Cycling The Globe

Distance: 97.0 km
Ride time: 6:17:19
Average: 15.4 km/h
Max speed: 52.2 km/h
Total: 44224 km

Wise from experience I was on the road by 6:30 – undoubtedly the best part of the day to be cycling in this part of South Africa. I had left the dirt road behind and was now rolling up N7, the main highway connecting Cape Town with Namibia. It was still very remote though.

My plan was to reach the town of Garies before the midday heat, and I managed just in time. I found a bench in the shade for a siesta, and had just fallen half asleep when a friendly voice said “Hey, why don’t you park the bike in my driveway and come in for a cold drink?”. The voice belonged to Gys, a retired policeman, who immediately offered a cold beer.

After meeting Gys’ wife Margie and all the dogs, I was invited to stay for dinner – and even spend the night if I wanted to! Gys and Margie explained how they had hosted several cyclists coming through town in the past. What a lovely couple!

I considered the option to stay, but I also wanted to continue riding in the cooler evening hours. I decided to do so, but not before Margie had cooked me a big chicken dish with ice cream for desert. Not even that; my bags were packed with lollipop’s, cold drinks, and even 3 boiled eggs for breakfast before we said our goodbyes!

Back on the road I had a pass to climb which was now comfortable as the sun was going down. Half way up the pass, another friendly South African stopped for a chat. I was immediately offered a lift to the next town, but I explained that the whole idea of my trip was to cycle all the way – even though climbing mountains are hard. Wow, they surely are a friendly bunch, the South African’s up here in this part of the country!

With the last sunlight I pulled over to the side of the road and put up my tent. Gys had told me that it would be perfectly fine to put up the tent and sleep just about everywhere. I have been doing so all over the world and never had a problem, but it is only in a very few places that the locals will say they think it’s a good idea – a sure sign that this area is as safe as it gets.