Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 76, November 2015 | Page 60

Mc

Charity Corner

R150 000 raised! From left are Rob
Bremner (Liviero) , Kirsten Barraclough
(Liviero), Paula Quinn, Lynne Macrae,
Tanner Quinn (Cow), Iris Varty and
Corinne du Sart

Eating (and riding) for the COWS
The Great Annual Bicycle Ride Across Natal (or #GABRAN2015) which took place from
21 to 23 August, raised R150 000 for the Choc COWS. This is how it went down.

T

he three day cycle event called the
GABRAN began on a pleasant and not too
fresh morning at the ATKV Drakensville resort
and wound its way up hills and down dales
to Hillcrest.

Cyclists from far and wide joined the event, which
saw them ride 300-odd kilometres across the
beautiful KZN province. And it is a ride, not a race,
so riders determine their own pace on each day
with no pressure or podiums.
Tents, bags, camping chairs, (everything but the
kitchen sink!) were loaded into a sponsored four ton
truck which transported everyone’s belongings from
start to finish, and all the stops in between.
The goodie bags were a major talking point – thanks
in large part to so many individuals and companies
who jumped on board to support the riders. It is
possibly the BEST goodie bag ever!
Pitching tents for the overnight stops, new
friendships were formed, many photographs taken,
and memories that will last a lifetime for all those
who took part. Various compulsory grazing stops
are on route, the first being the Winterton Country
Club which provided enough tea, coffee, juice and
sandwiches to feed and quench the thirst of all the
hungry cyclists.
After being well fed, and watered, the hills into
Estcourt beckoned … Groans were heard as
the momentum from zooming down the hill
“evaporated” as the next uphill brought pain to the
legs.
Onwards they soldiered, as the Estcourt Bowling
Club hosted the cyclists … a merry gathering,
sharing war stories, puncture repairs, some more
puncture repairs and the general feeling of “Love
Living Life”.

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After that, it was helmets on, speedometers set, and
they were off to the first campsite – Wagensdrift
Dam. The once open and quiet campsite was
suddenly abuzz with cyclists, pitching tents, laughing
at others attempting to pitch tents, and yes, assisting
along the way. A hearty cooked lunch was served.
The afternoon was spent chatting to fellow
neighbours, meeting new people and just a general
well-being of being out in nature. It was not long,
then dinner commenced; queues were formed and
the famous “Clip or Klap” was called – Cyclists had
wristbands that indicated the various meals – and
as they queued for their meal, so they were handed
a plate, and the wrist band got clipped.
The GABRAN is definitely for the hungry – and
chance of any “weight-loss” is not going to
happen… thanks to three cooked meals a day; not
counting the many grazing and drinking stops on
route for which the KZN Midlands is famous!
Saturday morning rumbles began at 05:00 – as tents
came down, bikes checked, bags packed and
breakfast consumed.
Cyclists started leaving on the “grey concrete road”
the first climb of the morning; this was followed by
Bacon Hill (past the Estcourt Bacon Factory) and
then, the gorilla of all hills – Griffon … despite the
long, long climb, smiles, waves, and at times crying
was heard.
Back-up drivers tempted the cyclists with bottles
of Jagermeister… and as the cyclists approached
them, the vehicle was off again into the sunrise….
The feeling of euphoria on reaching the summit is
one all need to experience.
From there, it is all downhill into Mooi River, with yet
another compulsory stop, or “second breakfast”
at the local Wimpy. An absolute delight to see the

ISSUE 14 NOVEMBER 2015 / www.moderncyclist.co.za

Wimpy entrance becoming a bicycle park! From
here, it was up the FINAL hill towards Midmar Dam –
home for the second night.
Cyclists were now pros at pitching tents, showering,
finding kit for the evening in untidy bags and
securing bikes for the night.
The third day dawned too soon, as cyclist took
the fast decent into ‘Martizburg with caution, and
then onto familiar territory of the Amashova route.
Hillcrest was the finish line – and the aroma of lamb
on the spit wafted through the air.
The aim of the event was to raise funds for the
Choc COWS and the GABRAN helped raise much
needed funds for the little superheroes fighting
various forms of Cancer! The entry fee for the
Gabran Cycle Event is used purely for covering
costs of the meals the event is catered for by a
professional catering company from Durban, the
campsite costs, hiring of marques for the make
shift kitchen and dance area, and of course a
paramedic – without any of these, the event simply
cannot take place!
Cyclists were silenced when the “moo-lah” was
counted, with various mathematical calculations on
their hooves, they came to a grand figure of
R65 000! This is a R40 000-improvement on last year’s
figure.
One of the corporate participants, Liviero