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The Final Week of Cycling - by Ruth

Cycle to the Summit Part 19 The Final Week of Cycling by Ruth

Toby Hammond
2006-06-25 20:23:35

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source: http://www.cycletothesummit.org.uk

Lots of things ran through my mind in the last week of cycling: …What would Jo'burg be like…I still haven't decided what I want to do with the rest of my life…How are we going to edit a water related film in ten days…this hill is very steep…oh look there's a place called Belfast…will I miss the cycling…I haven't phoned my parents in ages…
My body felt like it had had enough. I had a sore knee and my legs felt tired. We had not had a full rest day in almost two weeks and I thought the final 550km would drag. But looking back I enjoyed it. It was entertaining watching Toby and Owy trying to put up their tent one night we slept at a toll booth (8 months and they still didn't seem to have it perfected) and I was excited about getting to Jo'burg. The wind couldn't decide which direction it was blowing from, so some days were tough with a strong headwind and other days we glided along with the wind in our backs.

Getting to South Africa was a culture shock. We crossed the border from Mozambique and said goodbye to women carrying buckets of water on their heads and the people selling little pyramids of oranges at the side of the road. Huge sprinkler systems watered the orange plantations, lorries that looked like they would actually pass their MOT sped past on the smooth tarmac taking fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and meat to the well stocked supermarkets. Gone were the days when our selection was limited to soap, tinned fish and exercise books. In Nelspruit I pushed a button at a pedestrian crossing for the first time in as long as I could remember and I gazed in the window of a shop dedicated to selling lights and lampshades. For the past 6 months there had been little call for such a shop as outside the major cities, much of Africa is without electricity.

We stayed in Malelane, and I was excited by the prospect of a shower especially as it had running water that was hot. There was even a ledge to put my soap. In our first three days in South Africa I am sure we amassed more food packaging rubbish than our entire time in Mozambique, but then again we hadn't had the luxury of take away pizza, wine and chocolate. Throughout Africa we sat on the ground, often in the dirt and dust so when I was told to move off the windowsill of a shop where I was resting my tired legs I wasn't sure how to react.

Our approach to Johannesburg was initially along a freeway but we had to find an alternative route when we found that we weren't supposed to be there. The traffic policeman said we could continue on the route but if the police caught us we might be locked up, like 100 other pedestrians that had recently been imprisoned for walking on the freeway.

When we pedalled into Johannesburg's Sandton Square, our official finish line, on 5th August, we were only able to circle the fountain twice before being collared by security guards. 'You're not allowed to cycle here' they said. Several journalists met us, took photographs and congratulated us on having cycled 13 177km. Also there to meet us was Stuart and Jane from The Grace Hotel, where we were to spend some complimentary nights, and I was most looking forward to having a long soak in a bath - the first for many months.

The experience has been amazing, and although we have finished the cycling, we have lots of preparation to do for the Summit. Over the coming weeks we are editing a short film for inclusion in the Jozi Film Festival that is running alongside the Summit, we are acting as volunteers at the Waterdome (one of the Summit venues) and generally enjoying a break from our bikes.