Traditionally, a spirited rivalry has existed between the Support team and the Riders, each fiercely protecting their teammates during the daily tribal council and the infamous DOD award. However, just to get through this year’s unforgiving landscape means we have all had to work as a united front. Lady Dakar has thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that she, Laurie, and the black car have faced, but also the way this has brought the group together in a very different way.
Now that we are on tar, Linda, Naison, and Gary (who doesn’t miss the sand) have a pretty straightforward drive. For the cyclists, it’s a bit different. We swapped the sand for the hills, and it has been epic in a completely different way. The “updulations” are relentless, and the downhills just don’t seem to last long enough!
We kicked off today’s ride from a garage on the outskirts of Huambo to avoid the city’s hustle and bustle. Troy from the media team joined us. His mission: to stick with the pack and capture the action from the bicycle seat on camera. His error: after 25 days of inactivity, joining a pack of seasoned cyclists on the hilliest day yet was no easy feat. Not even Troy’s shiny new shoes could help him! It was going to be a tough day!
Troy bolted out of the starting gates, and hill after hill, we climbed; the views were breathtakingly beautiful. Although tough to get up, the breathtaking mountain scenery is worth every minute. It’s like riding through a living picture book.
Keegan, the Titan, decided today was the day to unleash his inner Tour de France champion. Head down, eyes on the prize, he absolutely smoked the Selby brothers. Like, left them in the dust. (admittedly a lot less dust than we’re used to by now).
The brothers later claimed it was only fair to let Keegan pass them on the hills. Can you imagine the shame of a 25-year-old powerhouse getting owned by a couple of 60-something guys on an uphill? We’re not buying it for a second, but it’s a good attempt. The Selby brothers are strong, but Keegan’s 25-year old legs, after 25 days of pounding the pedals, are really starting to shine.
Mark still has his New Zealand legs on, and he has done some significant preparation for this during the New Zealand tour. He’s also sensible, so starts the day with a steady warm-up and finishes strong, often looking like he has barely exercised!
Gus, our biking newbie, is turning into quite the seasoned cyclist. He started this whole Old Legs adventure with barely any saddle time, but now he’s charging up hills like a boss. He’s not far off the A-team’s heels, which is pretty impressive.
Meanwhile, Jaime, finding herself inexplicably alone much of the time, has her tunes blasting and was basically dancing on her bike today (yes, she’s as crazy as the rest of us). You know that feeling when you’ve conquered a killer climb and you’re flying downhill with a view that’ll knock your socks off? That’s what Jaime was channelling; pure, unadulterated freedom on two wheels.
Let’s talk about Richard, aka The Caveman. Richard ostensibly started as part of our support crew, but he’s been glued to his bike since we left Harare. He’s got this insane determination that fits right in with the spirit of the Old Legs and his resilience to keep going is outstanding. He’s getting stronger every day, just like Gus. The once rather large gap between him and the rest of us is shrinking fast. At this rate, he’s going to be sprinting past us all at Christo Rei.
Dave, who wasn’t feeling so well, gave Troy a turn on the bike today, and I think as he saw Troy’s grimace as “his bum deflated” (Troy’s description of what it feels like when your bottom moulds to the seat of your bicycle), Dave was probably very relieved to hand over the reins!
Sadly, the cold that has ravaged its way through our group has come full circle, and poor Ant is now down with not only some serious man flu but also gout. Gout is debilitating, and his hand is red and swollen. Poor Ant is bleak and envious of the riders, saying, “Man, I wish I was riding today.” Nick says that gout is worse than giving birth. Jaime’s not certain how he can know this, but she agrees that gout certainly does last longer, and we are all feeling for our epic chef, who is so disappointed not to be on the bike.
We finally found some cows! As we came close to the town of Waku Kungo, we passed some large-scale ranches with impressive staff accommodation; and, a bit further into town, a massive hotel and spa. Clearly, we’re entering a more affluent region, and tonight we have found ourselves a lovely roadside hotel with plenty of space for our stretchers and trucks!
We are all pretty exhausted but exhilarated from the day’s ride. The scenery has been stunning and the hills, although relentless, have been a great challenge. We are all feeling a great sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.
And that’s a wrap for today’s blog. Thank you for being with us on this epic journey. Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with our latest adventures.
Until next time, stay well, keep pedalling and
Have Fun. Do Good. Do Epic
#OldLegsTour #Angola2024 #EvenMoreEpic #PedallingForPensioners #HaveFun #DoGood #DoEpic