Riding,Eating,Sleeping - Di

Di's sms's - Wed 6th




N01 -
Safe and sound,clean and comfy in McGregor,though I did need to tow Rick the last 20km.He just has not been able to fully recover,what with the relentless pace we need to maintain to get in each day.If I cycle alongside him we are doing 7km per hour,if I tow, about 12 - 15,so it's a no brainer.Thank God I'm feeling strong!If all goes according to plan we should be home by Friday - hope the bikes hold out.They are also rather worse for wear.

No2-(20mins later)
Chomp,munch,crunch,chew,snarf,gulp,chow,gobble,suck,slurp,gulp,swallow - MAN the human mouth was not designed for this kind of abuse! Now I know why Gran said don't eat between meals - the organs of mastication need to rest and recover after working hard toprocess food, but this Freedom Challenge is hard on everything,including the lips,tongue,teeth,gums and jaws. We just eat NON STOP and are all suffering some form of oral discomfort from ulcers to sand-papered tongues to aching jaws and teeth. I think I am going to adopt a diet of vege soup and fruit puree when I get back (sounds like the kind of fare you'd get in an old aged home. I may well be checking in sooner than planned,judging by the haggard face that stares back at me from the mirror)

No3- (1hr50mins later !!! )
Oh my am I really on the Freedom Challenge? Already I can feel the hardship slipping away. I have just had the most delicious meal of the last 3 weeks - good red wine, fresh garden salad, home made tomato soup with fresh basil,crispy herb chicken,home made chips, beetroot, butternut + broccoli cooked lightly as veggies should be and all topped off with moist chocolate cake and ice cream.i am so content I could just expire and I am going to do just that.
GOOD NIGHT:)

Back to the karoo

The gamble paid off, we left Willowmore in a freezing early start for the long haul(185km) to Prince Albert. The dreaded headwinds had died down, so the long flat Karoo road was a breeze allowing us to maintain avg speeds approaching 16ks/hour and make good time.

Only problem was a bit of stomach bug troubles going around. Ricky was worst hit and left with no strength. Two bike tubes made a bungee hitch and Di was helping him maintain a bit of speed.

The road is also very sandy and badly corrugated in places, but the absence of the dreaded prevailing headwind made up and more for all this. As is traditional, local supporter Johan Rissik was waiting 30kms outside Prince Albert with flasks of coffee and rusks.

Tonight is one of the highlights of the race from an accommodation point of view. Ria from Dennehof is putting us up in 5* Karoo style incl gourmet food and luxury facilities. The same Johan is also a capable bike mechanic and our bikes got a good clean, technical once over and minor niggles sorted. What a treat!

Johann had gleefully pointed out the fresh sprinkling of snow covering the tops of the Swartberg in the distance on our approach and tomorrow we tackle the famously beautiful Swartberg pass en route to Gamkaskloof and Die Hell, with the notorious scramble up the Ladder to get out the other side. Johan has promised to drive up the pass to bring more coffee & rusks. Sigh, this adventure racing is tough stuff.