South Africa
Day 117 – May 9 – Stage 83
Woke up to a freezing, misty, and drizzling Kliprant, decided that due to the unpleasant weather, poor gravel road conditions and my general state of fatigue, that I would take the Lunch Truck to the lunch position, then cycle the rest of the way to Camp from there. I would be missing out the longest portion of dirt road surface (lunch would be at 75km while the tar would start at the 85km mark). It seems as if this sentiment was shared by quite a few of the other riders as the Lunch Truck was full when we left Camp after breakfast.
Judith, unfortunately was feeling worse than I was, and under Doctor’s orders, she took the Main Truck to Nieuwoudtville, a blessing in disguise, since she would be able to erect the tent and organise our camp spot before I completed the day’s ride.
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| Rob, Murray, Tom & Deborah riding the Lunch Truck to the lunch position |
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| Justina, Mike T and Philip on their way to the lunch position |
At the lunch position, accompanied by the other riders who caught the truck, I helped Wynand to set up the truck awning and to prepare the food for lunch. Had a quick early lunch and left just before the Main Truck reached the lunch position.
By skipping the first half of the day’s ride, I was able to eliminate the worst portion of the day’s gravel section and after 19km was back on the tar, where I was joined by Murray. We rode together all the way to Camp, but it wasn’t easy, as we had a long pass to negotiate, with some major climbing to do, and the climbing was not made any easier by some very weary legs...
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| Riders helping Wynand erect the Lunch Truck awning |
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| Murray, Philip and Justina having an early lunch before riding the second half of the day to Nieuwoudtville |
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| The Bokkeveld between Kliprant and Nieuwoudtville |
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| Murray and a Bridge on the road to Nieuwoudtville share the same age (60 years old) |
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| Murray negotiating another long slow hill on the way to Camp |
I eventually reached Nieuwoudtville and went straight to the Village’s only Coffee Shop where we spent some quality-time drinking cream soda floats and eating toasted sandwiches, before making our way to Camp, situated about 3km outside of the Village. Later just before Briefing, I took a ride back into the Village to organise some liquid carbo-loading refreshments from the one and only bottle store.
It was a very cold night, since Nieuwoudtville is situated on the Bokkeveld Plateau (where the Cape Fynbos meets the Hantam Karoo). Sad to say, but an early winter is upon us. I am definitely missing the equatorial heat!
Cheers,
Mike T
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| The Riders enjoying their supper |
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| While others enjoy their supper on their own |
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| A full moon rises over a chilly Nieuwoudtville Camp |
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| Andje pitching her tent in the fading light |
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| Briefing board - Nieuwoudtville to Clanwilliam |
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| Sunset approaches... |
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