Month end

It comes as it always does. The end of the month. It is a time to reflect and decide on your next move. To say i am hopeful is an understatement. I have and have been. Tonight is very short and sweet. Live and let live. That can only ring true until you know what it means. Peace my beautiful people.

Sunday night

Another weekend down and out. Don't feel i achieved much. The weather has not been great and my inspiration and motivation are at an all time low. Not always being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel can be a challenge. Pushing through these times are a learning curve. Got to keep myself together and know that the goods days are just around the corner. Being cold and the rain have definitely affected my mood. I am not going to let my mind be run over though. It's my birthday in a few weeks and i am looking forward to that. The last couple of years i have had splendid parties and this year will be much the same. I haven't planned anything yet but it is on my to do list. Anyways look after yourselves and keep your head up. Chat soon.

Society

So things for me personally are on the up. I am feeling better and getting my life in order. I am 30% better than a week ago. One thing i need to do. Stop reading and observing the news. It undoubtedly has a massive negative affect on me. I read it or see it and it gets me all wound up and emotional. I think one of my biggest pros when i was out cycling was not being in touch with the shit we read and see daily. Human kind has really out done itself to be cruel and disappointing. Of course this is my view only. There is still lots of good and good deeds done on a daily basis but the negative seems to be trumping it at the moment.
It makes me wonder why and why not. Questions each individual has to answer on their own. You may also decide to turn a blind eye or simply ignore it. I don't think there are even answers to some of the questions. But it leaves me more than a little disappointed in what the human race has turned into.
Again you cannot compare us all equal but why does the good not consistently defeat the bad. Why does it all continue. I think this is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why I want to just leave on my trusty bike and escape this turmoil called life. It was so simple and easy out there. Anyway friends and foes until we chat again. Peace and love.

Thinking

I have been thinking a lot and i am going to try and meditate more. I have been trying in bed before i go to sleep. 15 minutes of quiet and really try to clear my head. On my pills there is less noise but still many many crossroads. It is difficult to think with absolute certainty and assertion. I am trying and enjoying things a lot more which is great. Cleaning out ones head and putting the clutter to one side must be the most difficult thing i have ever tried. On my cycling trips it was great as the peace and quiet worked absolute wonders for me. I will never forget the day i was standing next to a round water storage holder and i took the video of where i had come from and where i was going. The peace stunned me and i was absolutely grounded. Anyway this is a bit of an arbitrary post. Just to check in i guess. Be safe.

Time

Been thinking recently about the format of time. It is the one source we cannot currently change. If you or anybody could i wonder what a different world we would be in. Who knows if anybody will ever come up with a way to move forward or backwards in time. There are things i would probably change but very very limited. If you were allowed to change one item or moment of time in your life i wonder what it would be. To be by someone's side before they die. To change a lotto ticket number. To take back an action that you made. The list is endless as to who where why what and how. Each person has a moment an event or an action they would probably change. But for what reason and why. Why is time the only factor we cannot manipulate. It's a bit of a thinker i guess. How much would it change your life for the opportunity to change one moment of your life. We watch movies about it all the time.
Be careful to never ever wish time away as it is the only thing you cannot change. As usual i wish you all peace and love. It is my time to write this blog which helps me in some or another way to move forward and upwards. Be good amazing people and be good to each other. Peace.

Cold

I lay here on my bed. It is still very much winter in Cape Town. The cold is sharp and the days do not see much warmth. I should be happy i am not on tour now as it would be hard work trying to keep myself warm and motivated. Yet as it is i wish i was out in the middle of nowhere right now. By myself enjoying the peacefulness and beauty of the world. My mind is at odds with itself about almost everything. I guess having knowledge is power they say. I am not sure what i am supposed to know right now. I have been lucky in life to have always had the basic requirements to get by and be comfortable with day to day living.
Some call it a mid life crisis. Right now i don't know what to call it for me. I guess time will tell. You see things that you think are important and necessary but are they? Again i don't have many answers. I want to do well and be proud of myself to show that i am strong. But does that really matter. Who knows what is coming for any of us but i guess we all have different desires and wishes. I have been trying to meditate the last few nights but i think my head is too busy. If you have a secret on how to let me know. Sleep tight all.

Oh my gosh

So been a few days again. Sometimes i just think about posting and i don't get around to doing it. You know what i mean... The things we have and will get to. The list of stuff. Well right now i am ticking one off by writing this catch up. I was reminded today by my friend that i am living in the wrong time. I wanted something to be instead of what i had. What i had at that exact moment was perfect but my mind thought it wanted different. It doesn't go that way you see. I was where i needed to be with who i needed to be with. I was simply not present with myself. I have been like this quite a lot lately. Missing life and wanting other things than what i had and how perfect the moment was. I guess it is getting used to my medication and trying to deal with my current tenure. But it is actually all correct.
I am hoping for a calm and collected week to ground my bearings. Just be present and know that it is exactly perfect and the timing is to the second. I will endeavour to stop wishing and rather be accepting and grateful of what i have. For greed is the enemy and you will always want as long as you don't accept the now. It is tremendously difficult but this shall be my goal in life.
Again i wish you all well and love. This world needs more love. Be good and chat soon. G.

Check check 1 2 3

So wow home slices. 3 nights and 3 posts. That's more than i did when i was searching for water. By the way one day that search will start again. I cannot tell you the feeling i miss of being in nowhere looking for water. The freedom i had. No responsibilities no time frames but also no pay cheques 🤣. The day will come when i leave home on my bike and never return. Only to find my skeleton millions of years later in the most deserted area with my teeth showing a great smile.
Work is getting better by the day. I guess with every job you do the more you know the more you can do and the better you enjoy  it. I am and will getting to grips with it all and enjoying my 8 minute downhill ride to work. I have even walked on the odd occasion and still get to work in less time than it takes most people to get out their driveways.
My medication is also helping me cope. I don't wake up with a sore tummy anymore and my anxiety levels are about as low as the give a shit o meter for our government. I know can you Adam and Eve it...
It's a short one tonight as i don't think you care much for my menial tasks during the day so not much to post. My nights are not too exciting either. I will say that hopefully my diet is a bit better. 2 big packets of vegetables in 2 days. What the fuck right. Normally it is 2 packets of bacon with a side dish of bacon. God that sounds delicious.
Anyway home slices love you all and see y'all soon.
Peace.

#hashtag

So as another day draws to an end i sit and think about the reason we are here. If ever anyone knows please be so kind as to tell me. I know my posts have become a little bit dark and maybe repetitive but the learnings of life are not to be underestimated. For each to their own and lessons understood. Too often do we simply make the same mistake without learning the meaning of it. Why? Am i not smart enough to learn. Am i the only one who does this? The question might even be as simple as is this even a mistake. Why does it keep coming at me. Why can i not clear the error and carry on. What could you possibly be trying to teach me. I guess i will find out soon enough. I kinda wish sometimes it was clearer than the merky water i am looking through. But alas. Good night friends. May the water be clearer in the morning.

Notes

I need to make notes for myself. I sit see and watch as this all unfolds. It has but been written for sometime. All that we desire and imagine can only take place if we allow. Nothing is by chance or accident. It is how we create the moment and define the action. Not only does it arrive at the exact moment it should it arrives in the exact correct quantity. Hard to digest and accept but if you do you shall understand how it all happened. This is a problem that we don't see. A small but very intricate and exact piece. It seems to be an unfair piece of the puzzle but we have designed it to this exact precision. I wish to change my move and go back 3 spaces but you can't. Time is not a system we have control over. Not yet anyway. I need this now to keep me in check. Make sure my moves and decisions are the right ones. I wish this for all of you too. Be patient but when you move make it count. It affects absolutely every single move from there forward. So keep that in your thoughts.

Back on

So i have decided to get this thing back going. A place to document my thoughts. I am in general an extremely personal and private person. I have always been that way. It suits me and i do well in my own world. In the last few weeks i have started another new job. I can't give you the reason why just yet. I hope it works out and i am keeping my head in the game. I have been through a lot of changes recently. I am on my own again. A feeling that has come welcomed. I need to work and try to get myself back to the fun Greg. He has been gone a while. I have lost track of a lot of things because the fighting got out of control. I am blamed for things i don't think are an issue. But hey it doesn't matter who where why what or how. It just matters to me that i rebuild myself on a stronger foundation.
To add to my news i am now on a drug called lexamil. It is a serotonin inhibitor and will help me through this period. I am in need of something to lift the cloud above me and this is the stuff. It should be at full working capacity in a week or two.
This is just a quick catch up but i want to get this little story going again as it helps me document and see my life. I will keep it up to date hopefully.
Anyways off for a nap now so chat soon.

Nope

Life

This could be the longest post in the world but let's keep it to facts. Life is what each person makes it. We watch as some go through horrowing experiences time after time. Do we interject? Seldom. Why? If you love someone it should be a priority. But we are too concerned with ourselves. What do we need? What do i want? It is a question that has no answer because as soon as you get what it is you wanted you want something else. So the answer is infinity. Or is it? Why look if you can't find it? And the question starts again of what were you looking for? It all sounds like a vicious circle but that's how we progress. Want, greed and then need. I don't even know the answer but it has had me thinking recently. Top priorities followed by wants and greed. Anyway i just thought i would share that with you quickly as it was on my mind. One day i guess we will know the answer. Each so unique and individual. A star in our right. A beacon of hope, love and joy. More than we know. My top priority changes constantly these days and it burns me inside. Stability is rare and a sought after commodity right now. Peace is close but still out of reach. It will join me soon to love me and show me. Teach me and guide me. Hold me and comfort me. It is not ownership or labelled it is better explained in my mind. But it will come. I don't doubt it. I wish you all peace but most importantly peace of mind. For the mind is the only thing that has want or greed. Control your mind and you will be at peace. You will be the richest person you know. Sleep tight folk. I love you all dearly. G.

It's too late

So i need to apologize for my uselessness. I don't even know if i have any constant followers on this gig. I have been up and i have been down. Right now not so good. But what we learn in life is that it is important not to give up. So we shall carry on and try to get things back on track. I have the time and the ability to keep you all coming back for more. And if not you are welcome to kick me.
Many roads have been crossed and bridges taken. I sit here tonight wondering what is what. Time... It's a token of gesture. The more time i spend with you the more i like you. That means good. You are making an impact and improving my situation. However if i am not spending time with you does not mean the opposite. There are probably factors not allowing such. But in this world i promise you if you are reading this you have probably impacted my life. For this i owe you a gratitude.
Anyways. Life is full right now so i promise to keep you updated. 😙😚
I wish you all the best. There is too much negativity out there. 
I will deal with you all soon. Until then take care & sleep indoors.
Peace out 😚

It's that big

Mutant Vehicle

Simply brilliant

Giraffe in the desert

The final countdown

The last night was upon us. We were gearing up for battle. I was as usual in my cycling kit. I didn't think anyone would notice. Half my one camp had left. They had taken the gas invention with them. We were golden though as it worked so well we had been left with enough ice for the nights festivities. I was ready for this. My whole life's partying preparation was coming to a head. I had practiced rigorously my entire life for these coming hours. The night to talk about for the rest of my life. The big one. The finalè. The grand daddy. The absolute behemoth of parties. The stuff you only hear about once a year. It was time. I loaded myself up with what was now know as my carry pack and a warmth. My carry pack was as it sounds. A small but large over the shoulder cool box. Soft material for easy and light carrying yet made to the high standards of a VW trying to beat a diesel emissions test. It was an exact science. Plus minus 4 beers for me, a gin and tonic for my girl and a drink for my friend which i had renamed paint remover. It was 3 quarters rum and one part mix of coke and water. One sip and you lit up like you had just had a swig of uranium. Truly an inspiring concoction. We had designed it on the second night. We decided we would be artisans in the world of mixology.
Off we went. The party was booming. People knew this was it. The next time we would we see this sort of debauchery was a full calendar year away. The mood was joyous and people were exuberant. My whittled down small group was on form. Everyone was on top of their game. The music from all camps was fantastic. We jumped hoped and skipped around the vast area know as the binnering. The inside of the circle. It was carnival like.
The night was going to be like no other. At this exact moment is when it hit. My legs started to wobble and my body was no better. I took a sip of the paint stripper drink thinking this would cure my woes. It didn't. I tried another sip.... again nothing. I couldn't believe what was happening. Not now. Not tonight. Not at this party. Unfortunately it was to be. I was simply exhausted and not able to carry on. It was a little short of 11pm. A tear ran down my friends faces as they watched me slowly head off to base camp for a rest. I had vowed that if i felt better i would return and carry on the fun. It was just simply not meant to be. My body was at its absolute end for the evening.
When i finally got to my abode it was all of 10 seconds before i was fast asleep.

Courtesy JV

A mutant vehicle

Courtesy JV

Intense

Funner

Fun

24-48-36 hours.

Life at AB is simple. No money. No shops. What you take is what you have. What goes with you goes home with you. Absolutely everything. There are no rubbish trucks or vendors. You can trade if you need to but that's about it. There is no hierarchy. Everyone is equal. The parties that happen are gifted to the event by a camp. Some go all out. I mean seriously top notch. The one camp had brought a green ground cover as a tennis court. Net, umpires chair and all the bits and bobs that go with it. To top it all off they had one of the best sound systems. Power was courtesy of a generator that could run a small country. All supplied by them at their cost. Impressive to say the least. I had pitched up on a bike with nothing. I had placed orders with both my camps for drinks and food. They had both gone above and beyond to keep me alive. I was and am grateful to them for their efforts.
Once you get there and see the amount of preparation and gear some people have and have organised you are simply blown away. I know i am rambling on here but i need you to picture the picture. I am trying to draw it for you.
So let's move on. The next few days were astounding. We drank we partied we met people, some naked 🤔 some not 🤓 no matter where we went or what we did our fun level kept going up.
The burns started a day late as on the Thursday it was a bit too windy and the marshals advised us it would be too dangerous. Luckily i was not given that job as my judgement was slightly impaired and i probably would have gone ahead with the task. We were lucky that the peeps in charge were of better standing than us and hopefully a lot more sober.
Sleep was also becoming a scarce commodity. The partying does not stop there. Not for anyone. Not even my good self 🤔🤣. The music is good, loud and several variations no matter where you ars standing. As mentioned already people go to great lengths to keep you entertained. Some camps even had small bar areas. In order to obtain a refreshment you had a silly task of some nature to complete. Then your reward would be a cocktail or shooter that could wake up the dead. The atmosphere is jubilant and joyful. You really would think you were at Disney world.

It's Who?!

I was informed long before i went to this event that it is impossible to find anyone. Well my dears here is the trick. Do not by any circumstances go looking for them. There is a good chance they are following you at the same speed just a few hundred meters behind. The trick is to stay stationary. I mean don't move. The reason for my statue like appearance was not because of any other reason than that alone. I was smarter and knew these rules. I am what you would call a cut above my fellow burners. I had studied human movement the previous night and my instincts had told me that being stationary for 2 or 3 hours in the same spot would see me greeting all my comrades and allies.
However my next greeting would take me by surprise. I was there still in the same kit i had arrived in the day before when i had to rub my eyes just to make sure i wasn't hallucinating. Was it? Could it be? Not here not today!! Or was it? Was i being fooled by my own self? Or was i already asleep and dreaming of this event? But how it seems real. I ask my friend to double check my vision. He agrees it is what i am seeing. I am now overcome with my happiness. I feel a warmth surround me. It is  good felling.
It is.... my brother giving me a big hug. I can almost not believe it. But it is.
We greet we hug we shake hands and we talk. He came here with one of his best and oldest friends from many borders away. It was emotional and tearful. His wife stood by and watched the greeting like it was meant to be. They had gone all out and really looked the part. I was still in my cycling kit. It was a reunion that would behold the greatest of kings. 2 souls chatting about their experiences. It was similar i guess to the exchanges royals had when they returned from galliant battles at sea. Quick but precise exchanges of the events that had unfolded. News of past and current affairs. He informed me of his gangs hideout and i did the same. Unfortunately our paths would not cross again on this battlefield as the next few days played themselves out. But for that moment it was a feeling of great joy and achievement that we had met. I now knew what winning the lotto was like. A feeling so good that you had been in the right place at the right time and everything had led up to this meeting of brothers. We had had no plan or even knew either would be here. It was just simply written in the stars.

Burning

Large is somewhat of a dimwitted statement. You can go large anywhere. At AB you simply go "awol". I was about to try it. I got my best frock on and my dancing shoes. Then i changed back to my cycling gear. You see at this place normal is not normal. Out of the ordinary is normal. People wear and dress to their hearts fantasy. I mean over the top. I mean extreme. It's simply lego land for adults. With my attire ready and several largers down i attempted the impossible. Going out there for the first time alone. No one does this. Normally you would gather a few mates and prepare for the ordeal. I was in no mans land about to risk life and limb for my country. Sacrifice myself for the good of the nation. I think you get it. Was i scared hell yes but i was ready. My will was written and my next of kin informed of my solo mission.
The next day i awake. Body sore but intact. Nothing missing except my memory. I get up and greet my fellow campers. They inform me we had indeed a spectacular evening. Fun was had. Drinks were drunk and drunk i was. It was agreed we should do much the same today. It was earlyish when we cautioned our cooler boxes they would be attacked again. We were ready and so were they.
On my second day the rest of my 2 gangs were arriving so i was now the leader of this ship. It was a daunting thought. I stood tall and showed the crowd who was boss. This was a bad idea as my head started to spin and i got dizzy. My closest neighbors nearly wet themselves laughing. They could see i was one of them now. It was a proud moment.
During this show of incredible stupidity a car arrived. Not any car. My mate. Not any mate my best mate. We had planned this. So far so good. He was beside himself at my condition. He knew i was now the leader. It was just how it is. We left to my second camp and low and behold they had arrived too. Camp was setup and they had even dragged a gas freezer to the middle of the desert to make sure we were refreshed accordingly. I was impressed with their efforts to keep us alive. It was going to be another spectacular day.

Party Time

Africa Burn

The ride through was fantastic. I have done this road but from the other direction before. You should remember the post. It had very few kind words. I have to say that this trip was the complete same. Someone had obviously called ahead and said i was riding through in reverse. They had turned the wind 180 degrees and now i was going back with the same headwind. It was just brutal. I think the expression is called "farting against the wind." It just destroys the fun of the action.
Mid way i see a few cars pulled over. Young chaps. Drinking beer all excited for their first Africa Burn. They offer me a beer and i decline. There is one thing worse than riding into a headwind. It's riding drunk.... I explain this to them. They look confused. I knew what they were going through. When i was their age i thought as they did. Everything was more fun with a few beers in you. But as you get older life teaches you this is not always true. Who thought i would ever say that 😉😎.
If you will alllow me to jog your memories a tad you will recall i went to Africa Burn about 6 weeks before it started. It is a huge piece of land. Rough terrain. No trees. Harsh and dry. I guess that's why they call it a desert. I remember it being empty. Absolutely beautiful but empty. As far as the eye can see empty. What would it be like now? I wasn't sure. I tried a few pictures in my head but nothing. I could not have dreamt what I was in for. The last gate. Boom i was through. Over a small hill and at the top you could see it. Not to its entirety but you could gather enough from this vantage point.
I completely and stupidly did not take photos. I apologize for this to no end. I keep kicking myself for my rookie error. The sight was just phenomenal. I wish i could take you there. That exact moment. That exact vision. The smell, the shapes, the awesomeness and the excitement. I was trembling in my shoes. My hands were cold. The bladder was weak. It was an amusement park for adults. No it was even better than that. It was heaven for adults.
First to be seen was the works of art that are built simply to just be burnt. Hence the name. They are all completely different. It is in the eye of the artist that they are constructed. Wooden structures. Secondly to be noticed is the campsites. Huge areas of tents. Masses of humans sleeping in tight proximity. The sights go on for ages. I took my time here at the top of the hill to make sure i wasn't dreaming. It was jubilant and will be something i will never forget. I had arrived at my destination and i was about to go large.

Nice?

Good evening

I find myself back in Cape Town. Alive, healthy and in good spirits. A new day a new dawn awaits tomorrow. I will catch you up over the next few days. Things for the most part have been pretty amazing. Africa Burn was an experience i shall never forget. I doubt I would do it again but my time there was undoubtedly worth it. I look forward to our catch ups so check in soon. I shall do my best to get down the details of the past days. For now i kiss you good night and the sweetest of dreams. 😚

Afrikaburn

I do find myself a little scared for tomorrow. Not the ride but the adventure that awaits. 13000 peeps. My peeps. Party peeps. I look forward to meeting them. Greeting them. Exchanging stories, having a beer and a good old chin wag. If life lets it be we shall chat on my return. Catch up on what's been appening. You know geezer.
On a good note Mana is doing much better 😙.
On a sad note. Avicii is dead at 28. Amazing artist and musician. I wished him a safe passage last night in my thoughts. Very sad.
Ok home slices. Off to bed. Until then.
Peace.

Sunday's

The Spar is closed. So is the other small takeaway shop. It's only 4.30pm. What the hell do i do now? Call 555hungry?
There is no answer. Ride through to Ceres???? It's 50kms away. Not going to happen. I see a couple of locals and ask where to get a drink. They point to the township. I find the shop they are taking about. They don't sell water so 2 liters of cream soda it will be followed by a packet of lays. Mmmmm yummy.
I pack my purchase and head off.  As much as this was my destination i actually had no idea where to camp. I rode down the road. Looking searching for anything. A small road appears. It doesn't look used. I ride for exactly 375 meters. Flat earth. No issues.
It is getting a little dark. Nervous as hell i pitch my tent and get to it. Not the best but it will have to do.
I stay up for ages thinking what each and every sound could be. It is horrid. I find myself falling in and out of sleep.
The morning arrives and i am not sure if i have even slept or not. These are the tough days. I do not deal with them well. Apart from the fact i hardly slept it was minus eleventy thousand and million degrees. Absolutely freezing. Do not try to tour in winter. It was very very cold.
But today sees me a little better. I have booked into an amazing place. I camped here on my first tour. The same place where the dam was empty.
So i am in my room. Very very affordable and amazing place.
I am off to the Tankwa tomorrow for Africa Burn. So again i leave you. I apologize for my poor attendance. It shall improve.
I bid you all good night and good fortune. I have come to realize that although we need money, fortune is worth so much more. If i could this would be my job. It costs little and bears so much reward.
I love you all and wish you your own fortune. Sleep tight 😘
G.

How are we at Sunday.

Who knows where we are. The finale to my shortcut is a walk through a river. I take off my shoes and socks and cross. Oh shit. There on the other side is..... freedom. The tarred road my stinky gate keeper told me about. I was no longer a trespasser. I felt comfortable now.
Just over an hour down the road and i am eating at the motel. I was in Citrusdal. Basically a town that grows citrus. Rows and rows of trees with golden fruit. Amazing.
I stop by the cafe for a coke. I have seen the map. Not much ado about much. 50kms and i am where i want to be. I leave.
Less than 10kms in i start questioning my map reading again. I am just going up and i have already drunk a bottle of water. I only have 4. It is what it is i guess. Indeed i keep going. 20kms in and 2 bottles down. Not looking good. I am about half way up a mountain that makes  Everest look like a speed bump. I get to the summit. I have completely underestimated this day. As i think this the crows and buzzards start circling. I show them the bird as i don't want to look vulnerable. Inside i am scared.
The descent is a nightmare. Steep and fast as hell. My brakes are screetching and also fading. WTF. I guess the extra 30kgs i am carrying are just too much. A sharp corner i try my best to stay on the road. I remember i have a spare pair of pants just in case. I made it. No need for a wardrobe malfunction.
I keep going. This is the first day of my life i ever get really worried about running out of fluid. I am basically recycling my sweat just to stay alive. This carries on for another 40kms.
Then like an oasis in the desert i see it. Op Die Berg. The town i was aiming for. I have been here twice on my previous tour so i know wherei am going. Spar good for you.

Monday Bloody Monday

Thanks for coming back. I wasn't sure if I would. Let's start with where we left off.
Early Saturday i pulled myself towards myself. The bike was ready but i wasn't in as good a shape. I needed fuel. So into town i moved. Basically down a hill. Spar was open so i filled up on supplies first then scouted for breakfast.
A cute little shop was open on the main road. I paid the parking and went in. The place was abuzz. Insects everywhere. It was still early and cold. I took up a seat and was eating quickly. Omelet it was. Cheese with cheese. My favourite. My cherry tart was telling me NO NO NO but who cares. You only live once.
The reason i was up before satan was because i had heard the climb into Beaverlac was tough. I was ready to go. The reactors were fired up and ready to go. I got to the base of it. A little disappointed. I could see the top and it wasn't that far. Less than an hour later i was looking at my achievement. I was at the top. It was spectacular. Our country is absolutely stunning. The scenery is just second to none. We are graced people make no mistake about it.
I get to Beaverlac. Perfect. Go there if you can. It's not far. Do the walks. Do the fishing. Do the holiday. Enjoy yourself and take in the beauty we have.
Yesterday i got up rushing like a tortoise. As far as i could see i was in the golden seat. 70kms to ride with no issues. I get to the gate and the gentleman puffing on his cancer stick gives me a major shortcut. He says i should be fine as long as the owner of the farm i am about to ride across is still asleep.  🤤😲😱😴😪. Ok i figure.
That 12kms was out of this world. Over a river. Scenery like you see in award winning books. Just phenomenal.

We meet again!

Todays ride was incredible. The first part would take me from Elands Bay to Picketberg. Roughly 95kms. The morning started spectacularly with me waking up. That was a good start. A little bit about last night. It was cold. Not just a little brrr but i mean cold. When you know you really do have a skeleton because your bones are rattling. I mean C O L D. So i pack and shower and get myself ready. Boom i am off. You may have heard it... around 7.10am. Yip that was me firing up the nuclear legs. Roughly 6kms in i see the most amazing sight. My heart sinks. I feel sad and disappointed all at the same time. It is a brilliant campsite. I stayed in town at the campsite which was absolute rubbish and bloody expensive. Here lay what campers dreamt of. Big open spaces. Your own shower and toilet. This place looked the shizznezz. Nothing i could do now but pedal on feeling like i owned a million Steinhof shares. 😭
Not to worry life is about learning and taught i was. Not sure what it was i was schooled in but off i went. Not much further down the road i see animals. Lots of animals. One of those little brown antelope, lots of Springbok and several billion ducks. I have photos but the signal here is pretty rubbish so i will post them in a day or two. I stopped and admired the creatures. Beautiful majestic animals the whole lot of them. Just getting on with their day eating and peeing. I said my goodbyes and the reactors turned back on.
Not long after that was i when i was shown the most amazing sight of the day. It was just spectacular, jaw dropping some would say. Double D'S. That's right folks double digits. The temperature had warmed to a refreshing ten degrees. I hoped it would not end there and i was not let down. By the end of the day it was a lovely 27. I know right.
Anyhow back to the ride. About 60kms in again i was summoned to the landscape by my eyes. Kudu. Lots of them.  I figured this is where kudu biltong came from. I tried to slow to get a picture for y'all but there must be something about a person on a pink bike shouting "picture time" that put them off. I can't for the life of me think what it could be.
The rest of the miles to Picketberg were pretty much standard. Pedal, move forward, pedal you get the picture.
Lunch was dealt with swiftly at Spur. I was starving. Burger and chips for starters followed by ribs and salad then a chicken for dessert. Delicious.
This left me with 20kms to my destination. Here i sit. A place called Waterval. Nice little place. The campsites are close. Very close. I heard my neighbor picking his nose just now. Yip... that close.
Last bit of news. It's good news. Mana seems to be mended and back home eating robbers. I am over the moon. She is such a gentle loving soul.
I shall be in the mountains for a day or two so probably no post until Monday. Safe and fun weekend all.
Lots a love G.

Daytime

That's not table mountain

The ride?

Luckily the ride is a better post than my previous one. I hope it does something to lighten your day....
The day started on a somber note. I was a little peeved that i had not ridden the previous day. It had rained over the evening so my water bed was back. I was not amused or impressed. But the day needes to start so i got cleaning and tidying. It didn't take long before the rickshaw (my bike) was packed and ready to roll. I smelt like a new person and i was happy to be fleeing my current abode. It was still very misty and slightly dark so i was very wary.
Onto the main road and klapping it like a professional i was going at least 20kms an hour. I figure my stuff must weigh at least 15kgs and me about 90. I know right. It was a good Christmas so be quiet.
After about 30 minutes everything cleared up perfectly as soon as i cleaned my glasses. I think i forgot to do it the night before and wasn't sure now if the fog was real or not. I haven't had any alcohol either so that rules that one out.
Anyways the day was perfect now and i was following the beach to a place i had never been. My goal was Lambert's Bay. I would see how the day would pan out. As to this reality.
Riding along the beach front is pretty much the same the whole way. Water, sand, sky, road and crappy vegetation on the other side. It went like this for about an hour and a half so i got out my book and read a few pages.
Unexpectedly and to my surprise i saw a right turn up the road. I downed my book and took full control of the steering wheel. I hadn't done one of these today. Not only was it a right turn but also an incline. I questioned myself why someone would make my life so difficult. I took the task very seriously and managed to get through it without any altercations. I was pleased at my success. Nearing the summit of said incline a bunch or rather gathering of motorbikes came past. Some friendly with a toot and some revving their motors like evil knievel. Well done i shouted as more and more of them passed. I was a tad out of breath so i let the rest of them be.
Down the other side it was back to childhood memories. Picturing i had 5 playing cards attached to my bike wheels making that rrrrrrrrrrr sound. It was fun.
I had previously decided to change my address for tonight to Eland's Bay. It was better placed for my ride tomorrow and i had clocked up 70kms. Not forgetting my tent was still wet and most of my clothing too.
I am situated next to the hotel on one of their camping spots. It is an absolute sight watching the ocean here. I will be up early tomorrow to get to Porterville. About 120kms.
Sleep tight all and don't forget a small prayer for Mana.
😗

I sit here

I sit here today a little fragile. Mana, Jacqui's Saint Bernard is not well. I am informed she has a twist of some nature in her stomach. Not only is this animal one of the most beautiful and kind creatures on this planet i had a special bond with her. I took her for walks and she was always happy to see me. Are we not the luckiest species on the planet? We get to have amazing animals live with us and be our best friend. We get to talk to them, play with them and tell them our woes. All they want is a little food and some play time. No agro, no backchat, no conditions just love and a wagging tail. I find myself very emotional and sad. She did nothing to deserve this but wag her tail and give love. If anyone ever works out why who gets what in this world and for what reason let me know. I have words for the person dishing out life gets and get nots and trust me these words are not good. If you are religious do me a favor and say a prayer for her tonight. The next few days are going to be rough for her. ♥️

Didn't move

So as it goes on a bicycle you don't have a roof, windows or windscreen to protect yourself from mother nature . It rained all last night and still going now. My tent found a leak for a few hours to boot.
I don't have a bucket so what to do. ☠
It was not serious but a little annoying. I guess that's camping and why most people do not do it. You are totally subjected to the elements. My tent is also rather small so one has to exit it just to change their mind.
Oh well it is what it is.
I got up to breakfast and ate, trying to decide what to do. This is not the Epic so if i don't ride today i will not be disqualified. In fact i will be fresher for the next day. With my mind made up i went back to swimming in my tent.
A little reprieve happened just after 11am. I was showered and dressed for the day so i decided on a ride to the town. It's only a few minutes away. So if the rain returned while i was out it shouldn't be too bad.
I left the campsite and went on my way. No one else there so not even a good bye to say to a friendly neighbor.
These trips can have their moments when you feel absolutely alone and vulnerable. It is daunting to say the least. Luckily for me i have 2 imaginary friends. One in my head and the other on my bike with me. It is very seldom lonely with these characters.
Town is very quiet and i wonder how this place exists. The biggest building is only double story and the busiest car park is the Spar. It is a small wonder where all these people work. My ride is completed by 12 after i have done almost 2 complete laps of the place. I decide it is mostly a fishing village due to the amount of big fishing rigs in the harbour.
I find myself back in my tent after lunch listening to the rain on the roof. It is a pleasant accumulation of drops and brief wind bursts. It reminds me of the rain storms back in my home land Zimbabwe.
This tent was sold to me as a two man tent. I look forward to the day when i meet the designer and watching him/her, and a friend try to live in it for a few days. That certainly would be entertaining. We could get a few gopros and video them like the big brother houses. Everyone who has bought one could throw an obstacle their way. Mine would be to watch them write a post on a blog and tell all their friends how much they are enjoying themselves.
Anyways i have taken enough of your precious time for the day. Tomorrow should see an improvement in the weather so off to Lambert's bay i am heading. Roughly another 100kms so a good ride it will be. I am all packed and repacked and checked as i had a few spare moments today.
Be good my comrades and if you aren't make a donation to WGAF.
Peace out ✌

The other way

Best it's been all day

Midget ostrich

Mosque (quito)

Seconds

So today was excellent. Well sort of excellent. It got better all day sort of excellent.
I awoke. It was cold and surprisingly very damp. Not rain but a thick mist everywhere. Checking the time i had an hour to spare so i moved slowly. Showered and teeth sparkling i decided to just get moving now.
Packed like a taxi driver doing a long distance drive i set off. Cold but not shivering my day started.
Just after i had turned left onto the main road i saw 2 more small brown antelope. Same sort of animal i saw as the day before. Not even 9am and ticking off the wildlife. Chin Qui.
I was not entirely sure of where this day would take me. I was just going to ride until i was done.
The miles went on. The day started to clear. I much prefer the heat of the Tankwa to the cool of the coast. I work better in the warmth.
Not far down the road i see a cyclist on a recumbent. That's a lying down. I wave, he waves back. We shout a greeting to each other and i decide to cross the road and chat with him. Well blown me down with a feather. This bloke, a Belgian has ridden from Cairo. He is almost done as his destination is Cape Town about 80kms down the road. We have some small talk and he is on his way. I didn't get many details but he was a pretty cool chap.
Not long after i see a food shop. Brakes on and screetching into the place i order food. French toast and a coke should see me good for a few hours. It was ok as food goes. I am back at work.
The miles pile up. Low and behold i see more wildlife. Again i screech to a holt. It's a tortoise about to cross the road. I don't know what to do when this happens. I lift it up and place it near a patch of grass on the other side. A quick lecture is given about the safety of cars and roads. I don't think he was paying much attention as he refused to come out of his shell. Oh well. Down the road again. Hell for leather. The speedo can't keep up. Almost not believing it i slam on the brakes again. 2 eland not far from the road. I haven't seen this much game since i was 10. Flippin cool.
As if today was all about animals i spot a few ostriches. They are running with me behind their enclosure fence. They did about 200 meters. I was absolutely grateful for my days privileges.
After my lunch stop i see this ridiculous building. It looks like a mosque. I stop and name the mosque "quito". I have a laugh to myself then move on.
The road goes on for a bit. Not much in the way of anything. I see bits and pieces but nothing to write home about.
Eventually i get to a town called Velddrift. Not a big town but my legs have seen just over a hundred kilometres and they are telling me it will be sufficient for them.
I find a municipal campsite which is actually pretty bloody nice. Not many people here apart from permanent residents.
So i am clean and ready to eat. I miss you all dearly and again i thank you for keeping up with me. Maybe one day one or all of you will join me in a small tour for a few days.
I can promise you it is an adventure to remember. Good night all and keep well.
G.

Nearly bed time.

Guess who's back....

It's really close

Done

So day ones riding is concluded. About 20kms in near Sunninghill my rear tyre deflated. I tried pumping it but the problem was more severe than imagined. It just wouldn't inflate. There goes my trip i am thinking. I know a bike shop not far so i start walking. After 30 minutes i get to what i thought was the shopping center where the shop is. Well guess again dumbass. Wrong place. So at this brand new shopping mall i start to fix the issue to get to the correct place. My shit is everywhere. Bags, tools, water, clothes and a whole bunch more. I get to the task. After a few minutes i look up and see a few chaps starring at me. Oh my god i am going to be robbed. I put my hands up and say take what you want. They look at me then look at each other. Listen here the biggest guy says. You cannot put your tent up here and sleep here. 🤤 WTF is this guy on about. He was head of security as i managed to station myself pretty close to a bank branch. I think they thought i wanted to do a land grab there. We briefly exchanged words and satisfied that i was not an illegal land occupier they watched me fix the problem. I think they were impressed with the speed at which i worked. No one making tea, no one sitting by watching for the boss just me doing what needs to be done as quickly as possible.
I leave not long after and get to the shop. I see a guy who works there who i know. We chat and my bike is taken to surgery. About an hour later it is returned. They said they tried to do it with my tubeless conversion but that was not working. So they redid it all and working well. I thanked them, paid my dues and scurried off. Irritated my workmanship was less than rubbish and a little annnoyed too i decided it was school fees and next time not to skimp on the parts.
The ride from here on was excellent. Quite a bit of traffic on the West Coast road so not ideal but as usual the scenery was above par.
I even managed to see a small antelope just past Koeberg station. Small and brown and an absolute first class runner. He watched me for a bit then obviously realized he was late for his tea as he bolted quicker than Usain.
With everything back up to top speed i made it to the first nights camp. About 80kms covered today with an hour in the shop.
If anyone is looking try Cycles Direct they are a great bunch there.
I am fortunate enough to be just by the sea. I am listening to the waves while i wright this. I am not a big fan of the sea side but it is enjoyable here. A few more days up the coast before i head inland.
Thanks for reading today and i hope you all had a good Monday. Love and prosperity to you all.
Greg.

Tomorrow

So tomorrow i head off on part two of touring. I leave from my friends house in Pinelands. It is central to CT so routes are plenty. It should be good going as i figure tomorrow's ride is about 70kms. Checked out a place to stay on the other side of Koeberg. That is South Africa's only nuclear power plant. When they see the power in my legs they will know all about nuclear power.
Hopefully my destination will be reached just after lunch so i can prepare myself for the first night. It is always a little daunting and scary. It gets better quickly so fingers crossed all smooth sailing for the day. I expect many emotions again and will definitely be feeling very queasy.
I haven't decided night two yet but will probably continue up the coast for a few days. At current status weather looks favourable but we all know how trustworthy the weather reports can be. Yes you know like when you are looking forward to an outside event and you check all the weather reports until you fond the one that reports what you want to see.
So good night for now and chat with you all tomorrow. I hope you get a good nights sleep and ready for a good work week.
Night.

New day

A new day arrives and brings with it many special offerings. I shall be doing a semi final check for my trip. My packing is better and much more refined. I have a new air mattress that cost the equivalent of a small house. My last foam one was about as comfortable as a bed of nails so i hope it is going to be worth it. I am also taking a real camp size pillow. Luxury has been stepped up a notch with the fall going to less off the bike clothing. We are entering rainy season and winter now so it is a bit of a gamble.
I will be looking for a job while away so all you out there keep your ears to the ground for me. This is one of my biggest stress factors right now. Who knows i may even find something on my ride. It certainly would put me at ease some what.
Life has been challenging for me recently. All my own doing and my own decisions. I never try to appropriate blame for anything that happens in my life as i create my own destiny. We all do. Every day every decision we make will take us to a place we have created. It will affect a lot of people and determine our future. I would always like to think i am where i should be but understanding it all is more than overwhelming. It is a trust with yourself that can be difficult to fathom.
I will see you off now for this a magical Friday and bid you a safe and fun weekend. For Monday the wheels start rolling again and my life goes back to the world.
Peace out.

Better Days

So after a few days now things are a little better. It was good to remove myself from my current situation for a few days. I had wound myself up too much and was being a little hard on myself. It is not for me to put rules in place over which is not mine. It can be difficult to see the road when the cloud on your head is so thick. Today is another step forward and a day closer to my next ride. I am almost ready to go so it won't be long.
Up the West Coast then back down the Tankwa. Probably a little bit in between. My goal is to clear my head (again) and start looking for a job. This is one of my concerns right now so will be on my list while i am away.
I will be keeping my blog going so read when you can.
Happy Wednesday all.
Peace out.

Choices

I have made some bad choices in my life. Things have gotten out of hand recently. I shall be taking another tour very soon. My head is clouded with anger right now and i need to decide on a path forward. Riding helps me to see clearer and gives me time to understand. My life has had so many ups and downs. Right now i am probably at my worst down. I need to go and relax on the bike and do a few thousand kilometres. While away recently we passed through Namibia. It is simply stunning. Our route was immaculate and i hope to do some of it by bike this time round. I shall be bringing this horse back to life.
Chat soon all and good night.

Totals

Done my maths and definitely did not do as much as i wanted to. But this was a learning curve and learn i did. So much to see out there and so much to do. You could spend a year doing this and probably not see everything you wanted to. It does get tiring being away from home and sleeping on a tiny mattress. I also missed my friends and family very much.
As i said previously these tours could and for me should be roughly 2 weeks long. This is enough time to get some solid mileage in and see and do loads of stuff. Meet great people and see how the country is progressing or not.
So we have 1652 kilometres and 16492 meters if climbing. Nice enjoyable ride. We start our trip to Namibia tomorrow to go rafting with friends then we are off camping for a few days. I will endeavor to keep this blog going as the feedback i have had has been great.
I thank you all very much for taking the time to read and follow this progression of my life. I hope i can keep you entertained and coming back for more. I am no writer but i do enjoy staring some of the magical moments i have been allowed to live.
I made the error of reading the news today and am saddened by what goes on in this world. We have become slightly less giving and a little more selfish as a species. I generalize this statement so i am not looking at anyone individually. Just throwing it across the board. There are however acts of extreme and gracious kindness as well.
I hope to be remembered as the latter as i think this world needs more heroes than villains. It makes us a better race.
So chat soon and hope you are all well.
Greg.

For realzies

So sitting on my couch it seems surreal that it all happened. I had fun, i was scared, i was excited but absolutely most of all i know i love riding my bike. That's what the trip was about and to that end great success.
I woke luckily,  feeling a little apprehensive about riding through to Bergvliet. It meant making my way through 2 towns. Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Stellenbosch was much of a muchness. They are used to bicycles so not much issue there. I use the sidewalk when available. Going up going down riding like a kid on a bmx. It is fun and keeps me honest while avoiding pedestrians. They can be a bit of a menace so i advise you all now with extreme caution if you see an orange bike with an orange flag flying get out of my way. If we collide i will mace you and scream and punch you. Inevitably it is your fault. Now that we have that out of the way i thank you.
Over the last hill until i drop into Cape Town. There is a thick black layer of smog. (Picture supplied). I don't know what happened but it smells like a fire. Maybe the town is having a mass braai for my return? Maybe they have decided to burn juju at the stake. Either way it is an unpleasant sight and the mayor already has a letter of my disapproval. The smell is unpleasant and my sight is distorted.
I sweep it under the carpet which seems to be getting full now.
After many narrow misses several words i shall not repeat i am on the home straight. Absolutely everything is familiar. Since my departure nothing has changed. This disappoints me slightly as i have a weekend ahead and i was wishing for an adventure or two. I guess i will just have to ride my bike.
🤔😉
I arrive at the street to which i live. It's emotional. I have been gone 22 days. My body is ready to relax for a little and have a refreshing beer (Picture supplied) over the period of my trip i decided not to have any alcohol and keep it strictly to riding and clean living. I had achieved this and i was happy with that.
So for today it's a wrap. I bid you good night.
As previously mentioned i will keep this going. We shall be trying our luck at white water rafting later next week. I feel it will be an experience for all 4 of us.
If you are interested then log on and see the progress we make. Tomorrow sometime i will post all the figures for the ride. Not all the ladies i have seen but rather the numbers achieved.
Roughly 2000kms in 3 weeks. Not quite what i was after.
Sleep tight all 🤗

#rewardtime

#welcometodeath

Clearly i have the wrong house 😲

The view

Theewaterskloof empty dam.

Some dudes house

Dead people

Another one

I know... lots of them

Blue Cranes

Nearly time

So today was a little sad. I woke up knowing it was my last day of riding out of town. Tomorrow is a simple tour on the asphalt.
It started well. I woke early and was ready to go by 7.30am. The previous day when i checked in the owner told me a school was arriving for a holiday camp. School children everywhere!? Holy crap. Not on my time.
On my exit i saw the camp organizers arriving. Phew just in the nick of time. Sleep is still a little bit of a rear commodity. It's just difficult to get comfortable on a one centimeter thick mattress. This will need to be addressed for my next tour. It is the one thing i am prepared to carry a little bit of extra weight for.
It was a sharp right turn straight onto the gravel. I am used to these roads by now so off i go.
I worked out about 35kms to Franschoek. I was taking the road less travelled as usual so no rush. About 35kms into the ride i arrive at a small solitary gas station. Unless i have time travelled somewhere i know this is not my destination. I park up the bike outside and enter the shop. I enquire why they moved Franschoek and on whose authority. She looks me up and down and says you very funny aren't you?
The exchange goes on for a short period. I leave with the knowledge that my map reading is not good. In fact it's shit.
Roughly another 35kms to go before my legs will be resting for the day. Not concerned with this small error i wheelie out of the premises.
More ups more downs it was way too early to be finished for the day anyway. About 5kms before i join the major tarred road again i come across fields of blue cranes. Not sure if they are being farmed here or if this is just their local hangout. Either way it is an impressive sight. They were not at all phased by my being there. They were locals here and nothing bothered them.
Arriving at Villiersdorp i am on the lookout for a food stop. A great restaurant saw me fed and refueled. It was hammer time. 8kms down the road is Franschoek Pass. An absolute stunning ride. The road is a little thin here so you need to keep yourself safe. I generally ride on the other side of the road so i can see what is coming and adjust my finger signals to accommodate this. It works well. Well i am still alive so it works well for me.
Cresting the pass is a simple move. What lies below is art. Franschoek never disappoints. I take a few minutes to digest it all. The wind is howling so caution will have to prevail on the way down.
Descents are my favourite. Little work to be done. It dries the sweat from your body and the legs get a rest. Well that is until a car passes you and you didn't hear them. It takes all my skill not to meet the mountain and adjust my facial features. It was close but luckily no cigar this time. With the riding almost over i head for lunch. It is good. Chicken burger and chips. Just to make sure i keep my pants fitting.
All said and done a fantastic day. My last camp for this tour is set and bed in a few hours.
Tomorrow shall see me pass my brothers place first thing then homeward bound. It shall have lots of emotions and probably a tear. Not too different from when i left home 22 days ago. I have so many memories. You cannot put them into words or even describe them. They are personal moments that will never leave. Pictures to remind me of what i have seen and done.
Thanks all for reading and i will carry on this blog for time to come.
Keep in mind that life is for the living and make sure you are doing your best. When your number comes up it is only you that can be happy with your efforts or not. As much as life is a partnership it is also a sole journey. No one can take it but you.
Chat soon. G.

Franschoek

About half way up.

Brilliant ride

Spitting camels

Friday humour

Didn't make it!

I left after watching the start of the Epic. Good to be leaving although i would love to do that race again one day. Just in case some of you were thinking of sponsoring me to do it. Anybody? Nobody? Alright then moving swiftly along.
Today's ride was one i was not entirely sure of. I knew where i was and i knew where i wanted to be. On the one map the route was exactly what the doctor ordered. On the other map however the road was non existent. In life this is where you take the chance and go with your gut. I did that and it took me to an excellent little coffee shop just inside Robertson. Breakfast had never tasted so good.
With the days feed out the way it was time to start riding. Obviously i went with the road less travelled. Colin one of my friends doing the Epic said the road i was taking would lead me to my destination. Well i am not there yet. Roughly 30kms into my trip i found myself in a valley that could possibly be one of the most scenic places i have ridden through. To add to this, my mostest favourite item is grown in abundance here. Wine grapes of course. As far as the eye could see rows of beautiful little balls of red and white wine. I had to stop to catch my breath.
Out the valley on the other side and i notice the fence has gotten substantially taller. A game fence i see. This puts me in a difficult situation. Ride safe and watch the road or scan the terrain for any sign of life. I go with the latter. It is a bit of a blank for a bit as i don't see any signs of life. Then suddenly as i take a sort of a right hand turn i am met with a beautiful male Springbok. Much like myself he is currently alone wandering the beautiful lands.
Unfortunately before i could get my camera ready and snap a shop he was off. I watched him glide off and thought to myself that is exactly what i must look like when i go running. A majestic beast that all others long to be. It was truly magnificent.
That was sightseeing for the day. Nothing else was out to show themself off. I was a little disappointed but happy i got to see a fellow leader of a tribe.
Down the road it was a sharp left turn back onto the tar. I was going well and having a blast.
I passed a winery of whose products i have tasted. I saluted them and thanked them for their galliant efforts to keep the world hydrated. Today is a public holiday so i didn't see any movement from the grounds.
Not long after this is where my trip takes an immediate halt. I have seen a sign. A good one. I am about 15kms from where i wanted to be.
Over the next two days i will have more than enough time to get home. The decision is made. I shall camp here for the night.
So i find myself at Rivierplaas Campsite. A little gem of a place. There is very little activity apart from myself here. I am just thrilled. With my washing done and all the days chores completed i shall sign off and wish you all a fantastic evening. Thanks for reading and see you all soon. Peace and love peace and love.

Transfer

Today sees me leaving Robertson and through the dirt to Villiersdorp. I am excited to be rejoining my trip. As soon as i have finished breakfast you will hear my tyres screetching on the gravel.
Bon voy ageee

😲🤣

Prize giving for the day

Again they missing me 😬

The pros

I am normally somewhere there 🤣

Epic day

So Monday morning and time to get to Robertson to watch two days of the Epic. I have ridden it 3 times so be a change to watch.
The ride was good. I enjoy doing the longer distance. It suits me better. My brother said i would and he certainly is correct. Gravel is my preferred road but today would be tar.  The issue is the motorised vehicles. I am petrified of them. But what can you do? My friend's Jay and Tom were not there to shut the highways down. This will be remembered guys.
It was an enjoyable ride none the less. 110kms dealt with in 5 hours. Considering i am carrying my house on my back we will call it job well done. On my arrival i blend in like a cucumber in a fruit salad. You will remember i have an orange flag flying 3 meters off the back of my bike. That's not common for an epic team.
Shower done and off to have a drink with the 2 teams i am following. They both look happy and riding within themselves to last the duration.
To be honest i love this race but the entrance fee is ridiculous. 80K for a team. So far my holiday of 3 weeks is on 6K and i have slept in a proper bed 3 times and seen way more than i ever could have hoped for. I am thoroughly enjoying this trip and when i get home the plan for the next one will be hatched. I have new rules for my tours from now on. They will be revealed at the end of this gig.
It is a great way to travel and see our country. Maybe there is a business here?
It would suit me down to the ground. This is what life should be. Smiles and lots of coke (cola) wow you people! 😋
My diet has not been up to scratch so i haven't lost as much pant size as i wanted to. In fact i think i found a size 😭. One of my rules less chips and more salad 🤣 that is joke of course. No one likes salads.
I find myself watching the finish right now so i will sign off for the moment. Tomorrow will see me heading to Villiersdorp. About a hundred clicks down the road. Sort of down across and over a few small hills. I am excited to get moving for it.
Until then
Feicfidh mé níos déanaí thú.

Day off 😱

So when i arrived in Ceres yesterday i kind of already knew that today i wanted to watch the Epic Prologue. It's on my radar every year. My room has a tv which allowed me to do this. It was a must in my schedule.
So after a good breakfast i was glued to the tv for a good few hours. Very difficult to watch tv when you are glued to it so that is the last time i do that.
It was golden, absolutely stella. My team (the Bulls) rode like their name Bulls 💩. They did not perform at all. They will need to pull finger for another win. I am still cheering for them.
This has also lead to another update of plan. I am going to ride through to Robertson tomorrow to watch for a day or two. It's only 120kms down the road so very doable. My next post should be from there.
Epic done and dusted i went out for a few hours. Rode up to the dam which provides water for this town. You can see by the pictures things are dire. I don't know how full it is but the glass is certainly less than half empty.
When this dam was built i think they chose a spot that when they had lunch they could sit and have the best view possible. It is eye watering.
The wall is made of rock. It is an achievement in itself. Built to catch the water from the mountain it must be one of the most scenic masses of water on the continent. Architecture and engineering like this is an art and an absolute necessity for the continuation of life in cities and towns the world over. I salute the humans who dedicate their lives to the human kind progression.
A good few moments passed while i walked around in admiration.
The small smoke signal i noticed on the way up had now turned into a full blown argument between 2 towns.
It had turned into quite a blaze. Being from the Western Cape i knew the powers to be would be attending to it. I was not disappointed. Seconds later and i hear the rotor blades of helicopters flying above me. Wow these guys are good at their job. I watched as they flew bucket after bucket extinguishing the flames. Truly masters at work.
I sign off now to get some R&R so my reporting skills will be second to none tomorrow.
Schlaf schön schön.

Oh dear!

Yip... the church

Dam wall

Dam wall view

Ceres dam

Change ME .... never.

So this trip started off at the end of last year. I have always wanted to do a cycle tour. It was to be 6 months around the country. 6 months 🤤. I know right. Anyways time moved slowly and it kept changing. Finally i decide that the trip will be to Namibia to meet my girlfriend and her 2 daughters for us to join friends on a white water rafting trip. I shall leave on the second and meet them at the end of the month for our paddle.
The trip commenced. I was off. 2 days in and low and behold things are on the change again. I am going home to drive up with my 3 favourite girls.
I shall be home on the coming Saturday. There will be many cycle tours. This i am certain. I am loving this trip. It is beyond all my expectations.
In thinking 2 weeks is the duration i would prefer per ride. And planned. Much better than this tour.
If any of you would like to hook one up all you need to do is let me know. It is an experience to behold.
Thanks for listening.

🙄😆😁😂🤣

The better side

Absolutely sad

Devastation

🚀

Of course it are

My decision was a good one. I know this road i have travelled it. I am now moving west and the wind is behind me like we are behind jz to go to jail. It is a great feeling. It will be better when he is behind bars.
I have an effortless ride to op die berg. 40kms in 2 hours. I am satisfied my decision was correct. I give myself a pat on the back. Feeling like i just won a game of poker i buy a sandwich and cool drink for my celebration. It doesn't take long to put that in the gas tank and get moving.
This was to be the most harrowing 60kms of my life. Between op die berg and Ceres is a magnificent road. Unfortunately it has no shoulder for me to ride. It is a Saturday morning and the farm employees must have been paid. The mini bus taxis are driving between the two towns faster than i could kill mosquitoes. I have never been this shit scared on a bicycle. It needs to be done. I cannot stop.
With the grace of me being a skilled and accomplished rider i get to something I have only seen twice before.
Gydo pass. It is astounding. To the left a massive fire has caused destruction only mugabe could ever achieve. It was a disaster. To the right a different story. Green and flourishing. Below Ceres and many empty dams.
I hit the descent. How old am i goes through my head. Swoooosh left, right, left. Flying like a mad man. It is fun.
I get to the bottom and man oh man what a smile. My search for a campsite begins. I don't want to drag this out as i am still working through my lack of preparedness. After an hour yes an hour of searching i find out the only campsite is full. Can you believe it. Full 🤔😡.
So i find myself now in a small B&B watching the rugby. Not all that bad i guess.
Ireland with a comfortable lead. Half time  at the minute. Off to get me a soda. Catch you all tomorrow for the Cape Epic.
Dobrou noc 😉