Louvain Toer (Reverse) Dag 2 De Vlugt na Knysna oor Kom se pad

 See English below

Ons begin 06:09 trap. Die eerste 22 km van vandag se rit is meesal opdraend. Ons begin by 370 meter en eindig by 690 meter. Op 'n kol daal ons na 220 meter en moet dan weer klim! Totale klim oor die 22 km is 680 meter. Dit neem ons 2:15 om die 22 km af te lê. Hennie se "handewerk" op sy deraillier hou goed en gee geen probleme nie! Ons spore is vanoggend die eerstes op die pas na die vorrige aand se reën. Die pad oppervlakte toon ook duidelik dat daar heelwat water gevloei het.

So amper bo op die eerste bult hoor ek stemme agter my. Na 'n rukkie kom 'n man en twee dames by my verby. Hulle is van Elandsheuwel, naby Uitenhage en het van Steytlerville af gery. Hulle is oppad Grootbrak toe. Ons ry die res van die dag saam met hulle. Ruil lekker stories uit. Ma, Pa en Dogter! Het eers geboer maar nou is Ma en Pa by kuns betrokke en dogter het sopas haar Doktors graad in Ondergrondse water voltooi. Ook groot Freedom Challenge "dotwatcher". Wat is 'n FC dotwatcher? Iemand wat die beweging van die dotjies, wat FC deelnemers se vordering aandui op die FC webwerf, dop hou!

Die 22 km bestaan uit twee ernstige klimme en een baie styl afdraend. Die afdraend is net 2 km maar ons daal van 500 meter na 220 meter oor die 2 km. Bo by Buffelsnek maak ons eers behoorlik kennis en ruil telefoonnommers uit. 

Nadat ons herstel het pak ons die bult af aan. Die oppervlakte is rof en ons spoed is so net oor 30 kpu. Dit is 'n 10 km bult maar ons verloor net meer as 200 meter nie, so die helling is sodanig dat ons nie regtig lekker spoed jkn opbou nie. Onder by Kom se pad se afdraai stop ons om weer iets te eet en lekker rustig te gesels. 

Dan pak ons Kom se pad aan. Hy is ook redelik rof maar dit is so mooi hier dat jy in elkgeval nie te vinnig wil ry nie. Die e-bike en "jonger" mense "drop" my so elke nou en dan wanneer ons die styl gedeeltes aandurf.  

Bo-op Gouna se bult konsollideer ons. Al wat nou oorbly is die kort styl bult af na die Gounarivier en dan die laaste klim na Simola. Hy is net 2 km lank maar ons klim 110 meter. Bo versamel ons weer en dan met die Simola heuwel af na die N2 wat deur Knysna loop. Net voor die aansluiting "konsolideer" ons weer by hulle "backup" voertuig. Fotos word geneem en ons neem afskeid. Moontlik sien ons mekaar môre weer op die Sewepasse pad!

We start pedaling at 06:09. The first 22 km of today's ride is mostly uphill. We start at 370 meters and end at 690 meters. At one point we descend to 220 meters and then have to climb again! Total climb over the 22 km is 680 meters. It takes us 2:15 to cover the 22 km. Hennie's "handiwork" on his derailleur is successful and it gives no problems! Our tracks are on "virgin territory" after last night's rain.

Almost at the top of the first hill I hear voices behind me. After a while a man and two ladies pass me. They are from Elandsheuwel, near Uitenhage and have ridden from Steytlerville. They are on their way to Grootbrak. We ride with them the rest of the day exchanging stories. Mom, Dad and Daughter! They were farmers but now Mom and Dad are involved in art and daughter has just completed her Doctorate degree in Underground water. She is a big Freedom Challenge "dotwatcher". What is an FC dotwatcher? Someone who keeps track of the movement of the dots, which indicate the progress of FC participants on the FC website!

The 22 km consists of two serious climbs and one very steep descent. The descent is only 2 km but we descend from 500 meters to 220 meters over the 2 km. At the top of Buffelsnek we first get to know each other properly and exchange phone numbers.

After we recover we tackle the downhill. The surface is rough and our speed is just over 30 kpu. It is a 10 km hill but we lose just over 200 meters, so the slope is such that we can't really build up any speed. At the turnoff of Kom se pad we stop to eat something again and have a nice, leisurely chat.

Then we tackle Kom se pad. It is also quite rough but it is so beautiful here that you don't want to ride too fast anyway. The e-bike and "younger" people "drop" me every now and then when we venture into the steep sections. At the top of Gouna the hill we consolidate. All that remains now is the short steep hill down to the Gouna River and then the last climb to Simola. It is only 2 km long but we climb 110 meters. At the top we regroup and then down the Simola hill to the N2 that runs through Knysna. Just before the junction we "consolidate" again with their "backup" vehicle. Photos are taken and we say goodbye. Maybe we'll see each other again tomorrow on the Seven Passes road!