Ah when it rains, it pours, and this is no metaphor. Day 9 of Old Legs tour saw the crew leave Carlitas bnb heading to Smithsfield, another one horse town deep in the free state!
With another 105 km in the bag and +1000m of climbing. Last night David prayed for Rain, and did it come! It rained cats and dogs.
Interesting fact: in the 1500s Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof… Hence the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Thee first part of the ride today was swell, and then we hit the 701 gravel road. David’s prayers were answered again, and before we knew it, a torrential rains storm was upon us. David showing Deidre and Matambo the “stop, drop and roll” maneuver after hitting a freshly graded road mudpile, landing on his back like a beetle with all four limbs in the air. Needless to say, Deidre and Matambo have never laughed so much.
Badger had a premonition of the said rains, and quickly jumped in the land cruiser before even getting a spit on him. We think he just likes Ryan’s conversations, and the obvious posing for the camera.
Cj Lead the pack for the most part of the day, but realised, the only way to get away from the rain was to peddle harder and faster away from it, leaving the pack in his dust, to arrive way ahead of the crew. but managed to find the best Pie shop in town. Thanks Captain.
Fun and humour is no end in this tour, and we are only 1/3 of the way in! Bring on the next 2 weeks! Tomorrow we ride out to Oviston Nature reserve, and camp by the Gariep dam!
