Day ...not sure anymore A most welcome shorter day today, starting with a climb up alongside the Touwsberg through a private game reserve before turning east and dropping down to cross the R62 just south of Ladismith. The Klein Swartberg looking mighty and imposing today with its towering snowy peaks, and rugged cliff faces. A quick one km stint along the R62 reminded me why Im taking the back roads, then off east on the R327 to Vanwyksdorp. The night is spent at the farm of Heidi and Almon - two complete strangers who welcomed me into their home like I had been family for years. There arent words to describe people like this that you meet along the way, and a paragraph or two here would never ever do justice so I wont even try. All I can say is you will never know how grateful I have been to pass through here and to have met you, and I hope to bring my family back here one day. Your kindness and generosity will carry me the rest of this trip. Dinner was a huge scrumptious affair, with the kids Lizahn and George, and cats and dogs included. South African farm hospitality at its absolute best! This would be a good time to mention to those concerned that yes, some of the more desperate clothes have finally had a long awaited wash - there were some shirts that I was ready to burn over the campfire in a days time. Im not sure if this kind act was more for the benefit of my hosts or myself but regardless, tomorrow I cycle off fresh-as-a-daisy-cow! The next two days are spent playing hopscotch on district roads and 4x4 trails to get over to the Outeniqua mountains, with tomorrow nights destination being Bonniedale farm at the start of the historic Attekwas trail. My diet has done a major shift from threadbare to putting down whatever I can but Id better start reeling it in a bit or Ill never get over the Attakwas! Catch up again where there is signal, and a big thank you again for all the kind words and encouragement. I read with amazement about a cyclist called David Kleynhans who cycled to Knysna in just over a day to take part in the bike race. Okay look, he was on a road bike mainlining it down the R62 at goodness knows what speed but it did suddenly make me feel a little tortoise-like weaving across the landscape with my house on my back! Big respect to him for his achievement, he actually passed through Montagu the morning of the day I arrived and refueled at Keiths before blitzing off. Travel safe on your next journey Dave and hope to meet you one day and swap notes. Or backpacks.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 06:56:30 +0000
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