“out there alone, racing the tide”

I now realize, that my last post was quite frankly “a bit angry” and having heard about the Virginia Tech gunman’s literature being referred to as “laced with venom” I have decided to steer away from that in search of lighter topics. Seriously, I don’t want to be arrested for suspected, future mass gun attacks.

 

So – This past week I have had the absolute privilege of riding the Imana Wild Ride, a four day Mountain Bike stage race up the wild coast. Having gained some rather distinct and quite bizarre tan lines, I have also witnessed some of the most beautiful sights imaginable.

 

Picture this – riding along a deserted beach as you try to follow the wave line in search of the hardest surface, you glance up ahead and watch the cascading waves break against the rugged black cliffs. The only problem about enjoying that sight is that you soon realize you have to get over the cliff, and the only way of doing so is with your bike on your back and your calves screaming with pain as you hike up what is affectionately (or not) termed a “mother”.

 

Take the steepest hill you know, multiply it by seven, increase its gradient by 15% and you’ll possibly get a bit of an idea what a goat track up a mother is like. There’s no doubt that while the Imana is a beautiful experience, it is also one of the toughest races there is.  I first realized this when I arrived at my initiation river crossing. Naturally I thought, “Let me keep my bike above my head where it’ll be nice and dry”. I only realized when my head had been submerged and my bike was casually forcing me under that I had probably erred in judgement.

 

Apart from the most spectacular riding, pushing, carrying and swimming you’ll ever experience, the Imana Wild Ride as I discovered, is far more than just a race or the crude boys (with girls present) weekend that it appears to be. The Imana Wild Ride contributes to building classrooms and developing education in the rural communities along the Transkei.

 

As you ride from one five star hotel to another, you ride through some of the poorest communities in South Africa. Although one feels guilty riding an expensive piece of machinery, it helps to know that at the “fine’s evening on day three of the race, R195 000 was raised.

 

While the race really is just another event to some, it has helped me realize that preserving our beautiful coast line and developing the local communities through education really is the ultimate goal. A goal that should always be kept in mind as you traverse the beautiful terrain of the Wild Coast.