The Blue Cross Challenge – Day Three
Distance – 89 km
Elevation gain – 1898 m (although everyone climbed 2025m)
Time – 9 hr 30 min
Av heart rate -123 bpm
Max heart rate – 166 bpm
Max speed – 70 k.p.h.
Today’s 89 kilometer track out of Chipinge and up into Chimanimani through the remote Rusitu valley was an absolute bastard with 2025 meters of climb.
Old men in bicycles should not be allowed to count that high. There was no fun involved. It was 9 hours of pain endured solely for the sense of achievement. So I was happy like Trump placing second in Georgia when I finally limped into Chimanimani only to find my bloody bastard watch had shortchanged me 127 meters of elevation gain. And the last 127 meters were easily the worst. Stu Chalmers said I should have ridden with my wrist raised high above my head.
In a futile attempt to repair the damage, my bloody bastard watch gifted me a top speed of 70 kph, easily a personal best. I have never been that fast on a bicycle. It was horrible. I was terrified. I wanted to slow down but couldn’t pull on the brakes because my arthritic cramps were having cramps of their own at the time. But I’m happy to take the record, plus the other 10 kph that my bloody bastard watch most probably shortchanged me.
But over and above the sense of achievement, I saw some forever views out over Mozambique that would have taken my breath away, had I had any left. And I also saw a samango monkey. He was shouting at me from the tree tops, most probably telling me to pedal faster damnit. I love samangos. They are bigger and more cuddly than vervets, and seldom seen, apart from in our Eastern Highlands.
We dodged the weather bullet on Day 1 and 2 with cloudy and overcast but there was no hiding from the sun today. It was bigger than huge in blue skies above us all day and I feel and look like I’ve been riding with my face in a microwave oven stuck on high. It was so hot, especially in the valley. Fortunately a head wind got up for the last 20 kms into Chimanimani and provided some temporary relief from the heat, for about 2 minutes, but there after it punished all the way in to town. Head and wind are both 4 letter words for cyclists.
Jenny and I rode solo for 9 hours today, because of a technical malfunction on my bike first up, so I wasn’t able to share the pain with other riders also suffering. My bike started grinding alarmingly just 15 minutes into the ride. Riding next to me at the time, Mike Scott diagnosed the problem as a buggered bottom bracket bearing. I suggested turning the music up on my speaker as a fix, but Mike said it would be game over for my bike unless we either re-greased the bearing, or replaced it.
Because I attended a technical high school, I had to phone a friend, Stu Chalmers, still in camp, man down with the flu. Whilst waiting for Stu on the side of the road, Team Macheke stopped to help. They didn’t have the tools for the job, but said I could borrow their spare e-bike to complete the ride. I was more than sorely tempted because they look so much fun, but unfortunately Stu came along and fixed my bike. Even more unfortunately it turns out there was nothing wrong with my bike in the first place, other than severe dirt and grime in the moving parts from 2 days of riding on crappy roads. So I lost an hour for nothing and felt a proper plonked in the process.
We have another 1700 meters of climb in front of us tomorrow as we climb up and over the iconic Tank Neck, unless my bloody bastard watch shortchanges me again. We are riding to raise money and awareness for the SPCA. Please follow the donate prompts below https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/spca-blue-cross-2024.
Until my next blog, enjoy, and remember to wash all your moving bits – Eric Chicken Legs de Jong
The Blue Cross – Day Four
From Chimanimani, up and over the iconic Tank Neck to a beautiful bush camp north of Mutambara Mission and south of the Himalayas.
Distance – 89 km
Elevation gain – 1195 m
Time – 8 hr 38 min
Av heart rate -106 bpm
Max heart rate – 178 bpm
Max temp- 36 degrees.
Tank Neck, the mountain between Chimanimani and Cashel was four years older, 4 years higher, 4 years steeper and 10 years tougher, but the views from the top made the ridiculously steep hard yards worth it.
The mountainside was covered in masasas in their new-bloom autumnal glory, from the deepest reds, through pinks, to the lightest orange, and the views looking out over the Chimanimani mountains and Mozambique were forever. I had a sad on my heart looking down on the ruins of Charleswood Estates where Roy and Heather Bennett lived, loved and dreamed big.
Dust has added another dimension to the Tank Neck challenge, elevating it to next level epic. The road over the mountain is now covered in dust, fine like talcum powder, ankle deep and then some, with boulders, logs and worse lurking beneath. On the bike, it was absolutely treacherous. And whenever one of the support vehicles came past, you were blinded by billowing clouds of dust which hung in the air forever.
If the climb up was terrible, the descent was even worse, with logging trucks in the mix and I was able to smash my personal best on for my slowest Tank Neck descent. But for the fact I was terrified, I almost nodded off I went down that slowly.
SPCA Mutare lay on a beautiful bush camp under Masasa trees and towering kopjes. It really is the most spectacular of settings. It is tradition to climb to the top of the nearest kopje to enjoy the sunset, but I was too knackered, and watched the sun go down from my stretcher.
We are riding to raise money and awareness for the SPCA. Please follow the donate prompts below https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/spca-blue-cross-2024.
Tomorrow we ride from Mutambara to Mutare. Until then, enjoy and pedal if can – Eric Chicken Legs de Jong.
* Names and images may have been changed for privacy reasons
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