Impossible is nothing

Having gained the advantage of ‘free’ additional sports bag through booking in July last year, we had to pay for excess baggage ………… not for the Cape Duo, but for the bike containers which resembled Bill Hardie’s stock room. On reflection it probably was Bill Hardie’s stock room.

One could have been forgiven for thinking the French rugby team were queueing to board the Cape Town flight. A party of 14 french geriatrics were wielding zimmers, walking sticks and shoulders to barge their way through an orderly queue to board a plane patiently waiting for everyone to board. Not content, they deployed a strategy of putting their knees into the back of seats of passengers in fronF o avoid the seats being reclined. If it was not so pitiful, it might have been like a scene from Mr Bean.

After boarding the Heathrow flight to Cape Town last night at 21:45 Bigman had the aisle to keep him company whilst The Ironman had the company of a South African national who works in London between him and the window. He was soon regailing his new companion of his exploits in Ironman New Zealand last year. And before the wheels had been safely stowed in the plane, she was asleep!

Eleven hours later and a full five hours of sleep the destination is below us. As you leave teh airport, the iconic image of TAble Mountain is the first thing you see. Arrival In Cape Town and everything could not have worked better. Really friendly people eager to make all visitors welcome. The coach carried the bikes,the Cape Duo, and other bikers to the hotel where the bikes were assembled ready to race.

But not before the duo strolled along the promenade in searing heat before retiring for a carbing up exercise in a little Italian restaurant over looking the Atlantic Ocean.

At the International party at the V&A Waterfront Park 54 countries and 400 riders (out of 1200 riders) were represented. Only two from Scotland (replendant in national coloursand on the board publicizing countries represented))and the Cape Duo are already prizewinners from an impromtu Q and A session. Their prize …………….. a copy of the 2010 Cape Epic DVD.

Everyone is mega excited for the start of the race.