Daytrippers

I got back from my trip across the country just in time to see Ricky and mom,Di, off on their 2300km race from Pietermaritzburg to Wellington in the winelands.
Day 1
It is always nervewracking leading up to a huge undertaking like this and it is a mixture of relief and panic that whirls around your head for the beginning of the first day on the road.It is dark in front of the Pietermaritzberg town hall and reflective bits on everyones clothing are all lit up and surreal as the procession starts with a frenetic pace through the streets of town but thankfully things start to calm down into a realistic groove as we hit the nature reserve and by the time we cruise into Baynesfield everyone is nicely spaced out and the 3 of us can settle into a comfortable rhythm.We know the route so the navigation is relatively unproblematic and the only thing that hinders our progress is the very decent soup at Minerva and some photo stops.It is never easy.Long long day, backs achıng, hungry, tıred, elated. Dreadıng tomorrow, a beeg day.

The Umkomaas was too full and busy to cross so we did the full monty – rode the Hella Hella all the way to the top, no pushıng. Maybe that ıs why our backs are all achıng.

Oh yes, and hacking through the thorns on the Umkomaas floodplaın kept us busy as well as we scramled our way around to the bridge.

Well nothıng a beer a hot meal and a good nıghts sleep cant cure. Plus a bıg bad moon rısıng and an eclıpse to cheer us.
Day2

What a balmy day.24c with a tail wind and lots of cover in the forests.Got a good start and managed a seamless run through the Donnybrook forestry tracks up to the village of Donnybrook and then through the indigenous forests and plantations of Nqumeni and Nkonzo before dropping down to the Centocow Mission(by 11h15) on the banks of the Umzimkulu River. Ray(our groups R2R guardian) was there to cheer us up with his big grin and kind words.The backpacks are giving us all some problems which, I guess we can put down to teething but really they just weigh a ton.This is what makes this race a real challenge – carrying all your gear. This was a really good day and the navigation was spot on – it pays to be cautious. What a relief to get in before dark.

Tags: Centecow, Donnybrook, freedom challenge, RASA, Ride to Rhodes.Pietermaritzburg, Umkomaas