It was a fun ride today. First 61 km of highway to a beach where we assembled, had lunch and took photos. Next almost 30km of convoy that became progressively more interesting as we used dedicated bus lanes and police were stopping traffic as we went through heart of the city. Finally into waterfront district, on a path and under a finish banner. We celebrated and gave well deserved awards for race winners and efi. Tonight a dinner and then will be complete.

Below some photos of the participants.

Those who cycled EFI
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Winners of the women’s race
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Winners of the men’s race
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Staff
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Our ceremony in at the waterfront in Cape Town
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However, before arrival we still had a 140km stage ride today. We started from Elands Bay and went out to the peninsula on dirt for 7.5km. After this a mixture of small roads including another 10km along a gravel toll road along the railway. This time did see a long train with engines both at front and two places in middle of the train.
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Velddrif was nice town at 60km and stopped here at the bakery. After this we turned right onto R27 road and saw our Cape Town 140km sign. Apparently, we hadn’t originally gotten a permit for the R27 which would have meant a lot tougher riding on gravel. This was a bit strange since the R27 had widest shoulders of any road we had in South Africa. Those shoulders were occasionally used for cars to get out of way for passing traffic – but sight lines were good and was otherwise good smooth cycling.
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We stopped for lunch at 75km and after this the winds also picked up more. Crosswinds sometimes became headwinds. Not enought to seriously slow things, but enough to keep being a reminder that riding wasn’t yet done. This made the afternoon a bit more of a slog, particularly over a long slow hill and then down the other side.
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In the distance we could start to see a mesa that was table mountain and backdrop to Cape Town. Yeah! Our last kilometers we turned the corner and went to our last beach town. Here we had extended riding meeting including riders being given informal “awards”. I was given one for always asking if folks were having fun and otherwise being cheerful. It got cold in the evening so into the tent.

I’m excited that we have just another 94km to go and will reach our goal for past four months.

We started with fog on the road and it wasn’t until 9:30am two hours into the ride that first could see a shadow. I climbed back up from Strandfontein and went slow on the road since my glasses would fog up and I could see less. At 10km we switched onto a toll road next to the railway. This road was private and was gravel. This took us through back areas and into next beach town of Lamberts Bay. The road once we past the toll gates was somewhat smoother cycling. A few trucks passed but didn’t see any trains this morning.
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Lamberts Bay at 45km was back to pavement and had a nice coffee shop. At 48km back onto gravel and stop for lunch. The gravel after lunch started rougher again but once past toll gates at better as well. The fog did reappear for a while until almost Elands Bay.

At Elands Bay I clocked in for last official race timing. I’ve been near bottom of race standings and some of those formerly timing there also stopped being part of the race. However, figured I’d started this timing so might as well finish into Cape Town. It does add some interesting dynamics both with the fastest riders pushing to race – but also with others keep riding without stopping. I mostly didn’t worry about that nor my race times but instead used it more like a time card to punch in and out and somebody could see, “yes he is still riding”.
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Elands Bay was nice small beach town. It definitely feels like the trip is winding down as folks are thinking ahead to Cape Town and beyond. Still two days of cycling though in South Africa.

At Elands Bay, JJ and Catalin dug a huge hole in the sand. Apparently to be used as a sauna.
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We had a great sunset.
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The rest of afternoon was getting long with cross winds that sometimes were slight headwinds. At Koekenaap at 126km was good chance for coke stop and then a second coke stop at 134km in Lutzville. After this headed more into the wind and towards the beach. Slightly less wind but onshore fog got heavier by 145km. I switched to higher visibility jacket and then last kilometer had good descent down to the beach.

It is great to be camped right next to the beach and hear the roar of the ocean.

I was on the road early and fortunately it was warmer than the day before. We started right away with a climb and then several descents on the N7 highway. My brakes continued making some noise and that increased through the day. Trucks came past and with just a few exceptions gave us reasonable room. There was a bright yellow truck that honked and passed awfully close and remember as being rather rude.

There were few towns along the road and these were well separated from the N7 through highway. So one needed to make a concious choice of whether to go into town or not. The largest was at 69km but I’d just had lunch at 64km before that. Had some good descents near 30km and a good climb near 50km.

After lunch some more rolling hills. You could often see several bumps ahead. Coming into Garies we had a good 6km descent and my brakes definitely made noise then. Fortunately after the ride, JJ replaced my brake pads (third set, good thing I brought these along) and much better after that.

Garies is a small town with a few shops on the main street. I could however find a SIM card and get the phone updated to make some web updates. While doing that noticed that we had crossed the 30th parallel of latitude today and hence are now further from equator than both Cairo and Austin.
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Goodbye Namibia, hello South Africa! This morning we had our last border crossing. They get easier and less expensive as you go along. Otherwise it was a day on well paved highways with some climbing and more tailwinds than headwinds.
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Our first 10km were along the Orange River. Workers were out walking on the road on way to jobs in the vineyards. At 12km we went through the Namibia exit station. We cycled across the bridge and then came to South Africa for entry. Yeah!
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South Africa started similar to Namibia with a well-paved highway going through the desert. Trucks and cars drive reasonably fast but all still pretty easy. From 15km to 50km we had a long gradual ascent. It started going through canyon areas but then opened up to tilted open country. Time to put things in lower gear and slowly ride up the hill.
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After 50km the terrain was more rolling hills. We briefly turned west shortly before lunch and were treated to both tailwinds and downhill into our lunch stop. After lunch, it kept with rolling terrain and I was a bit slower riding this stretch. My brakes started making interesting noises. First when I applied the rear brake and then even when I didn’t. Last bit into Springbok was down a hill and into a caravan park. Happy to get into camp.

We also now have the remaining ride schedule from here to Cape Town. Still a few tougher days in the mix with 3-4 days off road and a few longer days. It will also depend on the wind and the road surfaces.
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It was hard to tell which direction the wind came from, but believe it was mostly NNE during the day so we had more tailwinds than headwinds today. Hooray! We started mostly cycling to the west. The road had occasional soft bits, but was otherwise reasonable road condition. We cycled around a huge rock outcropping to start. Nice views as we came along the rock, though it did seem like we climbed the same short hill a few times. I started with many layers on but decided each 10km mark I’d take something off (though not quite to the naked mile point). So at 10km I could remove the extra long tights, at 20km removed wool hat, at 30km removed outer jacket, at 50km swapped long gloves for short gloves, etc. It took us until 20km to come around the large rock outcropping.

After 20km mark we had a longer straight and then a good descent for multiple kilometres towards the Fish River Canyon. That unfortunately came to an end closer to 30km and then it was a good climb. However, this was excellent scenery as we went along the larger hills. At the 45km mark the sweep came up to me. While I’m normally slower than average this was first time the sweep caught up to me. Where are all the other folks that normally are behind me? I’m told pretty much rest of them were on the truck.
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We had right turn at 56km and for next 12km there wasn’t much pedalling as the wind along with slight downhill just pushed us along. Had to still watch occasionally to stay off the worst soft sand and worst corrugations. At 68km going downhill there was a right turn here. Unfortunately, another rider ahead of me missed turn here, so eventually I wasn’t last before sweep but she had an extra long ride. After the 68km mark it was a slow climb up and over a hill and then another long sweeping descent. That last few kilometres before lunch were an uphill.

Ate my lunch quickly and assessed the situation. It was just past noon and I had 82km to go. Unless road was awful, should make it just before dark. I was told there would even be pavement the last 40km. The next 20km from lunch were stunning scenery as we followed a drainage and to our right was a large set of rock outcroppings. The combination of wind and descent even meant there wasn’t much pedalling involved – but instead having to watch carefully the track on the road. After this was still some occasionally pedalling but until 124km was a spectacular ride.
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At 124km I found the road was still gravel. What was worse is we turned now into the wind and this part of the route had soft sandy bits. It was tough riding here. There was a “refresh” stop I noticed just in time at right side of the road. The TDA staff member had gone off hiking and I was along (except for the rider behind me who had ridden the extra credit distance). After the refresh we could see a large vineyard area – as well as one of the largest shanty towns I had seen. The simple workers huts were a bit shocking to see.
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It took to 130km before reached pavement. Yea! The next 40km were mostly cross wind though also some headwinds in here. I was getting tired as was riding over the last of the hills. As I rounded the last bend, I could see settlement on the South African side as well as where Felix Unite Camp should be. Was even pleasantly surprised to find it appear two kilometres earlier than expected. I was in at 4:30pm, a long but beautiful ride. Had enough time to get me tent set up and not long after 5pm sunset.

We’re now camped at Felix Unite camp for a rest day tomorrow. Not quite sure what to find here, though will be time to get laundry and other chores done. Otherwise also a chance to relax and get ready for the six day riding section that will bring us to Cape Town.

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I left Seeheim roadhouse out the back road. It immediately climbed and I walked part of the first hill. After this
we turned right and into the wind. At first, I could ride ~15km/hour but as it got later the wind strengthened and
it was closer to 10km/hour.

We followed a set of railroad tracks. Otherwise it was flat open terrain without much vegetation to block the wind.
At 40km we crossed over those tracks and looked like there had been recent rollover car accident. Believe all was ok
though.

It was nice to see lunch at 67km. After this we at least had some changing scenery with a shorter climb and then
brief turn away from the wind. The last 10km were again with strong crosswind until reached Canon roadhouse.
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The roadhouse has a big interior area with old cars, signs, license plates and other memorabilia. Also serves a good
cheesecake. Our evening was cold and looks like our south wind might have brought colder temperatures.
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Overnight I could hear wind in the trees. Checked with the stars and was happy to find it coming from the northeast.
I started cycling in cool morning air. The road was sandy, particularly between 10km and 15km points. I found myself
walking several times. Otherwise it was a slow gradual climb up to a pass at 30km and then a descent after that.
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We crossed a broad valley and then by 50km started another climb. Once past 56km we came through some hills with
several sharp climbs. It was however very scenic. The lunch truck was parked beside some of these hills at 79km.
It again took me close to 1pm. Rumor was the road became flat after the next town and even some tailwinds. However,
decided to take it easy for rest of the day.
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The road did slowly improve and at 103km it was briefly paved. We stopped in town for coke stop and discovered one of
the battery cables had severed. It took a while to get that fixed. After this drove last bit to camp and was happy
to find camp also had showers. Today the morning was definitely toughest riding though, I’m glad I did this more scenic
bit than the second half.