To steal from Dylan, Do not go gentle into that good night...
Rage rage against the dying of the light...
The last few weeks has mostly been spend rushing about, training preparing moving around and finally the big run. Even though the run was probably not the best idea with the amount of running i've done personally it ranks quite high.
As in the poem, i reckon sometimes one should just forget about the critics, pessimists and the rest of the world. To live one day fully, striving to experience all that this amazing life has to offer, even if only for the briefest of moments, must surely be much better than just drudging along and living complacent lives that our society so forces upon us.
After i withdrew from the freedom challenge i've had a lot of time to think. Also had to do some serious thinking about where i am and where i want to be in my life. Withdrawing was extremely difficult, especially since i don't see myself as someone who would give up easily. Went riding and the knee still not there so probably the right choice though, maybe sometimes we learn more from stooping down than by soaring (sorry can't remember who said that), or maybe its a case of learning to walk again.
This however does not mean that the ride, or for that matter the fundraising project is over. I still need to complete the ride down to cape town to finish the Kili2Cape adventure, it has only been extended for a short while. A random quote, dead fish go with the stream.
I'll give some updates on training and cool experiences as they pop up along the way, hopefully in a few weeks i'll be able to continue on the way down to cape town.
The racing on the freedom challenge between Martin and Alex this year has been something absolutely phenomonal, and made me miss riding way more than i thought i would.
To everyone still on the trail, keep at it!
Learning to walk again...
29 June 2012
18 June 2012
Reality
In everything we do certain truths or realities stand out. The way people perceive things, accepting 'normality', choosing to get stuck in traffic everyday, wasting countless hours on trivial things...
In any case. The reality that struck me was that i had done way too little miles for the trail run on saterday and now the body is letting me know about it. Was an absolutely smashing experience in more ways that i could imagine. Staying on the river for most of the way made for some amazing trail running.
Hats off to the people who run the whole thing, winner did it in half our time. My brother committed to the whole run a day before the event, was an exceptional experience being able to share the run and memories. Had an ok start, but after about 12km one hip started giving problems(must be the old age). Herman stuck with me and gave me some myprodols. Eventually left me just before the 30km mark to go and tape his feet at the next water table. When i got there with some serious thoughts of withdrawing he was nowhere in sight. Probably the right motivation so spend the next 8km zoning out and catching up. Unfortunately some of the beauty of the valley was a bit lost on us, might have to do the Duzi next year;).
Made the 55km cut-off with roughly 20min to spare. The last 15km went slow with us walking most of it. Funny and great experience. Could go on for a while about the river crossings or the legs, walking sticks, lame jokes or the complete nothingness. Eventually made the finish after dark, something over 12hours, but an experience thats stays deeply etched into one's mind.
Had a false start on the freedom yesterday, the bunch was off to a flying start and immediately realised i'm in trouble. Couldn't even keep up to the start of Bisley. Knew the legs would be toasted but was prepared for it and to just hang on and keep going until they improve a bit. Too bad it was my knee that was causing the issues. Soos Marnitz se, net jy kan jouself stop, ongelukkig die keer moes ek.
Eventually had to make the call, there was absolutely no way of even making Minerva without some serious damage. So headed back to Pmb, rested the day, going to a spesialist now and hoping for the best..at least i'm getting some great food while staying here at Aintree;).
Lets hope tomorrow night sees me at Allendale.
In any case. The reality that struck me was that i had done way too little miles for the trail run on saterday and now the body is letting me know about it. Was an absolutely smashing experience in more ways that i could imagine. Staying on the river for most of the way made for some amazing trail running.
Hats off to the people who run the whole thing, winner did it in half our time. My brother committed to the whole run a day before the event, was an exceptional experience being able to share the run and memories. Had an ok start, but after about 12km one hip started giving problems(must be the old age). Herman stuck with me and gave me some myprodols. Eventually left me just before the 30km mark to go and tape his feet at the next water table. When i got there with some serious thoughts of withdrawing he was nowhere in sight. Probably the right motivation so spend the next 8km zoning out and catching up. Unfortunately some of the beauty of the valley was a bit lost on us, might have to do the Duzi next year;).
Made the 55km cut-off with roughly 20min to spare. The last 15km went slow with us walking most of it. Funny and great experience. Could go on for a while about the river crossings or the legs, walking sticks, lame jokes or the complete nothingness. Eventually made the finish after dark, something over 12hours, but an experience thats stays deeply etched into one's mind.
Had a false start on the freedom yesterday, the bunch was off to a flying start and immediately realised i'm in trouble. Couldn't even keep up to the start of Bisley. Knew the legs would be toasted but was prepared for it and to just hang on and keep going until they improve a bit. Too bad it was my knee that was causing the issues. Soos Marnitz se, net jy kan jouself stop, ongelukkig die keer moes ek.
Eventually had to make the call, there was absolutely no way of even making Minerva without some serious damage. So headed back to Pmb, rested the day, going to a spesialist now and hoping for the best..at least i'm getting some great food while staying here at Aintree;).
Lets hope tomorrow night sees me at Allendale.
02 June 2012
Interlude (the other side of the fence)
Ok sorry about no updates for a while. Been hiding from people and society in general.
Struggling to adapt to hundreds of small things and after only two months. Flushing a toilet, or actually just toilets (the normal ones everyone is used to over here) being readily available is weird. Much more so having taps and drinkable water.
Not going to go on too much about that side of things though. Had few more rides with the Specialized carve pro 29er. Unfortunately have to admit that there are some really cool things about the geometry and setup of the bike. Slowly getting used to the idea of riding it. Started running again, much ado about nothing...two weeks till the trail run.
Might post some updates or thoughts until freedom, but for those of you interested in a much more interesting adventure than my daily eating routine follow Jaco Strydoms epic adventure on twitter @jacostrydom. The old blog was beit2cape.blogspot.com. Will check up on that. Else just go search for him on www.endomondo.com. Jaco keep it up! Hope to see you somewhere along the trail!
In any case, loving food, riding with no weight, getting used to running and generally just loving being alive!
Struggling to adapt to hundreds of small things and after only two months. Flushing a toilet, or actually just toilets (the normal ones everyone is used to over here) being readily available is weird. Much more so having taps and drinkable water.
Not going to go on too much about that side of things though. Had few more rides with the Specialized carve pro 29er. Unfortunately have to admit that there are some really cool things about the geometry and setup of the bike. Slowly getting used to the idea of riding it. Started running again, much ado about nothing...two weeks till the trail run.
Might post some updates or thoughts until freedom, but for those of you interested in a much more interesting adventure than my daily eating routine follow Jaco Strydoms epic adventure on twitter @jacostrydom. The old blog was beit2cape.blogspot.com. Will check up on that. Else just go search for him on www.endomondo.com. Jaco keep it up! Hope to see you somewhere along the trail!
In any case, loving food, riding with no weight, getting used to running and generally just loving being alive!
25 May 2012
The end of the road
Currently in Zinkwasi. If you are ever passing through do the effort to stop over at Avalon B&B. Amazing hosts, sponsoring my stay over. Always a lot of fun meeting like minded people, reckon could spend a lot of time here just swapping stories.
So instead of the dreaded tar today turned out to be some amazing riding through beautiful forests, swampy forest trails with boardwalks (pretty sure wasn't allowed to ride there but super fun), and lot of sugar cane. Almost killed myself today, could have turned out lot worse so i'm extremely grateful. Missed a cable on super steep downhill, luckily was braking for a ditch and sitting back so shoulder took most of punch. Shudder. Zebra and giraffe.
If i knew the area better would be able to do the same tomorrow, although closer to Durban that might become a problem. Will see how tomorrow goes.
Will do a post on distance and time and all of that once in Durban. Got until the 16th to get fit for a 75km trail run, which if you know me you would know i'm def not a runner. So it might turn out to be an interesting challenge.
In any case, time for this mzungu to hit the bed, sun has been down for a long time.
So instead of the dreaded tar today turned out to be some amazing riding through beautiful forests, swampy forest trails with boardwalks (pretty sure wasn't allowed to ride there but super fun), and lot of sugar cane. Almost killed myself today, could have turned out lot worse so i'm extremely grateful. Missed a cable on super steep downhill, luckily was braking for a ditch and sitting back so shoulder took most of punch. Shudder. Zebra and giraffe.
If i knew the area better would be able to do the same tomorrow, although closer to Durban that might become a problem. Will see how tomorrow goes.
Will do a post on distance and time and all of that once in Durban. Got until the 16th to get fit for a 75km trail run, which if you know me you would know i'm def not a runner. So it might turn out to be an interesting challenge.
In any case, time for this mzungu to hit the bed, sun has been down for a long time.
23 May 2012
Untitled
SA! Finally!
Somehow thinking back on the last two months of riding nothing seems to stand out. It all just flows and blurs together in one amazing adventure. That is until you actually take time to sit with people and some stories just want to be told, sometimes it feels a bit like a puppet show. And then you realise that this adventure was&is a life changing experience. Like finding a grass seed embedded in your testicle two weeks later...that is seriously one ride i'll never forget. Sorry to the more sensitive listeners.
Somehow thinking back on the last two months of riding nothing seems to stand out. It all just flows and blurs together in one amazing adventure. That is until you actually take time to sit with people and some stories just want to be told, sometimes it feels a bit like a puppet show. And then you realise that this adventure was&is a life changing experience. Like finding a grass seed embedded in your testicle two weeks later...that is seriously one ride i'll never forget. Sorry to the more sensitive listeners.
In any case. Got a new filling. New bike. And new riding partners. Although the new ones aren't too great on the telepathy yet. All the previous 'friends' at least laughed at my mental jokes. And moving on.
Nothing quite like South African hospitality. And food. Although for some reason after almost two months of eating every and anything slower than me (ok except the kiddies), my body just doesn't want to cope with great food anymore. Maybe it is a sign...
So feeling sorry for myself and not too keen on 100km of tar riding i decided to take the easy way out, at 80km/h in a car. If anyone has some serious complaints about this please inform me in writing, Mzungu, Durban. It should find me.
The really great news is that i'm taming a new beast, a Specialized carve pro 29er. Unfortunately my panniers has become so specialised themselves that it can basically only go on the tank. So doing a bit more supported than i would have wanted, but since it is only about 300km i'm not going to break myself over it. Still carrying the backpack, so basically just preparing for the Freedom Challenge. Again complaints in ink to previous addres.
Started today in Esikhotheni private game reserve, amazing stop over. Thanks so much Dave for organising the riding through the reserve. Unfortunately no ellies, but Kudu, Njala and impala. Beautiful riding.
After about 20km bakkie pulled up and asked about trip and invited us to drop in at hotel in Mkuze (the driver not the bakkie).
Popped in at the Mkuze hotel, the Ghost mountain inn, and met Ross. What an amazing stop, got some food and drinks on the house. As an added bonus they're busy building some mtb trails. Can anyone spell Jacuzzi, Spa and mountain bike;). Another special place that will see me again.
The riding was quite scenic today with some easy rolling hills and a little bit of rough stuff. Was interesting to hear how other people experienced it (my parents are taking turns cycling along to durban). Complaints about the corrugation left me puzzled. Corrugation? Nothing compared to mozam standards, which bodes well for the willowmore prins albert section, untill i get my coffee, looking forward to it Johan!;)
Into hluhluwi another bakkie pulled up. I love bakkies. Met Gavin from the river lodge. Will def have to come back for some of these trails and singletracks they keep on building over here. The next mtb mecca?
Still feeling bit tired so time to end post. Not going to say too much about the bike and handling yet, although it feels like it wants to run away on the hills (dropping 10kgs probably does that). Also feels like i'm relearning to ride a bike. Need smaller wheels and more weight;). Does seem to handle rocks and bumps much better. (although the weight issue again). Also does much worse in sand than the tank (the weight issue again) ;).
In spite of all my misgivings and previously being (vehemently) against 29ers i can see myself getting the hang of this beast. And (heaven forbid) actually really enjoy the riding and handling;)
Ok so that doesn't really could as a bike review, so i promise i'll do a better job in duban after some more time on it, and a full comparison to my old trusty steed after the freedom. Probably the best way to compare them in any case. 2300km of the best riding you're likely to do (continously) through SA.
So to sum it up. I love SA and the people here.
SA! Finally!
Somehow thinking back on the last two months of riding nothing seems to stand out. It all just flows and blurs together in one amazing adventure. That is until you actually take time to sit with people and some stories just want to be told, sometimes it feels a bit like a puppet show. And then you realise that this adventure was&is a life changing experience. Like finding a grass seed embedded in your testicle two weeks later...that is seriously one ride i'll never forget. Sorry to all the
Somehow thinking back on the last two months of riding nothing seems to stand out. It all just flows and blurs together in one amazing adventure. That is until you actually take time to sit with people and some stories just want to be told, sometimes it feels a bit like a puppet show. And then you realise that this adventure was&is a life changing experience. Like finding a grass seed embedded in your testicle two weeks later...that is seriously one ride i'll never forget. Sorry to all the
21 May 2012
Losing the plot
This might seem a bit arb to those with a sense of direction, but i'm currently sitting in Nelspruit. Met up with my parents in Swaziland who brought the new bike, Specialized Carve, seems solid. In a good way. Even though i'm a bit of an anti 29er, when setting up the bike this afternoon was sort of wishing had it a thousand ks ago at the start of the heavy(ier) sand and corrugation. Maiden flight tomorrow!
Stayed over at Mkhaya game reserve in Swazi last night. Amazing time. Going to dentist tmrw, pratley puttey was excellent for fixing bike frame, saddle, bag, random small stuffs, waterproofing wounds etc but couldn't quite get myself to use it to replace the filling. (Although in my mind tye whole procedure has already been worked out, and when my body is dug up a thousand years from now they'll remark on how strong our molars were). Or how tough the food must have been.
In any case. Heading back to swazi tomorrow and then out to SA. No way going back to where was picked up, would have to stick on tar roads till border so might skip a section but thats fine by me. Smokkel route that was part of plan through Lebombo mountains is bit out of question with the parentals in a very inconspicious black Landy behind me.
Even though the new bike has eyelets for a pannier, the one i've been using has been so modified that it is pretty much custom built to the bike. So going to chicken out and las the other bag in the car the last 400km to durban. Would have happened with freedom in any case so doesn't seem like cheating too much. Although first prize would have been to cycle out till Durban with the old (sadly broken) rusty steed. Freewheelbody and bearings was so bad last 20km everything was slipping, almost resorted to cableties, fixing casette to spokes. With some very smooth pedalling luckily this was avoided. Although the 13km pass was interesting, especially after a 1000km of flat riding.
Time for bed, and almost riding again!
Stayed over at Mkhaya game reserve in Swazi last night. Amazing time. Going to dentist tmrw, pratley puttey was excellent for fixing bike frame, saddle, bag, random small stuffs, waterproofing wounds etc but couldn't quite get myself to use it to replace the filling. (Although in my mind tye whole procedure has already been worked out, and when my body is dug up a thousand years from now they'll remark on how strong our molars were). Or how tough the food must have been.
In any case. Heading back to swazi tomorrow and then out to SA. No way going back to where was picked up, would have to stick on tar roads till border so might skip a section but thats fine by me. Smokkel route that was part of plan through Lebombo mountains is bit out of question with the parentals in a very inconspicious black Landy behind me.
Even though the new bike has eyelets for a pannier, the one i've been using has been so modified that it is pretty much custom built to the bike. So going to chicken out and las the other bag in the car the last 400km to durban. Would have happened with freedom in any case so doesn't seem like cheating too much. Although first prize would have been to cycle out till Durban with the old (sadly broken) rusty steed. Freewheelbody and bearings was so bad last 20km everything was slipping, almost resorted to cableties, fixing casette to spokes. With some very smooth pedalling luckily this was avoided. Although the 13km pass was interesting, especially after a 1000km of flat riding.
Time for bed, and almost riding again!
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