MARCH 2010

MARCH 2010

TRIP TO CAPE TOWN
ALLY GALA IN CAPE TOWN CHOSEN FOR EP SWIMMING
VISIT TO AKKERS PROPERTY NEAR TO WILDCLIFF
ALLY ATHLETICS
KOUGA KUS HALF MARATHON
NIPPERS AT SUMMERSTRAND
MARINE DRIVE CYCLE.
ST FRANCIS BAY TO JEFFRIES BAY MTB 42KAY AND 18KAY BEACH RUN


After a long three days of work we left for Cape Town on Thursday afternoon at about 13.15. We stopped off at Plett to drop off a phone for Ena. Then a stop in Mossel Baai for coffee and sandwiches. Tick now Tickie, (Dog) was with us and almost ran away when we stopped in MB. Then it was a fill up with fuel in Heidelberg and straight to Cape Town. We slept over with Cathy and Saul at their new house.

Ally had left for CT by bus with the swim team on Wednesday and had phoned to say they had arrived safe. Ally was staying over at the Cape Sun hotel sharing a room with Tara vd Venter. Anton (father) & Adele (mother) run with us.

Friday morning we drove to Stefan and Nicky where we spent the day. This weekend we stayed at Cathy except for the Saturday night when we stayed over at Nicky as we left for WIldcliff and PE early the following morning.

Saturday I opened Ian's Bicycle which Jacqui and Michael had fetched from Holland (amsterdam) and brought through with them in December. It is a really strange bike. All aluminium and chrome. Folds into parts so that it can be transported. It has a fixed cog in front and gears at the back. Gear lever is like a motor bike accelarator. I pumped up the tyres and fitted the bike out and then Ally and I cycled down to the Spar. I realised that this is not only a classic but also quite fun to ride. Nicky took the bike for a ride and enjoyed it so decided to keep it.

We watched Ally do her march past. This was a provincial gala with representation from around the country. All had been given a track suite and T shirt.

On Saturday we watched Ally do her swim. It was the 50 Meter Butterfly which she had qualified for. While she did not achieve the improvement that she had been hoping for she shaved a split second off her qualifying time.

Sunday morning we drove through to Wildcliff. We first collect Mark who had been staying with his girl friend Kylie and then took the N1 to Robertson and Worster. We had the Bikes on the rack and they became very dusty on the dirt road. Keith took us to see the Akkers Property where Barbara was able to have a look at some horses which she felt were being neglected.

The following week I spent in Mthatha and drove home on Friday morning. Ally took part in a school athletics meeting where she ran slower than she should have for the 1200m but did very well in other events coming second or third. This evening she had a Birthday party and Saturday evening she had another party at some friends at Sundays River. friday evening Barbara and I spent at the Nippers clubhouse where we watched some cricket -- EP Warriors won the 20/20 league event.

Saturday morning I met up with Suzanne and Ben for our morning run.

Saturday morning I bought a new pair of Aisics Cumulus running shoes. Then went to work and then to Summerstrand where we were supposed to load the Boards but instead we just cleaned up and then left form home where I cleaned the Mountain Bike which had become so dusty on the dirt roads and fitted slicks so that we could ride the Marine Drive on Sunday morning. Ben, Ron, Charles and I rode a slowish mornings ride.

After the ride I went to church, Barbara Collected Ally and we headed down to Nippers where the waves were huge and the Nippers a little nervous to go out on the Malibu boards.

This afternoon Mike and I took the old Merc to Dean Moyes for repairs as the fuel line was leaking. We first tried to tow the vehicle but the steel cable broke.

Saturday 20 March 2010

Gerald Scheepers and I had arranged to meet early this morning to run the Kouga Kus 21kay from Humansdorp to Jeffries Bay.

The previous evening I had been at Nippers Training, Ally went off to a Hip Hop show in Forest Hill and Mark stayed over at Kylie's house for the weekend.
I was awake early and met Gerald at his house at 05.00am. Pat and Ronelle were off to meet up with Adrienne for the beach run. It was quite strange to see so much activity at a home at that time in the morning.

We had an easy drive to Jeffries Bay where we met up with Bruce and Paulette Mc Ewan. Bruce had arranged for Ancha's husband, Digby to drive the van back from Humasdorp. Bruce had faithfully brought the trailer to Jeffries. This is a huge responsibility that Bruce has taken upon himself and adds so much to the club spirit. In the van was Sidzumo (Silence); Percy; Wayne; Roger; Peter; Gerald and myself.

We registered at the school in Humansdorp and the race started at 7.00am. As the race started I met up with Ekard Schuman (Body Concept) and the two of us ran together for the first half of the race. We passed Graham and Kenny. The route takes a short detour in the wrong direction and then heads back to Jeffries on the old road. THere is a short uphill at the start and then reasonable flats and down hills to the 10kay mark.

At the 11kay I asked Ekard what our time was: 1.03. We had been running at around 5.45 but slowed after the bridge. From the 10kay marker there is a 5kay uphill to the circle. The race takes the runner on the Left hand side of the road. This is with the traffic and is unusual. But it would be very difficult to keep runners to the right as the route is a gradual Left hand bend and Runners would tend to want to take the shortest line. This would mean runners crossing the road or running in the middle of the road.

At the circle I continued on the left hand side as this remains the shortest line. I saw other runners moving across to the right. Here I saw Dean who tells me that he is building a small business in Construction. Megan, Martin and Liezl passed me looking strong.

I was tiring but wanted to save something for the final few kays. I plodded on chatting to various people who were passing me: Michelle and Fred came past. THen there was the sharp down hill to the Main Jeffries Road. I dont handle down as strongly as others can and so let people pass me rather than trying to keep up with them.

As we hit the bottom we began to run with the Easterly Breeze. Up to this time we had been enjoying the cooling effect of the cloud cover and the East wind. But now we had 4kays of gradual uphill and the wind behind us. It may sound like the wind from behind would assist the runner. But in this case the East wind was not more than a gentle breeze and we lost the cooling effect.

This section of the route is purely "Vasbyt". It is not a difficult climb but as it is at the end of the run it becomes easy to walk and to slack off. I determined that I was not going to walk. Up to this stage I had managed to jog the whole way with short walks at Watering stations to sip a coke. But as always happens you are able to eat away at the Kilometer markers. Soon it was just a Kay to go. And Mike (MOF) Botha was ahead of me. I felt bad to pass him in the final stretch but I was hopng to get as close to 2 hours as possible and while I dont carry a watch I knew that I would be close.

At the end there was the short down to the finish and a cold drink for the weary runners. Bruce and his fast running friends were already showered and looking refreshed as they set up the drinks, chairs & umbrellas. Shortly after I had finished Gerald appeared looking quite relaxed. I was still dripping after the hard pull at the end.

Graham and Kenny arrived with the news that they had been partying the whole night before the race. I know that this must have hurt Graham as I have understood him to be a man of sober habits.

Both Gerald and I had a busy day ahead and we had to leave before the prize giving. We heard later that a tog bag had gone missing with car keys and cell phone. Most upsetting as we tend to trust those around us when we are at a sporting event like this.

After work I spent the entire afternoon cleaning bikes and changing from Slicks to Knobblies on the MTB. Later the afternoon I went to the Newton Park swimming pool where Ally had qualified for Level Two inter provincial Club gala. This was one of the very first events held at Newton park since the pool had been enclosed.
Gala's are extremely tiring for both parents and for the swimmers. This was no exception. We endured 4 to 5 hours of watching other parents darlings as they jumped into the pool.

Then it was Ally's turn. She swam in a team of 4 girls 4 X 100meters. they were placed 4th and just missed a medal place.
And that was our afternoon.

I headed home via the Pizza shop and after a garlic snack of Pizza fell asleep with the knowledge that my alarm clock would wake me at 04.30am.

Sunday morning it was up early for the Marine Drive Cycle. Charles was not available today so it was just Ron, Ben and myself. Ben was on his mountain bike while Ron and I had an easy go of the morning on our road bikes. We were a lot faster this morning and finished in little over two hours.

Barbara was already at the Gala and I went to church.

After church we dressed for Nippers where Ally did a good session with the Malibu board. She had her friend Kaylie van Thiel there. Tanja (Mother) was also there to provide some encouragement to the two of them.

Later, Barbara and Ally left early to go back to the Gala while I stayed to lock up, to sort out Nippers Nationals U14 teams with Varrin and to join Craig and Liezl & Shareena dn Johan for a bite of Lunch.

I spent most of the afternoon preparing the Visa Applications for Barbara and Gail.

MONDAY 22 MARCH 2010

ST FRANCIS BAY TO JEFFRIES BAY MTB RACE.
I left home just before 8.00am. Barbara and Ally went back to the Level Two Gala that they had been at all weekend. The Gala was being held at the newly completed Newton Park swimming pool complex.

I met up with Gerald, Pat, Ronel and Alf Zhemke. Pat drove down with me. Gerald had four bikes on his rack and yet his car handled the roads perfectly. They have a new Hyundai 1600 that they use mainly for longer distance driving.

We drove to Humansdorp and then through to St Francis Bay. We found the start of the race at the Spar. As we were driving, Gerald phoned me to ask how we were going to get back to the cars. I was, at that stage, blissfully unaware that the race was a point to point and that we had to arrange our own logistics.

At the St Francis Spar we registered. It appears that there were only 9 MTB entrants last year and this year there were 18. We were lined up for the start and Robin gave us route instructions. I asked about a lift back and was assured that this would be sorted out.

We started at 10.15 and the Runners who would be running along the beach would start at 10.30. Crusadres; Graham and Robyn Elbourn and their friend Aletta were doing the run.

As we started the cycle Ronel and Pat went ahead. There were two ladies and Gerald and Alf behind me. The cycle started off with a slight up to the Main Road and then left at the golf course entrance. We rode for about 5 kays, crossing the Krom River with the West Wind on our left side. The wind was not a problem but also did not give us assistance at this stage.

Denise road past me and then I caught her. She told me that she was in training for Iron Man and that this was a little interlude for her. She was with her friend Michelle who was doing her First MTB event. No shocks on her bike and she would feel it as we then turned Right onto a really rough road with corrugations that made the bikes rattle. I heard Gerald comment later that he was pleased that he had secured his false teeth otherwise they may have fallen out. This was a fun section as the West Wind was blowing strongly behind us and we had a bit of a "Free Ride".

I was on my own for a while as Denise and Michelle had fallen back a bit. Alf was beginning to catch me. The route takes you to a Left turn past a Game Park, up a little hill and then past a right turn. From here you are able to see the people returning from a U-Turn. It gives the cyclists an idea where they stand in the pecking order.

I stayed on my own up to the turn. Pat and Ronel were just ahead of me and we had a short chat before they continued on their way. At the U-Turn I had a drink and rest. Alf passed me and carried on ahead. Denise and Michelle also went past and then it was just Gerald and myself at the tail of the race.

I knew for sure that there was no one behind us as the following Bakkie would be behind us for the rest of the race. He was following us in case one of these old ballies had a heart attack.

After the Out and Back section along the Game reserve section of the road we turned left along a number of farm roads and jeep tracks. This was probably the best section of the route as the roads meandered past cattle farms with ups and downs. Gerald had a "Pit Stop" and Denise & Michelle left us to our own devices for the rest of the race. We saw them ahead of us a number of times but never caught them again.

After the dirt road ended we came to the tar roads of Jeffries Bay West. This is the end of J-Bay and the start of Martina Martenique which is a Marina holiday housing project with canals for the rich and famous and water sports. We had to turn into the West Wind for a short distance before heading down to the beach. Here the past of the Marshalls were happy to hear that we were the last two cyclists and that they could now pack up and go home.

The Bakkie left us and Gerald & I headed onto the Beach. I attempted to cycle this soft sand but ended up falling onto the beach. Gerald asked if I was hurt. I repleid that the only thing that was bruised was my ego. I did not look up to see who was watching but pushed the bike to some firmer sand.

This was a fun section of the route. The sand was not too soft and we were able to find reasonably firm sand to cycle on. We had the Indian Ocean on our right hand side. This is the famous Jeffries Bay which is a Surfers Paradise. We saw a few of the Surfers as they attempted to find that perfect wave.

There are lots of crystal clear pools and had we not been cycling I would have loved a swim. We came across a group of locals who were collecting Shells. I asked them what they would do with the shells and the response was that they make ornaments and sell this to local traders. Jeffries Bay is also famous for the variety and beauty of the shells that can be collected along the beach.

Gerald and I enjoyed the beach with the wind following us until we finally reached the finish line. Pat and Ronel were there and Ronel was taking Photo's. She took a few stunning pics of us cycling with the ocean cascading behind us.

Now came the bit which we did not really enjoy: there was no arranged lift for us to St Francis Bay so we rode to the Savoy hotel where the Announcer Disco man set up his combi and played us music while he spoke almost non stop repeating that he was "just joking" every time he said something about somebody.

He then went on to do the prize giving which can be slick and fast but he chose to drag it out forcing us to listen to him and his comment about everyone and everything that he could think of. There were some lucky draw prizes and Alf, Pat and Ronel were winners of some kind of meal or the other. This turned out to be fortunate as Gerald and I were then able to scrounge a lift back to the start where we had left our cars. During the hour that it took us to return to them they were able to enjoy a bit of a meal.

Our lift was on the back of a Bakkie. Beggars cant be choosers and we were most grateful to the man who gave us a lift. We drove back to the finish at J-Bay where we loaded up the bikes and drove home. I doubt that we will do this event again: the late start, the logistics of the finish and collecting the vehicles and then the drive home made this a full days event which I had not really planned for. We only arrived home in the middle of the afternoon.

Gerald, his family, Alf and I had enjoyed the cycle but not the rest of what had to be done to do the whole event.

I was out of town this week. I had to travel to Sterkspruit which is a little town in the Maluti (Maloti) mountains. Alfred and I stayed over at the Mountain View hotel in Lady Grey. This was my first ever visit to Lady Grey. We had been training and arrived at the hotel after 19.00.

I suggested we sit in the bar for a drink and for supper. As we sat chatting I saw a framed portfolia of Running and Cycling on the wall above the bar. I took a closer look and saw that this was a tribute to John Michael Tawse. Ron, Tim and I had met John Michael when doing the Amatola 100kay run a few years ago. He had pitched his tent next to ours.

It was my first ever event of this nature and I was a little nervous. John Michael looked really prepared and the part entirely. Ron immediately gave him the name Rambo. On the second day of the event which was run from the Maden Dam to high up in the mountains then on the second day we ended at Hogsback.

John Michael appeared to be as tired as Tim and I were. He was injured and so stayed with us for the last part of the day. We chatted and soon found out the he was a Mercenary of sorts as he performed Body Guard Duties in Iraq. He told us that he was doing Missionary work in South Africa. I thought that he was Mercenary Work but I now look at his Face book and see that he is truly a Christian with a love of Jesus. It was so interesting to see pictures of him in this remote area. I asked about him and obtained his contact details. It appears that he was a barman at this bar some time ago.

Friday morning Gerald & I did the Friday morning cycle around the Moffet. Friday evening Ally attended Matthew Mc Gillivray's 13th birthday party. Saturday morning I went to the beach for our normal Saturday morning run. There was a failry strong wind and there had been storms (Wind Rain and lightning) the previous night when Elton John was playing at the UPE stadium. But this morning there would be no run as no one else pitched up for a run and I am not one for running on my own.

Saturday afternoon, Charles phoned to say that he was at Grey watching a Rugby Tornament. Barbara and I joined him to watch Grey beat SaCS. What turned out to be the high light of the evening was the kicking ability of the Grey No12 center. He slotted a ball throught the posts from about 10meters on his side of the half way line and at an angle. This was probably 60 to 65 meters and the ball sailed through the posts.

Sunday morning Ron and I were the only two who did the Sunday morning Marine Drive cycle. I was extremely tired at the end. It was fighting against the wind for the second half :from the University we were into the West wind. Nippers later this morning was perfect conditions with Ally having one of her best ever Mailbu Board training sessions. Mark and girl friend Kylie were with us this weekend. Sunday evening we went to church. It was the first time in about 10 years that Mark had attended this church. He and Kylie found it to be a good experience.

Monday morning 29.03.2010: I was up and running at 05.00. Ally was off to swimming for two hours. Then she had a hockey clinic at Clarendon with Mr Gow between 12.00 to 14.00. And from there it was straight to Nippers between 15.00 to 17.00. This evening we watched Rugby at Grey. They were having a round robin tournament and played Hilton this evening. Hilton boys were the bulkier of the two teams but the Pack Force of the Grey boys together with the kicking ability of the Centre won them the game.

Tuesday: I dropped Mark off at Grey for a Hockey practice. Ally went back to her hockey clinic and then to Nippers. I took the afternoon off and met the Nippers at the beach where I also enjoyed some swimming and boarding. This afternoon Hannes had Sprint Training at Grey school between 17.30 and 18.00. Michael gave Mark and myself a haircut.

Wednesday 31st: Mark visits his girl friend Kylie. Mark is not well after cutting his foot on a nail and the upset of an argument with Kylie. Ally is at Swimming, Hockey and Nippers. Barbara goes out to riding her horse. We pack up and get ready for our Cape Town Trip and Two Oceans half marathon this weekend. This evening Ally goes off to Movies with her friends. I buy Chinese at the little shop in Walmer Boulevard. And stop for a Beer in the Pub. I am always fascinated with this little pub and meet up with Charl Hatting, Steve, Chris Rautenbach who tells us about his son at the local National Lifesaving competition that was held at Bluewater Bay. Later I collect Mark and Ally.