11 July 2019

By: Mike Roy

Freedom Challenge RASA 2019 is winding down. The chat volume on WhatsApp has died to a trickle. This is very understandable because we know which riders have made the podium, thirty seven have already received their blankets. All we have left is for the final five riders to get through Stettynskloof tomorrow. The final rites will be the Freedom Challenge Dinner on Saturday night. On that note please make sure you book your spot, it is filling up fast.

The final group made their way to Trouthaven from McGregor at a very leisurely pace. They must have left pretty early as they arrived just after lunch. That’s it, there is not much else I can say other than I think it’s fabulous that they have enjoyed the last couple of days. They have earned the right to do exactly that. We can only imagine the magnificent day that Alex Kingwill had in McGregor yesterday, whilst waiting for the Gang of Four (aka the Hairless Four). Ingrid put forward a few suggestions yesterday as to what they all might have got up to in McGregor. In all likelihood we will probably never know and will just have to learn to live with it.

Tomorrow’s report will be a joint effort from the Freedom Writers as we sign off from this year’s event. We have no idea what we will write about, maybe a bit of a reflection on the highlights and lowlights. 

All stations other than Trouthaven are now closed. I wonder if any FC rider has ever cast a fly at Trouthaven during the race. Today was surely a golden opportunity. It’s actually a really nice place - check it out here:

https://www.trouthaven.co.za/

It can be a bit confusing as the signs all say “Dwarsberg Trout hideaway”. Doesn’t matter. There really is some world class fly fishing. Don’t take my word for it, listen to what Tom Sutcliffe says:

“The Holsloot is our only tailwater fishery. When the weather’s really hot and dry here in the Cape, say from mid-January to the end of February, you can bet on the Holsloot being that degree cooler than most other rivers, and with more flow. Some stretches where the riverbed is studded with waving, emerald-green water grass, the trout sitting tightly between the tufts, will remind you of an English chalkstream.”

Tom is famous in fly fishing circles, so much so that I think I might be tempted to do RASA next year just to get a chance at those tufted trout. 

There used to be the XTC version of the Freedom Challenge. This entailed a fairly challenging triathlon – run Comrades, start FC the next day, finish FC within 23 days or less and then round it off by completing the toughest of all endurance canoe races, the four day Berg River Canoe Marathon. It doesn’t happen anymore because of changes in the timing of the various events. The record incidentally is held by Graham Bird from his 2011 effort of just over twenty days, an astonishing effort. I wonder if it isn’t time to resurrect the event, maybe just taking the official cumulative times from Comrades, FC and Berg, all to be done in the same year. Topic for another day.

Personally I think the organisers missed a trick. How difficult would it have been to have thrown in a fly fishing leg at Trouthaven? Authenticated proof of the catch and release of a decent size trout. Imagine the impact this would have on individual race strategy. Martin Dreyer ahead by two days or so and can’t catch a fish for love nor money. Days pass. He is overtaken and a week later limps through to Diemersfontein. It’s so obvious I can’t believe they missed this one. 

One other bit of advice I hope the last riders take heed of is the direction they take tomorrow morning from Trouthaven. Again, it is not that obvious, especially if one has arrived in the dark the night before. In 2015 I made the fatal mistake of setting off at 05:00 in the wrong direction. Not that I knew it was the wrong direction. It was only when I got to Willowmore that I suspected that something was not quite right. Somewhat grumpily I turned around and headed back, and that is why I don’t have a blanket. Well, that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Until tomorrow then.

10 July 2019

By : Ingrid Avidon

Fun at Pony Cottage

At about 11:30 this morning the Montagu Four (Mark Smuts, Kobus Nell, Francois Roux and Alan Rainnie) arrived at McGregor. Their route into McGregor sparked some interest from the dot watchers (DW’s) as it was well off the red line (see below).

After much debating from the DWs, it turns out that their route was indeed a route deviation.  They shall now be known as the Naughty Four. I think they wanted to check if anyone cared that they were still riding the Freedom Challenge. Don’t worry guys, we do still care. Big Brother is watching your every move. In fact the dot watchers can even see that one of you, ok, Mark Smuts to be concise, has just eaten 6 slices of white bread with four slices of ham followed by some beef lasagna. Not bad for a vegetarian. 

The Naughty Four will now have to serve a one hour time penalty in Montagu for their behavior. I think they feel so guilty for their deviation that they will elect to extend the one hour time penalty into an afternoon and evening in McGregor.  

Patiently waiting at Pony Cottage for the arrival of the Naughty Four was Alex Kingwill. Alex arrived at Pony Cottage yesterday at 12:30 and has had 24 hours to sus out the local tourist attractions. Perhaps he will take his new friend’s to the Eseltjiesrus donkey sanctuary or treat them to a bottle of wine at Lord’s winery? After that he could take them to Millstone Pottery or the Edna Fourie Gallery. What I do know is that Alex will certainly not want his friend’s to miss out on their complimentary free wax at the Old Mill Country Spa. 

Tomorrow, the Hairless Five will continue their journey to Trouthaven.  

9 July 2019

By: Mike Roy

Fifteen riders still out there as I write, it’s earlier than when I normally sit down to do my daily report, only 13:45. Ten of these riders are doing the last leg of Freedom Challenge RASA, the journey through Stettynskloof. Boy are they motoring through, I suspect the first contingent may arrive at Diemersfontein by around 15:00, perhaps even earlier. They must have started early, I seem to recall reading somewhere of a 03:00 start time today. By the time I send my report in later today, around 20:00, I suspect all ten will be safe and sound. Let’s hope so, Stettynskloof can always throw a curve ball or two. There should be a special club of riders that have had to spend a night in Stettyns. It is a unique experience, a delicious contrast between exquisitely and extraordinarily beautiful and downright eerie, particularly if one happens to be on your own. So far this year it is only the infamous and brave Richard “VC” du Toit that can claim that honour. To be honest I am harboring a secret hope that Alex Kingwill pushes on from McGregor (where he currently is) to Trouthaven and then attempts Stettyns on his own tomorrow. 

The Gang of Four (English post-punk, mid 1970s from Leeds) are well on their way to Montagu and I suspect on to McGregor where they will in all likelihood meet up with Alex Kingwill (notwithstanding my secret hope for Alex mentioned above). If this materializes we are on track for our earlier predictions of the last guys coming in on Thursday. I really hope that all finishers on that day spend the next three days at Diemersfontein and take in the Finisher’s Dinner. What a fantastic way to chill after RASA. A Thursday finish, sounds like a plan for next year.

I’ve just watched a video update from Grant Hill, taken at the top of the saddle that is the escape route from the clutches of Stettynskloof.  Grant has been really good in his daily or thereabouts podcasts along the route. One could hear the emotion in his voice as he gets close to the end, where his wife Saskia awaits him. Like many before him he thanked her (in a tight voice, we’ve all been there) and his family for the support they have given and sacrifice they have made to give him the chance to ride. If he thinks he was emotional now wait until he gets to Diemerfontein.

That saddle exit from Stettynskloof. For novices it not actually that obvious as to which saddle one climbs over to get out of Stettyns. I remember getting some advice in 2015 from a FC rider who had finished the race much earlier (in fact I think he was the answer to the question from one of the FC WhatsApp groups “When was the last time the winner of the FC did not finish first in Diemersfontein? I think that is the answer – 2015, when Tim James won for the third time). I’ve unfortunately forgotten his name, John Bowen and I bumped into him in Die Hel, where he was proudly showing his wife, on their way back to KZN, where he had just spent the last three weeks. John and I were absolutely stuffed so I barely registered the advice he gave us – “Don’t forget” he said, “the saddle with the house on it”.

I ended up doing Stettyns on my own and there was a sense of growing panic when I looked down the valley. The saddle with the house is obvious, but I couldn’t remember what it was that I was meant to remember. Is that the saddle I go over or the one I don’t go over? You can, I am sure, understand the impending doom (“we’re doomed, we’re doomed’ in a broad Scottish accent, answers please to the BBC, Portland Place London W1A 1AA) that this dilemma would create. Suffice to say that, after wrestling with this dilemma all day and then during an interesting night in Stettyns where I tossed and turned over the decision I would have to make the next day. I eventually chose the right saddle, the one without the house (which is just a rock formation). It’s to the left of the one with the house, never forget that, those novices amongst you who are tempted to ride RASA. But I know you are going to forget, you are going to have the same panic that I did. “Oh god, that house, what the hell did that idiot writer say a year ago?”

The exit itself is a bit of a monster. Not for gazelle like athletes. They can bound up in thirty minutes. For heffalumps it is an entirely different story. Do NOT go up the climb to the left of the ravine (if you are a heffalump, actually even if you are not a heffalump). Go up on the right. It’s not so lekker to have climbed three quarters of the way up on the left only to have to make the awful decision that there is no choice but to climb down and start again on the right side of the ravine. The horror, the horror.

I’ve just checked on the Tracker. Its 14:40 and the leading group of Hill, Scoular, Kruger and vd Merwe are still an hour or so from Diemersfontein. The other six are doing ok – I’m just a little concerned about Harko de Beer who is still stuck some way back in Stettyns. This could be a tracker problem or it could be “join the club” time. We will see what unfolds in the next three or four hours.  It gets dark in Stettyns at around 17:00, mainly because one is in a valley with sheer walls on either side. The sun gets cut off very quickly. Man it gets cold.

Alex Kingwill ain’t budging from McGregor. The Gang of Four (Smuts, Nell, Roux and Rainnie) will shortly be on that delicious downhill rollercoaster down to Montagu. Tip for future riders – DO stop at least once and taste the water from the few streams that one crosses on this awesome descent. I fear the Gang of Four might succumb to the clutches of Montagu. And who can blame them, they are curious folk and I am sure want to find out more. For example I bet they do not know right now (how could they) that Montagu used to be known as “Agter Cogman’s Kloof”. If they are really smart they could probably find a natural hot spring somewhere in Montagu and bathe their weary limbs. Or they could feast on apples, pears, apricots and peaches as this is the heart of Koo country. They will probably do none of the above but there again they might.

I’m going to take a break and return to finish this report this evening. I’m not anticipating many surprises.

Interim update: Grant and crew – all six of them – finished at around 15:15. This FB live feed is awesome. Day time finish is clearly the way to go. The only way I am ever going to achieve that is to spend the night in Stettyns. Looks like Grant and Anthony (on his suspect bike) will be there shortly. Question on everyone’s lips is whether Anthony will have beaten his wife (and fellow Freedom Writer) Ingrid’s best FC time. I don’t think he has. Ingrid can write about that tomorrow, with only five riders left she is going to be desperate for material and annoyingly for her I have pinched the useful stuff about Montagu. I will also leave the story about the Shackleton aircraft crash in Stettynskloof. I was so tempted to use that today but we are a team and in a team you look after your buddies.

Further interim update: Grant Cowan and Anthony have just come in – so nice to see Ingrid and their son (I think) meet them. I’ve never met Ingrid but have got to know her a bit in this Freedom Writer’s lark, Anthony is a lucky guy, as is she (girl, you know what I mean).  Sandy, Johann and Harko are all safe further back and on the N2, probably an hour or two away from finishing.  Alex hasn’t budged from McGregor so that lip-smacking solo ride through Stettynskloof is still on. Equally the Gang of Four seem to have succumbed to the sirens of Montagu, seduced, hopefully temporarily. 

18:30 update: Sandy and co have just arrived at Diemersfontein. Hugs and emotions all over again. Fabulous. Very well done to all ten finishers from today. 

A special word of congratulations from the cycling group in Johannesburg that is the home “club” of Sandy – the Cyclopaths. Actually I don’t know if Sandy is a full Cyclopath or a peripheral Cyclopath. It actually doesn’t matter, she is famous now (to us Cyclopaths) and joins the ranks of Rory Field, Gerrit Pretorius and Kevin Davie who are all in the wider Cyclopath community that have completed RASA. I don’t think I have missed out anyone, hopefully not.

The situation regarding the remaining five riders on the course has become a little clearer over the last few hours. Apparently Alex Kingwill is going to rest up in McGregor for the day (what an awesome luxury) and wait for the Gang of Four to join him. They will then saunter through to Trouthaven tomorrow and will complete their journey on Friday. This is a splendid decision. 

What this does mean is that the daily report will be very brief tomorrow, which will please Ingrid because she has just been reunited with her husband and, well, there is some catching up to do.

A decision has unilaterally been taken that there will be no table today. All but five riders have finished and you know who they are. We will give a final summary table when everyone is in.

All stations before Montagu are now closed. Thank you.

Race report 9 July 2019

By: Mike Roy

Fifteen riders still out there as I write, it’s earlier than when I normally sit down to do my daily report, only 13:45. Ten of these riders are doing the last leg of Freedom Challenge RASA, the journey through Stettynskloof. Boy are they motoring through, I suspect the first contingent may arrive at Diemersfontein by around 15:00, perhaps even earlier. They must have started early, I seem to recall reading somewhere of a 03:00 start time today. By the time I send my report in later today, around 20:00, I suspect all ten will be safe and sound. Let’s hope so, Stettynskloof can always throw a curve ball or two. There should be a special club of riders that have had to spend a night in Stettyns. It is a unique experience, a delicious contrast between exquisitely and extraordinarily beautiful and downright eerie, particularly if one happens to be on your own. So far this year it is only the infamous and brave Richard “VC” du Toit that can claim that honour. To be honest I am harboring a secret hope that Alex Kingwill pushes on from McGregor (where he currently is) to Trouthaven and then attempts Stettyns on his own tomorrow. 

The Gang of Four (English post-punk, mid 1970s from Leeds) are well on their way to Montagu and I suspect on to McGregor where they will in all likelihood meet up with Alex Kingwill (notwithstanding my secret hope for Alex mentioned above). If this materializes we are on track for our earlier predictions of the last guys coming in on Thursday. I really hope that all finishers on that day spend the next three days at Diemersfontein and take in the Finisher’s Dinner. What a fantastic way to chill after RASA. A Thursday finish, sounds like a plan for next year.

I’ve just watched a video update from Grant Hill, taken at the top of the saddle that is the escape route from the clutches of Stettynskloof.  Grant has been really good in his daily or thereabouts podcasts along the route. One could hear the emotion in his voice as he gets close to the end, where his wife Saskia awaits him. Like many before him he thanked her (in a tight voice, we’ve all been there) and his family for the support they have given and sacrifice they have made to give him the chance to ride. If he thinks he was emotional now wait until he gets to Diemerfontein.

That saddle exit from Stettynskloof. For novices it not actually that obvious as to which saddle one climbs over to get out of Stettyns. I remember getting some advice in 2015 from a FC rider who had finished the race much earlier (in fact I think he was the answer to the question from one of the FC WhatsApp groups “When was the last time the winner of the FC did not finish first in Diemersfontein? I think that is the answer – 2015, when Tim James won for the third time). I’ve unfortunately forgotten his name, John Bowen and I bumped into him in Die Hel, where he was proudly showing his wife, on their way back to KZN, where he had just spent the last three weeks. John and I were absolutely stuffed so I barely registered the advice he gave us – “Don’t forget” he said, “the saddle with the house on it”.

I ended up doing Stettyns on my own and there was a sense of growing panic when I looked down the valley. The saddle with the house is obvious, but I couldn’t remember what it was that I was meant to remember. Is that the saddle I go over or the one I don’t go over? You can, I am sure, understand the impending doom (“we’re doomed, we’re doomed’ in a broad Scottish accent, answers please to the BBC, Portland Place London W1A 1AA) that this dilemma would create. Suffice to say that, after wrestling with this dilemma all day and then during an interesting night in Stettyns where I tossed and turned over the decision I would have to make the next day. I eventually chose the right saddle, the one without the house (which is just a rock formation). It’s to the left of the one with the house, never forget that, those novices amongst you who are tempted to ride RASA. But I know you are going to forget, you are going to have the same panic that I did. “Oh god, that house, what the hell did that idiot writer say a year ago?”

The exit itself is a bit of a monster. Not for gazelle like athletes. They can bound up in thirty minutes. For heffalumps it is an entirely different story. Do NOT go up the climb to the left of the ravine (if you are a heffalump, actually even if you are not a heffalump). Go up on the right. It’s not so lekker to have climbed three quarters of the way up on the left only to have to make the awful decision that there is no choice but to climb down and start again on the right side of the ravine. The horror, the horror.

I’ve just checked on the Tracker. Its 14:40 and the leading group of Hill, Scoular, Kruger and vd Merwe are still an hour or so from Diemersfontein. The other six are doing ok – I’m just a little concerned about Harko de Beer who is still stuck some way back in Stettyns. This could be a tracker problem or it could be “join the club” time. We will see what unfolds in the next three or four hours.  It gets dark in Stettyns at around 17:00, mainly because one is in a valley with sheer walls on either side. The sun gets cut off very quickly. Man it gets cold.

Alex Kingwill ain’t budging from McGregor. The Gang of Four (Smuts, Nell, Roux and Rainnie) will shortly be on that delicious downhill rollercoaster down to Montagu. Tip for future riders – DO stop at least once and taste the water from the few streams that one crosses on this awesome descent. I fear the Gang of Four might succumb to the clutches of Montagu. And who can blame them, they are curious folk and I am sure want to find out more. For example I bet they do not know right now (how could they) that Montagu used to be known as “Agter Cogman’s Kloof”. If they are really smart they could probably find a natural hot spring somewhere in Montagu and bathe their weary limbs. Or they could feast on apples, pears, apricots and peaches as this is the heart of Koo country. They will probably do none of the above but there again they might.

I’m going to take a break and return to finish this report this evening. I’m not anticipating many surprises.

Interim update: Grant and crew – all six of them – finished at around 15:15. This FB live feed is awesome. Day time finish is clearly the way to go. The only way I am ever going to achieve that is to spend the night in Stettyns. Looks like Grant and Anthony (on his suspect bike) will be there shortly. Question on everyone’s lips is whether Anthony will have beaten his wife (and fellow Freedom Writer) Ingrid’s best FC time. I don’t think he has. Ingrid can write about that tomorrow, with only five riders left she is going to be desperate for material and annoyingly for her I have pinched the useful stuff about Montagu. I will also leave the story about the Shackleton aircraft crash in Stettynskloof. I was so tempted to use that today but we are a team and in a team you look after your buddies.

Further interim update: Grant Cowan and Anthony have just come in – so nice to see Ingrid and their son (I think) meet them. I’ve never met Ingrid but have got to know her a bit in this Freedom Writer’s lark, Anthony is a lucky guy, as is she (girl, you know what I mean).  Sandy, Johann and Harko are all safe further back and on the N2, probably an hour or two away from finishing.  Alex hasn’t budged from McGregor so that lip-smacking solo ride through Stettynskloof is still on. Equally the Gang of Four seem to have succumbed to the sirens of Montagu, seduced, hopefully temporarily. 

18:30 update: Sandy and co have just arrived at Diemersfontein. Hugs and emotions all over again. Fabulous. Very well done to all ten finishers from today. 

A special word of congratulations from the cycling group in Johannesburg that is the home “club” of Sandy – the Cyclopaths. Actually I don’t know if Sandy is a full Cyclopath or a peripheral Cyclopath. It actually doesn’t matter, she is famous now (to us Cyclopaths) and joins the ranks of Rory Field, Gerrit Pretorius and Kevin Davie who are all in the wider Cyclopath community that have completed RASA. I don’t think I have missed out anyone, hopefully not.

The situation regarding the remaining five riders on the course has become a little clearer over the last few hours. Apparently Alex Kingwill is going to rest up in McGregor for the day (what an awesome luxury) and wait for the Gang of Four to join him. They will then saunter through to Trouthaven tomorrow and will complete their journey on Friday. This is a splendid decision. 

What this does mean is that the daily report will be very brief tomorrow, which will please Ingrid because she has just been reunited with her husband and, well, there is some catching up to do.

A decision has unilaterally been taken that there will be no table today. All but five riders have finished and you know who they are. We will give a final summary table when everyone is in.

All stations before Montagu are now closed. Thank you.

8 July 2019

By: Ingrid Avidon

Today, Willem Kamstra, James Cruickshank, Graeme Green, Bryn Roberts and the Czeckmate Radislav Zemandi all arrived safely at Diemersfontein. What makes this achievement extra special for this group of guys is that each of them has now earned their very first Freedom Challenge Basotho blanket. They are now officially part of the blanket-wearing clan, a family of crazy endurance athletes with huge hearts and precious memories. Congratulations! Guys, don’t be alarmed if you find yourself unable to adapt to the real world for quite some time. You may also find yourself staring out of the window, for hours on end, especially in important meetings, longing for the simplicity of life on the trail. You will probably arrive home and look at all your belongings and wonder how you managed to accumulate so much useless stuff. And then crap on your family for wanting so much stuff.  Please warn your sleeping partner that you will have many night sweats and will probably wake them up, in a fat panic, asking for directions. Your sleep will be broken by troubled dreams of navigational issues, mechanical break downs, lost maps, and the trek through Stettynskloof. Your appetite will be vicious, but try to stop eating everything in sight after a week, or your first ever six-pack (ab muscles, not beers) will soon be a distant memory. Trust me about this one. 

But, best of all, enjoy and remember every precious memory of your journey. Many people will be unable to even understand or comprehend what you have been through and the things you have experienced along the trail. You are all heroes and an inspiration to so many people. For the next while, enjoy wearing your undies on the outside of your pants. 

Just for the record, here are your unofficial finishing times:

James Cruickshank 19 days 11 hours 28 min 

Graeme Green  19 days 11 hours 25 min

Bryn Roberts  19 days 11 hours 25 min

Radislav Zemandi  20 days 11 hours 25 min

 Willem Kamstra 19 days 11 hrs 25 min

Now, back to the trail.

Tonight, once again, Trouthaven was the venue of another pre-Stettyns hike-a-bike party. You can imagine ten cyclists sharing their bike-carrying strategies, beers and braai meat, all while listening to Brad van der Westhuizens’ Celine Dion and Barbara Streisland mixed tape. A word of warning though to Johann Lombard, Sandy Maytham-B, Hanko de Beer, Renier van der Merwe, Andrew Ryan, Gary Scoular, Grant Cowan, Grant Hill, Anthony  Avidon and Leon Kruger. Your fellow rider, Brad, the owner of the tape, proposed to Nicky when he arrived at Diemersfontein yesterday, so the mixed tape may turn you into a hopeless, sentimental romantic. Oh sorry, the Freedom Challenge does that, not Vaseline, er Celine.  Luckily for Brad, Nicky said yes. Congrats you two and may your honeymoon be celebrated on next year’s Freedom Challenge. So, Trouthaven-ten, be warned that the Freedom Challenge can turn even the most hardened man (or woman) into a soft, gentle marshmallow. Just look at Marnitz Nienaber. With that said, all that remains to be done is to wish the Trouthaven-ten good luck for their stroll (?) through Stettynskloof tomorrow. I hope you find the secret tunnel through the fynbos. If not, may the pesky Celine Dion lyrics “my heart will go on and on and on and on…” bring you much comfort.  

Further on down the trail, Kobus Nel, Alan Rainnie, Francois Roux and Mark Smuts  all arrived safely at Rouxpos support station today. Enjoy the waffles guys. Today marks your 19^thday of freedom on the trail. Your time on the trail will soon be over, so enjoy every minute. With six days in hand there is still time to stop at all the support stations and really savor the true Freedom Challenge experience. But remember that the dinner is on Saturday night, so if you really want to make a statement and arrive to hordes of cheering crowds then aim to finish on Saturday at about 18:30. 

What about Alex Kingwill? Well, unfortunately Alex is feeling ill, and has decided to take a pill and chill in a town at the bottom of a hill. Hopefully, by tomorrow, Alex will be able to continue his journey from Montagu further down the trail. If not, he may have to sit still for another day waiting for Kobus, Alan, Francois and Mark to arrive at the town at the bottom of the hill. 

To the rest of you, remember to buy a raffle ticket for the lucky draw on Saturday night. First prize is a free entry into R2R, R2C or R2W. Second prize is a Barbara Streisland mixed tape, third place is a bicycle generously donated by Anthony Avidon, fourth place is lunch with Mike Woolnough and fifth place is lunch and dinner with Mike Woolnough.