Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 145, Sept/Oct 2021 | Page 40

TRAIL RUNNING
Sabrina and Stef with fellow runners high above the sea on day two
warning at the start about the pebbly beach , some 2km of it , if I recalled correctly . I am sure that there must actually be pebbles somewhere in that bay , but they are hidden under tons of stones that ranged in size from tennis balls to bowling balls . Each step was a gamble as to whether the stone chosen to be trodden on would be stable , dry and large enough to offer safe passage to the next one . Each participant had to pick an individual route , style and speed to cross the entire bay , only to be confronted with another one on the other side .
The waterpoint at the 11km mark on a coastal path was most welcome , indicating that the day was more than half done and that we were approaching Fransmanshoek , which must be said was a disorientating feature , fooling you into thinking you ’ d left the sea behind you , only to present it to you on both sides . Reaching the top and looking back along the promontory necessitated a pause for reflection on just how magnificent this piece of coastline is .
However , that hallelujah moment was soon forgotten as we were again confronted by deep sandy tracks over dunes and more rocky , stony paths that slowed our progress to a pace better measured in inches per minute . The rise onto the grassy knoll overlooking Vleesbaai was delightful as we sat on the concrete picnic site and emptied our shoes , piling the sand high on the grass . Ahead we could see the next few kilometres of beach , well exposed by the low tide , that would host the final section of this day .
Historic Post and Candles at Dinner
We were rewarded with another Darling Light Lager for crossing the line and settled down to watch the Springbok game projected on an outdoor screen . By the end of the game the mood was grim , so we packed it up and headed to Mossel Bay to visit the Dias Museum , housing the 500-year-old Post Office Tree . The story goes that in 1500 , Pedro de Ataide , commander of one of Portuguese nobleman , military commander , navigator and explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral ’ s ships , left an important letter in a shoe or iron pot ( that detail is sketchy ) under or near a large milkwood tree during a stop for fresh water on his return journey from the East .
In 1501 , this letter was found by Joao da Nova , commander of the third East India fleet , enroute to India . In the letter was a timely warning of problems near Calcutta , and he was so grateful for this that he erected a small stone hermitage ( chapel ) to be used for religious purposes . This was the first religious building in South Africa , and today , a cross stands where it is thought the hermitage was built . The large Milkwood tree has been declared a national monument , and is generally known as the Post Office Tree . Inside the museum , which was originally erected in 1901 to serve as a grain and sawmill , is a life-sized replica of Bartolomeu Dias ’ s caravel , which sailed to South Africa in 1988 , as well as artifacts of the maritime history of the early Portuguese , Dutch and English navigators . It ’ s a worthwhile outing .
There was more to explore , but we had developed a bout of the munchies and so headed to the beachfront for a hearty and well-deserved lunch . By the time we returned to race HQ , the electricity supply had not yet been restored , even though we had seen multiple Eskom crews along the road working on the problem , so it looked like darkness was going to be our friend a little longer . By the time the sun set , candles had been lit inside the clubhouse , where Andre had been masterfully working on his giant fireplace and braaing what looked like more than a hundred sirloin steaks .
The tables outside were provided with candles , as the organisers took it all in their stride . The only thing
Exploring the coast near the Gouritz River mouth
Leaving Vleesbaai behind us we found a good pace to take us forward , past a fellow participant who had succumbed to blisters and was gingerly ambling along in order to run another day . A boardwalk off the beach would lead us up into Boggomsbaai , and the last stretch of the 19km stage on tar through the village into The Sandpiper Sports Centre , where an enthusiastic announcer upgraded the event ’ s field to international status by calling Sabrina and I out as “ all the way from Italy .” I almost didn ’ t want to spoil the moment , but I just couldn ’ t help myself , and I crushed him by letting him know that Bedfordview is firmly located on the Gauteng East Rand , quite a way from Italy !
Images : EL Rorke Photography & Stef Migliore
40 ISSUE 145 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za