The plan for Day 2 was to either do a 121 km loop, which included 58 km of the Freedom Challenge or a 66 km loop. Alan agreed to join me on the 121 km loop.
We got going just after 08:00. Right at the main road, travelling west towards Anysberg. We quickly got to the top of a 3 km downhill where I clocked 63.5 kph. This was followed by some undulations until we reached the Rouxpos turn off after 17 km.
Here we nearly had a problem as some of the guys went ahead and missed the turnoff! We were fortunate in that we managed to call them back. The next 5 km was a gradual climb and we did spread out a bit. I waited at the top so that we could "regroup". Alan, Mike and Johan joined me. Hannes lost his cellphone and turned around to look for it. Danie and Wille joined him in the search, which was unsuccessful. It fell out of his frame bag after he took some photos. There also were some brake marks from a bakkie close to where he lost it and the conclusion was that these guys picked it up and drove away with it. Hannes did quite a search, including asking some people, but had no success. Due to all this, they did no do the short loop, but home from there.
The four of us continued down past Rouxpos heading towards the Droëfontein turnoff. Mike and Johan raced ahead and once again missed the turnoff and this time we had no luck in calling them back! Fortunately the road swings to the right and goes uphill. We saw them stopping high above us, while we waited at the turnoff. After awhile they realised that we were not coming after them, so they turned around to come and join us. Johan was going to do the shorter loop, but at the spur of the moment, decided to join us. Mike indicated that he was joining me and Alan when we "regather" at the top of the hill before Rouxpos.
Once we were all together again, we started negotiating the Freedom Challenge route past Droëfontein along the mountain to join the Anysberg road 19 km later. Intially there was a farm track leading up to the Droëfontein Guest House, about 3 km down the road. Our track goes around the righthand side of the dwelling, but we did pop in to fill up our water bottles.
Once that was done, we joined our track again. It was obvious that this track is no longer used too often as there were no tyre marks. The track was quite clear for the first 2 km and then we hit the riverbed and it turned out to be soft sand, which was mostly unridable. We had to push our bicycles along for most of the next 2 km. In winter, when the Freedom Challenge comes through here, the sand is cold and mostly ridable, but in summer that is not possible! We also crossed some bigger, dry streams with big rocks and some sections with reeds.
Once through all this, we again picked up a nice, ridable jeep track, meandering along the side of the mountain going up and down. The scenery was quite beautifull.
After 52 km we got to the gate that took us onto the Anysberg road. At this point our average speed was 11.3 kph. We turn right and head in the Anysberg direction. Up a steep hill and down the otherside. Here we were confronted by a stationery bakkie in the middle of the road with the driver's door opened. This was a downhill and I was doing about 50 kph. The gap looked big enough and I decided to go for it, shouting"idiot" as I passed him. Mike also made it and by the time Alan came past, the door was closed!
At 58 km we reached the Anysberg gate. This was unlocked and we proceeded down to some empty chalets, where we managed to get water. After filling our bottles and eating what we brought for lunch, we were back on the road again. Still 63 km to go and by now have been on the road for 5:22! At this rate we are not going to get home before 18:00! The road is undulated and it is difficult to maintain a good average speed.
A number of kilometers down the road we find a farmhouse and stop to fill up our water bottles. We get nice cold water and am on our way again. More undulations, through a beatiful "poort" and after 82 km we get to a T-junction. Left to Lainsburg and right to Calitsdorp and this is a tar road. Left is called Witnek and right is Rooinekke. This is a "pass" and once again the road is undulated. A further 8 km down this road, the tar becomes gravel. At about 96 km we find a dwelling where we can fill our water bottles again. The undulations do not stop, but at least we can average 14 kph.
I am heading up the rear as Alan is much stronger and I cannot keep up with the e-bikes. I see the guys stopping in front of me next to a large sign on the side of the road. It reads"Porcupine Cold Beers"! Alan phones them. They are closed but will open for us. Alan state that we will not have any beers as we still have 17 km to go! We take an "imprompto" decision to stop here and call our friends to come and fetch us. It is now 16:40 and the remaining 14 km includes another 500 meters of climbing. This would take us at least another 2 hours. That would mean we will only get home at 19:00! We cycle down to Porcupine and is welcomed with ice cold beers! Danie and Hannes arrive within 15 minutes and after some more beers, the bikes are loaded and we head home.
What a day. Distance 107 km; time 8:41; meters climbed 1,561.
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