Day 3, October 21st 2007

Prince Albert t0 Oudtshoorn
54km (19km tarmac, 33km dirt/unsealed)
with undulations!!

After showering and breakfast it was time. Time when months of training met the reality that was the Swartberg Pass (or Swartberrqke Paawwww-s as Henk pronounced it. It's hard to spell out how a 'g' is pronounced in Afrikaans: ask me sometime).

Heading out of town at 7.30am presented no problems, as clearly Sunday morning was a lie in for everyone except us! Although on our travels to the starting point at Eerste Water we did pass a troop (is that the correct grouping) of baboons.

Bikes were unloaded and front forks straightened out so that the front wheel faced forwards instead of the storage position of sideways! That could have made for interesting cycling. Group photo over it was showtime! Let me say that the Swartberg Pass road passes through some jaw dropping canyons (kloofs). No photograph could do justice to the scale of the mountains and the striations of the rock...in places folded like a cloth, almost in two...amazing.

The road is unsealed and quite bumpy...and sandy. That the road ran at an angle sideway as well as uphill didn't help for stability as poor Catherine found out when her wheels slid from under her.

My training on the roads around Broughshane paid off as I gradually increased in distance from the group. I hung back a few times so as to remain with the group, but I knew that if I didn't stick to the uphill pace I'd been used to that I'd struggle to make it to the top (known at "Die Top"). And so, gradually, bit by bit the distance increased. Now I was only doing 5.5mph, but it was sufficient to get me to the top 20 minutes ahead of the next person, George Gormley.

On the way up there are a series of switchbacks which get gradually steeper. In 40 celsius the going was tight but I didn't get off, although I did stop a few times for water and photographs. The view from the starting side of the Pass at the last switchback was just amazing. Peter's baccie and trailer looked mighty small from where I stood.

Rounding the corner I could see the lookout spot where we had arranged to stop for water and nibbles. Another baccie passed me with two ladies swigging beer in the back and made it's way round the winding roads. Friendly bunch that they were waved merrily at me...or was it in sympathy at these crazy fools riding a bike up a mountain in this heat? The baccie rounded a corner and I expected to see it reappear in a matter of seconds. Nope. It was quite a while later that is appeared, thus letting me know that it would be quite a while longer, and quite a few more corners before my rest stop!

But it eventually came and it was great to know that the hardest part of the ride for that day was over. We'd ridden 6.2km from 650m above sea level to a height of 1385metres. I'd made it in about 1hr40mins, I think. Everyone was at the top around 10.30am. That pace set the mark for the rest of the week; something Sam would start to complain about.

It was a short ride past the sign for "Die Hel" to our toilet stop and more nibbles...peanuts/raisins, dried fruits and compressed/sugared fruits. All good energy food. After the photoshoot at Die Top (1583m) and marvelling at the stunning scenery (and peering into the distance at our destination) it was all downhill to lunch. Braking only meant sore wrists and fingers on the bumpy surface, so it was stand up and forget the brakes.

Having stopped for a photo and a video clip of the gang coming down past a car with an English couple stopped to ask what we were up to and if they could hire bikes in Prince Albert. Well. I thought at first glance that the driver, the chap, was in the buff!! I kid you not. Bare legs and chest.....Neil then stopped on the other side and started chatting. When the driver looked at Neil I had a quick duke (well! You'd have done the same!) and he was wearing skimpy peach coloured shorts. Phew!

Luncheon was provided by Sam. Meats with salad, and rolls, and crisps, tea/coffee, fruit. It was just brilliant and was a foretaste of the everyday delights that Sam would produce for lunch.

On the main road to Oudtshoorn we knew we were going to have a challenging ride to the finish when everyone, including those of a heavier frame, had to cycle downhill (yes, you read that correctly) to get any speed up. The hills created a funnel, up which the wind howled. It wasn't cold, but progress was slow. Even when you dipped down on the handlebars your speed barely increased.

We stopped briefly at an ostrich farm where Dr. Sophie led us on an unofficial tour through an open back gate of the ostrich nursery. Amazing creatures, with their flexible bendy necks - the males with their red beaks and red ankles when they're annoyed.

The strong headwind was a feature for the final entire 20km from the t-junction where we'd turned on to the main road. But we persevered and finally, somewhat bedraggled, we turned into our home for the evening, Kleiplaas caravan and chalet park.

Taking Mary and Aideen's advice I tackled a cold bath before my warm shower...apparently the cold water ensures the blood withdraws from the extremities taking the lactic acid with it. And the warm water ensures a supply of lovely fresh blood with all its goodness.

A braai (bbq) in the evening rounded off our first day. Henk has gone off for a chat with Neil and we were waiting patiently for someone to tell us the food was ready. The lady behind the table was waiting patiently for us to realise the food was already ready! Thankfully she blinked first and asked if we were ready to eat. We'd sat for over half an hour hungry, but politely waiting! The ostrich steaks were just lovely.