For reasons unknown to me Team Have Beer , which we most probably will have to change to Team without Beer , was entered into a Adventure Race after about a two year resting period . Donald was nominated as the navigator and with this title behind him he also became the team manager . It was decided from the start that he will be the ONLY one to give directions and let me say now before I start the report that it worked very well . I suppose I also have to elaborate on our training program a bit as I am sure a lot of people would like to know how we training for events like this . Running – Apparently Hilda put a few kilometres in the weeks before the event . The rest of us started to run at a very young age and knew that walking was way better and easier . Cycling – Same as above , we know how to ride a bike Rowing – Now here we knew that without training we could run into problems . So me , Hilda and Werner did about 90 minute flat water training two weeks before the event . Our team captain could not make this session but he did assure us that he has seen a canoe before and “how difficult can it be ? “ . Getting all the required kit together took two days as it was all over the place but I am proud to say we all got to the event fully kitted with all gear in place . We left Pretoria just before 17:00 because we did not want to miss the pasta meal . Normally a pasta meal at events would consist of 14 noodles , find the mince and imagine the cheese . This meal was something I would have expected to find at one of our finest Italian restaurants in the big city , only twice the size . Luckily we had the meal about 4 hours before race start as I found it very difficult to move after I ate all that food . The race started on time and we all grabbed out boats and started walking to the river about 800 meters away . We did not really bother to plot the point where we had to launch our boat and just followed the crowd who happened to go the wrong way . When they realized their mistake and turned around it put us in the front of the “lost” group . Only about 200 meters was added by this little mistake and it also made the congestion at the launch pad less . Nevertheless it was still a scramble to get the boats into the water but we eventually managed to clear the side and started paddling up river . Donald did not really fit into the boat but manager to squeeze in . Very wobbly we rowed hugging the riverbed . I kept us as close to the side as possible as I could see a swim coming up . Hilda and Werner was going strong and did not look like struggling at all , we on the other hand were all over the place . I think we got about halfway on this leg when we went for our first swim . It was freezing cold and a shock to the system . Getting out of the river was almost impossible with all the reeds on the sides . But we had to get the water out of our ship and after a struggle we managed to empty the boat and get back onto the water . A few hundred meters further it was time for a dip again . This time we picked a spot that was very deep and even when we managed to get next to the reeds we would not stand . At this point I had a sense of humour failure and got onto the reeds , grabbed the handle of the boat and yanked it out of the water with Donald still hanging onto the other side . When Donald started laughing I knew we are going to be ok and sat down on the floating grass having a giggle . Again we got into the canoe just to capsize a few meters further . We made a k decision to portage the remainder of the leg . After falling around the reeds for what seemed hours we realized that portage will not be possible , so back to the water we went . To make a long story short we had another swim before we reached the transition area . There was no time to stand around as I could feel my blood starting to freeze and had to move else I will become a Popsicle . No feeling in hand or feet made going difficult but luckily we had a steep climb ahead of us and quickly I could feel life coming back . We reached the top of the hill in record time and quickly found the first CP . The 2nd CP eludes us and after about a 20 minute walk we ended up at CP1 again . The sweeper team joined us and kindly gave me a life jacket to try and keep warm . It really helped a lot . I really don’t recall us ever finding CP2 as at this stage I just kept my head down and followed whoever was in front of me . Walking like this staring at the ground I noticed a lot of cow dung all over the place . I said to myself , the first one I see steaming I am gonna plant my face into . I still don’t know if I was lucky or unlucky but I did not pass a steaming one . But spirits was still high and we headed for where we thought CP3 would be . We knew there had to be a ruin in the area where we will find the CP . Then we saw it , a flashing light . We started to hike towards the light but it does not get closer , actually it seems to be moving away from us . Ok that must be a firefly from the North Pole , so we turn around and went the other way . But somebody looked around and again saw the flashing light , this time it seemed brighter and it made a sound !!!! Woop-Woop or something like that . So u-turn again and this time we gonna catch that light . It is always good to see Hardy (Clinton) but this reunion was special . But we could not stand still for long and off we went . The sweeper team was somewhere else sweeping and we headed towards CP4 . I just wanted to get back to base camp ASAP to get some dry clothes and hot coffee . At the TA we got a little surprise . Our life jackets were frozen solid and we had to break them open to get our arms in . The splashies also sounded like a space blanked and it was very difficult to get it around the cockpit . Me and Donald was the first to go into the water and at this stage the mist was so thick that I could not see the tip of the boat . Hilda and Werner soon came paddling past us but in true team spirit and knowing how we battle Werner broke his light stick and shouted at us to follow the light . Donald instructed me to just sit still while he does the paddling . Not what I really wanted to do as I needed to keep moving but every time I blinked Donald would just growl “Sit stil “ . We followed our team mates for quite a distance but lost them in the mist after a while . Again I decided it best to try and see if we can stay close to the shore . At the bridge I took the wrong entrance and we got stuck on a pipe . I still don’t know how but we managed to get off the pipe , turn around and continue without getting wet !! The sweepers followed us closely and recommended that we exit before the rapids . We did not need a second invite ,we were out of the water quicker than CP4 could shout woop-woop . I could see the light at base camp but we had to get to the next CP and also get our partners . Together with the sweeping team we took a jog up to the next CP . Mandy had a nice big fire going at her CP . We quickly realized that our partners have not arrived yet . Maybe they took the first rapids and portage after that . We decided to wait a bit and also to soak up as much heat from the fire as possible . Another team arrived at the CP and reported that they did not see anybody else on the river . This was not good and we had to go and find them . We walked back up the river calling and blowing whistles without reply . We eventually landed up at our boats again . Maybe they have also exited the river early and headed for Base camp . So we grabbed out canoes and headed towards the light . I could see that their boat was not in the ship yard . Thing did not look good . Hardy quickly got a search team together while we got into dry clothes and waited by the fire . We soon got news that they found the pair . Carine quickly ran to the kitchen to made 2 x hot chocolates as we also got the news that they are very wet . What has happened from what I heard is that they got lost in the mist on the river and took the wrong split . In the dark the encountered some rapids (I saw them the next day !!!! ) and capsized the boat . They managed to hang on and found dry land but unfortunately on a small island . They decided to leave the boat there and head for the other side of the river where they knew the CP was . But the rapids on the other side were even bigger and they took a ride over rocks and stuff . I could see that Hilda looked a bit shaken while Werner was a little bit stirred . After a warm shower they got the first words out and Hilda attempted a smile ! We decided to continue as soon as the sun comes out . At a few minutes past 7am we got onto our bikes and headed for the gorge . Things started to look up again , we all on our bikes having a nice ride chatting about what’s to come . As we got to the transition area 3 teams came in after complete ting the gorge hiking leg . We got a warm welcome from the people managing the Transition and after Donald finished his plotting we started the hike up the gorge . I am very glad we decided to do this section in the light for two reasons . If we started in the dark we most probably will still be there somewhere and secondly we would have missed the most stunning views . I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a hiking leg this much . The sweepers caught up to us at CP8 . Team Have Beer decided to walk along the escarpment while the sweepers took another router but our paths crossed 200 meters into the hike where the two paths came together . We did not find CP9 where we hoped it would be and ended up on top of a rocky hill . While the two navigators got their maps out I ran around the hills looking for a CP . The young lady from the sweepers was standing on the edge of the hill looking into the distance when she spotted something . She saw a CP !!!! This thing was miles away and despite their best effort to show it to me I could not see anything . Carine wanted to take a photo and show me but not even her camera could zoom close enough . The hike to CP9 was to say the least not easy going . Rocks , thorns and thick bush hindered out progress . We saw another team approaching the CP from the wrong side coming down the mountain . They must have reached it before us as we only saw then much later hiking towards the gorge . CP10 was very easy to plot as even me , who gets lost in Sandton city could see it was at the top of the highest point . I again really enjoyed hiking up to this CP . Uphill hiking is just so much more fun than the downhill stuff . At CP10 the sweepers decided to hike down to the road and hike from there to the transition and we decided to try and cut the corner and go through the bush . The downhill was very steep and rocky and really tested the knees and ankles to the limits . Halfway down we decided it was time for breakfast and stopped for about 20 minutes to take a break . At the transition we found the sweepers ready to start their next leg . We told them to continue as they still had to do the paddle . We could not do the paddle as we only had one boat and would do the extra mountain bike leg instead . After a nice chat with the people at the transition Donald finished the plotting and we headed for CP11 . Donald and Werner speeded past this CP but luckily me and Hilda was exchanging recipes at the back and I saw the CP next to the river . In his attempt to turn around Donald fell over and decided to just lie there in the middle of the road for a few minutes . This seems to be a trademark of our team , lying in the middle of the road for long periods of time . On our previous race we actually slept in the middle of the road . After CP12 we cycled towards the caravan park where we would get instructions for our next leg . Time was running out for us to go and recover our boat while it was still light . Werner and Donald put the hammer down and left me and Hilda eating dirt . We got the base camp just after 14:00 . Another team who managed to wrap their boat around an obstacle heard of our salvaging attempt and we agreed to team up for this . It so happened that their boat was close to our team’s boat . The river was flowing very strongly in the area where the boat were and I went back to camp to fetch PFD and paddles . WE made a rope by joining all the boat tie downs together. Werner and the other team member made it across by hanging onto the rope . Then the cavalry arrived . Farmer Dirk and his team got there with long ropes and plenty of advice . We recovered two boats fairly easily but could not get the third boat . We don’t know who this boat belonged to but don’t worry it’s most probably still there . We had to hit the road after price giving and could not stay for the after party . A great race with many challenges and lots to talk about . Thanks to sweeping team and marshals for “tips” , race organizers (we know where you stay) and Dirk and his team . Team Have Beer will now again go into hibernation for two years . So until the next awakening cheers for eers .
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