After a relaxing luch at the Wimpy we started out on the last stretch past PetroSA, the bungi jumping station over the Gouritz River and on to out first overnight stop at Albertinia. Everyone opted for an early night, probably anticipating the climbs the next day.
There was a welcome tail-wind down the N2 for the first 26km or so, until we turned off onto the road to Stilbaai where it became a side-wind. This road is narrow with no shoulder
and has some
wicked climbs with cruel camber to deal with. Hilary's brake cable gave
in just after the first major descent and we fixed it at the beachfront
cafe where we stopped for another rather early lunch. Then it was back up the climbs that were so lovely on the way down to the coast. First casualty of the tour was Hilary with a UTI (cant ride when you are sick), but everyone else made it to Riversdale - some with a push and a nudge from a fellow rider on the way.
The third day - Riversdale to Ladismith starts with the Garcia Pass and once you are over that and in the Karoo, you feel the full heat of the sun. The temperature at lunchtime was 41degC, and measured 48degC on the tar! No shade available made for a very hot lunch stop, and the leg after lunch saw Albert, then Brunhild and finally Thomas having to call it a day, Thomas with some nasty blisters forming on his feet which sadly ended the tour for him. Alan, Eugene and Mark soldiered on followed by Saskia toughing it out and finally arriving in a rainstorm in Ladismith - after all the heat earluer in the day she was actually glad to be wet for once!
Eugene must have had 5 or 6 puncture to fix during the tour -- one day,
arriving at the overnight stop he even had to fix 2 flat tyres on his
wheelchair! Thats got to be a record for punctures. Alan Large was
amazing...just cranking his way along at his own pace with a huge smile on
his face. The ride from Ladismith to Oudtshoorn is always tough as it starts with 33km of steady climbing and ends with more climbing for 50km after Calitzdorp with a strong, hot head/side-wind. After a good nights rest at KleinPlaas chalets, we set off in cooler weather which soon turned
to
rain and thick mist on Robinson Pass - so no chance of screaming down
that 16km downhill this year due to the bad visibility on the pass. The
Ruiterbos Cafe that has been open the past 3 years we have ridden the
tour was closed, and Tommy Micklem (Thomas' father) whipped up a fine
lunch of hot soup and cheese sandwiches from what meager supplies were
available in the tiny shop -- truly amazing! Our last overnight stop was Eden Country Inn in Klein Brak -- just like a time-warpback into the 1960s! Then it was a short ride back to George which was buzzing with all the people in town for the OCC the following day.
All too soon the tour is over for another year...now the planning and adjusting starts all over again to ensure that the 2012 tour surpasses all previous tours! We already have 2 people that have paid their deposits for 2012 and 4 European riders very interested in coming out for the tour.
So, a big thanks to everyone for making the tour a success, especially to Avis Van Rentals in George for supplying us with a support vehicle and driver again -- we couldnt have done it without you!!
