DAY 17 - Friday 26th - A NEW BEGINNING

Dear Family & Friends

I arrived at my brother’s, Pete, place to an amazing welcome from a group of youngsters with balloons and shouting. On the way I stopped off at Pinelands at my Aunt, Ernie, and Mike’s old home and had a quick prayer for her and then moved off to the warm welcome. The weather was shocking and it rained all morning but it certainly did not damper the incredible feeling of finishing this journey. Champagne flowed and it was very special to see my relations and friends.

This trip has been an experience that I am finding very difficult to put down in writing. There are so many positive things that have happened along the way and I have met so many kind and loving people. I have received messages of encouragement and advice that have humbled me and as I have said before really allowed me to feel great about the kindness I see in human beings. Before I left a number of people told me that South Africa was not the type of place to be taking on a journey like this because of the danger factor. I would like to state proudly that not once did I feel threatened in anyway whatsoever. In fact I was overwhelmed by how safe I felt whether out camping on the side of a road, stuck out in a reserve or in the many towns I stayed in. Everywhere I went people seemed to make an effort to help whether in the form of a meal, a message or simply a friendly chat. People have made this a special memory for me. The scenery of course has been breathtaking but it is the messages and smiles on people’s faces that have made the difference.

There is a feeling of loss now that the Cycle for Hope is over and I am finding it a little hard to adjust right now. I have been incredibly privileged to spend time on my own like this and have had time to get to know myself again. The fact that my life slowed down considerably over this period had an amazing effect on me. I was able to appreciate the so called little things in life and really listen and see things properly and clearly. Everyone I met seemed to have something important to say and I think it is just because I had the time to listen and feel the emotion more acutely.

Dumela’s education has taken on new meaning for me and I feel even more committed now to seeing that he gets a fair break. I know he is just one young lad but for me it is a symbol and I couldn’t continue to moan and complain about our uneducated youth, crime statistics, Aids and basic degradation of our South African society without actually getting off my now thinner behind and doing something about it, however small it has been. To this date I do not know how much money has been contributed to the fund but am confident that Dumela will get a real chance in life. I am not good at talking about money but I do feel comfortable in asking now for your help however small. I have received a donation of R10 from an elderly lady and I can assure you that it will be put to good use. So please no matter how small it might seem rather just do it –the bank details are below this blog but if you would prefer to donate in another way that’s fine as well. I have already received sound financial advice from a banker on how to set up an educational trust and that has been very generous in itself. Once I know details of the financial situation I will report it on the blog. Enough of this talk now- I am starting to feel uncomfortable again.

I would just like to say that I have felt very blessed along the way. I felt almost cloaked in protection and I know that your prayers and thoughts had an impact. The journey was too uncomplicated for a novice like me to come through it unscathed and have the positive experience I did. It quite simply just went too well and I know I have a higher power to thank for that.

Guys I am going to miss chatting to you through this blog – I really am. It has been a way for me to get my thought in order and to get memories down. I know I am going to feel the void for a while but I am looking forward to getting home, seeing my boys and spending quality time with Kelly. I hope this journey has knocked some of the irritating traits I have off or at least got me to realize them more clearly. I also hope that not all I have learnt and the positive feeling about South Africa wanes too quickly as I rejoin the hustle and bustle of life. One thing that I do know however is that it is unlikely I will ever get this opportunity again. There is a quote on my sister in law’s wall of her aftercare school and it says “To see what is in front of one’s nose requires a constant struggle”. I think that in these last sixteen days I was fortunate enough, because of the circumstances, to see things in front of my nose a little more clearly and to really feel -- I have thawed.

Thanks so much for being on this journey with me.

A hug from Benno

The wonderful welcome to Cape Town

Happy to be at Pete & Kath's

The gang 

Pete the champagne king!

Julian, Judy, Mike and me!

DAY 16 - Thursday 24th - THE PERFECT DAY!

Everything was just perfect today. I felt strong from the beginning, the bike ran smoothly, it was warm and sunny, the drivers all seemed sympathetic, the road was excellent and the route absolutely stunning. Each town I went through - Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Rooiels and Gordon's Bay all stood out in their own unique way. The scene through the pass from Rooiels to Gordon' Bay was breathtaking and it was a hugely emotional experience for me. Seeing Table Mountain across the bay was special and it made me feel like I had finally arrived. I stopped just outside Gordon's Bay just to make sure I had taken it all in. As I was reflecting a car pulled up and a smart looking lad got out, exhaled deeply and smiled. We chatted and it so happens that he grew up in one of the sprawling townships in Cape Town but got lucky, was educated in London, and ended up in business in SA. He explained that he was having a bad day at the office and had come there to reflect.  It was an incredible feeling as we shared our journeys and concerns with each other like two old mates. We said goodbye as friends and I know both energized.  

Later I went for a walk on the beach at Gordon's Bay, where I am staying, and wanted to scream with happiness and fulfilment. I thought about the reasons for this trip and for the first time allowed myself to exhale. Today I feel hugely privileged to live in this stunning country.    

Tomorrow I will cycle to my brother Pete's house, write my last blog and then it will be finished.

Thanks once again for all those wonderfully motivating messages you sent today.

See you tomorrow at the finish line.

Me

Route 44!

Gordon's Bay

First sight of the Bear!! - Yahoo!!

DAY 15 - Wednesday 23rd

Dear Family and Friends

I must tell you I really love Napier and was sad to leave this quaint,  cosmopolitan village. I will definitely go back there - I owe Gunner a St Andrew's College mug.

Had a fantastic ride to Stanford through picturesque mountain settings and the Akkedis Pass. I flew through the route in a fast time for me and my body has without doubt got stronger and LIGHTER. I had a cup of coffee at a wine warm and then before I knew it I was riding through the vineyards of Raka wines. The journey to Stanford was incredibly quiet and peaceful but this changed radically as I got onto the Hermanus Road. It was hugely nerve racking as truck after truck passed me and I wished I was back on the gravel. I had no idea that Hermanus was so busy and too be honest I found it quite unfriendly. Great to see and smell the sea again though. 

I then decided to carry on to Onrus as I had heard such positive things about it - again I was disappointed and battled to find a B and B. Then fortunately Anne from Siesta in  Vermont (next to Onrus) saved the day and I am staying at her B and B which is great.

I am feeling quite up- beat about finishing this trip but the nearing cold front is a bit worrying. I am looking forward to seeing Kelly tomorrow as she drives through to Gordon's Bay. The plan is that if the traffic is too hectic on the N2 for this Eastern Cape monkey that she will drive behind with lights flashing and sirens blaring. After todays traffic I think I have it licked though.

Sleep well - I know I am going to!

Me

Stopped here for coffee on my way to Stanford

Nothing better!

First sight of the sea - Hermanus

DAY 14 - Tuesday 22nd - COLD MORNING/WARM NAPIER

Flip it was cold this morning on the road to Bredasdorp. Every time I went into a small valley I froze in the heavy mist. It was so cold that the gauges showing the different gears froze over. I stopped on a number of occasions to jump around and attempt to warm up and on other occasions simply bounced around like a lunatic on the bike in an attempt to get some warmth in my body. Neither plan worked. The end result was amazing though because I got to Bredasdorp in record time - it could however have been the amazing soup from Saartjie that I had this morning.

I then pushed on to Napier and I am so pleased I have stopped here for the night. It is a stunning village with art/antique shops and restaurants lining the main street. I am staying at Gunner's Lodge - owned by Gunner an Old Kingswoodian so I am in good hands. Will no doubt meet later and discuss the amazing relationship between our two schools. It is amazing the positive link people from these two schools automatically feel - well I do anyway!

I am sitting on a balcony overlooking field with horses, sheep, chickens and general farm life - I feel so blessed to be here. I think it’s almost time for a taste of Napier beer at the brewery across the road.

Hope you all had a great day.

Me

The View from my room in Napier

Napier's main street - treats all the way!

Time for a Napier beer!

Monday 21st - 13 DAYS WHEW!

The problem with getting closer to your destination is that you think about it all the time and you want to rush there. I think that is why I was particularly frustrated with the route. Bredasdorp is just out of my reach and Oupoort is too close. I have asked absolutely everywhere and there is nowhere to stay between Oupoort and Bredasdorp. The landscape is very open and crops are grown mostly so no shelter to camp on the road. So I have reluctantly decided to stay on the only farm in the area which caters for guests and it is near Oupoort.

Another beautiful sunrise!

Road to Malgas

I got to Malgas just before lunch and what a place it is. The only way to cross to it is by pont. It is a wonderfully serene place and you get the distinct feeling that time slows down there. Two colourful gentleman pull the ferry along while harnessed in a type of pulley system. I was on my own on the pont and as usual the two blokes asked what the hell I was doing there. After a few expletives and then a quiet pause the older of the two declared proudly that they were donating the R13 to Dumela's education - how cool is that!

Another moving story that I forgot to tell you about happened two days ago when I was fighting the wind in the Herbetsdale area. I was sitting on the side of the road when a beat -up old bakkie pulled up next to me. A beast of a man got out and declared that he was the farmer and what was I doing in the middle of nowhere. After explaining to me he invited me, in his broken English, to stay the night. At that stage I had not covered enough ground so declined the offer. We had a great chat about his different cattle and how he had mixed the breeds to create what he thought was the best cattle for the area. He was full of passion for his farm and the animals and genuinely interested in my trip. I eventually said goodbye to the bearded giant but not before planning a prank. He told me that one of his workers didn't smile enough and was bringing some cows down the road with his dog Brusso, a collie. When I came across them I was to get off my bike and greet Elijah and Brusso like old best friends. About 10km down the dirt track I saw them and called out loudly. Brusso almost knocked me off the bike while Elijah stared nonchalantly up at the clouds. I giggled and he laughed - "That blerrie bossman of mine -he does this all da time cause he says I miss my Mummy in Llolongwe, Malawi too much- he cares too much that big bossman". Anyway we chatted about AIDS prevention in Malawi and then he said that normally he would ask people like me if they could take something back to his family but in this case could he take something to mine. We roared with laughter and I parted company feeling light. My how things have changed over the years!

I am staying on a dairy farm owned by Niel and Saartjie - Niel has taken me for a walk to see a baby Eland that was caught in a fence and now thinks it is a cow. He has also shown me the Cape Vultures with a wingspan of two metres. Maybe there was a reason for me ending up here and I must admit it is incredibly peaceful. Have a new best friend who won't leave me - a cat.

My new best friend

Eland / Cow

Lots of Love

Me     

DAY 12 - Sunday 20th - SLOW IS GOOD

After spending many days on the gravel roads it was a weird experience hitting tar. I had to get to either Heidelberg or Riversdal to cross over to the coast and ended up choosing Heidelberg. It meant another 30 km on tar but as usual there was a lesson. I watched as car after car screamed past me with robotic forms inside staring aimlessly out at nothing. The scene was reminiscent of something out of a zombie horror movie.

 I on the other hand journeyed along like the tortoise taking in all the smells and beauties of the landscape. I noticed the colours of the grasses and the way they danced in the wind , the birds in play, the clouds and their ever changing forms, the smell of distant rain  and the sound of those strange creatures in the deep thicket. I have always loved the landscape of this area - the true breadbasket of South Africa and I feel privileged to have gone through it slowly. I think I really stopped and smelt the roses today and I loved it! 

I am looking forward to seeing the sea tomorrow as I plan to reach Malgas and further. 

I hope you all had a lovely family Sunday.

Me    

Start of the "Breadbasket" of our country

DAY 11 - Saturday 19th - ALWAYS RESPECT THE ELEMENTS

Today was day eleven and I can't believe how quickly it has gone. Dennis Herold, a good friend and farmer, phoned me early this morning and warned me about the Westerly wind that I would be encountering. I arrogantly thought that if I could handle yesterday’s trials nothing could really slow me down. I wanted to reach Riversdal which was over 100 kms. Well I received a painful lesson today and crawled into Albertinia after six and in the dark. I feel completely shattered and have learnt respect for yet another element while cycling.

There were two great moments for me today. One was meeting the kids in the picture below. They made me feel positive when I was really struggling. Another was when I stopped in at a house to ask for water and met a gentleman by the name of Mervyn White - he had been a lighthouse keeper since the late sixties and farmed later in the Humansdorp area.   It was amazing how meeting someone like that can lighten your spirit and it was he who told me to alter my route to Albertinia. If it was not for Mervyn I would be sleeping on the side of the road tonight- thanks Mervyn.

 I really need to give my body a break and am thinking of doing a shorter distance tomorrow.

Good night all

Me

Typical scenery for the day

What a stunner!

Just outside Herbetsdale

My friends who kept me going!