The 2009 OCC and Toer de Kaap will be remembered as the "wet one". Saturday 14th dawned with thick clouds hanging low and it wasnt long before the heavens opened and soaked everyone with a constant rain. Nevertheless, all the handcyclists braved the weather and lined up on the startline.
Stuart McCreadie won the 42km handcycle division in a time of  1:34:32 and Eugene Steyn came in third in 1:52:48

Everyone was wondering what the next day would be like with full cloud cover threatening another wet day with 103km to ride.

After a welcome reception at Aloe Ferox Guest House with some sweet cold watermelon to cool everyone down a bit, it was time for a rest before supper in the restaurant. We all headed to bed for an early night.

After a quick breakfast in the rooms, there was a scramble to pump up tyres and get ready for the days ride again. The ride starts out with a relatively flat 26km along the N2 before turning off to Stilbaai - then the road narrows and the climbing starts. Once again we went right to the ocean edge and had a relaxed lunch at Lappiesbaai restaurant. The wind got stronger and stronger and we left after assuring the residents we would be back next year. Then it was back up the R305 heading for the N2 again. Here's Thomas powering up 'heartburn hill' with the Avis bakkie behind him. Turning onto the N2, there was a strong tailwind to help the tired handcyclists make it through to Riversdale, where we stayed at the Fynbos Guesthouse. Most of the guys lost no time in jumping into the pool  to cool off. Once again we had a braai at Huis Wallace Anderson and it was great to see everyone there again. After a really great braai there we headed for bed with everyone's thoughts turning to the climb up Garcia Pass in the morning. The guesthouse has an awesome view of the Sleeping Beauty mountain, however it was shrouded in mist in the morning.

Day 4 - Riversdale to Ladismith via Garcia Pass 94km
Eugene had spent some time in Riversdale before the OCC doing some last minute training and he knew a shortcut onto the R328 which cut a few kilometers off the days distance. The sun was working overtime and gave us a taste of what it would be like in the Karoo - at the top of the pass. We pulled into the seemingly deserted farmyard at the 46km mark for lunch, and while we were setting up for lunch, the farmer arrived. He told us he had been there the week before shooting boomslang in the trees - this made Yvonne (sweep driver) jump up in the air and start running for her bakkie before her feet hit the ground, much to our amusement. She got in and locked the door in record time! The farmer invited us to go 2km further to his farmhouse where there was more shade and less boomslange. Yvonne did us proud with ham, chicken and cheese rolls, then we were back on the road heading for Ladismith, where the swimming pool beckoned. Supper was at the Olive Grove restaurant just outside the town - another good feast for all.

Day 5 - Ladismith to Oudtshoorn via Huisrivier Pass 103km
Today's route starts with a steady climb out of Ladismith for about 32km, then the fun begins at the top of the pass, with a good 10km of thrilling downhill. The lunch stop was Calitzdorp at the 50km mark. After toasted sandwiches the guys were back on the road while Yvonne went to the wine cellars to buy port for us - Calitzdorp is the port capital of South Africa. The clouds had long since departed and there was a hot cross-wind most of the day with temperatures soaring to 42 deg C in the car. On the tarmac it was more like 49 deg C. The guys drank more water than ever before in an attempt to stay hydrated, all the time thinking of the swimming pool waiting for us in Oudtshoorn. So a big thanks to aQuelle for providing us with the purest bottled water we've ever drank. Yvonne did a sterling job of driving the sweep vehicle all day in the blistering heat - always ready with a chirp and a laugh! After a long swim to cool off, it was off to the Kleinplaas restaurant  for a good supper again, then off to bed for an early night as the long last day lay ahead.

Day 6 - Oudtshoorn to George via Robinson Pass 122km
Up again at 5am for a really early start, taking into consideration the distance for the day. Thomas was banned from riding due to pressure sores that developed on his feet (Shark bites) and Yvonne kindly drove him to the Medi Clinic for some treatment. I set up the cameras on a wide corner in the Robinson pass for some video footage. The silence was awesome - a real Karoo treat. However it wasnt long before a truck drove up and off-loaded some workers who lost no time in starting up petrol driven grass cutters - devastatingly noisy. I got some black looks from the handcyclists as they didnt expect a steep, long climb so early in the day. Eugene tried desparately to strip the front wheel from Thomas' bike as he had a 34T cluster, but in the end it wouldnt fit his bike.
The lunch stop was at the bottom of the pass, and after a total blast down the pass, all was forgiven as the guys tucked into ham and cheese rolls that Yvonne made on her makeshift kitchen - the tailgate of the Avis bakkie she was driving.
As we got closer to George the clouds got heavier and heavier, and after praying for rain in the Karoo, the guys were sprinting to the finish to try to beat the rain. Unfortunately the rain won and everyone got wet again. So the tour started and ended in the rain.
A big thanks to Pierre and Elna from Avis Van Rentals George for providing the support vehicles that made this tour possible for a second year running.

Bottled water was again supplied by aQuelle, for the second year running, without water the tour would be a nightmare - Thanks to all at aQuelle too!

Also, without the support people, there would be no tour - so a big thankyou to Jonathan Damon and Yvonne Anderson for letting us abuse them for 6 days solid! Hope you will both join us again in 2010.

More pictures can be found here:  Picasa pics

For information on the 2010 Toer de Kaap, click here.