Plett Adventure Racing Team at the finish of Expedition Africa 2016
It was with a stomach full of butterflies that the Plett Adventure Racing Team: Drew, Petrus (Pete), Andrew (Buddy) and Kate (Meisie) lined up for start of Expedition Africa (EA) 2016 on the Garden Route. EA is a 500km+ adventure race where competitors use a topographic map and compass to navigate between checkpoints. Teams also encounter transition points in the race, where they need to change between disciplines. We started that morning ready to tackle 18 transitions, with only 2 re-supply boxes available to us over the duration of the event.
The team’s moto was to eat an elephant one bite at a time, and so we divided the race into two. Our first goal being to reach the canyoneering and kloofing section of the race in daylight to avoid the cold. The second half would be focused on the finish line! The race started off with a paddle heading out into the Knysna Heads for our first checkpoint. With the first point in the bag we steadily transitioned along the route collecting check points until reaching the kloof as the 3rd day dawned upon us. The first three days saw Meisie battling sleep monsters, Pete temporarily losing our route passport in the surf a buffalo bay, and all four team members getting to grips with the magnitude of the events we were busy tackling.
The canyon, kloof and ensuing coastal hike took it out of the team. We battled sleep monsters, fatigue, sore feet and hunger to reach the end of that leg. What followed would prove to be just as taxing, but we knew our next goal was the finish line. Following another paddle, a long bike, hike and another shorter bike and paddle we arrived at our end destination after just over 5 days.
Drew mentioned that the extreme conditions which you put your body through starts playing havoc on your body’s natural rhythms, and only a strong mind can pull you through that. Our own minds together with the camaraderie of our team during the long legs of this race was just what we all needed to get through it. We battled sleep, food, cold and fatigue but we always had each other for support, laughter and a shoulder to cry on (particularly for Meisie). We all learnt so much about each other and our own physical and mental boundaries during this event.
Crossing the finish line to a magnitude of our friends and family waiting for us was extraordinary. We crossed the finish line realising that we have fallen in love with the gruelling dynamics of this sport. Thank you to Heidi and Stephan to putting together this ‘larger than life’ event together with all their volunteers who welcomed us with smiles and hugs at each transition. This event is logistical beast and we are forever thankful for all the hard work that was put in by the EA team.
Thank you to Plett Tourism for their financial and media support. Because of your continued support before and during the race our EA memories will last forever.
Some highlights and low’s from the race.
Drew
“Highlights:
- finishing each leg
- passing through Plett was the most memorable and uplifting with the support and beauty of the perfect day along with the stunning route. One of the best moments for me
- finishing as a full team
Lows
- trying to catch a nap on the deck of Enrico’s and being kicked off the deck in the middle of the night
- swimming the Keurbooms near river mouth at high tide at 2am”
Petrus
“Highlights was to experience the sunrise and sunset each day out in the wilderness, the support from Plett, family and friends, the hysterical sleep deprived laughs and that apple crumble at the finish line…! Loved every second!”
“A low point was convincing myself to swim across the river mouth at high tide at 2am….and leaving the fireplace at Angie’s G-spot after a quick stop at De Vlugt during the cold night cycle”
Andrew
“I found the biggest challenge for me to be the sleep monsters that decided to creep into me on day two already, the cold of the karoo night cycle together with the sleep monsters was hectic. The camaraderie of our team during the looong legs and during the quick transitions was awesome. Highlight during the race was the support from our Plett friends and our very friendly media.
My hardest day was day 4 the kloofing section where i wasn’t totally with it ,it was also very taxing on the old feet just soften them up for the next leg. All in all I loved the total experience of the event.”
