky section where we had to carry our bijes acriss. There also were a number of river crossings, but they were so shallow that we just cycled through.
We were really going along well. We did see a seal making its way towards the sea, choosing a route between our bikes. This time we managed to miss it. Along the way it also started to rain. Not to hard and we did not really got wet. The temperature was also quite reasonable. This cleared up after about 15 minutes. As the time was approaching 14:00, we saw the buildings of the Wild Coast Sun in the distance. We rolled in there at 14:30. So with a quick shower, packing and loading of the bikes, we should make the airport in time for Keith's and my flight. His was just after 18:00 and mine at 19:30. Mean while Martin organised sone burgers for lunch.
As we started our journey, my phone rang. It was the airline telling me that they have been trying to get hold of me for a while to inform me that my flight has been cancelled! They offered me a 16:05 flight, which was not going to work as there was no way that we would get there in time. The net result was that my flight was rescheduled for Wednesday 08:40 and I had to find accommodation in Umhlanga for the night.
So that was the end of a truely amasing 7 days of cycling. No big distances cover or massif long days in the saddle, but hard riding with extraordinary views and good company.
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