BLUEWATER BAY 15KM ROAD RACE 2012

TREMAINE; GRAHAM AND PETER SWAP RUNNING STORIES


BLUEWATERBAY 15 KM ROAD RACE 2012

I love running. And I love road races as well. I enjoy the training but a race has a special place for me. There is something about being in the group; the build up and the people who take part in road running in Port Elizabeth - A special group of men and women.

I could not find a partner to drive to the start with me so I was up early and had my Oats. A while back I did not eat before a trail run that I did with Andre and felt very poorly and low during the event. Now I try to remember to eat some oats before taking part in an event.

I parked in the same place as Ben and I had done last year and entered the run. It is now R35 to run just 15kays. It seems very expensive. Over two Rand a Kay.
At Registration I met up with Nina who was part of the organising team. I also saw Lynette who works with me. She is laid off for a while with Stress and it is good to see that she is getting some excersize walking the 5kay event. I am sure that the running and general outdoors excersize has been one of my Prozak's over the past years of stressful working environments.



NINA HAS HER CAP AND SUNGLASSES ON BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD LOOKING YOUNG LADY.

I put on the number and my old vest which I know will cause some comment but I simply have no reason to purchase a new vest which will be used for running only. It is not exactly as though I am going to the theatre with the scrappy old running vest. When I am running I have no idea what I am wearing; only if it is cool and allows me to move easily. This vest has streched and has a couple of additional breathing holes for added ventilation.

We line up at the start: now I see the Achilleans who I love so much. Bob, Tommy, Roger, Garreth, Bruce and Paulette, Gail, Leslie, Keith, Kenny, Tremaine, Graham, Graham, Gerald, Sidzumo, Andrew, Andrew, Wayne, Michael; Others? Also Andrew Jonas; Keith Harris; Derrick Hoshe; Warren Collier; Paul Johnson: Marie Louise



SIDZUMO LOVES TO FOOL AROUND BUT WATCH OUT WHEN HE IS RUNNING. DYNAMITE!


Off we go. The race starts as 06.30. I am feeling good.
I enjoy a slight downhill or flat start as this gives me time to settle my breathing and warm up a bit. I forgot to bring a cap and can feel the heat of the early morning sun. Around the School we run and out down towards the River. Down Tippers Creek and right into the suburb. Eckard Schoeman passes me. We run around the river front suburb and then back the way we came. As the front runners pass us going back they are already over a KM ahead of us and flying. The first White face is at least 20th in the running. We have a couple of Achilleans who are up in the front group.

We pass the first Watering point at 3km. And now back along the river front road. I see Peter and Odette on a balcony above us and give them a bit of a wave. Under the bridge and up towards the Bluewaterbay lifesaving clubhouse. As we turned East we could feel the cooling effect of the east breeze. This was in our favour as we went through the DA watering table at 6km. There is always a bit of sand on the road here and the runners tend to avoid this.

We run back into the suburb of BWB and left around a circle. Again we see the front runners anead of us. I greet Garreth and Andrew who I met for the first time today. There is this chap from Old Selbournians East London who I see at races (I think his name is Mark) who commented earlier that he has never run the whole race. I think that this comment sunk in as I determined that I would not walk today. This was a good decision and I passed him at this stage. He is planning to run 30 comrades and 2 oceans'.



KENNY AND CATHY. KENNY SAYS THAT IT WOULD BE A REAL INSULT IF I HAD TO BE IN FRONT OF HIM. WATCH OUT KEN. THAT IS TOO MUCH OF A CHALLENGE. CATHY DID PASS ME ON THE RUN. HAD A GOOD FINISH TODAY.

I press on and now some of the faster 5 km runners pass us. I chat to various people along the route and soon I see that we have passed the 8km marker and are "on the way home". In the suburb of Bluewaterbay and Bluewaterbeach there are a couple of bumps. Cathy passes me and I tell her to stop showing off. A strong athlete this Cathy. I cannot really call them hills as they are too small but they tempt the runner to walk. I resisted the temptation and jogged on. On the horizon over the ocean we could see around 5 cargo liners anchored in the bay. This is good for Port Elizabeth as it brings in revenue and employment to the city. At the Coega harbour I now regularyly see ships parked to load and off load their cargo. In the main PE harbour thousands of cars are brought in and out of PE almost daily.



ANDREW WAS STRONG TODAY. FINISHED 15 MINUTES AHEAD OF ME AND STILL CAME TO FETCH ME.

We make our way back towards the clubhouse. I come across a man stretched out on the roadside. Looks like the heat got to him. A couple of neighbours are taking care of him with water. An official vehicle stops to check up on him. I carry on. We pass the DA watering station again. There is an announcer man telling us that their table is the best. That the DA is the best. I am again tempted to walk as I take a drink. Then down to the river again where a man from Despatch jumps into the river for a swim and then runs past me to catch his running mates. It seems a long way from the bridge to where we have to run up Tippers again.

Finally we reach the steep Tippers Creek Hill. Now more than ever I am determined to NOT walk. I walked last year. But today I look down at the road. Not once do I look up to see where we are. And I manage a miserable shuffle but not a walk. Up and up. Over the top of the hill, turn right and there is Andrew coming back to fetch me. He has run around 15 minutes faster than I have. We run in together. All along I have been aware of Bob and Tremaine behind me. I knew that if I had shown the slightest sign of weakness they would have charged past me.



TREMAINE AND I FINISHED TOGETHER IN JUST UNDER 90 MINUTES.

Last year I battled to catch Ben as we ran onto the school field. This morning it was Tremaine who was trying to catch me. I managed to run a reasonable pace over the final 100 meters: Tremaine and I crossed the line together.

I see Nina again at the finish. She is assisting the 5km event. We have a cold drink and make our way over to the Achilles Trailer. Here the gang is analyzing the run, talking about past runs and planning future runs. That is what runners do. Just as Golfers are able to tell you about every shot that they had, so can a runner give you a report on each kay, injury, running partner, and any other possible detail they can think up.


TREMAINE AND BOB SHARE A STORY. BOB HAS THAT HANG DOG LOOK SITTING ON THE TRUCK AFTER A TIRING 15 KM RUN.


Finally it was time for me to go. I had a stunning morning both on the road and chatting to the Achillean group after the event. Good to be back at a race.




BRUCE AND PAULETTE WHO PUT THE TRAILER AND BEVERAGES TOGETHER EACH EVENT. THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU. YOU KEEP THE SPIRIT OF ACHILLES STRONG. THEY LIKE TO BATH AFTER THE EVENT AND I CAUGHT THEM IN THE ACT HERE.

FAT TRACKS MTB RIDE AT HOPEWELL GAME RESERVE NEAR TO WEDGEWOOD GOLF COURSE

HOPEWELL MTB RIDE ORGANISED BY FAT TRACKS. THERE WERE PROBABLY AROUND 150 RIDERS HERE THIS MORNING. THERE WAS A STAGE FOR ALL LEVELS OF ABILITY WITH A LEADER IN EACH SECTION.



Sunday 15th January 2012
FAT TRACKS BIKE RIDE AT HOPEWELL

KEVIN
GEOFF
ANTON
THOMAS
CHARLES
MARTIN
PETER

Charles emailed me with a possible bike ride on Sunday 15th. It looked quite doable so I agreed that he would pick me up and we would ride this event at Hopewell game farm near to St Albans Prisons. I invited Kevin, Thomas and a couple of others. Ally had her theory test for her Surf Proficieny Award (SPA) the previous afternoon and this morning had her practical which would included a run-swim-run and some beach excersizes. Then she had duty the whole day till 5pm.

There was a bit of an east wind blowing and my experience with an easterly means the waves would be moderate but the sea choppy. There is also the possibility of bluebottles, jellyfish and churned up seaweed. This does not make the swim easy. But Ally is a competent and brave swimmer; I was confident that she would be okay. I dropped her off at Tara vd Venter. Adel would be doing a Triathlon and Anton would be marshalling.


Sunday morning I was up early and cleaned the bike, Lubed the chain and pumped the tyres. I checked my camelpack and filled the bladder with water. Charles picked me up just after 7am and we rode out along the old Cape Road towards St Albans. Charles has been doing a number of rides with Martin since they were on holiday together at Bushmans. Specifically they have been doing hills while I have been riding at Kragga Kamma where it is all flat.


We took the Bethelsdorp Turn off and found the game reserve. There were already a number of cars and people there. John had an operation this past week and would be off sport for a number of weeks. We off loaded our bikes and cycled to the main gate and in for 100 meters where we saw what we thought would be the gathering point. This was a ride organised by Fat Tracks MTB club. I have come across them previously at the Profiles Gym but as yet not thought of joining.


The main announcer man informed us that there was no cost for us to ride this morning. Stefan ( A Fat Tracks Member) had arranged this whole event with Hopewell at no charge to riders. There would be three groups; Racing Snakes; mid group ability and skill; mama’s and poppas. Martin and Charles elected to ride with the Mid group. Thomas, Kevin, Geoff, Anton and I elected to ride in the back group. Stefan would be our leader.


CHARLES AND KEVIN WAIT FOR THE START OF THE HOPEWELL MTB TRAIL RIDE. CHARLES AND MARTIN WENT OFF WITH THE SECOND GROUP.


The faster two groups went off and then it was our turn. We headed down into the valley where we crossed the stream a number of times. Each time we crossed there were rocks on the stream for us to ride across. I was uncertain crossing some and managed to ride across others. We crossed the stream around 5 times and rode along the bed of the river. Later on I heard Stefan giving some tips on how to ride these obstacles: dont look down to exactly where you are riding. Look ahead to where you will exit and pedal accordingly. Have the bike in an easier gear to exit the slight incline.



GEOFF SMILES AS HE REACHES THE TOP OF THIS TOUGH HILL.


We emerged on a dirt road where we regrouped. After this there was a reasonably long up hill which I found tough but okay to ride. Our little group rode together at this stage. Thomas is strong on the hills. This was Anton’s first ride and Geoff’s second and they too coped very well. At the top of the hill we again regrouped. Stefan, our group leader, decided that the back markers would take a slightly easier route as they had really battled coming up the hill. We had a bit of an easier ride along the ridge for a while before we tackled sharp down where you had to be careful. MMM? I had to be careful. Some of the chaps hurtled down this hill as if they were surfing a wave.


STEFAN WAS THE LEADER OF OUR GROUP. A YOUNG MAN WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF PATIENCE AS WE WAITED FOR SLOWER RIDERS AND RIDERS WITH BIKE PROBLEMS. HE COULD PROBABLY HAVE DONE THIS COURSE THREE TIMES IN THE TIME IT TOOK US TO DO IT.

LOOK FOR THE LADY'S SLIPPER IN THE BACKGROUND

I had forgotten to change the front shock to “off” and as I started up the hill I kind of bounced and ended up standing still. It is really hard to get going again when you are on a rough track and a steep uphill. So I had to walk up the hill. I meet up with Kobus and we chat for a while on the ride. We look familiar to one another but PE is a small town and it is easy to see people without knowing them.



THOMAS AND ANTON. WE WOULD REGROUP AT THE TOP OF THE HILLS


We then made our way around to the west with Ladies Slipper in the distant horizon. There are a couple of ups and downs but nothing that we cannot manage. Time is ticking away. We are already over an hour into the ride and going slowly. Shortly after this Thomas found that he had a slow puncture. We first tried to pump it and then I tried some Slime. But it continued to leak and he had to pack it in. Strangely enough there was another man who at the same spot and at the same time, also had a puncture.


Stefan was now way up in front and he had seen that there were a couple of stragglers and had phoned the game ranger, Kevin, to fetch us in the bakkie. I elected to press on along the pathway. I could see the bunch way ahead but however hard I tried I could not catch them. I came across another chap who was also having puncture problems, Jock. He was pumping his tyre every few minutes and was making slow progress. I was worried that Charles would be getting impatient so when Jock stopped to pump his tyre again I carried on.


KEVIN REACHES THE TOP OF THE FIRST HILL

Stefan was waiting for us (the last two – Jock and myself). Then I saw what I thought was a piece of plastic waving in the wind. Geoff, Anton and Kevin were there and it turned out to be a wounded ostrich that was panicking as we rode past. The ostrich was waving its wings in an attempt to move. We did not approach it but could see that it was in distress. Kevin went back to advise Stefan who later told the ranger Kevin about this bird.


I rode on and down to where I could now see all the riders that had finished. There was a bit of a steep down hill and it was loose stones with some soft sand. I must have braked just at the wrong time and did a somersault with the bike landing on top of me. Full of dust and a bit bruised I was overtaken by Geoff and Anton right at the end of the ride. They went down to the finsh area for a beer and boerrie roll while I bought a coke and cycled to the entrance where I correctly estimated that Charles would be waiting for me.


It was now 10.40. I had been on the MTB for over two and a half hours and was really quite tired. I phoned in to say that I would be late for Nippers. Charles dropped me off at home and there Barbara was busy doing a whole clean up job for School starting on Monday. I could not leave her alone so decided to skip Nippers and to work with her instead.


After the bike ride and the loading the bakkie, cleaning up the back room and moving furniture around I was so tired that I passed out on my bed for a midday sleep.
Later I collected Ally from the Summerstrand where she had been on duty. It was as I had predicted, choppy with seaweed and a young boy,swimming in front of the clubhouse had lost his life drowing in waist deep water. Very tragic! Brian in formed me that this was the first drowning, while there were lifeguards on duty, for the past 55 years that Summies has been in excistence.

I had started the Endomondo on the cell phone but forgot to switch it off until we had driven a couple of kays away from Hopewell so the information was not correct. I could still see the route that we had taken and the calorie counter said that I had used up 1200 calories. Good or bad -- I am not sure.

What I am sure of is that I would like to do this kind of thing again and will sign up with Fat Tracks.

JANUARY 2012

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER LOOK GOOD TOGETHER; NERVOUS AT FIRST BUT HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ZIPPING AROUND CERES MITCHELLS PASS MOUNTAINS



JESSICA HANGS AROUND WITH SPIDERMAN



SAUL; CATHY; BARBARA AND ALLY ON THE FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE DWARS RIVER IN CERES

NEW YEARS DAY IN CERES
CATHY AND SAUL HAVE MTB'S AT CERES
BARBARA AND ALLY SADDLE UP
CERES NAMED AFER THE GREEK GODDESS OF FERTILITY
MTB AT KRAGGA KAMMA NORM HUDLIN
MPOSHANE GAME RESERVE MOUNTAIN BIKING
10 KM ROAD RACE AT GREY JUNIOR SCHOOL WITH ANDRE
HOPEWELL MTB RIDE WITH CHARLES
ALLY PASSES HER SURF PROFICIENCY AWARD TEST
MEETING IN JHB
BLUEWATER BAY 15 KM RUN
BIKE RIDE AROUND MARINE DRIVE
NIPPERS TRAINING

As you come into Ceres you cross the Van Breda bridge. This bridge crosses the Dwars River


BRIDGE OVER THE DWARS RIVER IN CERES. CONSTRUCTED BY MURRAY AND STEWART. 1928: VAN BREDA BRIDGE. CONSTRUCTION 1993

Sunday morning 1; January 2012.


NICKY AND STEFAN KITTED OUT FOR A ZIPPING EXPERIENCE


We are staying in Ceres at the Porterhouse B & B. This is around one Kay from Lynette's house. This morning we are up at 7am and after a good breakfast we mount up on to the MTB's and go for a short cycle around the village. We find an old ruin of a property and then cross a foot bridge. Barbara is on the bike with the damaged saddle. This makes cycling quite uncomfortable. I think that there may have been other damage as the bike is not riding as well as it should and has a bit of a squeak.

We find the pathway to the Zip line road. After a wrong turn Saul leads us across a pathway and then up to the tarred section of the road. We cycle to where the Zip Line ends and then walk the short pathway to watch a group finishing their tour. Bafu is the leader of their team this morning.

SAUL; CATHY; BARBARA AND ALLY ON THE ROCKS AT THE FINISH OF THE ZIP LINE ADVENTURE


Once we have watched this group Saul and I cycle up the road to where we had been the previous morning to do our Zipping. I point out some of the features. Only now do I realise that this is the road to the dam that Andrew had spoken about. The rock features, the sound of the water, the pools and variety of the plant life makes the effort of the cycle worthwhile.
Strangely enough we saw two small tortoises on the dirt road to the mountain.

We cycled back to where Stefan and Nicky were staying at Lynette's house. As we went we crossed a foot bridge. Ally had a bit of a sore knee and we had a brief rest on the foot bridge. We met up with the rest of the family. Aaron has chicken pox. He picked it up from Daniel in PE and it now appears that Jacqui's children have also contracted this irritating infection. Mia and Christian could also be on the way to catching the virus.

Back to our B & B where Cathy and Saul packed up and left for Cape Town. They have animals that cannot be left for extended periods. We spent the rest of the day between resting and playing UNO at Lynettes house.

Monday 2nd Jan 2012
Now we are into 2012.
We pack up from our B & B and leave for PE. It is a longish drive. We take the route via Ashton, Barrydale (where I buy some jam tarts which I then lose when I put on top of the car and drive off). We have the three mTB's on the back of the Qashqai and this makes me stop often to check if all is safe. We drive straight past Oudtshoorn and finally make a stop in Joubertina at "Die kraalitjie shop and food" a cafe where we have a snack before the final leg to PE. At this little shop we are reminded of the water restrictions.

We fill up in Oudtshoorn where I find this weather report



As die klip nat is, dan reen dit
As die klip droog is, dan skyn die son
As die klip beweed, waai die wind
As jy nie die klip sien nie, is dit mistig

If the rock is wet, it is raining
If the rock is dry, the sun is shining
If the rock is moving, the wind is blowing
If you are not able to see the rock, it is misty.

STOP IN JOUBERTINA FOR COFFEE AND A SNACK

DIE KRAALITJIE WINKEL EN KOS IN JOUBERTINA.


WATER BEPERKING. WATER RESTRICTION. WERK SPAARSAMIG. WORK SPARELY. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRANSLATE LITERALLY. IN FACT I FELT QUITE SPARE.

Tuesday 3rd
Back to morning running.
It is hot weather with rain from time to time.
I am battling to focus on work.

Saturday Morning we go to the beach where we do our Admiralty loop of around 15kay. And the swim thereafter.

Sunday morning; John, Kevin and I start at Norm Hudlin cycle park for a 15kay loop. I am slow and by the time I get to the end John has already started a second 8kay loop. We wait for a bit and then Charles and Martin arrive. We all go off together and they do the 15 while we do another 8kays.
For me the MTBing is great but so too is the area where we are. Right now the farm looks like a spring fever has hit it with all of the colourful grasses and plants


WATSONIA


VYGIE


GUINEAFOWL


ERICA


RETSIO


PROTEA


PIN CUSHION PROTEA


BLUE GRASSES

A little later we go down to Summerstrand for the first Nippers session of the season.

Monday morning
I leave for King where I work the day and then book into Mposhane Game park at the top of the Kei pass. I have brought my MTB and go for a cycle. THis is a really good de-stress for me. I ride up to the house; down again and then round to the back of the house. It is here that I spot a small herd of Zebra. I have seen hares and scarab beetles and even one small brown buck run across the track but this is my first spotting of Zebra. I ride back to the camp where Jonathan is the houseman.

Monday 9th.
Left early for King where I had a full day before driving on to the top of the Kei River Pass. Just past the Komga turnoff there is a turn to the right. I have previously stayed here: Mposhane Game reserve. After being greeted by Jonathan who is a Zimbabwean who is the hospitality manager, I unpacked my MTB and had a bit of a ride in the reserve. Not too many hills but just enough to make me work up a bit of a sweat. This is good therapy for me after a day like today. It is only myself staying here and I feel very comfortable to leave my stuff outside and to sleep with an open door. It is very hot recently and these rooms have no fans. Here in this area it can be still and humid.


MPOSHANE ZEBRA



SCARAB BEETLES ON THE PATHWAYS OF MPOSHANE


THIS IS MY ROOM AT MPOSHANE. SIMPLE, NO TV OR CELL SIGNAL, SMELLS OF WOOD AND THATCH


MOUNTAIN BIKING AT MPOSHANE WITH BUCK AND ZEBRA ON THE HORIZON

Tuesday 10th.
Left Mposhane early for Mthatha where I spent the morning. This is a stressful drive for me and I have to remain 100% alert all the time. I worked in Mthatha this morning and then back to Dutywa in the afternoon. I completed two shops before driving back to Mposhane. Here I was again the only resident and immediately took the bike out for a ride. On both afternoons I have been able to see buck and Zebra. This afternoon I saw two families of Zebra in two different sections of the reserve and also a small herd of 5 Blesbok. I see a number of Hares as well. I managed to find two different routes to take. It is a bit lonely and I worry when I scare up these huge Zebra. But it seems that they are more scared of me.


GORGE AT MPOSHANE. THIS IS THE VIEW FROM THE ROOMS AND THE MAIN LODGE

Wednesday 11th
I am in Butterworth for the day today. This evening I am able to get onto the MTB again. This is really good therapy for me after the day of driving and working. This evening I see a small herd of Springbok who show me, with their pronking, why they are called Springbok. The houseman is Jonathan – Zimbabwean. He makes a good supper every evening as well as being the barman. I sit at the bar and work as there is little signal and they have a booster for cell phones located on the bar.


Thursday 12th.
I am up and leaving Mposhane early. On the way to the N2 I come across a fallen Eucaplytus tree. It had been a thunder storm the previous evening and I am sure that this old tree had been hit and this had caused the tree to fall across the road. I meet up with Lisa who has two young children in the car and they are going to school in East London. Lisa has recently moved to another game park (hunt lodge) where her husband is the manager. Rob is a farmer and he too has a child to get to school. I think that we are going to be stuck here for ages – it will be a massive job to move this tree and to clean up. I am wrong. Farmer Kevin and son arrive with a front end loader which appears like magic through the forest and field, rides clean through the already damaged wire fencing and pushes the tree off the road as if it was a twig. We all clean up and are able to ride on in a few minutes.
Today I am in Butterworth again and then Stutterheim before driving home.


EUCALYPTUS TREE ACROSS THE ROAD FROM MPOSHANE TO N2 AFTER LIGHTENING STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE


FARMER KEVIN HAS A FRONT END LOADER THAT MOVES THE TREE OFF THE ROAD IN MINUTES


Friday I drop Ally off at Pearson. School started on Wednesday and Ally had her first day in Grade 9 at this school. For the past 6 to 8 months she has been looking forward to going to school here. It will take some time for her to settle in. She has already made the U15 Water Polo Team.

This afternoon Charles phones me and we meet at Kragga Kamma for a bike ride. Martin, Charles and I do the 15kay loop. We meet up with another couple who tell us that they rode over a Pufadder lying in the road. Amazingly they did not kill it. I am coping better with some of the hurdles and this afternoon managed to ride over the ramp in both directions for the first time. I cannot keep up with the speed and skill of my two friends as we ride the straights and the windy bits through the trees. It takes us around 90 minutes and we leave just after 6pm.


MARTING GIVES CHARLES' WHEEL A PUMP


KEVIN; CHARLES AND MARTIN



MARTIN GIVES INSTRUCTIONS


SEEN AT THE END OF THE NORM HUDLIN CYCLE PARK: FINNISH: ONLY SCANDANAVIAN PEOPLE MAY GO THIS WAY

After a shower I walk to Grey where I register for a benefit 10kay on Saturday morning.

Saturday 14th
TEN KAY ROAD RACE AT GREY JUNIOR

I walk to the Grey – College Drive where I meet up with the group: Adrienne and her family and Andre. Warren and Lee Collier, a couple of Achilleans; Robin; Robin; Keith, Sue and Liesl; Andrew. Jacqui Zeelie greets us. We hover around the start and then charge off at a fast pace, Around Grey, Wares road to Linkside. Up first avenue Newton Park and then right into the suburb.

We run to 5th ave (gentle downhill) and then left loop and back up 6th ave. Keith Harris and his son Ethan are marshalling. Andre has been off excersize for weeks and is not strong. We probably started a bit too fast and are now battling a bit to maintain the pace. We press on along college drive and see the One Kay to go mark. and then run the rest of the way. I think that we finished just in an hour. Jacqui is right behind us. I see Peter Wilson who tells me that this is his first 5kay run non stop in many years. We see Adrienne, Mike and Pat finishing.

Andre and I walk back home. I have a quick shower and then drive Ally to her friend Muldon where Wade meets them for some fun and hockey practice. Barbara and I go shopping and I buy a pair of jeans.
Later I fetch Ally for her SPA test at Summerstrand.

Varrin coaches the team and they all pass their theory. In the morning it is time for the practical.

Sunday 15th January 2012 morning
It is the day Ally passes her first SPA practical at Summerstrand. I drop Ally off at Tara vd Venter and the two of them are at the beach from 6.30am to around 5.30pm. It is a really long and tough day for all of the first timers. Today is also the first time that there is a drowning at Summerstrand while lifesavers are on duty watch. Two very competent and experienced lifesavers; Richard and Stewart are first on the scene and yet not able to save the youngster nor able to find him.

Monday and Tuesday I am in JHB for meetings. Achilles moves from Old Grey to Little Walmer Golf Course. I am sure that this is going to be a really positive move just from the point of view of routes to run. Not having to cross Cape Road is a major bonus. The time when Achilleans are at their most vulnerable is when leaving the club en masse. From Little Walmer there are all kinds of routes where it is not neccessary to cross main roads at all.

Thursday this week Michael has a scan for any recurrence of the Cancer. We are all a little apprehensive but amazingly there is nothing to be seen. The Doctor shows us the pictures of his tummy. All a mess due to the operations. But no cancer. There is a kind of euphoric feeling in the house after this. We know that this is not the final and definitive reading but at least we know that right now M is clear.


One of the amazing things of being a Grandad is precious moments like these:


SPIDERMAN CHECKS OUT THE SCENE BEFORE HEADING OFF TO CAPTURE SOME BAD DUDES


JESSICA HANGS AROUND WITH SPIDERMAN


DANIEL IS SPIDERMAN

Saturday morning 21st January
I drive to Bluewaterbay and run the 15 km road race

This afternoon is a real busy afternoon cleaning up and moving stuff around. I had another go at cleaning the MTB as I planned a ride in the morning.

Sunday morning
I had planned to cycle on the MTB but as no one responded to say that they would be there I decided to haul out my poor lonely and unused Road Bike. It is ages since I last rode this bike and had to give it a few turns and pump wheels before leaving. I rode up Cape Road and left into Moffet. Up to Builders Warehouse in Buffelsfontein road and then down towards 6th ave where I planned to turn left and home. As I was riding I pass a number of cyclists going the opposite direction but one group in particular attracts me as they are riding MTB's with slicks and there are a couple of women plus a young child.




FRIENDS OF BRUCE FROM CRADOK (VIV AND MERLE) THIS GROUP IS PRACTICING FOR THE HERALD 40KAY CYCLE RACE IN A FEW WEEKS TIME.


BRUCE KING. I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND THEN FOUND SOME GOOD COMPANY TO RIDE AROUND THE MARINE DRIVE


EIGHT YEAR OLD GORDON KING CYCLED THE MARINE DRIVE WITH REALLY LITTLE OR NO EFFORT. HE SEEMS TO LOVE DOING THIS ACTIVITY WITH HIS DAD.


So after thinking about it for a short while I turn around and chase after this group. Once I had caught them I introduce myself and decide to join them for a ride around the Marine Drive. We ride up to Glendore road and left over to Schoenies road. Right and then down to Schoenmakers Kop and the Marine Drive. We turn left and ride along the coast line to Willows and then Noordhoek and the University before making our way to 2nd ave Summerstrand to where the group is staying.

I meet up with Bruce King and his son Gordon who is just 8years old. He is at Clarendon Park School and there is an older sibling who was at Clarendon and is now at Pearson: Sabrina who Ally knows. It is a small world as Bruce and I find all kinds of connections such as he has played Tennis with Craig Giddy and is a long time friend of the van Vuurens who have a daughter who is the "goalie" in Ally's waterpolo team that went to Cape town.

After the cycle I wash and Ally and I go through to Summerstrand where she takes part in the Lifesaving training and talk and I am part of the Nippers Coaching team. I love this activity as it gives me time in the sea and surf. It is wonderful to see how the youngest of the group -- Micro Nippers and U10's take to the water and are soon able to swim out a distance and to surf some really tough waves.


Barbara has been doing a bit of a claen up in the house. She takes a table and cuts the legs short and makes this into a coffee table in the TV lounge. Then she gets a whole lot of old games and puzzles and sorts them out. One of the Puzzles is a huge thing in a box without a picture to see what to build.

Jessica and Barabra have a special bond and activity building these puzzles. Very theraputic for both of them. This needs a huge amount of patience. They started on this puzzle with no picture and within a day had complete to put all of these unknown pieces together.


JESSICA AND BARBARA BULD A TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE PUZZLE IN ONE DAY

Monday 23rd
Rowena and I drive to Graaff Reinet and Middelburg where we work for the next two days.


Thursday and friday I am in Meetings in East London.

Saturday morning I am up early and working at the Achilles Marathon at Altona School. Ally has a Waterpolo tournament at Pearson. Ally plays well and scores a bevy of goals. the best goal is when she is passed the ball and swims the entire length of the pool with the ball on her chin and then shoots an amazing goal.
Sunday morning I meet with Andre and we drive to Norm Hudlin where we hook up with Kevin and Gerald. We do the 15km route and have a great ride. I then go to Nippers where we take the Nippers to Hobie beach for some sea and board training.
Sunday evening Mike Perks talks at church.

I spend most of the following week at home.

And so ends January 2012.
Next month Barbara goes to Canada.

4CHANGE CAPE RECIFE TRAIL RUN STARTING AT PINE LODGE

4 CHANGE CAPE RECIFE TRAIL RUN FROM PINE LODGE INN THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY NATURE RESERVE AND THE RECIFE RESERVE TO THE BEACH AND BACK PAST THE LIGHTHOUSE

SATURDAY MORNING 17TH DECEMBER 2O11

Saturday morning:

This morning I collect Andre and John and we run the Cape Recife trail run. It starts at Pine Lodge where we register. We have opted for the 20kay. Ronel and Pat run the 10kay. At the start we see; Jonti, Almarie & Robyn; Georgie and friend from Dryland a few weeks ago, Hennie, Dalen and Ursula; including children and grandparents, Sharon Wilson; Rob Howlet and Peter DC on MTB's; Nina and Christine; Jane and Dallas who are part of the organising team. Jane has voluteered as the sweeper, Peter Pohlman and Rob Payne; Michael Moff Botha; Eckard;






MICHAEL MOFF BOTHA LOVES DOING THESE EVENTS















NINA AND CHRISTINE IN THE UPE RESERVE












We leave at 7am and head towards the Marine Drive. Turn left to the University Gate and then up to behind the University buildings where we turn right into the reserve. I have lived in PE for over 35 years and now am running in this reserve for the second time. The previous time we were on MTB's with Brian Saunders about a month ago. I am my normal slow self. John charges off with Almarie and Robyn and ends up running with Dalen. Andre stays with me but then realises that I am too slow and presses on.

I am running with Michael Botha (Moff), Nina and Christine. We kind of pass each other a number of times. The breeze is easterly and we "cook" for the first couple of kays in the reserve. It is only when we turn back towards the University gate that we start to cool down a bit. I have my cap on to protect my head and face and I have a water pack. Those who do not have sufficient water will suffer today.

















ANDRE HAS A DRINK AT THE TOP OF THE DUNE. ON THESE TRAIL RUNS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE WATER AS WE TEND TO HEAT UP VERY QUICKLY AND IT IS NOT EASY TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT WATER AT THE REFRESHMENT STATIONS.
















ANDRE; SEAN AND SHEENA AFTER WE LEAVE THE UNIVERSITY GATES. THEY REMIND US THAT THEY HAD RUN WITH US AT THE SUNSHINE COAST TRAIL RUN.















Twice the group around us take a wrong turn. We are soon back on track and make our way to the gates. I am surprised to see Andre there. He also took a wrong turn with another group of chaps but unlike us did not discover his mistake and so ended up doing an extra 2 or 3 kays. Sean and Sheena are just behind us as we make our way through the reserve. From the Gate Andre and I run together to the end. We cross the Marine Drive again and run back for a short while before turning East into the bushes. The first part of this section is reasonably easy. We run past the Water Reclamation Plant and then we start the only hill of the route.

It is an endless sand dune. Fortunately there are pathway poles to assist the walker. Each time we think that we have reached the top of the dune there is another dune to climb. Finally we reach some kind of structure where Andre stops for a drink. Just over this dune we discover the old lookout fort. This is a World War Two observation post built around 1940. There are five of these lookout points in PE: the one at Schoenmakers Kop; This one near to Cape Recife Lighthouse; The Fort Frederick overlooking the Harbour and the Bluewaterbay fort. One other? Andre tells me that they are all in sight of the next one and designed so that in the event of danger the watchman could signal the next watchman and so on.

From this vantage point we can see down to the tar road that Ron and I have cycled on many occasions. It ends at a parking area from where you could walk to Noordhoek. We spend a short while talking about the view and pinpointing where we are. Then we descend and run along the contour for a while before making our way down to the tar road. We end up at the parking area (Craig from UTI has arranged this watering station). We receive a good welcome and then after we have drunk our full of water and washed down we head down to the beach where we run the final 3 or 4 kays. Initially there is soft sand and I am reminded of the Surfers Marathon.

We try to find the firmest footing possible but seem to end up doing a lot of walking. Finally we find the Recife Lighthouse and go all the way around it as close to the shoreline as possible. I considered taking a short cut but Andre put me straight. We are running with Nina and Christine. We reach the last of the watering stations. This is manned by Angeline and Daniella; Two stunning looking young ladies who are standing in the hot sun and who have had to lug the table and water across a long stretch of beach specially for the runners. I hope that they all appreciated the effort put in by Angeline and Daniella!











WALKING DOWN FROM THE LOOKOUT FORT















LOOKOUT FORT AT THE TOP OF THE FINAL DUNE












ANDRE NINA AND CHRISTINE WITH ONLY 2 KAYS TO GO
















ANDRE WITH LIGHTHOUSE IN BACKGROUND



































CRAIG AND CHILDREN WAIT FOR SHARON WILSON. SHARON DID A TRIATHLON YESTERDAY AS WELL.
























ANGELINE AND DANIELLA MAKE A PICTURE AT THE FINAL WATER STATION. THEY HAD TO LUG THE TABLE AND WATER ACROSS FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THIS POSITION ON THE BEACH. THANKS GIRLS.
















Andre and I press on and run walk our way to the finish. As we turn left up to the finish we meet up with Craig and Children Wilson. Sharon is a little behind us. Earlier on, before I met up with Andre, I had considered waiting for Sharon to be able to run with Jane Barnardo who was the Sweeper. It will be a long time before I can say that I have kept up with Jane.

At the Pine Lodge Finish area I have a swim to try to cool off. Andre gets our time at 2;41. John and Dalen finished in 2;13 and I imagine that Robyn and Almarie would have been around the same time. Trish Daniels and son win position prizes. Dalen and I win Lucky dips. It seems that I am often lucky when it comes to these prizes. Certainly I will never win a position prize so this is a good second best. I take home a good looking cap and share the T shirt with Andre. He is a real friend wating for me when I am really so much slower than the group that he could run with.

Andre buys us a Borrie roll and we make our way home. It is a really hot morning and the family is at the pool relaxing. I think that we are all a little tired but set up a MTB ride for the morning.















ROBYN LOOKING REFRESHED AFTER THE RUN AND SWIM

















JOHN TAKES IT EASY NEXT TO THE POOL























CAPE RECIFE LIGHTHOUSE









HISTORY OF THE CAPE RECIFE LIGHTHOUSE:

The spine on the Eastern Cape's Indian Ocean floor bed is stacked with rocks for vertebrae that form the east coast bay backbone. This 'Thunderbolt Reef' rising out of the dark waters of the south entrance to Algoa Bay is set in the Nature Reserve of Cape Recife, approximately 7 miles from Port Elizabeth.

At this location in 1902 sailors and rescuers lost their lives to a hurricane wrecking countless moored and sea-faring vessels. Reflecting the cutting nature of the reef that separates the tides offshore a single lane onshore cuts through the biting breezes that lead up to the Cape Recife Lighthouse. This black tarred linear road separates the white wind swept sands of the desolate beach and is met at perpendicular angles by a 24 meter high octagonal shaped tower striped in broad black and white bands. The adjoining rectangular maritime building painted stark white to match the sea froth with a black roof to match the protruding rocks, accompanies the monochromatic sea-side scene in a corresponding geometric and colour theme.

As if washed with a coat of blue from the same artist's brush the ocean seamlessly becomes the sky and highlights the contrasting Zebra inspired nautical architecture. Out of the blue, a red light flashes fixed to a red coated light dome encircled by a look-out balcony enrailed in a red gloss. The composition of the landscape appears to have been choreographed by a team of designers wishing to inspire beach house interiors from exterior beach side boldness.

The chic coast collection of lights and stripes is functional in its intention and graphic in its representation. Installed with irony on April Fool's Day in 1851 this warning system is now equipped with a fog signal, radio beacon, a red light (28º) and a flashing white light (332º) that shines every 30 seconds at a focal plane height of 28 meters above the high water mark. Technology has taken the light range from an original distance of 12 nautical miles to a current sighting range of 29 nautical miles with a light power of 4 000 000 Candelas keeping sunken ships in the history books.







PETER AND ANDRE PASS THE LIGHTHOUSE

Cape Recife is situated at the southern entrance to Algoa Bay and warns mariners about the dangers which abound in the dark waters. A large spine of rocks known as the Thunderbolt Reef has put paid to numerous ships over the last hundred years. Situated in a nature reserve about 7 miles from Port Elizabeth, Cape Recife witnessed the great gale of 1902, when a hurricane force south easter wrecked countless ships and boats moored in Algoa Bay. This hurricane killed more than 60 people, including six rescuers.


The "HMNS Zeepard", which was carrying the explorer, Theunissen was wrecked. As a result of this incident Theunissen made his historical well documented overland trip to Cape Town. Ironically the lighthouse was commissioned on April Fools day in 1851. The initial range of the light was 12 miles, however with the development of technology it is now 29 sea miles.


The building is a 24 metre octagonal masonry tower which is built on a rock foundation known as D urban. It is painted with black and white bands equipped with a radio beacon, fog signal, a fixed red light along with a flashing white light every 30 seconds. The establishment of this light came just in time as it saved many lives. The cost of this light in its day was £17 537.10.2 Sterling.