Thank You, Tuscany Spar Rustenburg

GERRIT & HIS LOVELY TEAM & TUSCANY.

Tuscany Spar Rustenburg

ONE OF OUR MAIN SPONSORS

No Guts No Glory

There are many ways in which to construct a website, but ours is a story, and there's only one thing to do with a story, you tell it. This is how it started:

It was one night, at a get together, surrounded by friends and family, when the reality of the moment struck. What was usually fun and games, turned stale, suddenly! Stuck in the proverbial rut! The moment was too big to ignore, so, the obvious question was, where to go from here? So as if by design, we set off to St Lucia, to new horizons, self discoveries, and a tremendous awakening.

The 'challenge' was met once we rode into Cape Town, 3 months later, after some close calls and never felt before, intense moments, we knew that this was not the end by a long shot. So, it is here, where our journey truly begins. Everyday just suddenly had a reason, and every moment counted. It was difficult, the obstacles seemed impossible, but with this came the discovery of kindness, trust, love, humbleness and courage, and the loyalty and trust of animals and nature alike.

We became aware of a whole new world, one that was so endless in it's possibilities and oppertunities, we almost couldn't believe it! Threatning this world however, is ignorance and the lack of fearless leaders, ones who inspire individuals to understand and pursue their innermost truth, instead we are misguided and made to believe that war and terror is our only choice. In the midst of all this violence and outrage, is some truly amazing individuals, who have made it their life's work, to reach out to those who have lost hope, dispite efforts to promote confusion, rage, fear, distrust, the way of the world as it is told through mighty mediums, such as the media,

Since we've left St Lucia, our lives have changed dramatically. We saw that through what we were doing, and by challenging our own fears, we were starting to capture the imagination of many and soon realized that our story needs to be told. It is one worth telling, for it could very well be everybody's discovery.

Through weird coincidences, we have joined various organizations in their efforts to heal the wounded, preserve mother nature, etc.. We realize though, that what we experience first hand, could be an effective enough medium, to relay the truth about the state of our country and it's people. It's not as 'bad' as everyone fears, in fact, it's an amazing adventure.

THE BEGINNING: a new understanding

2 Girls and 2 Jack Russel puppies left St Lucia on the 23rd of October 2004, en-route to Cape Town. No backup vehicle, support team or anyone who could make life a little easier or who could sort out any problems which may arise. I suppose the challenge lay in making something work that originated from a last minute decision with no time to prepare and with no previous training or experience. Not knowing was part of the excitement!

We didn’t do much research on the route we took, bought a map and committed ourselves to the road nearest to the beaches or riding on the beaches itself. If we knew any better at the time, we could’ve saved ourselves a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but then, ignorance is bliss, right?

The first 2 months had been hell, but once we reached optimum fitness or rather stamina, traveling became easier. Once we reached Cape Town, and with the help of the media, we continued our trip to Upington, along the coastline in aide of Animal welfare and child abuse. From there we went as far as Potchefstroom, a total of 5 700kms.

Was it dangerous? Yes, definitely, especially through areas like the Wild Coast, where there were days when we had to survive without water or food. No road, wilderness, up mountains, along rock faces, basically undesirable heights, and all the while, the knowledge that if anything happens, we’d be vulnerable without any cell phone signal or an idea where to find people for the next 100kms.

To break away from the monotony of cycling, we dared to go on the Orange river with a canoe, once again uninformed of the dangers, without guide or communication devices, we happily went along. It was absolutely stunning, but we eventually got sucked in by a rapid which was certainly not meant to cross. We were left on the Namibian side of the border without canoe or anything, not even shoes, for a couple of days.

There are so many stories to tell, of amazing people, magical sights, and of the road less traveled. If anything, this trip brought to us the knowledge that absolutely anything is possible! South Africa maintains a wealth of things most of us have already forgotten and it has become our mission to share as accurately as possible this diversity with especially those who might never dare to explore.

It is so important to see things completely and to understand that each and every one of us has a share in the way things look and are today. It’s time to make a noise and be heard! Know what is going on around you!


How are we going to do it ?

DIE BEGIN: 'n splinter nuwe begrip

2 Dames & 2 Jack Russel hondjies het op 23 Oktober 2004 uit St Lucia weggetrek, oppad na Kaapstad. Geen ondersteunings voertuig, geen reddings span of enigiemand om die lewe makliker te maak of om probleme uit te sorteer nie. ‘n Harwar besluit met geen tyd om voor te berei en geen vorige ondervinding was seker dan juis die uitdaging wat ons nodig gehad het. Die onsekerheid was opwindend.

Omdat ons nie rerig vreeslike beplanning of navorsing gedoen het oor ons roete nie, maar onsself eerder toegespits het tot die pad naaste aan die strand of op die strande self, het ons minwetend vir onsself ‘n lat gepluk. Nietemin het ons met ons aankoms in Kaapstad en met die hulp van die media, met ons toer voortgegaan en strand langs tot in Upington gery. Vandaar weer tot in Potchefstroom.

Met baie moeite, frustrasie en fisiese uitputting het ons voortgebeur, en metter tyd optimum fiksheid of eerder stamina gehandhaaf, wat dinge makliker begin maak het.
Daar was gevare, die lysie is elle lank, veral deur die welombekende Wilde Kus, waar ons vir dae sonder water of kos moes oorleef. Berge op, kranse langs, die hoogtes in, met die wete, dat as iets moes gebeur, ons hulpeloos sou wees, met geen selfoon sein of enige hulpmiddels, anders as hardloop na die naaste dorpie, wat wie weet hoe ver is.

Om die eentonigheid van fietsry te breek, het ons met ‘n kanoe op die Oranje rivier gaan roei, weereens oningelig oor die gevare, sonder gids of kommunikasie middels wat werk. Hoewel asemrowend pragtig, het ons ons vasgeloop teen ‘n ontoeganklike “rapid” wat ons ingesluk en uitgespoel het aan die Namibiese kant, vir dae sonder niks, nie eens skoene aan ons voete nie.

Daar is soveel stories oor die mense langs die pad, die natuur, hoewel sprokiesagtig, ook soms ongenaakbaar en ons ontberinge. Hierdie toer wat ons aangepak het, het ons definitief oopgemaak vir so baie dinge wat voorheen onmoontlik of ontoegangklik was. Daar is ‘n rykdom aan dinge wat meeste van ons al van vergeet het, in Suid-Afrika, en nou wil ons graag die dinge so akkuraat moontlik, deel met die wat dalk nooit sal waag nie. Dit is belangrik om die dinge nie mis te kyk nie, en te weet dat elkeen van ons deel het aan die stand van sake in ons land. Dis tyd dat almal se stemme tel en dat ‘n mens weet wat aangaan.

Hoe gaan ons dit doen?

WIE NIE WAAG NIE…

MEET MY PARTNERS

It’s the most amazing feeling, when you go through tremendous high’s, and have someone to share it with. Equally unbelievable when at the lowest of all low’s, there is always a hand, a shoulder or a willing ear, to get you through a terrifying moment. Well, we are all thrown together, by some or other coincidence, or by the hand of destiny. Either way, I am blessed to have such a tremendous team. Each of you, Maria, Dante & Katryn are special, and I solute you for you courage and tenacity.

I got to share a journey of epic proportions, a once in a lifetime event, with one of the most special people I know. Maria. This is a person who will always be optimistic about anything, even when fear is a factor. She has through many occasions, carried the load when I just couldn’t go any further, no questions asked, and not a mention of her equally drained physique. When there isn’t any fight left, she will stand up with an unbelievable zest, and prove, what some can’t even imagine.

Thanks partner, for coming such a long way, and for always being reliable, and always patient. We’ve got a tremendous journey still ahead of us, and I am ever thankful that you’re the one who has my back. This is also the part where we get to return all the favors bestowed upon us and share what we’ve learnt along the way. Our plight to stand up for what’s good, and to make a positive contribution towards growth and fairness, is a long shot, but a shot no less.

Good luck, and may God be with us, no matter where, how or what.

Sincerely

Me

MARIA...

MY EVER FAITHFULL TRAVELBUDDIES

KATRYN & DANTE

THANK YOU!!!

When one sets off into the unknown, there is a certain element which makes any experience epic, and unforgettable. It could actually be many things that separates one thing from another. There’s the challenge, the tremendous and sometimes biblical awareness of life, falling down, and getting right back up, nature and all it’s wonders, but most importantly, it’s what happens when people extend themselves, to a place where they interact and become a part of something bigger. In my experience, this usually happens when we break free from our comfort zones, and definitely, when we do things, not only for ourselves, but for the benefit and upliftment of someone else.

We are in such a fortunate position, where we experience this daily. We are more often than not, on the receiving end of all this giving, and there are really no words in which to thank any of the individuals, who have taken us in, helped us out, believed in our mission, given us hope when we’ve lost it, and most of all, each and every one, who have inspired us, to be more than what we could ever dream of being.
We have come such a long way, that sometimes we tend to forget exactly why we are putting ourselves and our bodies through hell and back, but then, in an instant, in the smallest way or gesture, I know. It’s not for me, my family, my dog, my dreams or ideals, but for everyone who share the belief that it’s all good, or at least it should be.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you so very much to our sponsors, without whom we would’ve been miles away from our goals. There is and have been many. It would literally take forever to name and single out every one of you, but I will. Since we’ve only started blogging recently, I will in due course, make sure that I leave nobody out.

Firstly, thank you to Waterglen Guest Lodge, ma & pa, vir beter kan ek sekerlik nooit ooit vra nie. Al maak ek julle grys en le julle nagte wakker en worry oor waar ek is, dankie dat julle my ondersteun in dit wat ek glo goed is.
Reallandscape, Renzo, thanx for your support and First Ascend clothing for Drakensberg hike
Hi-tec, Chris, for providing us with all terrain footwear
Karrimor, Eugene, for our day packs and backpacks
Cadac, Cindy & Justine, for our fab iso dome tents and sleeping bags
Royal Canine, Michelle, excellent nutrition for Dante & Katryn
Continental, Ray, for keeping our bicycles on the road
Spar, individual stores, for supplying us with food and always supporting us (Spar good for you)
First Ascend, Carmen, for our clothing and rainwear

I especially want to thank every individual whom I have singled out, for the time and effort that they have invested in us. You guys are without parallel, awesome!

Sponsors

KATRYN & ME, THE LONG HAUL

EK ONTHOU DIE EERSTE DAG

Ons het 23 Oktober 2005, weggetrek vanuit St Lucia. My ouers het ons hier kom aflaai, seker maar beter as ons so ver is, anders vreet die worry van waar langs die pad is my kind vanaand jou op. Die kusdorpe is redelik naby mekaar, so dit is heel moontlik, om elke aand op ‘n nuwe dorp te slaap. Die binneland, ‘n ander saak, veral van Rustenburg af, die gevare klink net soveel meer, want ons koop die Beeld en die Rustenburg Herald, wat vertel van local gevare.

Ons hele fietstoer was in ‘n japtrap beplan, net sommer besluit dis so, en ons maand kennis gewerk, toe is ons weg. Ek kan vandag nie eens meer onthou hoeveel mense het ons uitgelag nie, veral vir my, want Maria het darem ‘n goeie sport agtergrond en het net nou die dag provinsiaal hokkie gespeel, maar ek kan nie eers behoorlik agteroor bliksem nie, nevermind fiets trap van St Lucia af Kaapstad toe. Om alles te kroon het ek ‘n hewige rookverslawing wat dit destemeer onwerklik laat klink. Nietemin, ons het ons fietse gekoop, het self die drarakke gemaak wat ons bagasie moes dra, en die mandjie voor, wat elk ‘n Jack Russel van sowat 6 maande moes dra. Daar was nie tyd vir oefen of die gewig op die agterkant uittoets nie, ons moes werk, sodat ons darem kon survive vir ‘n rukkie.

My pa het gewaarsku dat die bagasie ‘n bietjie wyd geskat is, maar ons weet mos beter. Hulle het skaars weggetrek oppad huis toe, toe ons agterkom dat daar nie ‘n manier is wat die hele spul agterop die fiets wou pas nie. Die een kollosale rugsak tot barstens toe vol, het ons per geleentheid terug huistoe gestuur, en vir die ander een moes ons 5 kms buite St Lucia omdraai en hom by mense los wat ons van geen kant af ken nie. Later moes ons met groot teleurstelling uitvind dat die twee mensies toe nie so eerbaar was as wat hulle voorgegee het nie, want die sak het blykbaar weggeraak, met my hele cd kolleksie sowel as Maria se Nikon digitale kamera, discman, en nog vele meer.

Ag wat, ‘n mens moet seker maar partymaal tevrede wees om te verloor ook. In alle geval, dit het ons met die omdraai slag ‘n paar dae geneem om weer weg te trek, want die groot bang het ons beetgepak. Daai 5 kms was genoeg om enige mens se hare te laat regop staan. Ek kon nie eens op my fiets balanseer nie, en asemhaal tussendeur was tevergeefs. Uiteindelik hoor ek my pa se stem hier in my agterkop, wat se: ‘moenie worry nie ounooi, ek weet jy gaan nie eers 2 dae haal nie, maar bel my net, ek is dadelik daar om jou weer op te laai.’ Toe spring ons op soos een man en begin trap! Dit was maar rukkerig, en ons het nou al ‘n globale bedrag gespandeer op gastehuise, waar ons weggekruip het vir die oomblik. Die onbekende. Dis darem ‘n vreesaanjaende ding. Klink alles goed as ‘n mens daaroor sit en gesels, maar as jy by die diepkant inplats, dan spartel jy vir lewe en dood.

Soos nou, net 15km buite St Lucia kry ek ‘n pap wiel. Kan nie dink dat ek al ooit ‘n fietswiel geruil het nie, want toe ek klein was, het ek van die ‘permanent tubes’ gebruik. Daar’s blykbaar altyd ‘n eerste keer. Ek probeer eers om die wiel te ruil met al die bagasie agterop, maar kom gou agter dis nie so maklik nie. Met groot drama en ‘n gehuil oor my lot (eintlik maar net bang en sukkel met die asem), gooi ek alles eenkant en begin my werk. Na ‘n goeie uur is die wiel steeds nie reg nie, en ek weier om hulp te aanvaar, ek sal self!!! Uiteindelik is die gaatjie gestop, maar om die dood kry ek nie die wiel styfgepomp nie. Nou gee ek nie ‘n dooie duit om nie, aanvaar maar die handjie wat Maria bysit, maar selfs sy kry die verdomde tube nie styfgepomp nie. ‘n Bakkie vol swartmans gelaai, stop naderhand en vra of hulle kan help, maar nee, die band wil niks weet van volkom nie.

Toe dit net wil begin lyk asof ons gestrand sit, stop ‘n dierbare mensie, Andre, van Mtubatuba langs ons. Hy gee die pomp ‘n go, maar niks. Hy reken hy’t ‘n hoelugdruk pomp by die huis, laai summier die fietse agterop die bakkie en daar gaat ons, te dankbaar dat ons nie die nag in die middel van nerens hoef te kamp nie, alhoewel dit die oorspronklike plan was, maar nog ‘n dag gaan nie seermaak nie. Andre se familie ontvang ons met ope arms, en ons sit saam met die gesin af na die tennisklub toe, waar almal ‘n lekker potjie tennis en muurbal inkry. Daarna huistoe, waar ons wegle in ‘n heerlike maal van braaivleis en bykosse. Sien wat gebeur as jy dink jy’s verlore en gestrand, wondere…

ONS EERSTE WEDERVARINGE

DIE ONTNUGTERING:

Alles was anders as wat ons dit verbeel het. Die ontnugtering was so groot, dat ons skoon verbeisterd deur elke dag getrap, en as’t ware survive het. Ons werklikheid was skielik ‘n onwerklikheid. Elke dag was soos ‘n ontdekkings reis, maar die anderster tipe. Ons het bang die toekoms ingestaar, niemand weet werklik presies waar ons is, of wat van ons word nie. Ek weet, voor my heilige siel, dat ons sal fine wees, maar die oorweldigende vrese hou my terug, wil ek gou gou bel, en vra dat iemand ons moet kom haal hier langs die R102, oppad na Durban. Maar nee wat, ons sal fine wees, moet net ‘n bietjie uithou, totdat ons die mas opkom, en die toer trapkuns bemeester, dan kan niemand ons keer nie.

Ons het ‘n lang dag van trap agter die rug, en daar is ‘n vreeslike suid ooste wind wat ons van balans gooi, maar hier is die afrit na Ballito, nog net ‘n klein entjie, dan is ons daar. Ons het nog geen idee waar ons gaan bly nie, en ons finansies is ietwat beroerd, so ons kan nie kieskeurig wees nie. Solank ons ‘n warm bad kan he, en ‘n ietsie vir die honger, dan is ek so goed soos uitgesort! Ons kies eers koers strand toe, want die twee woefies, wil bene rek, en ek kort eers my asem terugkry voordat ek kan blyplek soek.

So gebeur alles weereens, net soos dit beskore is. Ons ontmoet die mees interessante, vreemdste mense, en ons naweek draai in nog ‘n avontuur, wat ons vandag nog speechless laat.

Meer hiervan ‘n ander keer.

DRAKENSBERG

HIKING THE DRAKENSBERG

One of my greatest fears, would be without a doubt, heights. Thus the decision to hike the Drakensberg, which is the highest mountain range in South Africa, the highest peak, I think 3 400m, nothing compared to greats like Kili, or Everest, but after it reached the 50m mark, already too high for me. As they say however, to conquer one’s fears, you have to deal with them head on. So we did.

Not as easy as it sounds. We started cycling from Rustenburg towards the Drakensberg, which took a couple of weeks, as we had a record rainfall at that time. So we had enough time to think about our hike, and I had enough time to build up a stinking fear for what lay ahead. It was all reasonably fine, until we saw this majestic range in the distance. Still fine, until we stood at the foot of Witsieshoek, and looked up. Not so fine anymore. I was petrified. In my minds eye, I saw every conceivable worst case scenario, like dogs chasing birds, and flying off the escarpment themselves. I saw Maria, who isn’t afraid of anything, standing on the edge, and falling…, falling, falling, was all I could imagine.

The organization that went into this hike, was serious, and we only had a week in which to do all this. We are ever thankful and grateful to everybody that assisted us in getting the right equipment, clothing, etc., for had it been up to us, we would’ve been in a serious fix, once we were up there. As usual, we didn’t do much research on this route, and trusted what those who’ve done it advised us on doing.

We originally thought we’d take the route up, at Witsieshoek, chainladder, but once we got close, we were told by the Royal Natal Parksboard that we weren’t allowed to go up anywhere within the Park, because we had Dante and Katryn accompanying us, and no dogs were allowed. We both knew that they’re no threat to wildlife, unless ofcourse it’s a rat, then there’s no stopping them. They do tend to chase after things, but so far, that’s as far as it goes, and nevermind that, isn’t a dog classified as an animal? There were no exceptions to this rule, so we had to head around to the Mnweni area, which didn’t form part of the parksboard.