Day 11

The end is in sight, we just finished our last long ride today, 136km in just over 5 hours, we ended it with a donation handover at the Engen Service Station to a home for the aged in Riversdale. From here forward we have 3 days left with rides of about 90km per day for the next 2 days and 60km on the last day. We will have a grand finish at Cape Town Waterfront, apparently escorted in by motorbike police. So let me recap the last 3 days, if you have been reading my blog or facebook you will know that I have had a difficult last couple of days to say the least. It all really started when we had the day off on Friday and I slept during the day then couldn't sleep that night. The next day was a good ride from Humansdorp to Plettenburg Bay but it was hot and long, 152km. When we got to Plet we did not sleep but went out and watched rugby. I ate too much and was exhausted by dinner time so I skipped dinner but still did not sleep properly. As a result I really battled every meter yesterday, it was cold and windy and I really was not in the zone and had no energy. We also had a number of riders joining us from towns along the way so we tended to ride faster than usual. We rode through Knynsa and the beautiful Wilderness but what comes with the beauty is hills, some really wicked ones too. I battled more and more as the ride went on and was absolutely relieved to arrive in George. We had a great donation there, the Engen owner was generous and the donation went to two needy childcare shelters in George. The African ladies who received the donations were so grateful and explained to us what they did, these people are unsung heroes who have dedicated their lives to helping these poor kids, I could not help but being re-energized by them and I felt my mood and attitude starting to change. My darling wife then put me on a strict dose of tissue salts for the rest of the day and I drank a huge amount of water as well. I had an afternoon snooze and we went for a early dinner and early to bed. This morning I woke up a different person and had a great ride today and am feeling great this afternoon, so my spirits are high and I and raring to go for the last 3 days.
Today we rode from George to Riversdale passing Mosselbay on the way. We had a great tail wind and the hills were few and far between. There was a little rain but it was warm and the road in good condition. 4 more riders from Empangeni Rotary joined us this morning for the last 4 days so we have a good sized group on 11 riders now. We really have had no real dramas so far, touch wood, I think there has only been 2 punctures, 1 wheel problem and a couple of gear and chain related issues. I am not sure if I mentioned it previousily but I had to get a new chain in Plettenburg bay because mine had stretched so much during the ride. The local bike shop owner was the an absolute star, he can to the Engen Service station, picked up my bike, changed the chain and returned it in 30 minutes, after hours as well.
We had an amusing incident at a Toll Plaza between Humansdorp and Plettenburg Bay, some of the guys rode into the Toll so were expected to pay. They ignored the shouts from the operators and rode on only to set off massive alarms. Anyway everything calmed down and we were on our way again without having to pay. I had forgotten how beautiful the garden route is, the road runs between mountains on one side and the sea on the other and crosses numerous huge gorges, one of the most rewarding things of this ride have been that every day we have experienced awesome countryside.
I need to mention my room mate Don again, he is one of the most tolerant people I have ever met but I do reckon he Is really looking forward to Thursday night when he will not have to share a room with me. I brought far too much stuff with me and spread myself all over the place. We have had lots of laughs and moans and the arrival of Robert has added further fun for the cousins. Robert is had the nickname Vic since before I can remember but for this ride he has been renamed Hammer, due to the fact that all his cycle kit and energy drinks are made by Hammer and have their logos all over them.
Tonight dinner is at the B&B which is really cool because I can go to bed when I want to.