St Francis has some very fit cyclists: Roly, Jacques, Trevor, Juan, Jonny, Tony, Phil and quite a few more.
I’m not one of them.
I’m not even in the B team …. I only cycle our 25km MTB route about twice a month. My excuse for not cycling more is that I have to walk my dog.
So when I was invited to cycle the 220km Baviaans from Willowmore to Patensie in October, I was more than a bit anxious.
The very tough Trans Baviaans cyclists complete this in one day, but our trip was to be over four days, so I thought I just might be able to manage.
But then the forecast was for some 35 degree days, so I was really panicking.
And then the big decision: to ebike or not to ebike??
I am fortunate to have a regular bike and an ebike, but my ebike is very entry level, cost me a fraction of most of the others in town.
To suffer exhaustion or loss of pride??
So Gary the organiser said “Bring both bikes”
It was a beautiful sunny but not too hot morning when we set off from Willowmore Main Street, so I thought I would start on my old regular bike.
And, due to the patience of the other eight much fitter cyclists, I surprisingly never even offloaded my ebike from the rack on the back of our bakkie for the entire trip.
More about the route
I can highly recommend this cycling adventure, which isn’t too taxing, even on a regular bike, and is easy for anyone to organise, with a variety of overnight options.
Our trip from Willowmore to Patensie went like this:
Day 1: 50km to Makkadaat Caves
Day 2: 50km to Zandvlake
Day 3: 70km (over the “Mother”) to Kudu Kaya
Day 4: 40km to Tolbos, Patensie
With four days, we had time to enjoy the beauty, although it was still a huge challenge for me, this being the longest ride I’ve ever done. We had beautiful late afternoon walks at the three stopovers, not that we needed the exercise.
Early starts helped us avoid the heat, although it was probably never much over 30 degrees. The encouragement from the other cyclists, all from East London, somehow got me over the “Mother” and the other lesser obstacles, without much walking.
What a very lekker four days, arranged by the one and only Gary Atkinson and Janine Atkinsonteam.
Highlights😀
Sleeping in a cave
Swimming in pools next to the road, and at Zandvlakte, and up the Kudu Kaya kloof
Cycling through so many river crossings, deliciously cooling, and only falling once (at Langwater, but no one saw it, so it doesn’t count)
The farm tour with farmer Piet Kruger at Zandvlakte, including sundowners and a talk about the merits of Spekboom
A very lekker group
The buffalo right next to the road at Bergplaas
Surviving the very steep 8km “Mother” climb with hardly any walking, encouraged by my old mate and “coach” Steve Keet
Janey cycling the last day (Kudu Kaya, Cambria to Tolbos at Patensie)
Robin De Kock (left) with another surfing legend, Graham Hynes
The current General Manager of Surfing South Africa, Robin de Kock, announced his retirement recently. In a career spanning 50 years of involvement with the sport and 40 years of running it in South Africa, Robin has decided to spend more time with his family.
Robin De Kock’s lifelong dedication to surfing began when he started surfing at the early age of eight in 1960, setting the stage for his remarkable journey in the sport.
Administrative Journey
His administrative journey in the sport is a story of commitment and dedication. It commenced at the club level when he was elected as the Secretary-General of the Atlantic Surf Club in 1974.
In 1976, he earned a position on the panel of accredited officials at the South African Surfing Championships. Thereafter he worked at this event and international contests such as the Gunston 500, the Spur Surfabout, the European Surfing Championships, and the ISA World Surfing Championships for three decades.
His leadership skills were recognised in 1980 when he was elected President of WP Surfing and Vice President of the South African Surfing Association after serving as its Secretary General for six years.
In 1988, he was elected President of the South African Surfing Association, a role that paved the way for his historic election as the first President of the unified body (Surfing South Africa) in 1991.
He held this position until 2002. Thereafter, he was appointed the first General Manager of Surfing South Africa.
His prowess in team leadership was evident as he successfully managed the SA Surfing Teams nine times between 1982 and 2004, a testament to his dedication and skill in the sport.
International Surfing Association
In 1998, he was elected Vice President of the International Surfing Association. Furthermore, he was re-elected four times and stood down in 2012. He remains a member of the ISA Technical Committee.
Here are some significant milestones in his 40-year career as a surfing administrator. Moreover, these milestones are a testament to his dedication and the impact he has had on the sport.
The unification of the sport in 1991.
The establishment of the annual Grommet Development Surfing Games in 1992, which remains the primary transformation and development tournament for Surfing SA.
South Africa’s return to the International Surfing Association in 1992.
A State Presidents Award from Nelson Mandela in 1996. He was elected as Vice President of the ISA from 1998 until 2012.
Presenting the ISA World Surfing Games in Durban in 2002, South Africa won.
South Africa’s victory at the 2013 ISA World Games in Panama.
Surfing’s inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Bianca Buitendag won a silver medal for South Africa and surfing during these games, which were held in 2021.
Gratitude and Thanks
Surfing South Africa President Isaac February expressed profound gratitude and thanks for the General Manager’s service.
“On behalf of the entire surfing community, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible dedication and leadership over many years. Your unwavering commitment and passion have shaped the organisation and significantly contributed to the growth and development of surfing in South Africa,” said February.
“Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. Your legacy of dedication, mentorship, and love for the surfing community will continue to inspire and guide us. We are profoundly grateful for your contributions.”
On Saturday morning, I woke up pretty confused. We had some of the old winter ‘flu lurking around the house, so it was an early evening. As a result, I woke up in the early morning hours and trolled around on my phone until the sun came out. We had no juice in the house, and the kids needed some, so my youngest and I headed out to check the waves and grab some juice.
The waves were small but ok, a few people were out, and the sun glared into our eyes from the east.
It was only when we went over the final Cape St Francis speed bump that it dawned on me that the timing of our morning was a little bit out. Not many shops are open in St Francis at 06:15 in the morning, but I had already promised my daughter a treat at the St Francis Bakery, and there was still the issue with juice.
We hooked a right into Tarragona, heading for Bruce’s carpark to check the swell direction – there is a cool, elevated view of the swell lines, and you can roughly ascertain where the swell is coming from.
It was tiny (from the west), and we headed towards the village en route to Anne’s. As we passed the church, a taxi came tearing up the hill so fast that I literally jumped in my seat with fright and swore loudly in front of my daughter, who, I fear, might or might not have heard me swear before. I was totally not expecting an early morning drama.
Slightly Foggy
I was still slightly foggy from sleep, so I viewed the world from a very slow perspective, but this wide-eyed dude appeared to have been clocking about 110 up that hill as he screamed past me. Probably less, but fast enough to be totally dangerous.
There are a couple of bumps and stop streets and gutters in that section, and there was no way he would negotiate them at that speed, but I faded around the corner and lost him in the rearview mirror, so I have no idea what happened next.
“That’s not going to end well,” I said aloud.
Then, a sudden wave of anger.
What if I had been pulling out of Harbour Road, and he came up the hill at that speed and didn’t stop in time?
What if he connected with my car, with my daughter inside?
Also, what the hell was the insane rush at 06:20 on a Saturday morning?
Was he still on from the jol? Was he still dopped up?
Do people have the knowledge that they can drive like this in the village with impunity?
If so, what gives them this sense of impunity?
What To Do?
What do I do as a resident, father and local?
Go to Facebook and rant, as many people do in St Francis? It doesn’t help in any way, and it’s childish.
Go to the police station? That’s not going to work.
Do I phone Calibre and say that a taxi is going too fast up a hill, and I’m very, very upset about it?
At least they will be sympathetic, but there’s no crime committed, no charge to be laid. No, just an indignant, slightly podgy resident with a history of mood instability as a sole witness to a car speeding.
Do I turn around, follow him, with my 12-year-old daughter in the car, and try to find the taxi to get the registration to give to security to run the plates? For what?
There is no Traffic Police Unit in our area. They come once a year to Cape St Francis, hide around the corner and issue fines to every single person who goes through that three-way stop street until they have reached their targets, then they go home.
Granted, they do have a presence in St Francis Bay over the week of New Year and around the bigger events, but that’s about it.
It’s pretty disorderly out there, readers, if we must be honest. Please be careful on our roads.
In closing, by the time I had calmed down and worked through my wave of anger, the shops had opened. My daughter got her treat from the bakery, I got my Caffè americano, and we got some juice. We headed home slowly, enjoying the rest of the early morning vibes.
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