Saturday

I have made it to the end. Today has been the last day’s riding so it was all about taking it easy and keeping myself and bike in one piece…well not that easy, not really my style. Today has been hot hot hot. The morning consisted of dirt tracks interspersed with valley crossings. One valley was described as ‘tricky’ and the more faint hearted were convinced to take the high route, ie on the road and the long way round. For the rest of us it was down a near vertical hill through thick undergrowth, which was very slow progress with the engine killed, in 1st gear and using the clutch to control the back wheel. It must have taken us an hour to get down by which time we were all over heating. In particular I started to suffer and had it not been for us getting to the river I have no doubt I would have had a heat stroke.
The rest of the day was a little easier and we covered a total of 200km to our destination in Port Edward and the Strand Hotel and a grand welcoming party and an evening of traditional South African entertainment. We partied hard and all managed to stay up beyond 10:00!!

Friday 10th

Friday morning and we are all still suffering the after effects from Thursday’s epic ride. Today was split into two parts, the first ‘half’ was more of the same grueling pace and technical difficulty with a combination of fast dirt tracks, open countryside, through remote villages, steep hill climbs and river crossings. We departed at 8:00 am and did not stop for a break (save petrol refill, regroup and smoke break for the many smokers amongst us) until 2:00. Many of us were fearing the worst that this marked the half way point and we had another 6 hours to go! Fortunately not, the afternoon saw us heading much more into civilization with even some tarmac road and really quite a gentle ride through forests into our lodge at Mbatyi River. The end is looming with a hard ride planned for the Saturday morning then the final run into Durban. I have mixed feelings, on the one hand I do not want this to end, on the other my body is telling me it has to stop soon.
Keep checking for new blogs and the previous updates as I will add more photos as and when I can.

Thursday

We are currently in the wild coast at The Hole in the Wall. Today we have been travelling along the extremely treacherous coastal path and when we dared to look out to sea we were lucky enough to spy some whales!

Enroute we became lost and tested ourselves to the limit bringing our bikes up an impossibly steep cliff. I'm sooo tired!

Wednesday - Gojella Junior School

Today was our day off bikes. We were lucky enough to visit Gojella Junior School, where we set about doing various tasks including the delivery and installation of whiteboards, the replacement of damaged solar panels and also installed water filters which will provide clean water for the next two years.

We met the pupils and some of their parents and were entertained by the school choir.

Tuesday

Tuesday was the hardest day by far. I now know what the term 'technical' in Enduro speak means. Distance wise it was short, only 78km (compared to 300+ on the other days) but it was all up and down deep ravines and through tricky forests. By far this has been the best day's biking I have ever had..and probably will be the best I will ever have. (I can hear Julie saying "rest assured it is!").

Green team had a good day overall with the exception of Stephen who had to stop after the first two hours with heat exhaustion that was very close to being a heat stroke. The pressure was kept on us by our guide Dave to get to the top of the last ravine by 4:00 latest so the pace was quick and the breaks short, even the puncture repair was done in minutes.

The route kept us very remote and through villages where the only utility service was a single tap to serve the who village with water that still requires filtration before save to consume.

The last ravine was a monster, I was having a sense of humour failure and gasping for water. During Tuesday I drank 4 liters of water...and it all came out as sweat not the other!(photos to follow when I can get faster Internet connection)

We arrived at Kob Hotel by 5:30 and just before a torrential storm and darkness. Unfortunately all the other teams were still in the ravine where the path up became a river. I thought I was having a sense of humour failure but this was nothing compared to the others who were out in the lightening storm for the best part of 2 hours. Meanwhile we were sitting comfortable and being smug in the bar!

Today (Wednesday) is day off and we will be visiting a school that is benefiting from your donations, so look out for the next update.

Monday

Today was a long long day in the saddle. 11 hours door to door and I reckon 10 of those were riding time, circa 350km which included a great variety of torrain, climate and unexpected incidents such as the petrol station en route was dry thus a 40km detour and Green team losing two members for a few hours (they missed the turn and charged off at great speed in the wrong direction) and finished with a night ride into Morgan Bay.

Sadly another day with tales of accidents, the worst of which was poor Helen who hit a cow that charged across the path and ended up lying on top of her. Helen is now in hospital but all should be OK...less so for the cow that suffered a broken leg.

Stunning scenery