360NE Nommer 11

See English version below for those who do not understand Afrikaans.

Dit is einde Mei en dit is weer 360NE tyd. My broer sou saam gaan, maar kon dit dit nie maak nie, dus ry ek op Donderdag 23 Mei op my eie Oudsthoorn toe. Kom so 17:45 by Karoo Soul aan. Nadat ek afgesaal het, ry ek La Dolce Vita toe vir aandete. Ek kom 22:00 tot ruste en slaap baie rustig en lekker. Word 07:30 wakker en ry deur Kleinplasie toe vir registrasie na ontbyt. Tel bokse vir kontrole punte op en ry terug blyplek toe om klere ensovoorts wat ek by kontole punte 1, 2 en 3 mag nodig mag kry, in te sit en teen 12:00 af te gee. Ek kry ook parkeerplek binne in Kleinplasie waar ek my motor gaan los terwyl ek ry. Nadat ek dit gedoen het nuttig en ‘n ligte middagete by Beans About Coffee. Terwyl ek eet kom die eienaar, Johan Breunissen daar aan. Ons is nou al “ou vriende” en gesels ‘n bietjie. Na ete is ek terug Karoo Soul toe om aan te trek en reg te maak vir die begin. Ek loop ook vir Fred van Zyl, my mede 70+ deelnemer daar raak. Hy klop my gewoonlik met so ‘n uur of so, maar ons sien mekaar gereeld langs die pad. Ons albie beplan om dit “rustig” te vat en vir so tussen 24 en 27 uur te  mik! “Famous last words”! Fred is 18 maande ouer as ek.

 

Ek vertrek so net na 13:00 weer Kleinplasie toe vir die “Race Briefing” en net om daar uit te "chill”. Terwyl ek daar sit, kom voer Mark le Roux van Bigshot Media, ‘n onderhoud met my, so ek mag dalk die TV haal! Ek beweeg so teen 14:45 na die wegspring blok om die laaste paar minute af te wag. Net voor ons begin daag Jan Braai ook daarop! Dit sal sy eerste poging wees. pa en my normale fietsry maat is goeie vriende en hy het saam met my seun “geswot, so ons ken mekaar.

 

Presies om 15:00 begin die wiele rol. Ek was redelik naby aan die voorpunt en begin rustig, met die gevolg dat daar heelwat deelnemers by my verby kom binne die eerste 3 km. Ons volg die pad Kango Grotte toe en draai op 7 km regs vir ons eerste, van 53 klimme! Ons klim vir die volgende 10 km. Nie te erg nie, net goed genoeg om die bloedsomloop behoorlik op dreef te kry vir wat nog kom! Dit word gevolg deur ‘n lekker afdraend en dan redelik gelyk vir die volgende 39 km.

Ek handhaaf ‘n redelik pas en ry saam met ‘n lekker groep. Ek kom na 2:29 by Waterpunt 1 aan en stop vir 4 minute om my waterbottel vol te maak, piesangbrood te eet en ‘n paar glasies Coke te drink. Ek het my “windbreaker” en warm handskoene met die wegspring sommer in my fietsry top in gedruk. Ek trek dit die “windbreaker” aan aangesien dit nou koeler begin raak. 

 

Die eerste groterige klim is net na die waterpunt. 176 meter oor die volgende 5 km. Van hier tot by Louvain, kontrole punt 1, bly ons basies op dieselfde hoogte maar daar is baie min gelyk stukke. In die 46 km is daar 11 kilmme. Die lengtes van die kilmme wissel so van 650 meter en 2.4km met ‘n gradient van so tussen 3 en 5% met ‘n maksimum van 11.8%. Dit neem my 2:54 om dit af te lê. Intussen het die son gesak en ons ry nou in die donker. Temperature is redelik maar staan nou op 12 grade Celsius. By Louvain is daar altyd lekker sop. Ek kry my een boks en besluit om net nog ‘n warmbaadjie uit te haal. Na twee koppies sop en 'n 21 minute stop, begin ek weer. 

 

Ek kom baie gou agter dat die temparatuur vining begin daal en stop binne die eerste 2 km om my ander warmbaadjie en die warm handskoene aan te trek. Van hier tot by die volgende waterpunt, 28 km in die pad af, ry ons meesal op plaaspaaie. Ons gaan onderdeur die N9 met ‘n “culvert” en dat op ‘n redelike rowwe en klipperige bees paadjie vir ongeveer 3 km en sluit dan by die Eseljagrivier pad aan. Op 123 km sluit ons by die pad aan waarmee ons vroeẽr gekom het, maar nou in die teenoorgestelde rigting. My Garmin 840 wys die aansluiting en besluit om daarop te “vries”’. Ek probeer alles om  hom weer aan die gang te kry, maar al wat hy vir my wys is die “aansluiting”! Gelukkig het ek my Garmin Fenix ook aangesit, so ek het darem iets om op terug t eval, maar hy gee nie soveel inligting as die 840 nie is toe onder my langmoue, so dit is nodal moeilik om sy inligting te lees. Na 130 km kom ek by die Heimersrivier waterpunt aan. Ek vra daar vir hulp met my Garmin 840, maar ons kom nêrens. Sal maar moet terug val op my Fenix. Ek eet weer piesangbrood en drink ‘n paar glasies Coke. Terug by my fiets probeer ek weer die 840 aan die gang kry deur vier knoppies gelyktydig te druk. Dit werk gewoonlik, maar dan verloor jy gewoonlik al jou inligting. Wonder bo wonder, dit werk en nog ‘n wonder, toe hy uiteindelik na omtrent 2 minute weer aan die gang kom, is al die inligting nog daar! Dit is ‘n klein verligting, want dit is nie lekker om sonder inligting te ry nie. 

 

Die inligting wat die Garmin gee is nogal baie handig. Uit die aard van die saak gee hy ry tyd en afstand aan, maar dan oor hart spoed, temperatuur en battery leeftyd. By elke bult word die totale afstand van die bult en meter wat geklim moet word ook aan gegee. Terwyl jy ry dui hy die gradient en afstand na die bopunt aan. Die stuk tussen Luovain en Heimersrivier het nou nie juis bulte gehad nie, maar nou verander dit vining. Tussen Heimersrivier en Volmoed is daar 11 klimme. Hulle wissel van so 500 meter na net meer as ‘n kilometer. Die gemiddelde gradiẽnt wissel so tussen 2 en 5% maar daar is een van 520 meter met ‘n maksimum van 17.6% en ‘n ander een van 2.32 met ‘n maksimum van 8.93%. Die klimme word afgesluit met ‘n daal na die Grootdoringrivier wat dan by die Kandelaarsrivier vallei aansluit. Op 166 km sluit ons by die R328 wat Oudthoorn met Mosselbaai verbind, aan. 4 km pad af draai ons links, Volmoed toe. 

 

‘n Vorige keer op die 360NE het my battery se rooi lig 01:30 die oggend aangegaan. Wanneer dit gebeur het jy nog so ‘n uur se battery leeftyd oor, maar hy het daardie keer tot daglig gehou! Vanoggend kom die rooilig 00:30 aan! Ek het voorsorg hiervoor getref en twee kopligte, wat elk so 3 uur hou en ‘n spaar battery in een van my bokse gesit, óf so beplan, maar meer hieroor later. Ek kom na 176 km en 9:49 by Volmoed aan. Ek kry my boks en trek ‘n langbroek en nog ‘n warm top aan, dit onderwyl ek ‘n bakkie pasta en ‘n glaise warm sjokolade, verorber. Ek soek my spaar battery in die boks, maar daar is niks! Ek kan ook nie onthou dat ek hom in gesit het nie! Sal maar duim vas moet hou dat die ander “backups” sal hou! Na 27 minute is ek weer in die pad. 

 

Die skof vam Volmoed na Calitsdorp is die moeilikste. Twee redes: daar is al 180 km in die bene en die meeste klim van die roete is in die skof. In die eerste 180 km is daar 1,995 meter se klim. In die tweede 180, klim ons 2,844 meter! Volmoed na Calitsdorp is 101.5 km met 1.630 meter se klim. Dit is ‘n gemiddelde van 15.62 meter per kilometer terwyl die eerste 180 km op 11.36 te staan gekom het! Die skof sluit ook Rooiberg in. Dit is ‘n 7 km klim. Die maksimum is net 11.1 % en die gemiddelde 7.26%, maar die is onophoudend! Die Englese sê “relentless”! Gelukkig is daar darem drie waterpunt in die skof.

 

Net na Volmoed is daar ‘n 6 klimme met baie min ruskans tussen in. Die enige “genade” is dat die klimme nie baie styl is nie. Die gradient is ‘n redelike konstante 5% oor ‘n afstand van 20 km. Die eerste 14 km is uitmergelend op die stadium van die wedrstyd is dit nie lekker nie! Dan kom daar gelukkig ‘n lekker afdraend en dan die laaste klim. Dit neem my ‘n uur en ‘n half om die “probleempie” onder die knie te kry. Dit word gevolg deur ‘n aangename stuk op die rug van die heuwel tot by waterpunt 6 op 214 kilometer. Onmiddelik na die waterpunt klim ons weer voordat ons afsak na die Gouritsrivier toe. Ons is nou ‘n paar man wat mekaar “geselskap” hou. Nie dat daar veel gesels word nie. Ons is te moeg daarvoor! Ons kruis die Gourits op 224 km. 

 

Dit word weer gevolg deur ‘n 16 km “marteling”! Die gradient is nie te moeilik nie, maar ons klim bykans voltyds! Ek en ‘n deelnemer, wat ek voor waterpunt 1 gesien het, ry nou saam. Hy kla ook oor die feit dat die klim net nie ophou nie! Na 14 en ‘n half uur kom ons by waterpunt 7 aan. Net toe ek my fiets neer sit, sien ek vir Fred wat op sy fiets klim en die volgende stuk aan pak. Hy het my nie gesien, maar ek sal hom nie voor die einde vang nie! Ek het hom ook vroeẽr by ‘n waterpunt sien weg ry net toe ek daar aan kom. Ons het nou al 241 km gery en nou lê Rooiberg net om die hoek!

Ek hou van stastistiek en die volgende is heel interessant: in 2024 het die 7 km van Rooiberg my 1:20:31 geneem en vanjaar neem dit my 1:20:03! Dit ten spite daarvan dat ek die eerste helfte gestoot het. Ek het verlede jaar ook ‘n groot deel gestoot, maar nie naastenby so baie soos vanjaar nie. In die vorige jare het ek gewoonlik die pas uit getrap. Bo stop ek vining vir ‘n paar verfrissings en val dan weer in die pad. Die pas af is, soos altyd, biae rof. Die pad oppervlakte veroorsaak dat ek nie te vining kan ry nie en my gewrigte sê les op met al die gestampery! Ek is dankbaar toe ek eindelik onder op die gelyk stuk kom. Mark le Roux kom met sy bakkie en kamera by my verby en voer so in die ry weer ‘n kort onderhoud met my. Ek kyk na my tyd en bereken dat ek vandag so tussen 24 en 26 uur gaan ry. Alles hang af van waartoe die bene oor die laaste 80 km in staat is. Teen 10 kpu sal dit my 8 uur neem en dan kom ek op 26 uur in. Op hierdie stadium is my hande en gewerigte so seer dat ek amper nie die handvasels van vas hou nie! Daar is bykans geen gevole is my hande nie. Die temperatuur daal ook tot by 3.5 grade Celsius. Net 3 minute kort van 18 uur en na 277 km kom ek by die Calitsdorp, kontorlepunt 3, aan. Eetlus bestaan nie op die stadium van die wedstryd nie en ek “settle” vir twee gekookte aartappels en twee koppies koffie. Na 20 minute pak ek die laaste skof aan. Nou moet ek sien wat ek oor hierdie laaste 80 km kan doen.

 

Die eerste 26 km is alles opdraende. 472 meter se klim sonder enige behoorlike ruskans. Dan kom die laaste vier bulte. Garmin wys dit aan as twee! Eerste een is 8.19 km met 332 meter se klim, maar dit is eintlik twee defentiewe klimme is. My enigie vlakke is op die stadium so laag, dat ek groot gedeeltes afklim en stoot. Die twee “dubbel” is 7.23 km met 309 meter se klim. Die laaste gedeelte is net voor die afdraai Wildehondekloof toe en ek kry dit reg om die een te ry. 

 

Nou kom Wildehondekloof. Twee jaar gelede was dit redelik verspoel en verlede jaar was daar net “tydelike” herstelwerkk gedoen. Vanjaar is die pad weer normal, maar nog steeds baie klipperig. Dit, te same met die gestamp by Rooiberg af, vererger die seer hande en gewrigte.

Ek is dankbaar toe ek die laaste waterpunt bereik. Nou is daar nog net 20 km oor en dit is meesal gelyk pad. Die pad oppervlakte is ook baie beter. Dit is nou 13:45 en indien ek 20 kpu gemiddeld kan handhaaf tot die einde, sal ek 24 uur kan breek. Ek trek weg en behou ‘n spoed van so net meer as 20 kpu. Daar is so ‘n I km bultjie met 30 meter se klim wat my spoed afbring na 10 kpu, maar dan styg dit weer na 20. Met 7 km oor, sluit ons by die R62 wat Calitsdorp en Oudtshoorn verbind, aan. Nou is dit teer tot by die einde met net die laaste bultjie net voor die R328 waar my spoed af kom na 14 kpu. My gedagtes “mors” met my en ek oorweeg dit om rustig te ry en te vergeet van onder 24 uur in te kom, maar dan kry my kompiterende instink weer die oorhand en ek ”druk” aan. 2 km om te gaan en ek het 10 minute om dit te doen! Ek druk deur en maak klaar in 23:55:59! 

 

Ek is baie tervrede mat vandag se poging. Dit was weer ‘n ontbering, maar die satisfaksie van om die “avontuur” suksesvol te voltooi, maak dit die moeite werd. Ek loop vir Fred raak. Hy het 23:09 gery. By Louvain was ons verskil 4 minute; by Volmoed 21 miunte; Calitsdorp 25 minute en by die einde 44 minute! Die ou yster! Ek gun dit vir hom en dit is ‘n eer om deur hom geklop te word. Hy eindig dan ook eerste in die 70+ groep en ek tweede. Ons stem albei saam dat die wedren nie vir sulke ou mense soos bedoel is nie en besluit om nie volgende jaar te ry nie!

Hier is die manne wat 11 en 12 360NE's gedoen het!

Sondagoggend, oppad huistoe, begin my kop weer met my "ego" smokkel! Na 4 360NE's het ek vir Sue gesê "nooit weer nie'! Toe was die prys uitdeling nog Sondagoggend 09:00. Daar sê hulle dat almal wat 5 gedoen het, 'n spesiale prys kry! Ek kan dit mos nie mis nie, met die gevolg dat ek die volgende jaar terug gekom het. Toe begin hulle "gratis" inskrywings vir die 70+ jariges aanbied en weer val die "sucker" vir die "lus". 2023 reën dit omtrent heeltyd en ek besluit weer "genoeg is genoeg", maar ek kan mos nie by 9 ophou nie, daar is dan 'n speiale prys vir 10! Dus moes ek verlede jaar terug kom. Ek weet nog nie lekker hoekom ek vir vanjaar ingeskryf het nie. Kon seker maar nie die versoeking weerstaan om aan 'n wedren, waar ek 'n gratis inskrywing kry, deel te neem nie! Nou het ek en Fred besluit tot hier toe en nie verder nie! Dit is waar my "kop" toe op die pad terug begin "werk". Wat is die lewe indien mens jouself nie so nou en dan buite jou "gemak sone" dryf nie? Die 360NE dryf jou beslis tot buite jou gemak sone. Dus "tob" ek nou oor die volgende: hou aan met die 360NE totdat ek dit nie meer in onder 30 uur kan klaar maak nie of totdat hulle besluit 70+ jariges moet weer begin betaal. Ek wonder wat Fred gaan sê! 

Hier is 'n foto van Fred.

English

It is the end of May and it is 360NE time again. My brother was going with me, but couldn’t make it, so I drive to Oudsthoorn on my own on Thursday 23 May. Arrive at Karoo Soul at around 17:45. After I clocking in, I go to La Dolce Vita for dinner. I get back home at 22:00 and sleep very peacefully and soundly. Wake up at 07:30 and drive through to Kleinplasie to register after breakfast. Pick up boxes for checkpoints and drive back to the accommodation to put in clothes etc. that I may need at checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 and drop them off by 12:00. I also find a parking space inside Kleinplasie where I will leave my car while I ride. After this I have a snack and a light lunch at Beans About Coffee. While I am eating, the owner, Johan Breunissen, arrives. We are now “old friends” and chat a bit. After lunch I went back to Karoo Soul to get dressed and get ready for the start. I also ran into Fred van Zyl, my fellow 70+ participant there. He usually beats me by an hour or so, but we see each other regularly along the way. Our plans tis o take it “easy” and aim for between 24 and 27 hours! “Famous last words”! Fred is 18 months older than me.

 

I leave for Kleinplasie again just after 13:00 for the “Race Briefing” and just to “chill out”. While I’m sitting there, Mark le Roux from Bigshot Media comes to interview me, so I might make the TV! I move to the starting block around 14:45 to wait out the last few minutes. Just before we start, Jan Braai also shows up! This will be his first attempt. His dad and my normal riding partner and friends. He also studied with my son, so we know one another.

 

Exactly at 15:00 the wheels start rolling. I was pretty close to the front and started off calmly, with the result that quite a few participants passed me within the first 3 km. We followed the road to Cango Caves and turned right at 7 km for our first of 53 climbs! We climbed for the next 10 km. Not too bad, just good enough to get the blood circulation going for what was to come! This was followed by a nice descent and then fairly flat for the next 39 km. I maintained a reasonable pace and rode with a nice group. I arrived at Water Point 1 after 2:29 and stopped for 4 minutes to fill my water bottle, eat banana bread and drink a few glasses of Coke. I had just stuffed my windbreaker and warm gloves into my cycling top at the start. I put the windbreaker on as it was starting to get cooler.

 

The first major climb was just after the water point. 176 meters over the next 5 km. From here to Louvain, control point 1, we basically stay at the same altitude but there are very few flat sections. In the 46 km there are 11 climbs. The lengths of the climbs vary from 650 meters and 2.4km with a gradient of between 3 and 5% with a maximum of 11.8%. It takes me 2:54 to complete the shift. In the meantime the sun has set and we are now riding in the dark. Temperatures are reasonable but now stand at 12 degrees Celsius. At Louvain there is always good soup. I get my one box and decide to just take out another warm jacket. After two cups of soup and a 21 minute stop, I start again.

 

I quickly notice that the temperature is dropping rapidly and stop within the first 2 km to put on my other warm jacket and warm gloves. From here to the next water point, 28 km down the road, we mostly drive on farm roads. We go under the N9 with a “culvert” and then on a fairly rough and rocky cattle track for about 3 km and then join the Eseljag River road. At 123 km we join the road we came on earlier, but now in the opposite direction. My Garmin 840 shows the junction and decides to “freeze” on it. I try everything to get it going again, but all it shows me is the “junction”! Fortunately I also started my Garmin Fenix, so at least I have something to fall back on, but it doesn’t give as much information as the 840 and it is closed under my long sleeves, so it’s really hard to read the information. After 130 km I arrive at the Heimersrivier water point. I ask for help with my Garmin 840, but we are not getting any joy. I will have to fall back on my Fenix. I eat banana bread again and drink a few glasses of Coke. Back at my bike I try to get the 840 to start again by pressing four buttons simultaneously. It usually works, but then you usually lose all your information. Miraculously, it works and another miracle, when it finally starts up again after about 2 minutes, all the information is still there! It is a small relief, because it is not nice to ride without information.

 

The information that the Garmin gives is quite useful. By its very nature it gives riding time and distance, but then also heart rate, temperature and battery life. At each hill the total distance of the hill and meters that must be climbed are also given. While you ride it indicates the gradient and distance to the top. The stretch between Louvain and Heimersrivier didn’t have many hills, but now it’s changing rapidly. There are 11 climbs between Heimersrivier and Volmoed. They range from about 500 metres to just over a kilometre. The average gradient varies between 2 and 5%, but there is one of 520 metres with a maximum of 17.6% and another of 2.32 with a maximum of 8.93%. The climbs are concluded with a descent to the Grootdoringrivier valley which then joins the Kandelaarsrivier valley. At 166 km we join the R328 which connects Oudthoorn with Mossel Bay. 4 km down the road we turn left, towards Volmoed.

 

A previous time on the 360NE my battery’s red light came on at 01:30 in the morning. When that happened you still had about an hour of battery life left, but that time it lasted until daylight! This morning the red light comes on at 00:30! I took precautions for this and put two headlights, each lasting about 3 hours, and a spare battery in one of my boxes, or so I planned, but more on this later. I arrive at Volmoed after 176 km and 9:49 in the saddle. I get my box and put on long pants and another warm top, while I consume a bowl of pasta and a glass of hot chocolate. I look for my spare battery in the box, but there is nothing! I can’t remember putting it in either! I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that the other “backups” will last! Fortunately the head lamps are in my moonbag. After 27 minutes I am back on the road.

 

The stage from Volmoed to Calitsdorp is the hardest. Two reasons: there are already 180 km in the legs and most of the climbs of the route is in the stage. In the first 180 km there is 1,995 meters of climbing. In the second 180, we climb 2,844 meters! Volmoed to Calitsdorp is 101.5 km with 1,630 meters of climbing. This is an average of 15.62 meters per kilometer while the first 180 km came to 11.36! The stage also includes Rooiberg. It is a 7 km climb. The maximum is only 11.1% and the average 7.26%, but it is relentless! Fortunately, there are at least three water points in the stage.

 

Just after Volmoed there are 6 climbs with very little rest in between. The only “mercy” is that the climbs are not very steep. The gradient is a fairly constant 5% over a distance of 20 km. The first 14 km are grueling at this stage of the race and it is not fun! Then fortunately there is a nice descent and then the last climb. It takes me an hour and a half to get over this “problem”. This is followed by a pleasant stretch on the ridge of the hill to water point 6 at 214 kilometres. Immediately after the waterpoint we climb again before descending to the Gourits River. We are now a few men who keep each other “company”. Not that there is much conversation. We are too tired for that! We cross the Gourits at 224 km.

 

This is followed again by a 16 km “torture”! The gradient is not too difficult, but we are climbing almost the whole time! A participant, whom I saw before water point 1, and I are now riding together. He also complains about the fact that the climb just doesn’t stop! After 14 and a half hours we arrive at water point 7. Just as I put my bike down, I see Fred getting on his bike and starting the next section. He didn’t see me, but I won’t catch him before the end! I also saw him riding away from a water point earlier just as I got there. We have now ridden 241 km and now Rooiberg is just around the corner! I like statistics and the following is quite interesting: in 2024 the 7 km from Rooiberg took me 1:20:31 and this year it takes me 1:20:03! This despite the fact that I pushed the first half. I also pushed a lot last year, but not nearly as much as this year. In previous years I always cycled to whole pass. At the top I quickly stop for a few refreshments and then hit the road again. The descent is, as always, very rough. The road surface prevents me from going too fast and my joints are giving up with all the pounding! I am grateful when I finally reach the flat section at the bottom. Mark le Roux passes me with his bakkie and camera and conducts a short interview with me again while I am cycling. I look at my time and calculate that I will be riding between 24 and 26 hours today. It all depends on what my legs are capable of over the last 80 km. At 10 kph it will take me 8 hours and then I will be in at 26 hours. At this stage my hands and joints are so sore that I can hardly hold the hand grips! There is almost no feeling in my hands. The temperature also drops to 3.5 degrees Celsius. Just 3 minutes short of 18 hours and after 277 km I arrive at the Calitsdorp, checkpoint 3. Appetite is non-existent at this stage of the race and I “settle” for two boiled potatoes and two cups of coffee. After 20 minutes I tackle the last stage. Now I have to see what I can do over these last 80 km.

 

The first 26 km are all uphill. 472 meters of climbing without any proper rest. Then come the last four hills. Garmin shows them as two! The first one is 8.19 km with 332 meters of climbing, but it is actually two definitive climbs. My energy levels are so low at this stage, that I dismount and push large sections. The second “double” is 7.23 km with 309 meters of climbing. The last section is just before the turnoff to Wildehondekloof and I manage to ride this one.

 

Now comes Wildehondekloof. Two years ago it was quite washed out and last year there was only “temporary” repair work. This year the road is back to normal, but still very rocky. This, together with the bumping down from Rooiberg, makes the sore hands and joints worse. I am grateful when I reach the last water point. Now there is only 20 km left and it is mostly flat road. The road surface is also much better. It is now 13:45 and if I can maintain an average of 20 kph until the end, I will be able to break 24 hours. I pull away and maintain a speed of just over 20 kph. There is about a 1 km hill with a 30 meter climb that brings my speed down to 10 kph, but then it increases again to 20. With 7 km to go, we join the R62 that connects Calitsdorp and Oudtshoorn. Now it's tarmac to the end with only the last hill just before the R328 where my speed drops to 14 kph. My thoughts "mess" with me and I consider taking it easy and forgetting about getting in under 24 hours, but then my competitive instinct gets the better of me again and I "push" on. 2 km to go and I have 10 minutes to do it! I push through and finish in 23:55:59!

 

I am is very happy with today's effort. It was another hardship, but the satisfaction of successfully completing the "adventure" makes it worth it. I catch up with Fred. He rode 23:09. At Louvain, our difference was 4 minutes; at Volmoed 21 minutes; Calitsdorp 25 minutes and at the end 44 minutes! The old iron! I give it to him and it is an honor to be beaten by him. He also finishes first in the 70+ group and I came second. We both agree that the race is not intended for such old people and decide not to ride next year!

 

Sunday morning, on the way home, my head starts to smuggle my "ego" again! After 4 360NEs I told Sue "never again"! Then the prize giving was still on Sunday morning at 09:00. There they said that everyone who did 5, gets a special prize! I couldn't miss it, with the result that I came back the following year. Then they started offering "free" entries for the 70+ year olds and again the "sucker" fell for that. 2023 it rained almost all the time and I decided again "enough is enough", but I can't stop at 9, there is a special prize for 10! So I had to come back last year. I still don't really know why I entered this year. I probably couldn't resist the temptation to participate in a race, where I get a free entry! Now Fred and I decided to go this far and no further! This is where my "head" started to "work" on the way back home. What is life if you don't challenge yourself every now and then? Pushing your self outside your "comfort zone"? The 360NE definitely pushes you outside your comfort zone. So I'm now "debating" the following: keep doing the 360NE until I can't finish it in under 30 hours or until they decide 70+ year olds have to start paying again. I wonder what Fred will say!

 

 

 

 

Kammievlei na Marlu

 

Die weer lyk vanoggend baie goed. Die lug is oop en daar is geen teken van reën nie. Die temperatuur is 7 grade Celsius en ek trek albei my baadtjies aan.

Ek kom 07:13 aan die gang. Die pad is baie nat. So 500 meter pad op is daar 'n redelike styl stukkie wat vir so 50 meter net 'n modder moeras is. Dit is van daardie dik sagte modder. Dit pak so aan my wiele dat hulle op hou draai en ek is verplig om my fiets te dra! Na die stuk kry ek 'n stok en krap die ergste modder af. Die pad oppervlakte raak so dat ek darem weer kan ry. 

Die lug is skoon na die goeie reën en in die laer gedeeltes is daar mis. Ek kry 'n mooi foto van Cockscomb met mis in die voorgrond. Daar is ook 'n paar gedeeltes waar ek weer maar genoodsaak is om af te klim en te stoot omdat dit net te styl is. Dit neem my 'n uur om die eerste 5.5 km af te lê. 

Nou is ek bo-op die kop en begin ek daal. Net voor die bopunt staan daar 'n motor in die "veld". Ek kom agter dat hy blybaar daar parkeer omdat dit moeilik is om met sy klein motortjie van so 200 meter laer af, waar sy huis is, tot by die hek te ry!

Na 'n aanvanklike daling is daar weer 'n paar kort styl stukkies. Dan volg die pad die kontoer met meesal afdraendes. Die pad oppervlakte in oor die algemeen baie klipperig en ek kan nie eintlik vinnig ry nie. Die omgewing is baie mooi en ek dank die Here vir die voorreg om te kan doen waarmee ek besig is. Ek is in my eliment! Ek het in tweede uur 10 km af gelê.

Daar is so 'n paar waterpoele, maar nie te lank of diep nie. Ek sien so een of twee wonings. Dit moet besonders wees om hier 'n plek te hè. Ek wonder net hoe gereeld dit benut word want daar is nie teken van lewe nie. Geen landerye of diere nie.

Die pad kronkel op die plato voort. Ek ry ook verby die Osseberg af draai wat deur die Freedom Challenge gebruik word. Die pad voor en anderkant die hek is heeltemal toe gegroei. Ek onthou van 2019, toe ek FC gedoen het dat ons die eerste 500 meter ons fietse moes stoot. Verder aan kyk ek terug en sien dat die Ossebergpad verder aan oor die rante baie meer duidelik sigbaar en skynbaar rybaar is.

Ek ry oor Antoniesberg, waar die oorspronklike pad nou net dongas is. Daar is so 'n paar alternatiewe paaie deur die veld wat oor die tyd gebuik is. Die is ook redelik verspoel maar rybaar met 'n fiets. Die topografie van die omgewing is gedurig óf op óf af maar dit is meesal rybaar. Ek is een of twee keer verplig om af te klim en te stoot. Gelukkig is dit kort entjies. In die derde uur lê ek weer net 7.5 km af. Na drie uur is my gemiddelde spoed 7.6 kpu.

Nou begin ek afdaal na Grootrivierpoort. Die uitsig van bo is asemrowend. Die pad is baie klipperig en ek is dankbaar dat ek met 'n trapfiets hier kan af ry en nie met 'n 250 kg motorfiets nie! Ek was bekommerd oor die moontlikheid dat die rivier, as gevolg van die voorrige dag se reën, so sterk sal loop dat ek nie kan deurkom nie. Waar dit 'n glade water oppervlakte was toe ek gekom het, is daar nou duidelik tekens van 'n stroom wat loop. Ek besluit om nie te waag nie en klim af en stoot deur. Ek kan die stroom voel maar hy is omtrent net so 40 cm diep en ek kom gemaklik deur. Ek stop vir 'n foto.

Aanvanlik ry ek die bult aan die anderkant uit, maar besluit baie gou dat dit makliker gaan wees om te stoot. Dit is nou redelik warm en ek trek albei my baadjies uit. Dit is 'n redelike lang stoot tot bo. Dan volg die pad meesal die kontoer en is oor die algemeen lekker rybaar. Na 33 km en 4:16 se ry, draai ek af Hadley toe. Bennie en Anine is tuis. Bennie vra of ek al ge-eet het, want hulle gaan nou "brunch" maak. Ek aanvaar die uitnodiging. Bennie vertel vir my die geskiedenis van Wilgerhof dam, wat met die eerst groot reën nadat dit in 1981 voltooi is, gebreek het. Swak werkmanskap en toe het die bouers nie geld om hulle brouwerk reg te maak nie. Dit is nog nie hertsel nie aangesien die hele ou wal weggeneem sal moet word en 'n nuwe wal gebou moet word. Ons kuier baie lekker saam en ek kom eers na 1:39 daar weg. As gevolg van die lang kuier, het my gemiddelde spoed nou na 5.5 kpu geval. Ek werk uit dat ek eers tussen 19:00 en 20:00 op Marlu sal aankom. Net nadat ek in die hoofpad kom, stop ek om een van my baadjies aan te trek want hier is 'n koelerrigheid in die lug.

Die pad Steytlerville toe kronkel tussen die heuwels deur. Die lug het in tussen redelik betrokke geraak en ek sien reën in die heuwels links voor my. By my is dit droog en die pad is goed. Daar is 'n ligte Noord Weste wind wat my vordering so 'n bietjie bemoeilik. Ek handhaaf darem 'n gemiddelde spoed van ongeveer 14 kpu. Dit neem my 2:39 om tot by Steytlerville te kom.  Dit is nou amper 17:00.

Daar is nog 32 km oor en ek skat dat dit my so 2:30 sal neem Marlu toe, dus gaan ek so 19:30 tuis wees. Dit raak nou koel en so halfpad teen die bult op, nadat ek deur Steytlerville is, stop ek om my tweede baadjie aan te trek. Ek trek ook my warm handskoene aan. Net voor 18:00 begin dit donkkerig word en ek stop om my ligte aan te sit. So 'n entjie die pad af word ek geseën met die mooiste sonsondergang. Dit lyk of die horison aan die brand is. Ek hou 'n paar keer stil om fotos te neem. Elke keer wanneer ek 'n foto neem, moet ek een handskoen uittrek. Na die derde foto, bêre ek die handskoen en trek 'n gewone, kort handskoen aan sodat ek makliker fotos kan neem. Die koue het in tussen ook tot 'n mate gewyk en ek verwissel die ander handskoen ook. 

Ek geniet dit altyd om in die donker te ry. Ek moet meer versigtig wees want ek kan nie so ver vooruit sien nie, maar die stilte en nag geluide om my maak dit baie rustig. Die gehalte van die pad is hier so dat dit nie 'n probleem is nie. Maandag het ek hier lekker vinnig gery, maar nou is dit 'n 1 tot 2 grade opdraend, dus gaan dit 'n bietjie stadiger. Dan bereik ek uiteindelik die T-aansluiting waar ek links draai, Marlu toe. Nou nog net 9 km oor, maar daar is 'n paar "knoppies" in die pad, so dit gaan my so 'n bietjie langer neem om dit af te lê. 

Ek word weereens geseën met 'n lieflike sekelman wat elke nou en dan tussen die wolke deur loer. Ek probeer 'n foto neem, maar die resultaat is nie bruikbaar nie. Ek ken die pad hier al goed en weet toe ek die laaste bult pak, dat die Marlu afdraai net oor die bult is. Die hek is darem die keer net ingehak en dus maklik om deur te kom. Al met die plaaspad af, verby die werkers wat lekker om 'n vuur sit, tot by die huis. 

Ek kom 19:29 tuis. Dit was voorwaar weer 'n besonderse dag. My mikpunt met hierdie rit was om my uithouvermoeë en deursettingvermoeë te toets. Die toets het ek met vlieënde vaandels geslaag! 

Statistiek vir die dag: 115.48 km; 12:05:46 in die saal; 9.5 kpu; 1,856 meter geklim.

English version

The weather looks very good this morning. The sky is clear and there is no sign of rain. The temperature is 7 degrees Celsius and I put on both my jackets.

I get going at 07:13. The road is very wet. About 500 meters up the road there is a fairly steep section that is just a mud bath for about 50 meters. It is just thick soft mud. It grips my wheels so much that they stop turning and I am forced to carry my bike! After the section I get a stick and scrape off the worst of the mud. The road surface improves to such an extend that I can ride again.

The air is clear after the good rain and in the lower parts there is fog patches. I get a nice photo of Cockscomb with fog in the foreground. There are also a few sections where I am forced to dismount and push because it is just too steep. It takes me an hour to cover the first 5.5 km to the top of the hill.

Now I am on top of the hill and I start to descend. Just before the top there is a car in the "veld". I notice that he always parks there because it is difficult to drive his small car from about 200 meters lower, where his house is, to the gate!

After an initial descent there are a few short steep sections. Then the road then follows the contour with mostly downhill sections. The road surface is generally very rocky and I can't really ride fast. The environment is very beautiful and I thank God for the privilege of being able to do what I am doing. I am in my element! The going is slow and I have covered only 10 km in the second hour.

There are a few pools of water, but not too long or deep. I see one or two houses. It must be special to have a place here. I just wonder how often it is used because there is no sign of life. No fields or animals.

The road continues winding on the plateau. I also ride past the Osseberg turnoff used by the Freedom Challenge. The road in front and beyond the gate has completely over grown. I remember from 2019, when I did FC, that we had to push our bikes for the first 500 meters. Further on, I look back and see that the Osseberg road further along the ridge is much more clearly visible and seems rideable.

I ride over Antoniesberg, where the original road is now just dongas. There are a few alternative roads through the veld that have been used over time. These are also quite washed out but rideable with a bike. The topography of the area is constantly either up or down but it is mostly rideable. I am forced to dismount and push once or twice. Fortunately, it is short distances. In the third hour I have covered only 7.5 km. After three hours my average speed is 7.6 kpu.

Now I start to descend to Grootrivierpoort. The view from the top is breathtaking. The road is very rocky and I am grateful that I can ride a mountainbike down here and not a 250 kg motorbike! I was worried that the river, due to the previous day's rain, would be so strong that I would not be able to get through. Where it was a smooth flowing surface of water when I came, there are now clear signs of a current running. I decide not to risk riding through and get off my bike and push through. I can feel the current but it is only about 40 cm deep and I get through comfortably. I stop for a photo.

Initially I pedal up the hill on the other side, but very quickly decide that it will be easier to push. It is now quite warm and I take off both my jackets. It is a fairly long push to the top. Then the road mostly follows the contour and is generally easy to ride. After 33 km and 4:16 of riding, I turn off to Hadley. Bennie and Anine are home. Bennie asks if I have eaten yet, because they are going to have "brunch". I accept the invitation. Bennie tells me the history of Wilgerhof dam, which broke with the first big rain after it was completed in 1981. Poor workmanship and then the builders did not have money to fix their work. It is not yet complete as the entire old embankment will have to be removed and a new embankment must be built. We have a great time together and I only leave after 1:39. As a result of the long stay, my average speed has now dropped to 5.5 kph. I work out that I will only arrive at Marlu between 19:00 and 20:00. Just after I get on the main road, I stop to put on one of my jackets because there is a coolness in the air.

The road to Steytlerville winds through the hills. It have become quite overcast and I see rain in the hills to the left of me. It is dry where I am and the road is good. There is a light North West wind which makes my progress a little difficult. At least I maintain an average speed of about 14 kpu. It takes me 2:39 to get to Steytlerville. It is now almost 17:00.

There are still 32 km to go and I estimate that it will take me about 2:30 to get to Marlu, so I will be home about 19:30. It's getting cool now and about halfway up the hill, after I've passed through Steytlerville, I stop to put on my second jacket. I also put on my warm gloves. Just before 18:00 it starts to get dark and I stop to put my lights on. A few kilometers down the road I'm blessed with the most beautiful sunset. It looks as though the horizon is on fire. I stop a few times to take pictures. Every time I take a picture, I have to take off one glove. After the third picture, I put the glove away and put on a regular, short glove so that I can take pictures more easily. The cold has also subsided to some extent in between and I change the other glove as well.

I always enjoy riding in the dark. I have to be more careful because I can't see as far ahead, but the silence and night sounds around me make it very peaceful. The quality of the road here is such that it's not a problem. On Monday I drove pretty fast here, but now it's a 1 to 2 degree climb, so it's a little slower. Then I finally reach the T-junction where I turn left, to Marlu. Now only 9 km left, but there are a few "knobs" in the road, so it's going to take me a little longer to cover it.

I'm once again blessed with a lovely sickle moon which peeks through the clouds every now and then. I try to take a photo, but the result is not usable. I already know the road here well and know when I take the last hill, that the Marlu turnoff is just over the hill. At least the gate is just hooked in this time and so it is easy to get through. All the way down the farm road, past the workers sitting around a fire, to the house.

I get home at 19:29. It was truly another special day. My goal with this ride was to test my endurance and perseverance. I passed the test with flying colors!

Statistics for the day: 115.48 km; 12:05:46 in the saddle; 9.5 kpu; 1,856 meters climbed.