SAPS Cycle Tour 2012 in aid of SAPS Educational Trust fund : Day Three

Thanks to Buddy from Club Mykonos  all of us had a lovely nights rest and a warm bath or shower.  I could not wait to get clicking and capturing all those special moments along the road. Day three was a long day. It was a hard 111km with rolling hills.

Everyone gathered in the parking area around 7 o’Clock so that we could  pack the trailers, discuss the days route and to collect the keys to the units.

After the trailers were pack and everybody was ready we head to the Bouzouki restaurant at the yacht club for a lovely breakfast and a nice warm cup of coffee.

We all had a lovely breakfast and coffee or tea. Our Master of Ceremonies Boesman and his wife Christelle also joined us for breakfast. Boesman of course had everyone in stitches and made sure that those who were in pain  forgot about it for a few minutes.

After breakfast we all headed to the parking lot where we were going to depart. Bicycles were checked, water bottles filled and thank you speeches were made.

We left Club Mykonos for Hopefield via Langebaanweg at approximately 8:45.  Well we were suppose do go Langebaanweg way but instead of going straight over the West Coast Road we turned left. After about 2,5km we stopped and we realized we were on the wrong road. Haha the riders did not think it was funny.  Day Three in the saddle of a bicycle is the toughest. You must keep in mind the riders are not professional riders they are policemen who most of the time sit in a vehicle or at a desk.  Well we turned around and headed back to the road that  we were suppose to take.

Going the wrong way….

Realizing we made the wrong turn…
Heading back to the right road

We just came from there haha
The right way….

The Langebaanweg road was very narrow and the surface of the road was not helping either. It however got better when we got to the road heading for Hopefield.

When we stopped for a break we had a small accident. One of the riders stopped dead and Karien crashed into him. Luckily there was no fatal injuries only a few scratches from the fall.

After the medics made sure Karien’s wounds are disinfected and everything is in order we headed  towards Hopefield. I started getting bored just sitting in the combie so I got courage from somewhere and started hanging out the window to get some action shots. I was so impressed with the photo’s I took hanging out of the window I was angry at myself for always taking my time and over thinking my every move. Why do I always do things so late in life…

Fixing flat tires in the bus

It’s not only at the Tour de France where beverages are handed to cyclist from moving vehicle.

After we went through Hopefield the cyclist took a break just outside the little town. We were under the impression that we would have stopped at Hopefield Police station but they made other arrangements. The riders then decided that time was running out and we did not have time to go to school that was out of our way.

After our pit stop we hit the road to Morreesburg. Sun getting very hot on the road now. Along the road we took a few quick pit stops just to fill up water bottles and have a drink and rest the legs.

Slow down I want a lift…

We left Morreesburg with full tummies  and the legs were rested. Next destination Piketberg.  Rolling hills is not funny. Up hill, downhill the men and ladies did not have it easy I was so glad I was sitting in the combi when I saw the road ahead…

Just outside Piketberg Boesman came to encourage the cyclist for the last few kilometers. The last stretch was uphill…. Our destination on top of the hill….

The police station is next to the Church and Church hall. We put away all the bicycle and was allocated to our different places to sleep. This was the first town where we were split up some slept at the hotel, Guesthouses and at the local community. It was very nice and the community of Piketberg really went all out to make our stay comfortable.

That evening after a nice warm shower we all headed to the Church hall for dinner and we attended the concert for a few minutes then we all headed back for a good nights rest.

Le-Lue Roode
Boesman as Gammad Fortuin

Jomari Greyling

Project 365 Photo a day: 365/39

Today was a tough 111km. I am very proud of all the riders. Rolling hills can brake ones spirit very easily.

We left Club Mykonos at approximately 8:45 to our next destination at Hopefield. The road was very narrow and the surface of the road was not helping either.

We had one incident on our way to Morreesburg when one of the riders crashed into one of the other riders. Luckily there was no fatal injuries only a few scratches from the fall.

We left Morreesburg with full tummies for Pikketberg. Up hill, downhill the men and ladies did not have it easy.

The road was long I started hanging out of the combie’s window to get some action shots. But more about today in another blog. I took nearly 800 photo’s today. Next week I have allot to work through.

SAPS Cycle Tour 2012 Day1: Project 365 photo a day 365/37

This week I will be incorporating my Project 365 photo a day with the Cycle Tour. I will only be posting one or two photo’s daily next week when I am home I will post some more photo’s with some more detail about what happened on the tour.

The cyclist left Cape Gate Mall around 8:30 this morning. I am traveling in style with Hugo Nieuwoudt.

The cyclist arrived at Melkbos 10:45. Where they received some coffee, tea and sandwiches. After about 45 minutes the cyclist hit the road again to Atlantis.

I went with Hugo to his show at Proteus Secondary School. I also made a stop at Berzelia Primary school were Erica and Hester held a puppet show for the kids.

We caught up with the cyclist when they still had about 15km left. We arrived at Darling Golf clubhouse at around 14:50.

The men and ladies still look good but I think tonight they are going to sleep like logs.

Here are the photo’s for today.

Still looking good

Still looking good

Project 365 Photo a day 365/21

This morning I was doing a bit of cycling photography and this fellow came riding past.  My first thought was this is my photo of the day….

According to my husband he rides his Diamond Back Mountain Bike  everyday and they see him in regularly on the Bottelary Road and in Stellenbosch.   On his head you will find his pink Swoop cycling helmet. He’s not only very environmentally friendly he is also safety conscious.

He decorated it with South African flags and wait for it he also has a radio somewhere on there.  How do I know that well he was riding to the beat. Between the spokes of his wheels he have three tennis balls and reflectors.He makes sure you see him he’s got lights in front and at the back.

I wonder were his bike took him over the years… Maybe I must wait for him one morning and ask if I can interview him….

Cycling for South Africa
Cycling for South Africa in Black & White