The Treloar Herald : Lunch Truck

Showing posts with label Lunch Truck. Show all posts

Nieuwoudtville to Clanwilliam (136km) - South Africa

South Africa

Day 118 – May 10 – Stage 84

Sunrise over a chilly Nieuwoudtville

Started the ride with Philip, and left a still-sleeping and cold Nieuwoudtville; riding to lunch on one of the worst corrugated roads we have encountered on the whole trip, it made the corrugated roads in Sudan, Namibia and Namaqualand look like nursery school training rides! There was no regularity to them, it was just a continuous jumble of irregular, rock-filled corrugations, where riders were unable to pick a preferred line. At approximately 50km into the corrugations, I had a rare sense of humour failure, fortunately not witnessed by any of the other riders, as Philip had left me on my own to battle my own demons.

Philip setting out from Camp final destination Clanwilliam

Closer to lunch, I was joined by Peter (Peter the 4th) and the dirt road improved considerably, as we approached the Botterkloof Pass, where we were treated to an amazing vista. While the ride down the Pass was truly sensational, it was long, fast and a white-knuckle occasion,. We were travelling at high speeds down a Pass which had no side railings whatsoever separating us and the steep drop-off into the valley floor below.

Arriving at the top of Botterkloof Pass

Peter 4 admiring the view from the Pass

At 70km I reached the lunch position, had a long slow lunch while most of the back markers and the Sweep Rider caught up to me, then decided I had ridden enough dirt roads for the day, and caught the Lunch Truck. Peter joined me later, when he flagged the truck down as we passed him. He had also decided to take a break from the dirt roads.

Arriving at the lunch position

Liz enjoying some grapes at lunch

We stopped at the coffee shop previously known as Khoisan Kitchen (the day’s designated Coke Stop) for Coffee and Ice-cream (with coffee sauce) before continuing onto Clanwilliam.

As the Bokkeveld gave way to the Cederberg Mountains we were treated to some amazing views of the Cederberg.

The start of the Cederberg Mountains

Deborah about to enjoy her cake at the designated Coke Stop

Both Judith and Murray did not cycle on the day, and on arrival in Clanwilliam, they went shopping in Town, where they bought cheese, biscuits and wine for our planned “Seniors Ditch Day” tomorrow. A group of us had decided to skip Stage 85 (because we can) and to have our own Cheese & Wine in the “Dog Box” (Main Truck) tomorrow while traveling from Clanwilliam to Dorp-op-die-Berg.

Camp was situated at the Clanwilliam Dam, where we were joined by Charles’s parents, Anthony and Colleen Butler, who would be following us for the next three days all the way into Cape Town. Tony had been a Sectional Rider and had ridden with us through Malawi.

Cheers,
Mike T

Charles's Parents Colleen & Tony talking to Judith and Peter 1

Riders relaxing and enjoying some quality time at the Clanwilliam Dam Camp Site

Tallis at this evenings Briefing Session

Briefing board - Clanwilliam to Dorp op die Berg (tomorrow's ride)

Kliprant to Nieuwoudtville (140km) - South Africa

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.

Rob, Murray, Tom & Deborah riding the Lunch Truck to the lunch position

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...

Riders helping Wynand erect the Lunch Truck awning

Murray, Philip and Justina having an early lunch before riding the second half of the day to Nieuwoudtville

The Bokkeveld between Kliprant and Nieuwoudtville

Murray and a Bridge on the road to Nieuwoudtville share the same age (60 years old)

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

The Riders enjoying their supper

While others enjoy their supper on their own

A full moon rises over a chilly Nieuwoudtville Camp

Andje pitching her tent in the fading light

Briefing board - Nieuwoudtville to Clanwilliam

Sunset approaches...

Springbok to Kliprant (153km) - South Africa

South Africa

Day 116 – May 8 – Stage 82

After a quick breakfast, we left a chilly Springbok in the relatively early hours of Monday morning, and I must admit, after about 10km into the ride, I felt both physically and mentally challenged. It seems the longer the Tour continues, the more fatigued we become, but I continued on the ride, ably assisted by Mike Vd Berg, who decided to ride with me for the rest of the day, thanks go out to him, as he provided me with much appreciated motivation and encouragement.

Lunch was at 80 km, and the ride to lunch was extremely tough. Although Judith chose to ride to the Lunch Truck, she made the sandy portion of today's ride look like a Nursery School outing - cycling through the sand and not stopping once to walk. That was very impressive, as not even I managed to cycle through all of the sand, and had been forced to walk on a number of occasions.

Mike and I came in late after a very long day of cycling, while behind us, Marie who was riding with Liz, was involved in an accident. Close to Camp, a bakkie (utility vehicle) overtaking the two of them on a very sandy section of the road, crashed into her, resulting in her suffering from a suspected broken elbow. An unpleasant end to Marie’s last few cycling days and unfortunate for her, but quite lucky actually as it could have been a lot worse!

On our arrival in Camp, we were met by Murray, who true to form, had managed to organise a few cold “Big Boy” beers (750ml quarts) for us, proving that, “A crappy day on TDA, still beats a good day at the office”.

Judith had organised a room for us at Camp, but she gave it up to Marie and Dr Helen, since Helen needed to monitor Marie continuously throughout the night. A small distraction for us, because we both agreed Marie’s needs came first. Come morning, Marie would be taken to the Hospital in Vredendal for x-rays and treatment.

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise over the Namaqualand

Mike vd Berg kindly waits for me and rides the rest of the day with me.

Granite Hills surround the Town of Springbok

Lunch Truck position and a well earned rest and replenishment interlude

Mike vd Berg checking out a Farm Dam for some suitable drinking water

Some of the Ladies (Liz, Marie and Justina) walking a sand section

Mike vd Berg ready to cycle again after stopping for lunch

Greeted by a well earned beer after a tough day in the saddle

Riders relaxing before tomorrow's Briefing Session

Supper time at Kliprand

The two Mike's enjoying a scrumptious supper

Tomorrows ride - Kliprand to Nieuwoudtville

Felix Unite Camp (Namibia) to Springbok (RSA) - 133km

Namibia, South Africa

Day 115 – May 7 – Stage 81

The Final Countdown! Today we crossed over from Namibia into South Africa, our home country, the last of the 11 countries to be traversed on our way down the length of Africa.

Left Felix Unite a little upset with their Management. Our son Ken and his wife had dropped off an envelope for us at Felix Unite Camp when they'd passed through the area on their honeymoon trip last year. It was supposed to be given to us on our TDA arrival, but Management had lost the envelope! Which about summed up the managerial skills of the people at Felix Unite, there is a lot to be said for any company in the hospitality industry to ensure that their employees receive the correct training in people skills.

A few kilometres before the Namibian Border, stopped at the Engen Garage (Wimpy) for Coffee with Murray, then onto the Border for our last border crossing. At immigration on the Namibian side, met up with Colleen & Johan, yesterday’s hosts at Amanzi Camp, who were on their way to Cape Town.

We went through the Namibian Boarder, with no problem, but did hear that some of the other riders were hassled by an overzealous Namibian Police Official on entering the border complex. This is Africa (TIA) - a bit disappointing really, especially since none of the riders had been subjected to this kind of abuse at any other border crossing since leaving Cairo.

We crossed the bridge over the Orange River, and our entry into RSA was hassle free. It was a real pleasure to be back “Home”.

After the South African immigration activities were completed, we started cycling up a very long uphill, taking us out from the Orange River Valley, but straight into a headwind from hell! The headwind was so strong, it took Judith and I a total of 6½ hours to do the 77km to the lunch position. Which included a crash on my part, when Judith was blown into me by the strong wind, causing me to go down on the tar road and enabling me to achieve a South African 'Tattoo'!

Discretion being the better part of valour, we climbed the Lunch Truck, and rode into the Town of Springbok. On my recommendation Wynand stopped at the Springbok Lodge & Cafe, for us to savour their milkshakes. All were in agreement, these were the biggest and best milkshakes we had tasted on the TDA thus far.

Camp was at the Municipal Camping Grounds, where after the Briefing Session, Paul presided over the unofficial TDA presentations. I received the Yellow Jersey for riding EFI through the land of my birth (Zambia) and for tasting over 70 different beers so far on the Tour (EFDB) while also going Nutella and Peanut Butter free the whole way down Africa! (I think he was just looking for an excuse to present the Jersey to me, since I had bought two yellow jerseys in Nairobi to be used for presentations and he needed to return one of them to me!).

We forego the luxury of a tar road when we cycle out of Springbok tomorrow, it’s back onto the dirt roads again, heading up into the Cedarberg Mountains, let’s just hope we don’t experience the same energy sapping headwind that we had today!

Cheers,
Mike T