The ride

I pressed start on my GPS and off we trundled.  Hmmm distance thingie not working.  Pressed stop and restarted, something else not working.  Switched it off and switched it back on again.  Now those of you who ride with know that it is really best for me and all around me that I keep TWO hands on my handle bars.  Anyway I stayed up right and didn't swerve in front of too many people and couldn't get the GPS tracks to work.  I was starting to swear out loud so I stopped fiddling and figured I needed to stay with people and hope the race markings were good.  Ben de Lange came passed me with his band of merry men.  Alan Sharpe attempted to have a conversation with me whilst going up a hill and he asked a LOT of questions.  Whoooweeeee - I was really feeling the altitude.

I whizzed along and went through the 1st check point at 22kms.  I tried the GPS again with no success. I climbed a pass - this was the 1st walk of the day.  There was this mixed team riding near me and he was pushing her a lot.  I heard him say to her - don't get off and walk, don't give up.  I found this interesting as I don't consider getting off my bike and walking "giving up".  I wasn't interested in trashing my legs so early in the ride.

The country was so beautiful.  There were deep valleys of greens and purples.  There were beautiful mountains - majestic and forever.  

I went flying down the Middelburg Pass.  Then suddenly I had a GPS brainwave.  I had started the tracks but not pressed start the ride - AH HA!!  I felt inordinately chuffed with myself - I had distance and GPS tracks.  The next checkpoint was at 48kms.  I didn't waste anytime at the checkpoints - drink something and attempt to get food into me.  Aaag the food thing is really hard.  I struggle to put proper food into me which means I rely on sweeties for energy.  This is a dangerous fine line to be riding coz when I get it wrong I lose energy really quickly and get tearful and unreasonable.

I kept my brain working coz I was having to work out where I was on the route distance-wise and because I was holding on to my handle bars nicely I couldn't use my fingers to work anything out.

Happy place happy face

I flew into the next check point - 74kms or so in 4h30.  Donna Woolnough was there.  She was fabulous - filled up my water bottle and generally looked after me.  I put on my bike light but left my long sleeve top in the box.  I attempted to eat a hamburger and managed one bite of the roll and 2 bites of the patty - bleeeeeeh!  The keoksusters went down better.  There was a smell of rain in the air and the wind was picking up.  I asked one of the marshals if he thought it was going to rain.  No, he says this storm won't hit here.  Yeah riiiiiiiiight!

I was still ahead of Mike and Gavin - he he - so I took off and crossed under the freeway to begin a 25 km climb.  The rain started coming down properly about 4 kms up the path with ominous thunder.  Rain jacket on.  Cycled across a river crossing then the lightning started or maybe just got close enough for me to notice.  There were a few bolts close enough for my body to feel zingy - eek!  I was going through a farm and spotted a shelter that the tractors with huge wheels were parked under so I turned in there.  Yoh the lighting bolts were so close.  A guy came riding past the shelter and was a few meters away from a lightning bolt.  He turned back very quickly and was pretty skrikked - shaking hands and all.  About 5 or 6 other guys joined us and another girl.   A few riders came passed us - I thought it was foolish but each to their own.  I guess we stayed there about 20 or 30 minutes and then set off in the pouring rain.  Wow the water was just pouring down the pathways

This shot really doesn't show any of the drama!

There was another river crossing and the river was about knee deep but flowing really fast.  The guys had already got across and then they formed a human chain.  I put my bike on my back and carefully made my way into the water.  Once I got to them about half way across they took my bike.  I was getting a bit disoriented looking at the water so I put my back to the river and held onto their hands.  Thanks so much guys who ever you are - that was a great help.  Everyone set off at their own pace.  It was quite steep and a long climb - I alternated walking and riding.  It was still raining and there was a lot of thunder around which was making me a little nervous as I was getting higher up the mountain.  Anyway lots of climbing and riding and some downs and I got to this valley that was made of mud.  

Thick, red, sticky, clay MUD.  I took a little fall because my wheels were so encased in the stuff they had no traction what so ever.  My GPS had stopped working at this point so I have no idea of the distance.  My guess is it was about 2 - 3 kms and it took me about 2 hours.  I would push my bike for about 3 meters and the wheels would lock.  There were a few people around me and they were battling the exact same thing.  I kept thinking I was doing something really wrong, but no it was just difficult.  We went through a river so all of us washed the mud off but then pushed and rode the next 10 meters and ended up with exactly the same problem.  Eventually I said out loud oh bugger this I am carrying my bike.  This one girl heard me and said I should try but I wouldn't be able to.  I poo-pooed her in my mind, coz I KNOW how to carry my bike.  Well I nearly pulled a poep string trying to lift it up.  I am guessing it must have been about 50kgs - not really sure.  So I swore a bit and carried on stopping every 3 meters or so to scrape off the mud and trudge on very slowly.  The 2 girls near me were saying they were going to pull out at the next stop and this was kak and they hadn't signed up for this etc etc.  Even though I got really mad and frustrated at times I knew it wouldn't last forever.  There was NO WAY I was going to be pulling out.  I don't engage with that negativity - I try move away from it if possible but certainly ignore it otherwise.  Eventually we got to another river as it got dark and washed the mud off the bikes.  I put my bike on my back and trodded up the mountain.  Eventually I realised that there was no more mud and pushed and rode the bike.  I was feeling pretty flat - that muddy section sucked a lot of energy out of my body.  It was very dark and when I looked behind me into the valley I could see lots of lights.  Shame those poor buggers dealing with that mud in the dark.  I was really relieved I had put my bike light into the 1st box stop - I thought I would only need it from the 2nd box stop.  

 This is not my bike but it gives an idea of the crazy crazy mud!

We climbed up to Msonti Caves which was at about 96kms.  I could not eat any of the meat there and ate a semi frozen pancake.  It wasn't great but it helped my flagging energy.  I got a little bike wash and resisted the gorgeous fire.  The quick times at the waterpoints was definitely helping me as I kept catching up with people who had dropped me. I set off down the jeep track.  Wow it was pitch black.  I got to the tar road and headed up de Beers Pass.  I walked most of this - shoo it was steep!  I kept thinking that the next  checkpoint/boxes place was around the corner.  I think that corner took about an hour to get around.  My GPS had totally shut down.  It is quite an interesting experience riding "in the dark" - not knowing distance or time.  My cell phone was in my backpack and I just didn't think to take it out.  I think time for me was pretty relative.  I knew I was going to finish, I did not know what the time was and I did not know how long it was going to take me.  I was quite comfortable being in the present.

Suddenly my bike started making very startling noisy noises.  What was going on???  Someone I was riding near stopped when I did.  I couldn't see what the problem was but they said my jockey wheel was off at a strange angle.  Oi now what!  I carried on and in some gears the noise went away and in others it was hectic.  Eventually we got to the next box stop.  I was hoping for food and tea but there were only boxes and water.  I was very cold from the rain and put my beautiful new top on - yay for that little feeling earlier on.  I made up some new juice and climbed back on my noisy bike.  I asked some guys how far to go and they said 54kms.  Gosh that was far but ok.  I checked the time (eventually) 21:30.  Okaaaaaay it was gonna be a long night.  Then someone else said it was 54km for the guys doing the long version - we had 30kms to go.  Whoop whoop.  So off I set.  I was riding with another girl (sorry her name has left my not so functional memory bank).  She was struggling a bit so I waited for her every now and then.  Suddenly my bike light switched off - shiiiittttttt it was dark!.  I fiddled around with the connections and found they were loose - shoooo.  That complete darkness was amazing - only as long as the torch worked!!  Up the hills, down the hills, the rain fell, the light switched off intermittently, walk a little, cycle a lot.....  The lady I was with got freaked out not knowing where we were or how far out we were. She put on google maps and we could see we were 10kms away from Swinburne.  There wasn't a light around us at all - behind or above or in front.  We slowly made our way toward Swinburne and kept checking the maps intermittently.  We both thought there was a last check in at Riverview.  She missed the turn but I went into the parking lot.  There were no signs or arrows or anything.  I came back out and she was waiting for me on the road.  I tried to call the emergency number but it said it was not available.  Oh goodie at least we didn't really need it!  I was pissed off - if I had gone that far and would finish unofficially I would be properly mad.  Anyway we headed off to the last 4 uphill kms to the finish.  Gosh they were far.  And then the finish line was there.  Yay!!!  I crossed the line at 00:31in 14 hours.

What an adventure.  Somewhere it says this ride was about surviving the elements.  That sounds about right.  Apparently rain storm measured 60mm rain in 30 mins.

I went passed Ali and Gerald's tent.  I saw the bikes and realised they were in but couldn't see anyone. I went off to my tent - it was drenched inside - mattress, pillow. clothes, shoes.  Ooh there were vicious little words uttered.  I had a shower, food (eventually I could put something in me) found Gerald sleepily walking around and had a damp nights sleep.  At least my wet sleeping bag still kept me warm (ish)!

It was a beautiful day the next day - crisp and clear.  We chatted and shared adventures.  Ali and her group pulled out at the 74km point - they had been caught in the crazy storm before that point.  I hung around for prize-giving and much to my absolute delight I had come in 3rd woman.  I was only a second in front of the lady I had finished with but as Fi says there is no comments column.

It was a fabulous adventure - tough, exciting, long (but at least only 1 day) and very beautiful.

Thank you to my wonderful hubby and friends for your support and encouragement - I know some of you think I am as mad as a hatter.  I have had a very sore jaw - I think it is from grinning so much.

The prequel

So this started with a bottle of wine, or rather the thought of a bottle of wine – I was stone-cold sober!   I messaged my old school friend – Alison Camp.  She lives in Hillcrest and I told here I was missing her and maybe we should meet up in the Harrismith area for a weekend with our tents, some niknaks and wine and have a little catchup.  She then said she had entered for the Mini TransDrak and so the conversation went.   I did a little groveling with Doug to get a weekend pass and suddenly I was entered – with 5 weeks to the event.

Alison said it was probably going to take her and her team about 24 hours to do the event – 7,5 km per hour including stops.  Ooh that sounded waaaaaay too long to spend on my bike in one go.  I did some calculations and figured I should be finished in 14 hours on the outside unless things went pear-shaped.

I did a few rides with the longest being 93kms over Breeds Nek.  I was feeling comfortable with my fitness.  I have been training constantly at BikeFit twice a week and it was giving me a good residual base.  I took a fall on my left knee on a Magalies ride which got a deep cut and a bone bruise.  I nursed it nicely and got it less painful.  Then bizarrely I fell twice more on it last week – slipping on a tiled floor and then slipping on a grape someone had dropped at work.  This last fall was on my way out of the office on Friday.  I was an emotional wreck as I had put down my beloved Golden Retriever - Cara on Thursday night (she was just short of 16 years old and I had been prepping myself for a year for this but shit I could not believe how much it hurt).  Anyway I hobbled out of the office sobbing and wept my way to get new windscreen wipers and wailed my way onto the freeway and then around about the Marlboro offramp stopped crying.  I was running out of tissues in the car and a girl can only feel sorry for herself for so long!  So I sang my woes away all the way down the motorway.  My knee was so sore but I figured I would just start the ride and see how it all panned out.

The weather forecast was looking pretty good for the ride – just a little bit of rain in the afternoon.  NOT a deluge – just a little – gah!!

I registered and settled into my little tent at the supplied tent village.  It was quite a testosteroned little village I tell you!  I met up with Ali and bemoaned the fact that there was not a bottle of wine in sight!  A little savanna went down a treat though.  The 2 boxes were packed for the check-in points.  DHL were one of the sponsors and we could send 2 boxes to the checkpoints.  They were huge boxes and I kept feeling obliged to put something in them – ridiculous.  I had only bought one long sleeved cycling top and put it in the 1^st box that I would see at 77kms.  My bike light and battery went in that one as well.  Box 2 got my cool new race top supplied as part of the entry.  I have a superstitious belief that I cannot wear new gear until the event is finished (it comes from paddling days) but I did not have anything else and just had a feeling about needing something there. More juice mix was put in that box as well.

The tent village 

Bike home

I was awake early – yay for tented villages – zzzzzzzzzzzz go the zips, shuffle shush, zzzzzzzzzzz!  We just chilled out as the race only started at 10:30 for us.  My butterflies started in earnest at about 09:30!  I missioned around trying to work out how to follow tracks on a GPS.  Much to Doug’s despair I am very technology-challenged and I really need to practice with these things.  Thought I had it sorted and lined up at the start.  I did start waiting right at the front and then saw where I was and promptly went further back to Ali and gang.  Motto for the day - shiny side up and rubber side down.  And then we were off......