It is done !
We arrived in Capetown yesterday to a warm welcome from the city. We stopped for lunch 30Km from the city and were joined by the mayor, the childrens national cycling team and some reporters and TV crew. After some photos and interviews we set off with a police escort for the final 30Km to the Capetown Waterfront.
Capetown is a beautiful city. Everything is surprisingly clean and tidy and layed out nicely. We cycled along a long beach front with golf courses, jet skiers, parascenders and people flying model aeroplanes to the side of the road. It’s easy to see why people want to live here.
We were prepared for a slow 15Kph convoy which would have taken two hours to reach the finish line but in practice we made much better time and got to the Waterfront finish in just over an hour. We were all relived and delighted to have made it.
The city gave us a very warm welcome. Our police escort sped us through red lights, a “Huey” helicopter buzzed overhead and a TV crew filmed the final part of our journey. Electronic road signs had been programmed to display “Welcome to Tour d’Afrique riders” as we passed. At the finish line there was a huge crowd cheering as we swept into a secure area to leave our bikes, meet our friends and family, grab coffee and cake and then on to an awards ceremony and presentation by the city mayor.
Having cycled 92Km that day, standing around in the sun for 1.5 hours for the awards ceremony became a bit tedious but both the major and the Tour d’Afrique evidently wanted to use the occaission to generate some good “PR”. Considering all they have done for us, I didn’t really mind going along with the plan.
After the ceremony there was champagne and a buffet served in the VIP tent before we collected our bikes, checked into the hotel and unpacked our lockers for the last time. All very surreal having spent such a long time with a fixed and quite simple routine.
In the evening the Tour took over Marcos restaurant in Capetown for dinner and an awards ceremony. The highlight of the evening was a slide show put together by Eric, the TDA communications officer. The slide show was a collection of photographs taken by riders during the tour set to appropriate music. It was a great reminder for the riders and staff of what we’ve been through and for the 100 or so other guests it was a brief taste of our epic journey.
I am very happy to have completed the Tour d’Afrique but also sad that this is the end. The people I’ve lived and travelled with for the last 4 months are truly an awesome bunch. All of them will be missed.
It’s now Wednesday 13th May and I’ve had a few fairly hectic days in Capetown. I’m hiring a car today and plan to drive for a few days along the “Garden Route” in South Africa. I’ll be back in the UK on the 18th and will write some more about the trip as I get time.
Congratulations on completing what I can only imagine is the toughest time of your live! How you managed to keep a positive mental attitude through it I’ll never know!
Well done Simon!
That doesn’t sound like anything close to the congratulatory remarks you should be receiving-but hopeful, between riders, TDA, S.A’n hospitality etc you will have had your fair share of back slapping?! ;-0
Good on ya mate-truly awesomely done
Em
x
Be glad to see you back home next week. Enjoy your last few days in Capetown. Well done from us all.
Well Done Simon…….You’re The MAN !
Looking forward to your return for a few NIPS and a KNEES UP
Congratulations. Well done. I was not at all sure you would make it early on. Life will never be the same. Although how you could face returning to the grey English routine after that I don’t know. Look forward to seeing you some time when you have recovered. Keep in touch.
Big congratulations! That’s a very impressive journey you’ve been through. I’ve been telling everybody whenever the word “cycling” is mentioned.
Well done Simon!!!! Amazing adventure and a privilege to have been able to read about it as you experienced it – Give us a shout when you’ve recovered a bit.
Well done Simon – you truly are a hero and and great bloke to boot. Well done also to everyone involved (riders, support crews and sponsors). What a great achievement mate. Look forward to seeing you back in the UK. Matt
hey “smokin`simon”remember that day in tanz when you “smoked” the field,just before the dam????the looks on our faces must have been prime when we realised you were about 20minutes ahead of the fastest rider!!!!!
well done again and look forward to any other writings by you.