Cycling South Africa - Part 2

Having missed the renowned Cape Argus Cycle Ride by a week our CTC tour held its own 'mini Argus' on Sunday to finish our tour in style. Starting in Simon's Town, halfway down the Cape Peninsula, we made steady progress against strenghing headwinds, into the Table Mountain National Park. Reaching Cape Point on the tip of the Cape of Good Hope was a battle against the wind, but with a favourable following wind to relish heading north we didn't linger too long over coffee. The return leg up the west of the Peninsula was exhilarating: high above the Atlantic Ocean we whizzed up and around Chapman's Peak, around Hout Bay, and raced through the seaside resorts leading back into Cape Town. Reputed 50mph gusts tried to unseat us but we remained upright! Earlier in the week we dipped our wheels into the sea at Cape L'Agulas - the southernmost tip of Africa, and meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. A trip to the Birkenhead Brewery to sample local ales met with universal approval, whilst our second rest day at the coast at Hermanus provided sightings of whales and dolphins. A beautiful ocean ride to Gordans Bay was also a highlight of the trip. Whilst Mike will shortly be riding again with the Wayfarers, I will be extending my South Africa experience (not on two wheels) 'till after Easter, and hopefully emerging warm weather cycling.