So whats the big idea?

For the past two years (2005 and 2006) I have competed in the freedom challenge mountain bike race from Pietermaritzberg to Paarl. The event is an unsupported non stop race 2300km long, covering some of the most spectacular natural areas found in South Africa. http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/

This year (2007) I decided not to compete in the freedom challenge, but rather to challenge myself to be free.

It is after all not the experiences themselves that enrich our lives, but how we apply them to new situations that challenge us, breeding creativity, strength and confidence within us.

So what are some of the lessons I did learn from the past two events?

1. Even the tallest building is only built one step at a time.


2. There is a huge gap between the time you say "I just can't carry on anymore" and the time that you just can't carry on anymore.


3. The "impossible" gets downgrades to simply "extremely difficult" or "frigging insane!" when you make that mental commitment in your mind to take on a challenge.


4. Without a vision, people perish.


5. If you plan for nothing, then thats what you will get.
   
   

So it came to pass that I started to grow an idea to cycle a transect through some of the most barren and isolated areas within South Africa.

Starting out in the red sands of the Kalahari, continuing through the desolate plains and salt pans of Bushmanland, on past the koppies of the Great Karoo and finally over the Swartberg to exit the Little Karoo via the Langeberg mountains to my home in Swellendam.

This is my account of that journey, my

"Transkaroo"