Back in the Blogosphere...

We disappeared into Gamkaskloof on Tuesday 26th and have only just re-emerged into the cell phone and internet world today, Friday 29th at Karoo One, a resort lying between Touwsrivier and the Hex River Valley.

Gamkaskloof - also known as Die Hel - was an experience never to be equalled (or to be repeated, by some of us - ever, at all, at all). Everything there was higher (the passes) deeper (the descents) and colder, it turns out than anything we had previously experienced.

Some observations:

1. Hell did freeze over while we were in it - we can all attest to that. Beware you teachers, professors, parents and girlfriends who made less than charitable predictions regarding the fulfillment of our aspirations, hopes and desires. What you are hearing is not the roar of aircraft engines. No, it is the beating of a thousand wings, as your many, many chickens come home to roost.

2. Getting out of Hell is hellish difficult. Riding a bicycle should not entail carrying it 600 vertical meters on your back up something called a 'ladder' with rungs consisting of boulders, scree and shale.

3. Cyclists, everyone agrees, 'eat like dogs'... Photos to follow.

4. The best downhill section on the Freedom Trail lies between Seweweekspoort and Rouxpos. Hoffie's attempt at the World downhill record was foiled by a headwind. He achieved a mere 58 kilometers per hour.

6. Gerhard Roux of Rouxpos cooks a men braai. Ronelle his wife is the waffle queen.

5. The Anysberg Reserve has extremely fat Gemsbok. 'Meisie' the cook to cyclists visiting Anysberg  office is clearly a 'big picture' and large portion person. Perhaps she is feeding the Gemsbok as  well.

6. Karoo One is a very good place for R and R, Debbie thinks perhaps we should just stay here.

7. Fund raising is going well. According to reports, we have so far received pledges North of R 100 000.

More later, from Tulbagh....