BB2BB2 Day 39

 

So the end is here. Today I felt like the Tour d'France winner on the final day of the Tour d'France during the ride into Paris! It really was awesome! The support, the camaraderie, the encouragement, it was very special.

Hennie and myself nearly polished the lasagne last night with only a very small helping remaining. I was ready for bed after supper, but Hennie felt it was too early. We both "hung" around for a while and went to our rooms at about 20:45. We arranged to meet Johann and Annemarie along the road and had to get going by 07:30. I set my alarm for 06:30 and had a good sleep. 

Hennie was up early and breakfast of museli, yoghart, toast and coffee was provided at 07:00. Johann advised that the meeting place and time has been changed to 08:00 the Pot Belly down the road from our accommodation. We left just before 08:00 and met them there for coffee. We were a little early for our scheduled arrival at Eden on the Bay by 14:00, so we were in no hurry. We joined the other two for coffee and got going after that, at a leasurely pace.

When we left Mitre's Edge, Hennie commented about the perfect weather. That actually changed as we crossed the N1. Suddenly it was very misty and the temprature dropped to 12 degrees. Even Hennie, who normally ride with bare arms, stopped to put on a jacket. Across from the N1 we took the road to Eenzaamheid through to the Agter Paarl road. Here we went right for a short distance and then left on to the road leading through Leeuwendans and onto Slent road. There was very little relenting in the mist, but the temperature did creep up to 15 degrees. 

At the Slent road junction we took stock of our timing again and it was obvious that we were going to be early if we do not take a deviation or two. First we thought of going through Durbanville, but in the end we decided to take the Klipheuwel turn-off from the Occultdale road and then cross Adderley road to join up with the Malanshoogte road past Fair Cape. This also cut out quite a bit of tar road. 

When we reached the tar section of Malanshoogte, we met up with Andrew Keevy who rode through from Sunningdale on his road bike. He cycled with us over Malanshoogte up to the entrance of Anna Bealah, where we turned off for lunch. My brother and his wife also waited for us half way up the Malanshoogte climb. We stopped to greet and have some water. 

We stopped at Anna Bealah for a bite to eat and to while away some of our excess time. We spent an hour and a bit here and then tackled the last streach. I wanted to arrive at Eden on the Bay at 14:30 so when we got to Table Bay Mall at 14:00, we decided to stop at Vida for a final coffee. This took just more than 10 minutes and we were on our way again. It is only 3.5 km from here to the end where we arrived at 14:30. 

That is it then! 3,500 km over a period of 39 days. What an awesone adventure! Thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible. Without your support, this could not have happened! A special thank you to CANSA. It was while paging through their magazines when I accompanied Sue during her chemo sessions in 2014, that the seed for BB2BB was planted! Now it has been realised twice.

I enclose a couple if videos taken by Con Malherbe while cycling from Nothingham Road to Underberg and up and down Sani Pass.

I will follow up with a reflection in English and Afrikaans together with all the relevant statistics.

BB2BB2 Dag 38

So begin die tweede laaste dag. Wat 'n wonderlike ondervinding en die ondersteuning wat van talle kante kom is net ongelooflik. 

Helena de Clercq het vir ons ontbyt saamgebring en broodjies gemaak. Op die laaste nippertjie sluit Willem Kamstra, wat in 2019 'n deel van die Freedom Challenge saam met my gery het, by ons aan. Ons is dus vandag 5. Jannie Steyn kon dit nie maak nie, maar Annemarie Muller, wat Trans Baviaans saam met my en Johann ry het saam met Johann gekom. 

Die mis is baie dig en ons kan nie verder as 100 meter sien nie. Die lug is dus ook baie klam. Net na die Genadendal afdraai draai ons regs by die Villiersdorp teken. Die pad is aanvanklik teer en word later grond. Na 1:27 en 23 km draai ons weer regs en die keer om die Rusty Gates klim te begin. 5.5 km wat wissel tussen 6-20%! Dit neem ons 1:30 om tot bo te kom. Die 20% gedeelte stoot ek want daar is te veel los klippe om behoorlik traksie te kry. Wanneer die gradiënt afkom na 14%, besluit ek om aan te hou stoot totdat dit afkom na minder as 10%. Bo rus ons en eet ons broodjies. Teen die tyd het ons bo die mis uitgestyg.

Anderkant af is aanvanklik redelik rof en sluit die kruising van 'n diep poel water in.

Daarna volg ons 'n baie goeie dienspad wat soms hoë snelhede teen die bult af genereer. Tot ons op 'n punt kom waar Willem voorstel ons volg 'n pad deur die plantasies wat ons nader aan die Theewaterskloofdam se wal gaan uitbring. Als gaan redelik goed totdat ons op 'n punt kom waar dit lyk of ons te ver links is. Ons posisie in vergelyking met Komoot bevestig ons vermoede. Vier van ons besluit om terug te gaan tot waar ons sien Komoot wys ons moet afggaan. Willem besluit hy gaan kortpad vat. Nadat ons so 'n entjie op ons roete teruggegaan het, kry ons die regte pad. 'n Ent af kruis ons pad met Willem en hy bevestig dat sy pad moeiliker was. Nou is almal weer saam en ons volg die redelike tegniese pad tot by die teerpad. Hier links en oor die damwal. Van nou af is dit teer tot by die huis behalwe wanneer ons op die grondskouer van die teerpad ry.

Na bykans 6 ure se ry en 67 km pak ons Franschoekpas aan. Nie te styl nie, maar konstant. 54 minute om die 7 km tot bo af te lê. Ons neem gou 'n foto en dan is dit volstoom bult af.

Die 7 km af neem net 11 minute! Ons hou by Trebodore stil vir koffie en iets om te eet. Michele, Johann de Bruyn se vrou daag op om vir Johan en Annemarie huis toe te neem. Willem ry saam tot in Kraaifontein waar sy seun sokker speel. 

Hulle vertrek na 'n uur en ek en Hennie pak die pad Klapmuts toe aan waar ons vannaand oornag by Mitre's Edge Wine Estate. Ons handhaaf 'n goeie pas op die pad wat nie te heuwelagtig is nie en lê die 30 km af in 1:41. Ons is heel verras met die "suite" wat ons kry met 'n swem bad en "jacuzzi". Ons bevestig egter dat ons dié fasalitiete nie sal benut nie. Die plek voorsien nie aand ete nie en Hennie het met die gasvrou gereël vir 'n Woolworths gereg. Sy bring vir ons 'n groot bak lasgne. Ons sal beslis nie honger gaan slaap nie. Ons gesles oor lekker met haar die plaas en waar hulle hulle wyn bemark. 

So eindig nog 'n dag. Hennie wil weet hoe vergelyk vandag met van my ander dae. Ek noem vandag se 113 km in 9:42 vir my redelik gemaklik was en goed vergelyk met 'n gemiddelde dag. Nie te veeleisend nie en lekker wisselende topografie. 

Dana Murray het gevra oor die laai van toerusting. My "tracker" werk met AAA batterye. Ek het ou batterye in gehad en hulle was na 9 dae pap. Koop toe nuwes op Badplaas wat tot op Barkley Oos hou, dus 14 dae. Hier en op Hofmyer kry ek net Evereadies wat net 4 dae hou. Reël vir Duracells vanaf Knysna en hulle hou nog steeds. Nuwe Garmin laai ek daagliks en sy battery gaan, volgens persentasie gewys oo sy skerm, meer as 20 uur hou. Selfoon word ook daagliks gelaai. Soms is hy nie vol gelaai wanneer ek gaan slaap nie. Dan los ek hom op laai. Indien ek gedurende die nag wakker word en ek sien hy is volgelaai, ontkoppel hom. So die laai van toerusting is van die eerste dinge wat ek aan die einde van die dag doen. Al die plekke waar ek oorgebly het, het krag gehad. 

P

BB2BB Day 37

Yesterday was the 19th day where the host either said I do not have to pay or a friend paid or I stayed with family or friends who did not charge me for accommodation! Amazing! There has been so much awesome goodwill all along this trip, it just boggles the mind!

I arranged to meet with Philip van der Merwe at the end of Swellendam at 07:00. When I got there, he was allready waiting. We continued straight onto the gravel road leading to Drew. This part of the country do not have many flat areas. You always remain amongst the hills. Nothing serious, but either up or down! We chatted about various subjects while cycling. Philip spent most of his working career with Pepkor, where we met, in the property department. He has been retired for a number of years and while he and his wife loves travelling, he also have partisipated in some interesting cycling events like The Munga and PBP! PBP stands for Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1,200 ride from Paris to Brest on the French west coast and back. We have not seen one another in quite a while so we had lots to talk about. We both also gave completed 33 CTCT/Argus cycle tours. When we reached the tar road leading to Drew after 2 hours, Philip went right to where he is staying for his son's wedding tomorrow, while I went left to find my way to Riviersonderend. 

My route was taking me through Melozhori Private Nature Reserve. I did contact them while organising my trip and they gave me permission to ride through it. All I had to do was advise the date and time so that they could open the gates for me. I arrived at the eastern gate just before 10:00 and informed them that I was there. A young man arrived shortly afterwards to open the gate. The gate obvious have not been opened in quite a while as it could bearly open wide enough for me to get my bike through. As the ride through the park is only 7 km and I would have had to call them again when I got to the western gate, I suggested that I put my bike on the back of the bakkie and take a ride to the otherside. While riding we saw koedoe, waterbuck and a giraffe. The giraffe was far away, but right on the horizon, so that was quite a magnificant sight!

At the otherside I got onto my bike again and had a nice pleasant ride on the R317 for 4 km before turning right onto a gravel road running parallel to the N2 but on the mountain side of the river. This continued for 14 km when I had to join the N2 and ride the last 7 into Riviersonderend on it. I stopped at Ou Meul for a Pepper Steak Pie and a  Mega Coffee. After 20 minutes I was on my way again. 

The ride through to Greyton was pleasant and not too taxing. The normal ups and downs, but nothing serious. I arrived at Lady Grace after 108 km and 8:30 in the saddle. Now there are only two days left. Hennie de Clercq, Johan de Bruyn and Jannie Steyn will be joining me for tomorrow's ride.

BB2BB2 Dag 36

Na gisteraand se braai het ek eers my blog vir die dag geskryf en kom eers 23:00 in die bed, wetende dat ek nie vroeg hoef op te staan nie. Ek kom eers vanoggend na 08:00 aan die beweeg. Eet gisteraand se oorskiet vir ontbyt, saam met koffie. Ek kom 09:30 daar weg.

Ry lekker rustig. Net voor Suurbraak merk ek 'n "bikepacker" oppad in die teenoorgestelde rigting. Ons stop en gesels. Mark van Skotland. Hy toer net so 'n bietjie deur die land en is eersdasgs oppad terug Skotland toe. Vandag mik hy vir Heidelberg. Ons groet en gaan ons verskillende weë. 

Dit is net 31 km Swellendam toe en ek is net na 2 uur se ry daar. Ek ry die hoofstraat af opsoek na 'n winkel waar ek 'n skeermes kan koop. Op daardie presiese oomblik loop 'n ou kennis, Philip van der Merwe wat in die negentigs saam met my by Pepkor gewerk het, oor die straat! Weereens 'n bewys van die Heer se hand om hierdie tydsbereking so perfek reg te kry. 5 minute enige kant toe en ons het mekaar gemis. Ons reël dat hy môre oggend 'n stuk saam met my gaan ry.

Nadat ek my inkopie gedoen het, stop ek by Aan de Eike vir koffie en iets te ete. Toe ek en Pieter Vermeulen 2021 van Kirkwood na Franschoek toe gery het, het ons hier ontbyt ge-eet! My gasheer is net so 'n entjie op in een van die dwars strate en ek kom net na 13:00 daar aan. Nadat ek my agterstallige bolg inskrywings opgelaai het, stort ek en was my vuil fietsry klere. Internet op Rooiberg en Fleckvieh was baie swak met die gevolg dat ek nie my blog kom opdateer nie. Nou is ek weer op datum.

Sien uit na 'n lekker rustige middag en aandete by Republic of Swellendam. Hulle pizzas is heerlik en in November verlede jaar kon ek nie die hele pizza op eet nie. Sal kyk of ek vannaand beter kan doen.

BB2BB2 Day 35

So this incredible journey has been going for 5 weeks! It will be a big adjustment ti get back to a "normal" routine again. I am going to miss getting up at 05:00, put on cycling gear and start peddalling. 

We had a lovely dinner last night. Everybody went for the Lamb Shank, which was top quality. I topped ot off with Cheese Cake while the others shared a Cheese Cake Ice Cream with Cocholate Sauce. I also arranged for a "breakfast pack", as I would leave long before breakfast is served. We arranged for Mike and Johan to meet me at Muiskraal, after 50 km and then ride with we until the T-juntion where left will take them to Heidelberg. Zuna and Riana will meet them there and then they will be off to Stanford. I will then continue, on my own, to Fleckvieh Farm where I will stay the night. According Komoot it would take me 4:46. I did mention to Mike that I hoped to get there closer to 4 hours.

I did get going at 06:01. First it is the 4 km to the gate of the lodge, then down a little dirt road just before Bosriver where the signpost indicate Sionsview. This takes me onto another dirt road serving some farmers, but it do cut out a number of hills on the way to Vanwyksdorp and join the R327 just South of the town. Once again the road is quite hilly, but then are not too long or too steep. After 27 km the road split with a left to Herbertsdale and a right to Riversdale. I go right. A further 10 km on there is another road off to the left, which also connect to the Herbertsdale road. I reach Muiskraal after 4:14. It actually is a farm stall for the Muiskraal olive farm, so all kinds of olives are for sale. They also sell rusks, bottled fruit, dried fruit and related products. They do not sell any "food" like pies or sandwiches nor coffee! I settle for a Sterrystumpy and some dried peaches. After 15 minutes I am done, but Mike and Johan is nowhere to be seen. I tell the people at the shop where I am going and that they must inform Mike and Johan accordingly when they arrive. 

The next turn-off is just 3 km up the road. While cycling there, my phone rings. It is Zuna, but I decide to rather contact them when I am at the turn-off. I stop there and take pictures of the road and information signs, which I forward to then. The informstion sign says "Groot Phisantefontein 7 km". There also is a message that they will only be at Muidkrasl at 11:25! I then phone them and tell them where to turn off. I also tell them that it is a good gravel road, meaning that they should drive down it untill they see me and then the men can start cycling with me. By the time I reach the Gysmanshodk Pass turn-off, there still is no sign of my mates! I take a picture of the road sign and two from intended road as per Komoot and forward this to Mike. A little while later my phone rings. It is Mike. I answer and can hear him pedalling, but he does not answer, so it is obvious that it was a "pocket dial". About a third up the pass there is a gate, which is open. I stop to take a rest and eat an egg. As I start packing up, I see Mike and Johan coming up the road! They inform me that they thought I wanted them to going over the mountain bis Groot Phisantefontein, so they turned in there. The farmer them directed them to the Gysmanshoek turn-off. So all is well that ends well!

It takes me 1:20 to cover the 6.5 km from the turn-off to the pass to the top. An average speed of 5 kph! Down the otherside it takes 25 minutes to cover 6.8 km, which included a stop to fill our water bottles from a mountain stream. At the T- junction we go right towards Heidelberg. In the distance we can see where our rout goes over a hill, which is separated from us by a deep valley. In the process we will travel 13 km and only gain a net 50 meters, but go down from 440 meters to 270, up to 390, down to 220 and up to 490! In all of this there is very little flat road, so we are either flying down a hill or grinding up another! It takes us 1:40 to cover the 16 km from this point to the nect T-junction, which bottoms out at 120 meters 3 km further down the road! 

Here our paths part. Mike and Johan go left to join there wives in Heidelberg and then off to Stanford. I go right towards Swelkendsm, but today only as far as Fleckvieh Farm, 30 km down the road, where I will spend the night. But there is a sign inviting me for coffee and a milkshake! We say our goodbyes and I go for a coffee and s milkshake. I also order a cheese and tomatoe toasted sandwich. After 39 minutes I am on my way. 

I tried to count the hills after a while because once again it was either up or down. The hills were only 100-200 meters, but some had 22% sections. Progress was not as fast as I would have liked and I calculated that I will only get to my destination at 19:00. The sun goes doen at 18:08, so it will be dark by the time I reach home. I do have lights, so that is not a problem, but it will be a long day

One of my clients, Dave May and his wife Racael, with whom I have built up a wonderful relationship over the years, told me that they will be in Witsand when I pass through this area and that they would like to meet up with me somewhere along the road. Now normally I do not answer my phone when it rings while cycling, but when I notice that the Mays were looking for me, I stopped and answer. They were very close to where I was amd wanted to know if they could fetch me. Now after spendind 11:40 in the saddle to cover 110 km and getting such an offer, then there can only be one reply! I continued cycling and with 14 km to go, our paths crossed. I stopped, we greeted and loaded my bike into the back of there vehicle. The last 14 km was covered in much less time than it would have taken me to cycle it. I was very glad to be home after 12:07 and not the 13 hours it would have taken me on my own steam! They even offered to take me to Witsand with them and drop me in Swellendam the next, but I declinded as I felt that that would defeat the purpose of my trip to some extend.

Fleckvieh is a self catering and camping site, so supper was going to be a problem. To over come this, I arranged for some wood, meat and salads so that I can make supper for myself. Dave started the fire while I off loaded my bike. After they "showered" me with some cookies, sweets a d Coke, they left. While the fire was burning, I had shower. When I got back, the coals were ready and I could get the job done of "cooking" and eating supper.

Another eventful day in the life of a lonely cyclist, who had some ecxellent company, in more than one way, today!