I was exhausted when it was time to get up. We scattered around, trying to fit everything into it's rightful place, but it took a while before we were good to go. Dante and Katryn urged us on, because during all this commotion, we were kind of trapped in this barn, with a very big dog on the other side, and they were developing a serious need to relieve themselves of excess fluids.
We left without having breakfast, because the look in those eyes made me feel almost guilty. We weren't even 100m away when Katryn decided that she had had enough and so we stopped and waited while they did their thing. It was so nice to be outside again. The sun was out, and it was turning into a lovely warm day.
We left without having breakfast, because the look in those eyes made me feel almost guilty. We weren't even 100m away when Katryn decided that she had had enough and so we stopped and waited while they did their thing. It was so nice to be outside again. The sun was out, and it was turning into a lovely warm day.
From word go, I was challenged with all sorts. It felt like I had nothing with which to help me up those steep hills, and they kept on coming. The traffic was absolutely mad, and there was no shoulder to the road, so when the trucks would pass, it felt like I was being sucked in underneath the never ending chassis. Everything just seemed more impossible, I guess, because I had no energy to speak of.
I soon saw that Maria had the same difficulties. We pushed our bikes up most of the serious hills, having to stop every now and again to catch our breath. We only had one energy bar between the two of us, and not so much water either. Dante and Katryn also seemed less playful. We hoped that Derby would be just beyond the next hill, but no. I soon started to imagine a coke with lots of ice, or juice, or anything, as long as it had ice. A farmer stopped beside us, and told us that Derby was about another 6kms away, handed us an ice cold juice and wished us luck, because another big one was ahead.
It took every last ounce of determination, to push/bike that last kms. Derby is a very, very small town, consisting of a petrol station, butcher, hotel, pub, liquor store, general dealer, and only the main road is tarred. All the stuff I was imagining wasn't quite possible, but what we ended up with wasn't half bad either. Our first stop was Sampie Motors, the petrol station, when a very friendly lady named Corrie welcomed us, and offered to buy us a coke because she said that we had triggered her interest, and by the looks of it, we deserved it. We chatted for a while, and headed out towards the hotel, only with one goal in mind, food, bath, sleep!
The shop manager invited us to stay over at their house if we weren't lucky at the hotel. Outside the hotel we met a very nice man named Willem and his 5 year old son George who also offered to help us out if we didn't get sorted. There was a room in the hotel, and they allowed the dogs, but warned that the resident Ridgeback was a bit grumpy and didn't like other k9 friends in his territory, so as to keep them out of harms way. The hotel is cheap, only R180 per night, but leaves nothing to be desired. Luckily we were so tired that it didn't really matter. There wasn't any food available at the hotel, so we headed out to the fast foods place next door.
There was the most delightful little girl that kept us company while we waited for some toasted sandwiches and chips. In a little town like this, there is not much else if you're vegetarian. She told us all about her life, walked the kidz, although they didn't like being dragged around very much, but entertained her nevertheless. Aaagh, the sandwich was magnificent, and just what I needed.
It took every last ounce of determination, to push/bike that last kms. Derby is a very, very small town, consisting of a petrol station, butcher, hotel, pub, liquor store, general dealer, and only the main road is tarred. All the stuff I was imagining wasn't quite possible, but what we ended up with wasn't half bad either. Our first stop was Sampie Motors, the petrol station, when a very friendly lady named Corrie welcomed us, and offered to buy us a coke because she said that we had triggered her interest, and by the looks of it, we deserved it. We chatted for a while, and headed out towards the hotel, only with one goal in mind, food, bath, sleep!
The shop manager invited us to stay over at their house if we weren't lucky at the hotel. Outside the hotel we met a very nice man named Willem and his 5 year old son George who also offered to help us out if we didn't get sorted. There was a room in the hotel, and they allowed the dogs, but warned that the resident Ridgeback was a bit grumpy and didn't like other k9 friends in his territory, so as to keep them out of harms way. The hotel is cheap, only R180 per night, but leaves nothing to be desired. Luckily we were so tired that it didn't really matter. There wasn't any food available at the hotel, so we headed out to the fast foods place next door.
There was the most delightful little girl that kept us company while we waited for some toasted sandwiches and chips. In a little town like this, there is not much else if you're vegetarian. She told us all about her life, walked the kidz, although they didn't like being dragged around very much, but entertained her nevertheless. Aaagh, the sandwich was magnificent, and just what I needed.
Once back at the hotel, I collapsed on the bed, while Maria had the first go at a bath. The water was a shocking dark pink color, which we figured must be rusty pipes. I don't know, but it sure didn't look very inviting to me. I put some of my equipment on charge, and we chatted for a while, but then I fell asleep, the sleep of the dead.
