Showers and lunch sped by in a tired blur, and we didn't have time for a siesta, so we finished up and headed back toward the food tent for dinner and the nights festivities. Dinner was steak. Luuks! Apparently they had a bakkie load of meat to braai, but they handled it with aplomb. We were entertained by a new MC who had some kind of an issue with Cape Town, must be a Durban boy, and we watched more videos of the day's action. Bigshot Media really did great with the videos, made me want to ride, no matter how sore I was.
Even with all the snoring and farting and ladies chatter in the tents around us, I fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
The next morning it was less cold, but still rather inconvenient to get up. Until we handed in our boxes and filled up our camelbaks, that had us raring to go and had me like a racehorse chomping at the bit to bring some pain. I felt strong, stronger than any of the previous days, Alicia reckons I need to get tired before I start showing form, she might have a point. We set off down the road after the mayor of Jolivet cancelled another clay pigeon with his shotgun (apparently he has never missed a shot on any of the Sani events, I don't want to date his daughter...) I set off at the front of the pack, and pretty soon Werner had to remind me to fall back a bit with our code word "Hoss." He at one stage asked me if I'm wearing my racing snake underpants (I don't wear jocks when riding.) Pretty soon we got into a lekker rhythm, with me breaking the wind and Werner sitting slip, and talking crap on the flat sections. This day was fast, with lots of cane road descents (think: very smooth gravel road.) We reached the Vernon Crookes game reserve and remembered that Cherie Vale (friendly photographer lady) warned us that there was a big technical climb. Once again we put our pride before common sense and soldiered on into the technical climb! It looked like a war zone with all the people getting off and pushing (well in my head at least.) We made it up the climb and then promptly stopped for a rest (obviously, climbing like that is hard work) and a chat. Resuming the descent we saw a team that fell. I stopped, but they quickly told us that they were fine (I guess relatively) and that the chopper was on it's way. I chatted to the guy's teammate later, he broke his collarbone. That sent chills down my spine, one mishap and it could all be over. But nevertheless we sped on, and in the next singletrack it was my turn. We were chasing through a forest going like the clappers, and I looked down to check my speedo and saw that we were doing 45km/h, and then overshot the next corner because I was going in way too fast, followed into the bush by Werner. Werner had another incident a little bit further on when a dude fell in front of him and he also went down, but luckily both escaped unscathed. More downhill followed by flat roads and then we hit the last climbs. Little Heartrate and Heartrate. Both not too long, but long enough to remind you that it is day 3 and some work has been done. At the top of Heartrate at the waterpoint we saw the sea. And when the marshall told us that there was only a little hill left and the all downhill to the finish we set off at a blistering pace, climbing with new found legs (could have been the donut overdose) and slamming it down on the downhill. More fast cane roads and gravel roads followed until we reached the bottom of the hills and the flat roads. Here I couldn't wait anymore and told Werner to sit in my slip and hang on. We put the hammer down, passing quite a bit of teams until we reached the last forested bit of singletrack that spat us out on the beach. We cruised over the pallets and scaffolding bridge over the lagoon, and then realized that we still had to go up to the school on the hill. Oh joy!
We ate some cement and hardened up and went up the hill, passing the last couple of teams for good measure (by this stage Werner didn't have a lot of gears left to play with, so he took it like a man and cranked it up.) This hill sucked, it was seriously inconvenient.
When we reached the school and crossed the line we couldn't believe it. We had done it. And it was over. Melancholy.
So we did what all touristy types should do and snapped some pics, even got one with Farmer Glen (lekker oke) who by that time had a serious tan going after posing with everyone. We went from about 326th team overall to finishing day 3 134th position. Pretty good day I'd say. Rest of the afternoon was spent finishing up the race admin (got our Sani2C jerseys sorted out,) taking a cold shower and just lazing around.
While waiting at our shuttle we met Ben and Righard, two really cool dudes who were also on our shuttle. Man I laughed like mad at these two. The bus trip back was long and cramped, but laughing and chatting in the bus helped. The loo break next to the road also helped. Maybe I shouldn't have had that Black Label, but Sani2C without brown Fanta is just not the same.
Righard and Ben eventually also stayed the might at the same backpackers as we were after deciding just outside of Underberg that they didn't feel like driving that night. We didn't complain at all.
The next morning after breakfast when we eventually greeted each other and left I realized that the people I met was as much of a highlight on the trip as the riding itself.
Driving home was a long and tiresome process. We stayed the night on Grahamstown, but to get there we had to go through the Transkei. Lovely beautiful area, but crappy roads and even worse drivers. We made it in one piece. Just as Ben phoned me to make sure we were safe, they passed the scene of the accident where 2Sani2C trail riders died in a collision. Sobering thought.
We spent the night in luxury at my Aunt and Uncle, eating like kings and sleeping in real beds and using real fluffy towels (not our quick drying chamois jobs) and sleeping on a pillow that I didn't inflate it myself. Like I said, luxury.
Saturday morning we hit the road again, but this time it went a lot quicker. Open N2 magic. We stopped for lunch in Heidelberg at Alicia's parentals. Tannie Eliza makes a mean mac and cheese, and spoilt us with some lemon meringue as well. I really should marry her daughter soon. Lovely family that.
We reached Somerset West at about 6pm. It was a long trip, and I was glad to be home. To top it off Alicia came and surprised me at my parents. Troumateriaal.
It was a great week. It was awesome sharing it with Werner, such a cool dude, the riding was brilliant, the views breathtaking, and the people we met on the way were amazing.
All in all I'd do it all in a heartbeat. Maybe just drive up in something other than my tiny Corsa bakkie (although she handled everything we threw at her, comfort was not a big factor.)
Photo's to follow when I get to a real internet connection and not a crackberry.
Last but not least, the bike is still in Somerset West for a wash and lube at the LBS. I was just too lazy. But this weekend we're heading to Hermanus, and if I do recall correctly the singletrack in the Hemel en Aarde Valley needs to be tamed.
Happy trails everyone
Peace
Philip
Maak jou oë toe en jou hart oop
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