MULTISPORT
At one stage we were met by two deep water channels , and after some debate , we decided it was necessary to cross them . I checked my waterproof bag and was ready to wade in , when out of the corner of my eye I watched my partner extract foil-wrapped schnitzel rolls from his bag and toss them with all his might across the water to land safely on the other side . He wasn ’ t taking any chances on wet schnitzel rolls !
A few rivers added some wading and swimming to the mix
The one and only water point at the Trennery Hotel is reached well into the stage , at 25km . By then the schnitzel rolls were well digested and we were in need of water . We marked the final checkpoint of the leg and raided the unmanned water table . There was water and some chocolates . I ate as many as I could until my partner became impatient . Nothing like a surprise bonk when you least expect it , I pointed out .
Leg 5 : Kayaking the Kei , take two ( 6.5km )
Some six and a half hours later we made it back to our kayak , grateful that we had not flirted with the cut-off , and ready to sit back and drift downriver . Yeah , sure ! I mean , we all understand the concepts of upstream and downstream , and have legitimate expectations of both , but what they don ’ t teach you at school is upwind and downwind , and with or against the tide . As it turned out , our downstream cruise took just as long , and we were just as inept as on the way up .
To top it off , sitting in a kayak after more than six hours of trekking caused me to cramp and shriek intermittently all the way back . Now it was my partner ’ s turn to laugh . By the time we made it back to the pont , my cramps had seized my legs , and the best I could do was roll off the kayak and crawl up the bank . Not my finest moment ... and not only my partner was laughing at this point .
Leg 6 : Mountain Biking ( 54km )
Finally reunited with our second , over eight hours since we last saw her , our bikes were ready , and we were excited to ride them – by far our strongest discipline . This stage climbs gradually for the first half , and I believe that the scenery is just as spectacular as the trek in the Transkei . Unfortunately for us , the sun had set , and we could see no further than the reach of our light beams .
Headed for Haga Haga , there were a few gnarly bits on the jeep track that we managed just fine , and eventually got onto the inevitable stretch of tar road that led us to the Haga Haga turn-off . From there the last 10km or so were all downhill , but with only seven or so kilometres left of the steepest and fastest part of the downhill , it was my partner ’ s turn to bonk . This was the kind of bonk that could only be sorted by smashing the large gingerbread man he hauled out of his backpack . Seriously , it doesn ’ t get weirder than that !
Gingerbread man munched , he got back on his bike and we flew into Haga Haga . By now it was well past 10pm and our second was looking a bit worse for wear , but this didn ’ t prevent her from magically producing two large pizzas out the boot of the car . We loved her more than ever . We changed into warm clothes , as by then the temperature had dropped , while keeping an eye out for a couple of teams that we had passed on the bike leg , and so we started the final leg , running with a pizza box in hand .
Athletes finished with a beach run , but some had to do it in the dark
The second bike leg came late in the day , and challenged very tired legs
Leg 7 : Beach Night Run , Haga Haga to Morgan ’ s Bay ( 14km )
By now , we were just glad to be on the final stretch , and even switched off our headlamps to enjoy some ambling on the beach by moonlight . However , my young and energetic partner was not done yet , and he insisted we should run . I had been watching and monitoring his worsening asymmetrical running caused by various muscle groups failing and adapting , with one leg dragging somewhat , a shoulder
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