Day 14 - I am free (wheeling) again
Gerrit left Joburg at 3pm and arrived at our support station at 1:30am on Sunday morning. I hadn't slept much until he arrived but once he was there I slept like a baby.
Kevin and Stephen also arrived after 11pm so we were all slow to get going and only had breakfast after 7am. I also had a lot of catching up to do with Gerrit so we sat drinking coffee for ages.
Then the moment of truth...was everything I needed in Gerrit's bag of tricks? I headed off to the workshop armed with spares, tools and bike. 30 minutes later, everything was reassembled and working as new. All the additional spares I loaded into my backpack so I have extra chains and gears if needed.
I am still overwhelmed by Gerrit's actions and I will need to find some way of returning the favour someday - Gerrit says, "pay it forward".
Eventually we said our goodbyes and left for the next stop. The route was through a valley of desolation with nasty thorn trees and difficult riding. After that, it was into real game farm country - high fences and lots of wildlife to see. At one stage I stopped to let 6 kudu cross the road in front of me.
The weather was real Cape weather - sometimes drizzling, sometimes raining, sometimes sunny and sometimes chilly. It just can't stick to one thing which makes clothing a problem.
I arrived at 5pm to find Andy and Earl here - they made a navigation mistake and lost touch with the big group so they took a shorter day and we will all travel together from here. Stephen and Kevin haven't arrived yet so it's another long day out for them.
12 Comments:
Big sighs of relief on this side, to know that you are 100% again and on the road to Paarl (thanks to Gerrit). Hope you all stay in good health and spirits, you must find in quite easy to ride C.B. now after those 180rpm's, must be like a walk in the park. LOL. Wishing you strength, warmth and positiveness.
LOVE.MOM.
You are made from something tougher than titanium. Good luck for the rest of the trip! I hope the bad luck is behind you now.
The one-armed-bandit
Yay, so glad things have turned out ok. Keep up the good work, we are all so proud of you. Lindsay and the kids.
What an adventure! For you and Corrinne... if it was me, I'd probably have had a heart attack by now with worry!
So glad to hear you're back on track and not riding alone.
I love the tracking system... makes me feel closer to what's going on and is total suspense; better than Prisonbreak!
Take care and happy riding, hope it's all easy going from now. You've certainly had your fair share of challenges so far!
Love
Shann
xxx
wiHi there Andre what a relief to see u're 100% mobile again I can only admire you for not giving up and dealing with your problems in such a possitive way To Gerhard i salute you for rushing to Adre's help with in a moment of being asked He is a very special person to all of us and we are all grate full for your'e assistance
Andre take good care of your self and youre steed and you will get to the end of the race in time. I won't call him a donkey again Keep those paddles moving you have had plenty of practise in the last few days
Regards
Dad
Hey Andre
Switch your tracker on so that I can play blimp in the sky again. Or maybe the leopard had another mtb schnack, must have thought its the end of month salty cracks when he got you.
Hope all is well, glad you are doing Baviaans during the day and not on yer own. Hope to see you in Prins Albert tomorrow nite (well from the air anyway).
Have a good one, home run now.
Cheers
Olaf
hygwbqHi Andre dad again make this a 24 hr run i know u can do it you are realy going well now with u're single speed. Olaf your plane will have to go realy fast to catch Andre
Holding thumbs for you This is the ride of your life make the best of it God speed and travel safe
My heart is with you all the way
Regards
dad
Gerrit you are an angel without wings, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for whst you did for Andre!!!!!! If you are ever in Durban look us up and we will buy you dinner anywhere you want!!! Voerspoes Andre
Love Lix & Mike (Andre's mother-in-law and step-father-in-law Gerrit) Hope you got that Gerrit!
Hi andre
glad to see you are back on track..although i am sure you enjoyed the spinning sessions...good for those expensive legs!!!! TO GERRIT...thank you does not even come close to the gratitude that my family and i feel for what you did for Andre, we will be forever greatful! I send you lots of hugs and kisses from England! you not far now...in cm that is lol.
i love you loads! tanja
Hey Liz
No swearing on the blog!
Voorspoe what?
Concerned reader
Greetings everybody
Seeing that the trackers are not working today I thought I would share a discussion I had with Andre last night. He arrived in Willomore last night, all well, looking for food. He was contemplating doing the 160 odd km to Prince Albert plus the stage into Gamkas Kloof too (60 odd km) to try and catch Rohan and Jannie. As we were chatting though he thought that maybe he actually wants to do Gamkas in the day as it is such a nice ride and then rather double up tomorrow. So, today it is Karoo flats, maybe tonite some climbing up a little pass, if he feels like it.
Cheers
Olaf
Sorry meant voerSPOED!!!!!!! Had a senior moment, good luck Andre!!!!
Liz and Mike
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