Day Three Monday 18th
Albertinia - Stilbaai - Riversdale
Albertinia - Stilbaai - Riversdale
The
weather is kind today, cloudy and cool - Vicente was disappointed as he
had been promised hot weather! Still most of the guys are very pleased
for the cooler weather and some were lucky enough to have some rain -
just enought to cool off on the steep climbs, but not enough to soak
through and make things unpleasant. Today we head down the N2 for about
24km - a nice fast flattish section, and the turn off to StillBaai,
some 28km away - not so flat, with some significant climbs, all perfect
Argus training terrain.
Pieter
decided to leave at first light to take advantage of the cooler weather
and was the first to reach Stilbaai. This great looking downhill was a
formidable climb back out of Stilbaai...
Brunhild had some bad luck, picking up a puncture on the way, however it wasn't all bad luck as some locals stopped to help and inflated the tube for Brunhild with the compressor they had on the back of the bakkie (pickup).
Brunhild had some bad luck, picking up a puncture on the way, however it wasn't all bad luck as some locals stopped to help and inflated the tube for Brunhild with the compressor they had on the back of the bakkie (pickup).
Well, after a quick swig of Lucozade, Brunhild was on his way again, eager to catch up with the rest of the crazy guys.
Back
at Stilbaai, the guys were quick to get off the bikes and try out a
stroll down to the surf on the 'beach chair' which unfortuntely is not
self-propelled, but requires someone to push you around. 
After a good rest, it was back o the bikes for the final 40km into Riversdale, with the promise of a braai at Huis Wallace Anderson to look forward to.
The
weather is still cool with rain threatening to fall at any minute - a
blessing for most of the guys as those lovely downhills from the way in
to Stilbaai are now looming as climbs on the way back out to the N2.
The
first guys to arrive in Riversdale were (L to R) Stuart, Vicente, Jorge
and Zolani. Vicente was really cold and looking forward to riding
inland away from the cold coast!
Wallace Anderson Home sent a van with a wheelchair lift down to Takkieskloof so that we could use the bakkie to take Pieter's quad-ready handcycle up for everyone to look at. I think there's some frantic planning going on to see how they can purchase a bike with a similar setup for the guys in Riversdale to ride - maybe some of them will join us in 2009! I sure hope so. As the pictures show, the management at Wallace Anderson Home spared nothing and we really ate like kings! I have never experienced hospitality like that anywhere before! Well done and a big thankyou to all involved in making a truly memorable evening - we hope to be back in 2009 to see you all again!
Wallace Anderson Home sent a van with a wheelchair lift down to Takkieskloof so that we could use the bakkie to take Pieter's quad-ready handcycle up for everyone to look at. I think there's some frantic planning going on to see how they can purchase a bike with a similar setup for the guys in Riversdale to ride - maybe some of them will join us in 2009! I sure hope so. As the pictures show, the management at Wallace Anderson Home spared nothing and we really ate like kings! I have never experienced hospitality like that anywhere before! Well done and a big thankyou to all involved in making a truly memorable evening - we hope to be back in 2009 to see you all again!
After
a veritable feast, everyone heads for bed, with thoughts on the first
real mountain pass of the tour - the dreaded Garcia pass just outside
Riversdale. Not to say some of the climbs haven't been challenging!
