FC2026 Refleksie/Reflection

 FC2026 Refleksie

Nou ja, wat sê mens na so 'n epiese tog? Dit is voorwaar een van die moeilikste uitdagings wat ek al afgehandel het. Daar was dae wat ek nie geweet het hoe ek die eindpunt vir die dag gaan maak nie. Daar was gelukkig ook 'n paar maklike dae. Ek was redelik verbaas dat almal na dag 2 besluit het om die volgende dag net die 31 km Two Springs toe te ry eder as die normale 100 km na Masakala. Verbaas maar ook bly. Indien ons dit in een skof gedoen het sou dit ons seker 14-15 uur geneem het en dan was dit drie groot dae net om te begin. Die kort dag het gehelp om so 'n bietjie tot verhaal te kom. 'n Paar kort dae laer af op die roete het ook gehelp om die "tamheid`' beter te bestuur.

Vandaar tot by Rhodes het alles volgens plan verloop. Die enigste "wobbles" was die gesukkel om uit Malekonyane uit te kom, wat veroorsaak het dat ons die laaste deel Vuvu toe in die donker moes doen en die wind teen Naudesnek uit. Ek het in 2013 en 2014 die Lehana's opsie gevolg, maar sedertdien nou al 4 keer die Mcambalalala opsie oor Naudesnek gevolg. Die afstand is langer, maar tydsgewyse is dit omtrent dieselfde en oor Mcambalalala is dit nie nodig om jou fiets te dra nie. Die wind "pepper" jou ook gereeld meer op Lehana's. Vanjaar het die wind my byna onder gekry teen Naudesnek uit!

Ek was op my eie van Rhodes na Chesney Wold, wat 'n maklike navigasie dag is en het die "solitude" baie geniet. Vandaar het ek en Tilla 'n "onskeidbare vennootskap" begin wat regtig besonders was. Ek het nou drie Freedom Challenges op my eie begin en elke keer die hele tyd saam met een spesifieke persoon gery. Dié kamaradrie is iets wat wonderlik "groei" terwyl mens ry. Dit is ook lekker om saam met iemand anders seker te maak dat jy die navigasie reg het.

Ons was drie van Chesney Wold tot by Kranskop, maar daar moes SJ onttrek nadat sy so 'n entjie uit Moodenaarspoort geval het en haar skouer seer gemaak het asook ligte harsingskuddings opgedoen het. Vandaar was ek en Tilla om ons eie navigasie aangewese en het ons die toets met lof geslaag. Ons het nooit ernstig gesukkel nie, behalwe om die voetgangershekkie by die begin van Struishoek in die donker te kry, maar dit het ons seker nie meer as 'n half uur gekos nie. 

Vir my was die aankoms in Hofmeyr 'n hoogte punt. Vir een is ons "opgegradeer" na die Victoria Boutique Hotel, wat 'n besonderse belwenis is. So 'n deftige hotel in middel van nêrens kan ek nie regtig verstaan nie. Dit was ook die punt waar ek vir myself gesê het "you have got this". Daar is altyd 'n paar kritiese punte op so 'n "avontuur". Om verby Slaapkrantz te kom en om Hofmeyr binne 13 dae te haal. In 2014 en 2019 was ek binne 10 dae deur Hofmeyr en ek het verwag dat ek dit vanjaar seker binne 11 of 12 dae gedoen behoort te kry, so die dertien dae was "cutting it fine" maar baie realisties. Die het gehelp om my liggaam te "pace", want die jare stap aan!

Slaapkrantz tot by Bontehoek was "veeleisend". Die feit dat ons Slaapkrantz so aangepak het dat dit lig was toe ons met die "moeilike" gedeelte begin het, het baie gehelp met die navigasie. Die afgaan by Bontehoek is vergelykbaar met Struishoek. Dit is "baie moeilik". Dit was ook ons derde stadigste dag van die hele wedren. Omdat ons "later" begin het, het ons dus ook in die donker klaar gemaak, maar net die laaste halfuur was in die donker en Moodernaarpoort is maklik om te kry, veral wanneer jy al vantevore daar was. Tilla het 'n bietjie "gestress" want sy was so 'n halfuur agter my, maar het dit darem redelik maklik daar gekom. 

Van Moodenaarspoort tot by Groenfontein was van die lekkerste ry op die roete. Aasvoëlkop en Elandsberg kan uidagings wees, maar indien jy dit in die dga doen, soos ons gedoen het, is dit eintlik maklik. Dieslfde geld vir Schurfteberg, Coetzerskloof en die aanloop na Struishoek. Indien ons 'n halfuur vroeër by Struishoek aangekom het, sou ons die pad baie gouer gevind het. Toe ons eers die hekkie en toe die "wit klippe" gekry het, was die afgaan daar nie moeiliker as in die dag nie. Die laaste 20 km na Pearston toe, in die donker, het ons net minder as 'n uur geneem. 

Al die rën van die afgelope paar weke het "droeë lope" in riviere verander. Van Karoopoort tot by Koedoeskop moes ons vier keer oor die rivier gaan en hy was te diep om deur te ry maar darem nie meer as kuit hoogte nie, want natuurlik nat skoene tot gevolg gehad het. Dit was ons voorland to by Marlu! Baie mense dink ek is "laf" maar ek het die laaste twee keer 'n ekstra paar skoene saam geneem om te verseker dat ek droeë skoene het. k moet erken dat die ry met nat skoene nie so erg was nie. Veral wanneer ek "selskinz" sokkies aangeterk het. Dit is sokkie wat die meeste water uit hou. Jy moet net sorg dat die bokant nie onder die water kom nie, want dan kan daardie water nie uit kom nie!

Die laaste 20 km Bucklands toe was nat. Gelukkig het dit nie te hard gereën nie en my reënklere het my droog gehou. Ons moes egter so 1 km voor Bucklands deur die Grootrivier, wat redelik sterk geloop het, gaan. Hannes Horn het 'n kabel gespan en so lank jou fiets aan die onderkant van die stroom was, was dit redelik maklik om met behulp van die kabel die rivier oor te steek. Die grootste uitdaging was die modder aan die Bucklands kant! Om sake verder te bemoeilik, was die Eskom krag by Bucklands af en moes ons tevrede wees met kerse vir lig. Daar was darem gas storte en gas stowe om die kos warm te maak. Die volgende dag moes ons ook 'n ander roete na die begin van Perdeberg neem om te verhoed dat ons twee keer deur die vol Grootrivier moet gaan. Die Perdeberg was ook 'n groot uitdaging. 3 uur om 3.5 km af te lê en meeste van daardie 3 uur moet jy jou fiets dra.

Hadley na Prins Albert was weer lekker ry dae. Die wind het ons van net voor Rondavel toe in Prins Albert redelik gekou. Net nadat ons die N12 gekruis het, kom ek agter dat my fiets se BB (bottom bracket) nie lekker is nie. Tilla dink my ketting kort olie, maar ek besef dit is die BB wat so raas! Gelukkig is daar 'n fiets "mechanic" in Prins Albert wat ons almal mag gebruik sonder om enige boetes op te tel. Ek laat weet hom ek het probleme en hy stem in om my fiets vroeg die volgende oggend op te tel en te kyk wat hy kan doen. Ons kom die aand 19:15 in Prins Albert aan nadat ons 04:33 begin het. Ek kry my fiets net voor 09:00 die volgende oggend terug met die slegte nuus dat hy nie die BB kon vervang nie, maar dat hy hom darem uitmekaar gehaal, gegries en weer inmekaar gesit het. Ek pak die 60 km Gamkaskloof toe so net voor 09:00 aan. Swartbergpas uit gaan redelik. 'n Derde word gestoot en twee derdes word gery. Net nadat ek regs draai op die pad die kloof in, trek die lug toe en begin reën dit. Ek raak regtig bekommerd, want sulke weer kan die hele "avontuur" verongeluk! Dit duur vir so 'n half uur en dan sien ek die wolke lig in die rigting waarheen ek ry. Nog so 'n rukkie later en die son begin sy kop uitsteek en so word 'n moeilike situasie omskep in gunstige omstandighede. Die laaste stukkie pad die kloof in is redelik verspoel en ek kom net voor sononder by ons bly plek aan. 

Ons mik die volgende dag net vir Sandrivier. 'n Afstand van 40 km, maar die eerste 26 km gaan moeilik wees want die pad tot aan die voet van die leer het verpoel, die leer is 'n uitdaging op sy eie en die pad van die bopunt tot by die Bos Luyskloof pad is groot gedeeltes nie rybaar nie. Dit neem my 9:43 om die 26 km af te lê! Ons moes ook 'n sterk vloeiende Gamkarivier oorsteek. Die stroom was so sterk dat ek stadig dwars moes beweeg om te verseker die stroom druk my nie van balans af nie. Ons is nou op dag 22 en het vier dae om klaar te maak. Aangesien die terrein en navigaise van hier tot by Diemersfontein maklik is, beplan ons vir drie dae. Ons is redelik verlig, maar tog'n bietjie teleurgetseld dat Stettynskloof toe gemaak is as gevolg van rotsstortings. Ons moet dus Bainskloof om wat 30 km verder is, maar baie minder van 'n uitdaging as Stettynskloof! 81 km teenoor 51. Die 81 km hoort ons 9 uur te neem, terwyl Stettyns se 51 km 12 uur of meer sal neem. Sandrivier/Montague is 153 km en neem ons 14:32. Motague/Trouthaven is 163 km en neem ons 16:54. Ons sluit weer die dag in die reën af en ek is verheug dat my reënklere my droog gehou het. Deur die Brandvlei Gevangenis is my "gó" behoorlik uit. Ek weet nie hoe ek die laaste 13 km Trouthaven toe gery gaan kry nie! Ek besluit, so by myself, dat ek vir Tilla gaan sê om die laaste 13 km op haar eie te ry. Ek sal op my tyd aankom. My fiets se BB klink en voel glad nie goed nie, so ek gaan vra dat my spaar fiets vir my gebring word, wat 'n 6 uur daglig boete tot gevolg sal hé. Ek sal dan die dag by Trouthaven "rus" en Saterdag klaar maak. Toe ek dit vir Tilla noem, weier sy om dit te aanvaar. Nou moet ek maar ry en om een of ander wonderbaarlike manier kry ek daardie Jes 40:31 krag "Maar die wat op die Here wag, kry nuwe krag; hulle vaar op met vlerke soos arende; hulle hardloop en word nie moeg nie, hulle wandel en word nie flou nie." Die laaste 13 km neem ons 1:15 en dit sluit 'n paar lekker bulte in!

Die nag reën dit omtrent heelnag, maar wanneer ons wakker word, skyn die son. Ons is rustig en kom net voor 09:00 weg. Ons ry die laaste dag lekker rustig en kom net na 17:00 in Diemersfontein aan. 

So eindig 'n merkwaardige reis. Dit is moeilik om vir die man in die straat te verduidelik hoe moeilik dit is om jou fiets oor klippe en berge uit en berge af te dra, maar die menslike liggaam is tot baie meer instaat as wat ons aldag aanvaar. Daar was ook baie lekker dae wat die speke leker gesing het. Dit was ook besonder lekker om vir drie en 'n halwe weke saam met Tilla te ry. Sy was voorwaar 'n "tonniek" vir my! In 2019 was ek die eerste 70-jarige wat die Freedom Challenge voltooi het. Intussen het twee 71-jariges dit ook reg gekry. My doel met die "avontuur" was om 'n nuwe perk daar te stel vir die oudste persoon wat nog die Freedom Challenge voltooi het en op 77 jaar en 10 maande het ek daarin geslaag!

Stastestiek:

Total tyd 24 dae 9 uur en 15 minute; ry tyd 268 uur; afstand 2,183 kilometer; totaal geklim 34,167 meters; stadigste dag 3.6 kpu (uit Gamkaskloof); vinnigste dag 12.6 (Marlu na Willowmore); kortste dag 30.74 km en 4::52 (Ntsikeni na Two Springs); langste dag 163.4 en 16:54 (Montague na Trouthaven); samel stelling van roete: teer 172.75 km; grondpad 1,662.12 km; "tracks" 309.32 km; berge 39.03 km. 

 FC2026 Reflection

Well, what can one say after such an epic journey? It was truly one of the toughest challenges I have ever completed. There were days when I didn't know how I would make it to the day's finish line. Fortunately, there were a few easy days, too. I was quite surprised when, after day two, everyone decided to ride only the 31 km to Two Springs the following day, rather than the usual 100 km to Masakala. Surprised, but also relieved. Had we done it in a single leg, it surely would have taken us 14 to 15 hours—and that would have meant three massive days right at the start. The short day helped us recover a bit. A few short days further along the route also helped to better manage the 'lethargy'.

From there to Rhodes, everything went according to plan. The only "wobbles" were the struggle to get out of Malekonyane—which meant we had to cover the final stretch to Vuvu in the dark—and the wind on the climb up Naudesnek. I took the Lehana's route option in 2013 and 2014, but since then, I’ve opted for the Mcambalalala route over Naudesnek four times. The distance is longer, but the time taken is roughly the same, and the Mcambalalala route doesn't require you to carry your bike. You also tend to get "pounded" more by the wind on the Lehana's route. This year, the wind nearly got the better of me on the climb up Naudesnek!

I rode solo from Rhodes to Chesney Wold—a day with easy navigation—and really enjoyed the solitude. From there, Tilla and I formed an "inseparable partnership" that was truly special. I’ve started the Freedom Challenge solo three times now, and each time I ended up riding the entire way with one specific person. That camaraderie is something that grows wonderfully as you ride. It’s also great having someone else there to help ensure your navigation is spot-on.

There were three of us from Chesney Wold to Kranskop, but SJ had to withdraw after falling a short distance out of Moodenaarspoort; she injured her shoulder and sustained a mild concussion. From that point on, Tilla and I had to rely on our own navigation, and we passed that test with flying colours. We never struggled significantly—except for finding the pedestrian gate at the start of Struishoek—but that probably took us no more than half an hour, even in the dark.

For me, arriving in Hofmeyr was a highlight. For one thing, we were "upgraded" to the Victoria Boutique Hotel, which was a real treat. I find it hard to fathom a hotel that posh in the middle of nowhere. It was also the moment I told myself, "You've got this." There were always a few critical milestones on an adventure like this: getting past Slaapkrantz and reaching Hofmeyr within 13 days. In 2014 and 2019, I had passed through Hofmeyr within 10 days and expected to do it in 11 or 12 this year; so, the 13-day mark was cutting it fine, yet very realistic. This helped me pace my body—after all, the years are catching up with me!

The stretch from Slaapkrantz to Bontehoek was demanding. Tackling Slaapkrantz in a way that ensured it was daylight when we started the "difficult" section really helped with navigation. The descent at Bontehoek is comparable to Struishoek; it is very difficult. It was also our third-slowest day of the entire race. Because we started "later," we also finished in the dark—though only the last half-hour was in the dark—and Moodernaarpoort is easy to find, especially if you’ve been there before. Tilla was a bit stressed because she was about half an hour behind me, but she managed to find it quite easily.

The stretch from Moodenaarspoort to Groenfontein offered some of the most enjoyable riding on the route. Aasvoëlkop and Elandsberg can be challenging, but if you tackle them during the day—as we did—they are actually quite easy. The same applies to Schurfteberg, Coetzerskloof, and the approach to Struishoek. Had we arrived at Struishoek half an hour earlier, we would have found the path much sooner. Once we located the small gate and then the "white stones," the descent was no more difficult than it would have been in daylight. The final 20 km to Pearston, ridden in the dark, took us just under an hour.

All the rain over the past few weeks had turned "dry riverbeds" into actual rivers. Between Karoopoort and Koedoeskop, we had to cross the river four times; it was too deep to ride through but—fortunately—only calf-deep, though this naturally resulted in wet shoes. That was our reality all the way to Marlu! Many people think I’m being "silly," but on the last two occasions, I brought an extra pair of shoes to ensure I’d have a dry pair available. I must admit, though, that riding with wet shoes wasn't all that bad—especially when wearing "Sealskinz" socks. These socks are excellent at keeping most of the water out. You just have to make sure the tops don't dip below the water line, because once water gets in, it can't get out!

The final 20 km to Bucklands was a wet ride. Fortunately, the rain wasn't too heavy, and my rain gear kept me dry. However, about 1 km before reaching Bucklands, we had to cross the Grootrivier, which was flowing quite strongly. Hannes Horn had strung up a cable, and as long as your bike was on the downstream side, it was fairly easy to cross the river using the cable. The biggest challenge was the mud on the Bucklands side! To complicate matters further, the power was out at Bucklands, so we had to make do with candles for light. Fortunately, there were gas showers and gas stoves for heating up food. The next day, we also had to take a different route to the start of Perdeberg to avoid having to cross the swollen Groot River twice. Perdeberg itself was a major challenge, too: it took three hours to cover 3.5 km, and for most of that time, you had to carry your bike.

The ride to Prince Albert was enjoyable. The wind battered us quite a bit from just before Rondavel all the way to Prince Albert. Shortly after crossing the N12, I noticed something was wrong with my bike's bottom bracket. Tilla thought my chain needed oil, but I realized it was the bottom bracket making that noise! ​​Fortunately, there was a bicycle mechanic in Prince Albert whose services we are permitted to use without incurring any penalties. I let him know I was having trouble, and he agreed to pick up my bike the next morning to see what he could do. We arrived in Prince Albert at 19:15 that evening, having started at 04:33. I got my bike back just before 09:00 the next morning with the bad news that he couldn't replace the bottom bracket, though he had at least taken it apart, greased it, and put it back together. I set off on the 60 km route to Gamkaskloof just before 09:00. The ascent up Swartberg Pass went reasonably well; I walked the bike for a third of the way and rode the other two-thirds. Just after I turned right onto the road leading into the kloof, the sky clouded over and it started to rain. I became really worried, as weather like that could ruin the entire adventure! It lasted for about half an hour, and then I saw the clouds clearing in the direction I was heading. A little while later, the sun began to peek through, turning a difficult situation into favorable conditions. The final stretch of the road into the kloof was quite washed out, and I reached our accommodation just before sunset.

The next day, we aimed simply for Sandrivier—a distance of 40 km—but the first 26 km promised to be tough: the road to the foot of the "ladder" has turned into a rock garden, the ladder itself is a challenge, and large sections of the road from the top to the Bos Luyskloof road are unrideable. It took me 9 hours and 43 minutes to cover those 26 km! We also had to cross a fast flowing Gamkarivier, which was about waste deep and the stream was strong. At one point I moved very slowly to ensure that I do not loose my balance against the strong current. We are now on Day 22 and have four days left to finish. Since the terrain and navigation from here to Diemersfontein is easy, we plan for a three-day stretch. We are somewhat relieved, yet a little disappointed, that Stettynskloof has been closed due to rockfalls. We therefore have to go via Bainskloof; it is 30 km longer, but far less challenging than Stettynskloof—81 km versus 51 km. The 81 km route should take us 9 hours, whereas the 51 km Stettyns route would have taken 12 hours or more. The Sandrivier-Montagu leg is 153 km and takes us 14 hours and 32 minutes. The Montagu-Trouthaven leg is 163 km and takes us 16 hours and 54 minutes. We end the day in the rain again, and I am delighted that my rain gear kept me dry again. By the time I pass Brandvlei Prison, I am completely out of steam. I have no idea how I’m going to manage the final 13 km to Trouthaven! I decide to tell Tilla to ride the last 13 km on her own; I’ll arrive in my own time. My bike’s bottom bracket sounds and feels terrible, so I’m going to ask for my spare bike to be brought to me—a move that will incur a six-hour daylight penalty. I planned to "rest" at Trouthaven for the day and finish on Saturday. When I mentioned this to Tilla, she refused to accept it. So, I had to keep going, and by some miracle, I found that strength from Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." The final 13 km took us an hour and fifteen minutes—and that included a few tough hills

It rained almost all night, but the sun was shining when we woke up. We took it easy and set off just before 09:00. We enjoyed a leisurely ride on the final day and arrived at Diemersfontein just after 17:00.

And so, a remarkable journey came to an end. It is difficult to explain to the average person just how hard it is to carry your bike over rocks and up and down mountains, but the human body is capable of far more than we usually assume. There were also many wonderful days when the spokes sang a happy tune. It was also a special pleasure to ride alongside Tilla for three and a half weeks; she was truly a tonic for me! In 2019, I became the first 70-year-old to complete the Freedom Challenge. Since then, two 71-year-olds have also achieved this feat. My goal for this "adventure" was to set a new bar for the oldest person to complete the Freedom Challenge, and at the age of 77 years and 10 months, I succeeded!

Statistics:

Total time: 24 days, 9 hours, and 15 minutes; riding time: 268 hours; distance: 2,183 kilometers; total ascent: 34,167 meters; slowest day: 3.6 km/h (out of Gamkaskloof); fastest day: 12.6 km/h (Marlu to Willowmore); shortest day: 30.74 km and 4:52 (Ntsikeni to Two Springs); longest day: 163.4 km and 16:54 (Montagu to Trouthaven); route composition: tar 172.75 km; gravel road 1,662.12 km; tracks 309.32 km; mountains 39.03 km.