It's the journey that counts

Everything had gone to plan so far. We were transferred to the start line at 6:00 and the excitement grew as local riders arrived.

The start was a bit of a mellee with broken stones forming the first climb of the day. We were fortunate the start of the day was overcast however that would change later in the morning. During one stage whilst we had to queue to go down the descent we chatted with a guy from RBS .

This was around the time The Ironman received a warning about snakes in the bush! At the descent we saw a fellow cyclist somersault over his handled bars whilst still cleated in. He was unharmed however it was a stunning sight.

After the first water stop we had a cracking down hill on tarmac before turning onto a landrover track full of sandpits. They were murder.

It was during such a ‘traverse’ Bigman was taken out by a following rider. South Africa has wide barren spaces however this chap chose to share space. And in an instant, Bigman was down, handle bars pointing in a different direction to the wheel. The Ironman fixed up the bike whilst a passing medic applied some first aid to the cuts and scratches.

Not long after this we arrived at the next feed station and then a climb. It was timely as the cramp began to set into his legs. Cramp like he had never experienced before. The medics at the food station put it down to aftershock of the dunt. When climbing the next hill, his legs locked. He looked more like the Tinman that buddy to the Ironman. By the time we climbed the hill, the sweep wagon was now providing personal support including the odd white powder and coke for the cramp.

At a forest section Bigman lunged into a river section using pace to carry him through. A rock on the river bed had different ideas and the rock won. Fortunately he was able to get the cleats out of his pedals and managed to avoid a dooking. However, the legs locked again and the Ironman had to wade in and massage the legs. The medic in the sweep wagon felt this was worth a photograph!

The next climb was on broken path and had to be walked for anything other than the technically gifted. At the top we managed to use momentum on the similar rough stuff on the way down.

At the last feed station we were by now up against the clock. We were encouraged to go for it. 28km with two hours to go seemed doable until we arrived at another stage that required walking. Cramp set in once again and he time was crawling away.

The road was rough and just kept going up. The game was up. Sense prevailed and we enlisted the assistance of the sweep wagon. When reviewing the sections still to come before the finish, it was the right decision.
And so was the journey worth it. With out a doubt. Our intro to this blog says it all. The friendships we have built on the bike and the encouragement we have received from many reading this blog means the journey has been worth it. As Little Nemo reminded me last night, it is a learning experience.

South Africa is a beautiful country and we are off to explore it ……….. in a car