OCTOBER 2013; ACHILLES RELAY. HOGSBACK TRAIL RUN. BARBARA IN CANADA; ALLY WATERPOLO; STAY AND CYCLE AT MPOSHENI; DANIEL SPORTS DAY AT CLARENDON;

CAPE TOWN FAMILY AND FRIENDS WATCHING RUGBY AT NICKY'S HOME

ACHILLES RELAY IN THE RAIN AND WIND ONCE AGAIN.

OCTOBER 2013
Good running in the morning
Ally back to school
Cathy and Saul. Okay
Nicky and Stefan. Struggling
Jessica, Entrepreneurs day at school. Crunchies .. My contribution.
Danny birthday
JULIA PRESENTATION IN BLOEMFONTEIN
ADRIENNE COMPLETES HER 10TH PARKRUN
HOGSBACK 38K TRAIL RUN
STAYERS POLO TOURNAMENT IN EAST LONDON
RUNNING WITH BEN IN EAST LONDON
BARBARA AND LENE OFF TO CAPE TOWN FOR BLAKE'S BIRTHDAY AND FOR COLOUR RUN
ACHILLES RELAY EVENT
NIPPERS AT SUMMERSTRAND
PEARSON BRAAI FOR WATERPOLO TEAM.


I have done a really stupid this this week .... Caught a cold. Horrible sneezing and coughing.
It was Danny's birthday this week and we had a small celebration with a cake.

JESSICA AND HER FRIENDS AT CLARENDON PARK ENTREPRENEURS DAY.

JESSICA'S STAND ALSO OFFERED PIC FOR FAMILIES

PETER AND BARBARA AT JESSICA'S ENTREPRENEURS DAY

PARKRUN WITH PICS
At this parkrun we had just 65 participants in the wind but the following week there were around 250. Both were successful.]

ANNIE AND JULIA ON THE PARKRUN

JOHN AND ROY ARE AT THE PARKRUN

ALLAN AND ELAINE VERREYNE JOIN UP FOR THE PARKRUN FOR THE FIRST TIME

NEIL AND GAYNOR. NEIL ALWAYS HAS FUN ON THE RUN.

Ally returns to school after a one week break. Last term in Grade 10. Still not 100% fit after the knee op so has to take it easy in the pool. However Ally is chosen for both the Pearson First team as well as the EP U16 team.

Jessica had a successful Grade7 Entrepreneurs day at Clarendon Park. Well done to Jessie and her team of cooks and artists. Wednesday evening was parents day. We had a supper of Chicken curry and rice.

Friday evening was the church food fair. I bought us a small variety of take away suppers.

JULIA MASTERS PRESENTATION IN BLOEMFONTEIN

THIS IS ADRIENNES 10TH PARKRUN AND SHE DOES A PB OF 29;40.

ERNA JOINS US ON THE PARKRUN. IT IS A LONG TIME SINCE WE LAST SAW ERNA ON THE RUN AS SHE TENDS TO BE A SEASONAL RUNNER WHO PREFERS TO PUSH HER HEAD DEEPER INTO THE PILLOW DURING WINTER.

AFTER THE RUN WE MEET STEVE AND BEV AND RON AND LYN



Saturday morning. Not feeling my best so decided to walk with John and Rene while the rest of the group ran. Successful Parkrun this morning with a cool east wind. 245 runners. It was Barbara's first Parkrun. LENE, Daniel and Josh also took part for their third time. Adrienne is the only person who has done every one.

FRIDAY 11TH
Adrienne has to keep up her record of competing every parkrun and also offers her time to volunteer at the event. So we start the morning with a 5k parkrun with Erna. We meet up with Ron and Lyn and Steve and Bev. After our run we have a short swim. The sunrise is amazing. Erna tells us that she supported WIllie at a Hogsback event and completed the 38k with them. First lady home.

AS ALWAYS THE SUNRISE IS QUITE BREATHTAKING

AFTER THE RUN WE HAD A SHORT REFRESHING SWIM. I HAVE THE DAY OFF AS JOHN AND I LEAVE FOR HOGSBACK LATER THIS MORNING

PETER AND RON LOVE THE MORNINGS ON THE BEACH AFTER A RUN

John and I left for Hogsback. We arrived in the village in the mid afternoon. Had a bit of an upset regarding our tent booking and opted for the Swallow Tail where I have stayed before -- last year for the Hogs back 21k. We had mistakenly booked into the Runs With Faires campsite. This turned out to be less than acceptable with the camp area located next to the rubbish dump and the ablutions quite smelly. Also no power next to the camping.

We met up with Gary, Graham and Marius amd their families. We ordered a Pizza and a couple of beers. It is always fun to meet people who have a similar interest. These chaps seemed like quite hardcore athletes who were up to taking part in any and all of the really tough events in the area. The shared Pizza we ordered was quite sufficient for supper for John and myself and was one of the best (vegetarian) filled pizza's that I can remember having.

Back at the tent we were quite well set up and were in bed early.

PETER AND CYRIL AT THE START OF THE HOGSBACK 40K TRAIL RUN. IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME AND AFTER 4 AND A HALF HOURS I BAILED AT 24K. CYRIL WAS AT THE LAST HOGSBACK 21 THAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH HIS SON WHO WAS DOING THE FULL 100 THIS WEEKEND

JESSICA AND JENNA. FRIENDS OF SVENJE. THESE TWO ADVENTURE GIRLS CAME UP HERE TO CONQUER THE HOGSBACK. WE SAW THEM AT THE START AND THEN NEVER AGAIN UNTIL THE FINISH. THEY COMPLETED THE EVENT IN AROUND 7;30.


Saturday morning; We register at the Arminel Hotel. Short race briefing and then set off at 7am. At the run we meet Paul Johnson and the two girls who came with us to the Hogsback last year Jessica and Jenna -- Friends of Svenje. We run with them for a short while but then they and John take off ahead.

THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 38K TAKES THE RUNNERS UP A LONG FOREST ROAD UP A HILL. IT IS A REALATIVELY EASY START AND GIVES YOU TIME TO SETTLE INTO A GOOD PACE.

AT ABOUT 8KAY INTO THE RUN WE FIND THE ONE AND ONLY REFRESHMENT STATION. THIS IS FOR THE 16KAY RUNNERS. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I SAW JOHN AS HE HEADED INTO THE FORREST.

At the First Checkpoint is when I last see John. He heads up into the forest and I am not far behind. I am with two other people (Bruce and Allison) and we do not see the change of direction and so are, for a while, on the wrong path.

JOHN GOES ON AHEAD ON THE HOGSBACK TRAIL.

AT THIS STAGE I AM NOT THAT FAR BEHIND JOHN BUT IT WAS THE LAST I WOULD SEE OF HIM BEFORE THE END

AT THIS STAGE OF THE TRAIL WE WERE LOST. WE HAD MISSED A TURN OFF AND CONTINUED ON THE FOREST ROAD. I HAD A PHONE NUMBER AND WAS ABLE TO PHONE TO FIND OUT WHERE WE HAD GOINE WROUNG. BRUCE WAS AHEAD. WE FOUND THE TURN OFF AND CLIMBED UP TO CHECKPOINT TWO.


We realise our mistake and back track. The correct turnoff at the quarry takes us up and up to the top of this hill. We see the second check point and ask if we are last. Donovan is the sweeper and says that there are more to come. This turned out to be a mistake as the others never reached checkpoint one.

THE WATERFALLS WE SAW WERE NOT SPECTACULAR IN HEIGHT BUT MORE IN THEIR NUMBERS. LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE WATER AND RUNNING NEXT TO THESE WATERFALLS ADDS A SPECIAL FEELING TO THIS EVENT.

FOR A LONG SECTION AFTER CHECKPOINT TWO WE WOULD FOLLOW THIS STREAM OVER A SADDLE AND THEN DOWN INTO A VALLEY WHERE THERE WERE NUMBERS OF WATERFALLS.


We press on. Over the saddle and along a single track for a long while. Lots of this section is scrambling with hands as we navigate narrow pathways. You have to be careful all the time to watch for the next marker as it is easy to miss the pathway.

AS WE DESCENDED DEEPER INTO THE VALLEY WE WOULD HAVE TO NEGOTIATE NARROW PATHWAYS WITH A LOT OF SCRAMBLING OVER ROCKY SURFACES.

I am now basically on my own (and last) as the people in front are now too far ahead. Some of the 100k runners pass me including Chris Gedye from Achilles. This section of the trail is marked with a Bird of some kind. I am now doing a lot of walking. I find the trail tough underfoot and am unable to pick up a stride or jogging pace.

THE TRAIL IS, AT ONE SECTION, MARKED BY THIS BIRD.


There are waterfalls and we hike alongside and over the stream a number of times. There is quite a bit of muddy quagmire sections where are certain to get your feet muddy and slushy.


I had a cold during the past week and am coughing. I am not feeling strong so that when I reach the next checkpoint at 24k I decide that I have had enough. I have been running / hiking for 4;30hours and am really exhausted. I wait here for about an hour before the vehicle (Medic -- James) leaves for Hogsback. There are a small group of us who have bailed here. It is 16kays to go but this will take me at least four to five hours and that is going to be just too much for me.

Back at Hogsback I go back to the tent to find that it is blowing away -- with our kit and the stretchers inside. I pay for the campsite (R100pp) which is really a good value for money price. The owner of the campsite is Tannie Ansie. It seems that they are still trying to sell the place. I am sure that the Swallowtail was up for sale last year when we werer here.

The Swallow Tail offers an excellent grassy campsite, spotless ablutions with power. The wind is gusting strongly and has blown the tent over. fortunately none of the tent poles have snapped. Unfortunately one of the legs of Johns stretcher is damaged. I pack everything up and after a shower make my way back to the Arminel Hotel where I waited for John. He completed the event in just under 8 hours.
Just ahead of him are Jessica and Jenna. And shortly after John came in so did Paul and David (From church).

JOHN CLAIMS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST EVENTS EVER. CERTAINLY TOUGHER THEN THE SECOND DAY OF DRYLAND. AS HE FINISHED SO DID PAUL JOHNSON WHO HAD MEASURED THE DISTANCE TO AROUND 42KAY. CLIMBING UP AND OVER THE HOG MAKES THE TRAIL EXTRA TOUGH BUT THE ENTIRE TRAIL IS A ROUGH AND TOUGH EVENT.


Back to the campsite where John had a shower and we headed off home. For something a little different we took the road via Adelaide and Bedford. This road is around 30 or 40 kays longer but is a lot easier to drive. We are buffeted by strong winds on our return. As we approach PE we are confronted by driving rain squalls.

This evening John's family was due to go out to supper but Dianne was not feeling at her best and they cancelled. Also it was raining and not the best weather for a Braai.
It was Ingrid's birthday and by the time I got home Barbara and Lene were already at the Restaurant where they were celebrating. Country Kitchen. I joined them a little later and we had a lovely evening with some great company, music played by Ian and also an excellent supper.

RICHARD SENDS THIS PIC FROM CANADA OF DAWN AND BARBARA AT ELBOW FALLS. TAKEN WHEN BARBARA WAS IN CANADA IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

The week starting 14th October.
Friday morning. Barbara drops Ally and I at Pearson. Ally goes off in the bus while I have arranged to take a lift with John Howe whose daughter is Caitlin and a senior first team player. This tournament in EL is called Stayers meaning that the Matrics are excluded as they are not staying for next year. It is a tournament for U15 and First team.
John takes me to his house where make my self at home in his lounge while the family gets going. Chantelle come in: Excuse my pajamas and puts on the TV so I sit and watch an old Arnie film. Granny Rainy from Pretoria is also coming with us. Sisters Tannin and baby Reagan run around the house getting ready. Friend, Jeannine, with a child (Michelle) in the team will be following us. Everyone seems to be busy. I watch the movie. Finally it is time to leave. Pack the huge combi with bags. Little black dog runs out. Chase him back into the house. Okay ready to go. I spot a small black dog across the street in the field. It is their dog. Everyone runs across chasing. Coco! Coco! Who has no intention of stopping this wonderful attention getting game. Some family chase. Others call. Others try to stop passing cars from Squashing the dog. Finally he is herded back into the house.

We are able to leave. Fill up with petrol. Buy some coldrinks and off we go. To Nanaga where everyone is out again and wandering around this fascinating shop. Rooster Brood and egg and bacon. Plus a whole lot of other stuff. Rainy is in front. Reagan an I keep each other company. Tannin and Chantelle ride with Jeannine. We get going. Take the coastal road and arrive in EL – Joan Harrison Pool. First find a Chemist and Umbrellas.

It is raining and cold in EL.
We make it in time for the first game. Ally is a junior in this team and is fortunate to get “pool Time” in the first game which Pearson wins easily. The second game is not nearly as easy and we lose in the final minutes. The Third game is later in the afternoon. And Ally again gets some time in the pool. Pearson have made it to the Semi Finals.

EAST LONDON STAYERS COMPETITION. ALLY MAKES AN ATTEMPT AT GOALS

ALLY FIGHTS FOR HER POSITION IN THIS TEAM AND WORKS HARD EACH TIME SHE IS IN THE POOL.

THE WEATHER IN EAST LONDON IS MISTERABLE. COLD AND WET WITH A STRONG EASTERLY BLOWING.

END OF A CHUKKA.

SORRY, NO ONE GETS PAST ALLY.

I have arranged to stay with Ben Carver who collects me on Friday afternoon. He is with Cindy from Grahamstown who he has known for many years. Cindy is an art teacher at DSG. Ben makes a most delicious supper and combined with a glass of red wine makes me very sleepy. We have arranged to go running in the morning so I am asleep soon after 9.

Saturday Morning. Ben and I are up early and drive the short distance to the local starting point of what is known as Erics. Here we meet up with Graham, Michelle, Cathy, Jill, Julie and Mark. They arrange a route that goes across the Batting Bridge, down to Blue Lagoon, through the bushes and onto the beach which is where the last river crossing is for the Surfers Marathon.

BEN LEAPS FOR JOY OF BEING ON THE RUN AT BEACON BAY

QUICK DRINK OF WATER BEFORE CLIMBING UP THE BEACON BAY HILL

PETER AND BEN UP ON THE TOP OF THIS LONG HILL. EAST LONDON ONLY HAS HILLS. NO FLATS EXCEPT THE BEACH.

SEEM TO BE QUITE CHIRPY THIS MORNING

THIS IS BENS RUNNING GROUP IN EL -- GRAHAM; JULIE; CATHY; JILL; JULIE AND MARK WERE IN THE GROUP THIS MORNING.


We run in an Easterly direction along the long beach to Beacon Bay. Back onto the promenade, have some water and then the long pull up to the Spar of Beacon Bay. From there we run down again and back up old Transkei road to the start. It is around 15k and we have run for just over 90 minutes. Cool and beautiful as any morning run can be.


Back at Bens home we shower and Ben drops me off at the pool in time for the first match of the day. Two very exciting matches in which Ally is in the pool both times. In between I am able to have a little nap on the grass in the sun; The east wind is blowing again today. No rain but chilly on the sheltered stands. Pearson is playing in the last match for a Third / Fourth position. It ends in a draw and a 5 X penalty Shoot out. Fortunately our team edges Stirling 2nd team out and our team are medal winners in third place. This is as good as it gets. In the U15 group the Pearson team wins first place.

IN EAST LONDON THIS WEEKEND IT IS ALWAYS COLD AND THE EAST WIND MAKES IT WORSE.

PEARSON FIRST TEAM ARE AWARDED THE BRONZE MEDAL

ALLY CAN BE PROUD TO BE IN THIS TEAM

TEAM TALK AFTER PRIZE GIVING


After the final match and the medal hand over, we pack up and leave. First off a stop at Wimpy for lunch and then we drive back home. There was going to be a jump off the Bushmans bridge but everyone was too tired and the weather was not great so that was cancelled. We stop at Nanaga again for more snacks and a top up of eats.
Iohn drops me off at Pearson where Michelle Werth collects Ally and I. Ally still has energy to go out for supper with her team mates. I am so very tired.
Sunday morning – after a bit of a lie in I go down to Summerstrand for Nippers.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT THE CYCAD THAT DAWN GAVE US BEFORE LEAVING FOR CANADA AND WHICH THE BLACK DOG HAD EATEN UP IS NOW READY TO FORM LEAVES AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO PLANTED BABY SPINACH LEAVES WHICH I AM USING IN MEALS. ALLY WILL EAT THIS GREEN.

Sunday 20th. Nippers in the morning and Church in the evening. I was a little late from Church as I sat chatting after the service. Barbara was still in CT and was worried – I have my phone on Silent during church.
Monday Barbara, Lene and children return from CT and stop off at the Knysna Elephant park where they come into close contact with these huge animals. They get back safely Monday evening.
I had attempted to run on Monday but am still battling with coughing so was way behind the group. Jackie Strydom waited for me and we ended up with a reasonable run even though it was slow. I led Cell Group this eve.

Tuesday 22nd.

TYITYABA TURN OFF. ABOUT THREE KAYS TO MPOTSHENI. THIS IS AROUND 10K WEST OF THE KEI BRIDGE

When I travel to the Transkei branches I, have for the past few years, stayed at a Game Park called Mposheni. This is situated just West of the Kei River. It takes me a bit more than a half hour to drive from Mposheni to Butterworth where we currently have 5 branches. Plus there is the one in Dutywa. I left work a little early on Tuesday afternoon, booked in at Mposheni and off loaded my MTB. I have a short ride up a hill, past a small dam and past a disused farmhouse. The route takes me to a couple of large grassy areas where I almost always see Gemsbok, Bontebok, Zebra, Wildebees and of course Impala.

IMPALA AT MPOTSHENI

CORNER FENCE CYCLING AT MPOTSHENI

WARTHOGS SCRAMBLE UNDER THE FENCES

IMPALA

I LOVE THE EVENING CYCLE AT MPOTSHENI

ZEBRA AT MPOTSHENI -- AS SOON AS I GET CLOSE THEY SCAMPER INTO THE BUSHES

ZEBRA ON THE HORIZON WHILE CYCLING AT MPOTSHENI

THIS IS AS FAR AS I GO. NOT WILLING TO PUSH THE BIKE UP THE HILL.

Unfortunately these animals are not used to seeing a cyclist and are nervous of me as I approach. They see me from far off so it is difficult to take pics of the game. However I just love the experience of being out there with them as they thunder across my pathway. To them I must appear to be a danger. I cycle up to the boundary fence and along and up to the corner that leads downhill. This is as far as I go. I am not prepared to push the bike back up this steep hill. The view from here is magnificent across to the Transkei where I see the hills and villages.

I did this on Tuesday evening and Wednesday after work. Thursday I return home to be in time for Ally’s Polo League at Grey.

Friday 25th morning.
Adrienne; Liesl and Erna go for a morning run and swim. We meet up with Graham who joins us on the route. What a way to start the day.



PETER -- TAXI DRIVER FOR ADRIENNE

AFTER OUR RUN WE ALL GO FOR A SWIM

RUNNING GROUP DO THE HOBIE BEACH PARKRUN ROUTE ON A FRIDAY MORNING

FRIDAY 25TH OCTOBER -- MICHAEL GIDDY 34TH BIRTHDAY.
It is Daniel's Grade Two Sports day.
Lene is there to take part. I watch with Ron and Class mate, Grace McEwan's mother, Elmarie. And Elize, Paul Wolf, Achillean Andrew Porter.

DANIEL AND HIS RUNNING PARTNER WIN THE THREE LEGGED RACE

LENE AND DANIEL ARE WINNERS OF THE T-SHIRT EVENT.

A VAST NUMBER OF FATHERS TURNED OUT TO RUN THE WATER IN A CUP ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD RACE. THE DAD'S WERE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE THAN THE BOYS. DANIEL AND I MANAGED TO AVOID COMING LAST.

SATURDAY MORNING
ACHILLES RELAY
This is the second year that I do this relay. I am in the Tigers Team. With Tom; Billy; Graham; Lindsay and Adyn our captain. This is the order in which we run. We meet at the Italian Club at 5;30am and then drive together to the start at Greenbushes. It has been raining heavily during the night. I am first off again. Last year we had a bit of a head wind and this year is no exception. Again we have rain to run in.
This is a handycapped relay so I start off ahead of all other teams. There is pressure to do well. I run as hard as I am able and do my leg of 7k in 38min. I hand over to Tom who has a tough leg consisting of three nasty hills. Then Billy takes over on a down hill. It is raining so he does not warm up and feels it later. He is overtaken by a really speedy chap from Lake Farm. Billy has a difficult leg which includes the Sardinia Bay Hill which slows everyone down.

This hill has been the downfall of many a Herald Cyclist. Billy hands the Baton to Graham who runs along the Seaview road past the old hotel and onto the New Seaview Road. He is pushing as hard as he can but 8k into the wind and rain and with the pressure of knowing that you are being chased is not easy.



Something goes wrong with our instructions. We understand that we have to continue all the way up the New Seaview Road but have been given wrong instructions. We were supposted to have turned up towards the Lake Farm Road but did not know this and followed our written instructions.
Lindsay presses on and we are at this stage, winning the race. Lindsay hands over to Adyn who runs as hard as he can. We follow the instructions and are first home at the Italian Club.

We are later disqualified for taking a wrong route. No discussion.
Bradley has the correct attitude: we have had a good fun morning and that is the most important of all considerations.

The event has taken us around 4;30 to run 49k.

PETER RUNNING FOR THE TIGERS; THE FIRST LEG OF THE ACHILLES RELAY

TOM IS SECOND AND HAS THREE NASTY HILLS BUT RUNS HARD INTO THE WIND AND THE RAIN

BILLY HAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST LEGS; HE IS OVERTAKEN BY THE SPEEDY YOUNGSTER FROM LAKE FARM. BILLY TRIES TO STAY WITH HIM BUT THIS YOUNG MAN TAKES OFF LIKE A GAZELLE.

BILL HAS TO RUN UP THE STEEP AND LONG MAITLANDS HILL

GRAHAM TAKES OVER FROM AN EXHAUSTED BILL. GRAHAM RUNS INTO SOME REALLY NASTY WEATHER AND THE WIND NOW CHANGES TO EASTERLY.

AT THE STAGE WHEN LINDSAY TAKES THE BATON THE RAIN IS PELTING DOWN. GRAHAM IS WET AND EXHAUSTED. IT IS AT THIS TIME THAT WE FOLLOW THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS BUT FIND THAT THIS WAS WRONG AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE CONTINUED ALONG THE NEW SEAVIEW ROAD BUT RATHER TURNED LEFT AND PAST THE LAKE FARM TURN OFF.

AYDN IS OUR ANCHOR AND SETS OFF UP THE NEW SEAVIEW ROAD HILL OF AROUND FOUR KAYS.

FINALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE LAST LEG; ADYN HAS A BIT OF DOWNHILL AND HE CROSSES OVER TO THE FOOT PATH. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS; FINISH FIRST, BUT EVENTUALLY ARE DISQUALIFIED.

This afternoon is the Pearson School braai for parents and children of the water polo teams. It starts off with a match between parents and boys. It is a real fun affair but the weather stays cold and windy.
Later we gather around for a braai and social. A nice relaxed evening with friends; the polo teams honour the coaches and players. Seems that there is a really good spirit between the team players, coaches and managers (boys and girls).

Sunday: the weather remains cool and wet. Unfortunately it is not raining inland where it is needed most.
I have Nippers Training.
There is a howling easterly but we still have 35 Nippers on the beach. Sunday evening church.
Monday evening Cell Group. Monday morning I run with Andrea Dorward (since married) who was at school with Nicky and Jacqui and who studied Psychology with Jacqui. We run past Erica and she remembers those school days and Joy Tribe.
Tuesday I leave for JHB for the annual launch

NICKY AND STEFAN FAMILY IN MAURITIUS WITH CHRISTIAN, ZARA, MIA AND AARON.