Not a bike trip 2021

We decided to keep August's 'hikeabike' blogspot for our new trip, although it's not a cycling adventure this time. 

Follow us (August and Ydi) as we embark on an exciting overlanding trip from Cape to Congo via Gabon and back (this is plan A). The exact travel plans are subject to change and covid restrictions, but we'll keep you posted where we are and what we're up to (#plan B, C, D or J).

Some people say you need a year of planning for an overlanding tour - we started talking and dreaming in December (August randomly told someone at a family braai we're going on a trip and since then we were committed!) The planning phase is slowly coming to an end, switching into the next gear for the final countdown (two weeks before lift-off). 

The neverending lists seem to be abating, as well as the crazy preparation things no-one tells you about (lots of forms to fill in, insurance, medical, licensing, insurance, medical, licensing). Lots of meeting random people for 2nd hand goods (camera bag, tent, cruiser, GPS). Lots of fun things to fix - August did a great job rebuilding the winch (youtube fixing), while I fixed up our playlist (and revived the blog - August says: We'll see if it lasts beyond this post). Lastly, a lot of reading, researching and catching up with people who have done similar trips and who could give us advice. You'll never be 100% prepared for what's ahead, but you might as well try. We're hoping the previous backpacking and public transport travels make up for being 110% prepared 😇. 

This week we moved from our house into a smaller place (with just the essentials - August disagrees on the essentials part) while we tie up any loose ends at work and acclimatise to living in a smaller space. Then it's over to mounting the last things onto the roofrack (including our homemade shower-aka-potato gun), getting last-minute orders in the mail, buying last medical supplies, and hopefully managing to 'leave at least half of your kit behind', as many experienced overlanders have told us, while making the COVID border cut-off.   

Adventure awaits...

 

All the small things

Today i dodged a thousand snails...
Maybe even more, the unsung great migration in the weatern cape seems to be in full swing. Probably not the most inspirational message on one of the last days of the journey, but not much else went through my mind today.

That is excluding the freezing experience on the mountain. I slowly fell into a state where getting my feet warm again was at the top of the priority list. Stopping and getting my hands to cooperate just didnt happen, so i kept soldiering on. Eventually looking up i realised that there was snow all around (the persistentrain didnt help). Eventually made it down and got some more warm clothes on.

The journey has mostly been about seeing the small things and learning to be grateful again. Reconising the moments for what they are and enjoying them. Whether it was a perfect day of singletrack riding, clear skies, riding alongside wildlife or just being frozen and miserable in the rain. If you take the time each moment has a certain facet of beauty to it.

Time to head into stetteyns and experience one more day of spectacular scenery. In all likelihood i'll end the K2C trip at diemers tomorrow, not so sure if i want to do the tar/taxi dodge mission just to finish in cape town instead of 40km out. Reckon the effort in stetteyns should make up for not riding that section. (Marnitz waar het jy al daai braambosse gaan plant?)

Recollection

Perfect riding day into Stuttgard farm from Hofmeyr today. As most cyclists know the wind is always from the front...although for most of todays riding i had a great tailwind.

There really is nothing quite like the silent embracement of the Karoo. The people that have felt or understood the magic and allure of this special place will agree when i say that there is nothing to do but to step back in wonder.

Even though quite a bit of the journey is still left spend some time today thinking about what exactly this past few months has done&meant to me.
However my knee succeeded quite convincingly in letting this train of thought go for the time being. Yesterday still felt fine, today strain starting to show. Even though i really love the climbs on the route (makes for great downhills), right now it is basically one painfull pedalstroke after the other. Although you get used to the pain after a while, rather similar to most things in life. Luckily i need to attend a wedding this weekend so will detour a bit from the route, only need to nurse the knee along for three more days of hard riding. Or smash it and go for the paralympics.

In any case, i realised that this journey is about so much more than just the cycle, the amazing scenery and people i meet along the way. One part of it that i have been neglecting for a while is the fundraising aspect, and at the moment that is the main reason to keep pedalling. It is a difficult concept to understand, why would anyone want to give someone else money just because i'm out there somewhere on my bike. That said, i'm sure that every cent makes a difference and hopefully i can help make a difference. A pebble to cause a landslide...

In any case, time to get some rest, hopefully i'll be able to make it over the mountain before the predicted thunderstorm, the crossing Bottlenek was bad enough.

Learning to walk again (again)

Back on the trail, again again. This time though the ride is different.

Each day i'm riding not to remember but to forget. Started again on the last third of the Kili2Cape route, but after 4days my motivation and knee was going. Rested up and regained some zen at the McLeods, Mark&Nicky i owe you guys big time, thanks.

Currently in Vuvu, struck again by just what hospitality and friendliness should be. Back in africa again. People are way beyond the modern accepted standard of friendly and caring.

To say that i'm not in the best place for the freedom at the moment would be one of those laughable understatements, but at the moment i'm just trying to get into a rythm again and to forget.

The riding though has been amazing, really love this first section of the trail. Lets hope the wind dies down else Lehanas tomorrow could get quite interesting...anyone in for paragliding back to Pietermaritzburg?

Learning to walk again

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...

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.

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!