BB2BB Day 2

I set my alarm for 04:00 with the idea to get going at 05:15. The lodge provided me with quite a nice breakfast pack. In fact, it was enough to take some along for lunch on the road.

I did managed to get going at 05:30, but when I got to gate it was closed with nobody around. I did consider climbing over it as it was a normal 3 meter iron gate with no spikes or wires, but decided to see if I could not find somebody to open for me. After knocking on some doors I did managed the wake the right person and I finally got going at 05:42.

The next problem was to find the beginning of the service road next to the railway. The easiest solution to that is to find the railway and then follow that, which is what I did. After having to jump dome tracks, I did find the service road snd really got going. Generally the service road was in a good condition with some nice easy riding. I also did pass my first boabab(kremetart) tree.

I now was riding through real Bushveld, an area of our beautiful country of which I have seen very little in my lifetime.

The track had some very rough sections and a number washed out sections where ever there was a stream. After 4 hours riding I caught up with Casper Venter and a college, who cane from Louis Trihardt to join me for the day. They drove with two cars, leaving one at Waterpoort and the other at Mophane and started cycling towards me. Casper has done the Freedom Challenge, the Cape Epic and Race to Cradock. They are both strong riders and we had a nice cycle up to Mophane, where there are a number of spaza shops and we stopped for a Coke. From here to Waterpoort we were on a district road, which generally was in a very good condition with some sand and corrugated sections. After spending some pleasant cycling together, we came to the turn-off to my lodge and bit our goodbyes. It took me another 15 minutes to get to the lodge.

When I got there, the place was deserted with Radio 2000 playing. After a while I decided to make myself at home in room 1. I had a shower and washed my cycling gear. The phone rang when I got out of the shower. It was the lady informing me the establishment was self catering and that I will have to see for myself. John, the caretaker arrived a while later, on foot! He did offer to go and by me a 2 liter Coke. He also informed me that there is a restaurant about 5 km up the road. In the meantime I had the rest of breakfast fir lunch.

I have to have an evening meal so I will have supper at this restaurant. I can always buy something from a spaza shop for breakfast and lunch. I think I will have an early supper and try to get going at 05:30 again.

BB2BB Day 1

I started this post in Afrikaans but as I know there will be people reading it who do not understand it, I will continue in English. So those people must please skip the next four paragraphs.


Alles was reeds teen Donderdagmiddag gepak. Wekker het my 04:00 uit die vere gejaag en Johan Schoeman was 04:45 voor die deur.

Inbesprking het goed afgeloop, behalwe dat Kulula my net tot 4 bommetjies beperk het, met die gevolg dat 2 moes weeggooi.

Rustige vlug Johannesburg met die luukse van 'n oop sitplek langs my. Ons het so 08:20 geland. Tereyl ek so en wag vir die deure om oop te gaan, lui my foon. Groot was my verbasing toe fit my 7 jarige kleindogter is wat na my welstand verneem! Priceless!

By die grootbegasie toonbank lig hulle my in dat my fiets om karoesel sal uitkom. Na 'n ruk se wag noem een van die passasiers vir my dat daar 'b fietsak by toonbank is! My bedtuurder was reg op tyd en ons  het ongeveer 09:00 die pad Beitbrug toe gevat.

The ride to Beigbridge was without incident. I was in Bela Bela in about 2005 but I have only been as high as Musina once before and that was for a three week army camp in 1971! I was pleasantly surprised by the lush vegetation of the Bushveld. There are no signs if a drought up here. Driving through towns like Louis Trichart (Makhado) and Musina, you do realize the difference in culture and living standard between the rural countryside and city life.

We arrived at Beitbridge just before 15:00. I got my bike together, took sone photo's and got going at 15:01! They would not allow me to taken any photo's of the border post, I had to settle for a photo showing Beigbridge left and Musina right.

The from BB to Musina took me down the old railway service road. Fortunately I had the track on my Garmin. The turn-off to the track was unmarked and very obscure with the result that I cycled past it. Once on the track I was away from all traffic and had a pleasant down to Musina. There were some sandy patched and some storm damage from long gone years. In one place the old cement railway sleepers were all over the path. A sure sign of one big flood years ago.

The lodge I was staying at was on the opposite side of the road, so I first had to cycle into town and then go back about 1 km on the main road. The state of the building at the main gate did not leave a good impression and the lady at reception looked surprised when I informed her that I had a booking. She re-appeared after a while confirming that all was OK and took me go my room. The second impression was much better. The room is nice snd clean with a clean and neat bathroom, air conditioning and TV(which I have not bothered to switch on).

I had a shower, washed my cycling gear and am now waiting for supper. A guy just pitched up saying that the chef has a problem at the border, but he will have a T- bone and some chips ready at 19:30. He also offered me a breakfast pack for tomorrow morning  as I want yo get going at 05:15. Casper Venter and a friend is going to meet me along the way and ride with me to Waterpoort. I hope to be in dreamland by 22:00

Pylvlak!

16 days to go to the start of BB2BB. Most things are in place and I am just about ready to go.

I received an OK from the doctor that my wrist is fine and that I may proceed with my trip. Accommodation has either been paid and confirmed or identified with the exception of two locations. I received my bike back from the bike shop after they did a thorough service and replaced what needed to be replaced, including a new rear wheel. I have source a Spot Gen 3 tracker to ensure that I can be tracked during my trip.

Since my accident on 24 January I have managed to clock up 46 hours and 920 km. This included my 26th Cape Town Cycle Tour (Argus) in 3:42, which happens to be my slowest time to date. I did take it very easy on the downhills and also had a slow puncture on my rear wheel, which did held out to the end. I hope to add 25 hours and 380 km before I get going.

I still need to get an extra pair of cycling shorts and some SD cards for use my Garmin Virb to do some recording of the trip.

The fund raising is standing at R134,005 of which R100,005 have been paid.

24 hours of Oak Valley

I decided to use the 24 hours of Oak Valley as preparation for my up coming BB2BB trip. I also decided to not get anybody to second for me. I would just leave my cooler box with cool drinks and food next to the track and help myself when needed.

Ek is 09:30 op Saterdag 23 Januarie by die huis weg en het net voor 10:45 by Oak Valley aangekom. Die tou om by die kamp terrein in te kom het besonder stadig beweeg en ek het eers 11:00 'n staanplek gekry. Aangesien ek alleen was, was dit maklik om plek naby die roete te kry. Ek het geregistreer en en was 11:45 reg vir die "race briefing".

We started a couple of minutes after 12:00 with the standard "Le Mans" start, having to sprint over a rugby field to our bikes. I did this at a very leisurely pace and left with the pack. My first lap took me just over 38 minutes. I initially wanted to have my first stop after 4 laps, but decided to change that to  6 after a while. All of these laps was just under 40 minutes and I managed to complete the 6 laps in under 4 hours. The maximum temperature was 37 degrees celsius.

My eerste rus stop rondte was 1:14. My rondte tye het nou die effek van die "effort" van die eerste 6 rondtes getoon en geval na 45 minute plus. Die volgende 6 rondtes neem my 5 uur 56 minute.  Intussen het die tempratuur na die laer 20's gedaal. Ek het ongeveer elke 2 rondtes gerus.

I completed round 16 after about 13 hours at 01:00 in the morning.  I was enjoying the ride and was making good progress. As I was completing round 16, my Garmin suddenly stopped working. This also happened after 13 hours last year. All my efforts to get it going again was to no avail. I had not other option to revert to Strava.
Teen die einde van rondte 18 het ek besluit om 'n vinniger ryer veby te laat kom en op 'n brug gestop. Ongelukkig was my momentum te groot om die brug se paal te vang met die gevolg dat ek my balans veloor en in 'n 2 meter gat geval het. Die ryer vir wie ek wou stop moes my uit help. Ek het onmiddellik besef daar is groot fout met my linker pols.

I completed lap 18 and immediately went to the medic. He said that it was not broken and gave me a pill for pain. It was obvious that I could not continue, so I decided to have a shower and have a rest. To qualify as a finisher, one have to complete the last lap after 12:00 on Sunday. I therefore decided that I will walk the last lap and start that at about 10:30. Attached is a photo of the bridge where I had my accident.

Ek het lekker gerus en teen 06:30 besluit om iets te gaan eet en 'n lekker koppie koffie te drink. Daarna het ek weer by die mediese tent 'n draai gaan maak. Die senior medic het bevestig dat my pols gebreek is en dat ek dit by 'n hospitaal daarna moet laat kyk. Daar was, volgens hom geen haas nie en het 'n spalk aangesit. Ek het ook met my dogter en skoonseun gereel om my 14:00 te kom haal.

I went back to my car and waited the time out to do my final lap. This I started at 09:30. I managed to cycle the first approximately 2 km to the start of the first single track. I thought it best to push from there as it would be much easier to get out of the way of passing riders. This also gave an opportunity to take some photos including photos of the crash site. I had to complete the lap after 12:00 but reached the sport field where the finish was at 11:30. I therefore stopped under a tree and waited the time out. I crossed the finish line at 12:03 having completed 19 laps and still finishing 11th overall and 1st in the 60+ age group.

My daughter dropped at Cape Gate Mediclinic when the x-rays confirmed a break and the need for an operation. The orthopedic surgeon did say that my arm should be ready by 1 April when I start my BB2BB trip.

Attakwas 2016

January is Attakwas time and this would by my 8th! I contacted my friend Hoffie Conradie and we decided to join forces for the occasion.  I left Cape Town at 11:00 on Friday 15 January and joined up with Hoffie in Worcester. We left there at 13:30 in his car. Along the way we stopped at Ronnie's Sex Shop for a bite and just to see the place again. The novelty definitely is in the name! 

Ons het so om en by 18:00 in Oudtshoorn aangekom en eers geregistreer. Daarna het ons voorade vir ontbyt by Pick n Pay gaan koop en by NA Smit Oord in geklok. Aandete was by Dolcevita en ons was teen 10:00 in die bed. 

Ons was albei voor ons wekkers kon afgaan (05:00) wakker en het teen 05:45 die pad Chandeler toe gevat. Daar aan gekom was daar 'n lang tou om in te kom, maar dit het darem redelik vinnig beweeg. 

We made use of the car transfer service and therefore dropped our car off at the designated area, handed the keys in and proceeded to the start shoots. As I got into the shoot, I realised that I forgot to fill my water bottle. The bladder on my backpack was full and if would be just too much of a hassle to go back to the  car, so I decided to ride to the first water point on water only.  

Ons het teen 06:45 weggespring. Die eerste paar kilometer was baie sowwerig as gevolg van al die deelnemers en die veld het eers na ongeveer 10 km begin uitsprei. Gelukkig is daar ook 'n paar bulte wat help om "spasie" te skep. Ek het, soos besluit, my water bottel by die eerste waterpunt laat vol maak met Coke. 

I managed a good pace and was passed by some people while I also passed others.  There was a number of technical river crossings, but I managed to negotiate all of them without any problem. The big hill after approximately 30 km was the usual challenge with large loose rocks and the incline forcing me to push the last third. 

Just after the top we entered the Outeniqua Nature Reserve. The track now consisted of fairly rough jeep tracks with a number of steep hills. Most of these were rideable but some were just too steep and with loose rocks again, necessitating some pushing. I reached water point three, after we crossed the Oudtshoorn/Mossel Bay road, just short of 3 hours. I was also please to see Steve Thorhton-Smith in the crowd and appreciated his encouragement.

Nadat ek weer my water bottel laat vul het, ketting laat olie het en 'n ietsie ge-eet het, pak ek die volgende skof aan. Die roete deur hierdie area is besonder mooi en dit help om die bulte "makliker" te maak. Ons het nou deur die Attakwaskloof gery. Dit was 100 jaar gelde die hoof roete tussen Mosselbaai en Oudtshoorn. Ek het die halfweg punt teen 3:56 bereik. 'n Sub 8 uur was dus moontlik! Ek het vanjaar vir die eerste keer dit reggekry om die laaste bult voor die Spur waterpunt af te ry sonder om my voete op die grond te sit. Ek vermoed egter dat daar 'n bietjie werk aan hierdie stuk gedoen is wat die 'n klein bietjie makliker gemaak het. 

I filled my water bottle again, had half a Spur Buger, got my chain oiled, cooled myself down under the mist spray and got going in double quick time. According to my Garmin, I was marginally behind last year's time up to this point, but by the time I left I was marginally in front. 

The last 52 km from here to the end is mostly on good gravel roads with an number of big downhills and some monster climbs. The first climb started as we left this water point. The temperature was reasonable and there was not much of a wind. I have been in the saddle for close to 5 hours and the time was about 12:00, so the heat of the day was going to become a factor. In the meantime time, I just continued the grind out the kilometers. 

I have set my Garmin on the terrain function so that I could see wath was coming in terms if hills and downhills. This also compared my progress to last year and I was pleased to see that I was stretching the gap. It was also interesting to see my progress against some other riders. Sone passed me, never to be seen again and others were hauled in me again on a different section. At the second last water point I stocked up again and new that from there to the end we had to negotiated another two monster hills. The temperature was now touching 33 degrees Celsius. 

Teen 'n paar van die bulte het ek heelwat mense gesien wat in die koelte rus of met krampe sukkel. Ek het ook vir die eerste keer in my fietsry loopbaan probleme met ligte krampe gehad. Dit was gelukkig van so 'n aard dat ek kon aanhou trap. My vordering was goed, maar ek het besef dat  ek om en by 8 uur sou klaar maak, dus moes ek maar aandruk om my mikpunt te bereik. By die laaste waterpunt was dit duidelik dat ek teen ongeveer 8:05 sou klaar maak, dus het ek so hard moontlik getrap om te kyk of ek nie daardie 5 minute kan afsny nie. My vreugde was groot toe ek die laaste stukkie teer haal met 5 minute oor om 2 km te ry. 

I knew that my finishing time was going to be in the region of 8 hours, but it was touch and go to break it. As I rounded the last turnoff to the finishing area I gave it all I got. As I went under the Spur banner, I stopped my Garmin, but unfortunately the actual finish was round the corner and I crossed the finishline the announcer said my finishing time was 8 hours. My Garmin indicated 7:59:56 and my Polar 8:00:22. The final actual time was 8:00:15!

So that was Attakwas number 8 successfully negotiated. 

My friend Hoffie Conradie, who did not do any long distance training during the previous month, finished in 9:05.

BB2BB - progress

Preparation for BB2BB is progressing well. I have managed to confirm accommodation at 9 of the places where I plan to stay over to date. Most of these are in remote areas. I will not bother to confirm those in bigger areas where it should be easy to find accommodation. There are three places where I have not been able to find any form of accommodation. I have three options for these areas: carry on looking; sleep under the stars; ride through the night! There still are a number of open days where I will be riding alone. I will continue to look for people to join me for these days.


This coming weekend I will be participating in my 7th Attakwas, a 121 km MTB Adventure with 2,500 meters of climbing. Next weekend I will ride in the Oak Valley 24 hour. This will be excellent preparation for my trip.

The pledges to the CANSA fund is standing at R107,500 of which R78,650 have been paid. I am confident that the fund will pass the R125,000 mark and that payments will surpass R100,000 by 1 April.

BB2BB voorbereiding

As most of my supporters are Afrikaans speaking, I am going to do a lot more of my blog in Afrikaans. I will include some English for those who do not understand Afrikaans.

Die voorbereiding vir BB2BB vorder goed. Ek het die afgelope vier weke 'n gemidelde van 306 km per week gedoen. Dit werk uit op ongeveer 16 uur per week in die saal.

My CANSA fund is standing at R100,005 of which R78,650 have been paid. I have identified B & B's at 25 of the 30 places where I plan to sleep over. I am hopeful that I will be able to sort out the five outstanding places shortly. I am also managed to get people to join me for 16 of the 31 days which I will be on the road. I am still working on getting people to join me on the open sections.

Alles loop vlot en is op koers vir die wegspring op 1 April 2016