Being blown around in all the wrong ways…Day 4

Day 4

Honeywood Farm to Malagas

Waking up at the picturesque Honeywood farm we enjoyed a home cooked breakfast while looking at the endless views across the valley. Morale was high after the energy sapping 95km++ from the day before.

We left Honeywood and charged down the road as a powerful peloton covering the first 20km in 40mins. From here on the day got much tougher with strong head winds blowing everyone in the wrong direction, leaving riders desperate to find a wheel to hide behind. The 250km over the last 3 days have started to take a toll and many of us were well and truly in the hurt locker.

The boys fixing some sore knees.

The placebo effect…ICE. 

Conrad was having a tough day on the bike, but a friend in need is a friend indeed and the 40kg Catherine had no problem pushing the 115kg Conrad up one of the climbs. Her diet of spinach and energy gels is starting to pay off.

I feel a bromance coming on...

The final hurdle to cross was a pontoon crossing of a river. The pontoon was heavily laden with riders, bikes, and our support vehicle and powered old-school style by two burly locals pulling on a chain. The combination of the slow lumbering pace of the crossing and the promise of ice-cold alcoholic refreshments on the far bank proved too much for some. Matt and Lex ended up strapping on harnesses and giving the workers a much needed helping hand. So selfless.

This manly shot is for you, Phil.

Today’s 55km proved to be far tougher than the label and fatigue has started to set in, after be battered by head winds all day, to the point you had to pedal on the descents. Today left the riders, tired sore and looking for cover. A welcome sight at the finish line however – was PENGUINS. Some even braved the freezing cold ocean water (Matt & Lex) to get a close encounter to the cute little beasts.

The cute little beast.

For an update on yesterday…

While on the 95km crawl yesterday, we came across a group of kids coming home from school. During our rides, we are really starting to get some perspective about the local towns, and the hardship families go through. The kids we saw were walking home in the heat of the day without shoes. As we didn’t really need the extra bag of chocolate, jellybeans or energy bars, we gave all the goodies we had to the kids. They were all so grateful with smiles from ear to ear. and even a bit mischievous. After giving over a melted snickers to one of the happiest kids I’ve ever seen – he then quickly snuck it in his pocket and pointed at the crumpled up muesli bar in our bags.  There could have been some very energized kids that night.

Full hands of sugar and tasty treats. 

A man that we have to thank is Sele the support driver. He manages to find what must be the only place in South Africa that is out of the elements that we are facing that day, be it driving rain, gale-force winds or searing heat just as people can not turn their pedals around another rotation with a smorgasbord of energy drinks, power bars, lollies and Sele’s specialty “ Brown Cow” a combination of Coke and milk.

Our favourite man at the end of a hard ride, Sele! 

Jason took the idea of a brown cow a little bit too literally however…

Spot the brown cow...

After 88km of a 95km day most people would be thinking that they have broken that back of it, but in the case of day 3 the day had really just begun. A relentless 7km climb with some sections greater than 12 degrees, the lungs, legs and emotion were running hot. Dave the hill climbing expert was even sucking in the big ones. It is safe to say that he didn’t need to say BEEP BEEP as he passed people on the way up because you could hear him coming from 50m behind breathing like a steam train. The climb was heart breaking as you could see the other riders up the hill kilometers ahead. A flat tyre when you are already at breaking point is enough to bring even the toughest flyer to tears, Fiona managed to hold it together though and grind her bike to the top. Congratulations to Matt for having enough time to ride to the nights lodging wait, realize no one was there, and then ride back to the top of the hill again….(he was way too much energy!)

Tomorrow is our last day riding, wish us luck!