Having quite a few stage races and multistage tours under the belt I have become a little blasé about packing for the event. So at about 8.30 this morning I reached for the bag. Mmm, which one should I take? How big should it be for 6 days out and about on a bike? Will I impress anyone with a teeny tiny bag, or, more likely, screw myself by having to leave out essential luxuries? Or just essentials?

I decided on the orange Wines2Whales version. Small.

Civvies. Done. Nutrition. Done. Toiletries. Done. Ride kit. Done. Ok, this can all go in easily.

Wait, better check the weather forecast. Eek. Rain on and off the whole week. Sunday max’s out at 12 degrees. Twelve!! Ew, better get some longs bibs, warm gloves, a few more warmer thermal vests and of course a rain jacket. (I never wear the damn waterproof. It’s like poor old Five Spice in the back of the cupboard. Yoo hoo – choose me choose me! Damn, left at the alter again! What is it with Salt and Pepper??)*

And then, predictably, a problem

With the last minute rush squeezing into a now unsuitably small bag, there were a few things left behind but no matter, nothing we can’t live without.

Day 1 117km, 4h35m
A late start (mostly planned). There is something to be said for heading out of Durbanville at a civilized hour. During the winter months I have suffered through long spells of around two degrees Celsius in the badlands. Thankfully much more pleasant today! Instead the cycling Gods bestowed a northeaster. Not a pleasant warm berg wind but a viciously swinging bastard of a northwester than was foretold by the thick cloud cover. Why not let the wind be from ahead? At least that was only for the first 90 mins or so and then we swung to the right and outfoxed the Gods and sailed along merrily. Mostly anyway.

The most noteworthy occurrence on the ride was a really, really unhappy Malmesburian. As he passed us hooting wildly he turned to stare and make rude gestures . I did notice that he had a rather impressively thick middle finger and that his ancient Citroen was swinging wildly across the road and into the yellow line. Whereupon he looked ahead, straightened up only to whip that thick neck around again. Followed by another wild swing across the road. Dangerously at that and within a hair of a crash. Some sort of pent up road rage? Who knows.

The lesson here is that one can drive a motor vehicle far better if one is (a) looking in the direction of travel, (b) keeping both hands on the wheel and (c) in control of your emotions! Preferably all at the same time.

Lunch in Stellenbosch

Followed by the rolling hills to Somerset West and a scenic tour through the ‘burbs to Erinvale Estate Hotel. These ‘burbs are pretty up and down seeing they are set on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain. But Erinvale not so much.

* if you don’t know the reference check out some Michael McIntryre