18 December 2023, Kempton Park, 39.85km
Airport Royal Guest House R313.20

Only 40km lie between our departure point a little north of Lanseria airport and tonight's bed* west of OR Tambo airport, but a couple of minor disasters, hot weather and too many hills (Johannesburg ain't flat), made for a tiring nine hour day during which we averaged just 6.6km per hour.
Our route took us past Lanseria, Chartwell, Broadacres, Lonehill, Khayalami, Vorna Valley, Ivory Park and Chloorkop to Birchleigh North (Kempton Park).
*The Airport Royal Guest House is black owned and run and excellent value at a tad under R320 for a decent room and ginormous shared bathroom tiled in black and white.
--
Minor disasters with attendant luck
1. I had a puncture and, for reasons too silly to go into, we did not have a spare tube or a puncture repair kit on us. But how's this for a bit of luck... We had the puncture opposite the Broadacres shopping centre, home to Mellow Velo whose staff not only sold us two new tubes, but replaced the flat.
2. While replacing the flat, the techie asked if I was having trouble changing gears as my chain was the wrong size for my gearing system. I was indeed having some difficulty. As a new gearing system and chain had formed a not inexpensive part of our recent major service by a Specialized distributor, I was somewhat miffed, but opted for a replacement chain.
3. We were caught in two intense downpours, the first on Allandale Road, the second nearing our destination in Norkum Park. The first caught us riding an excellent pavement, safe from traffic, and took us from heat exhaustion to energised. The second chilled us to the bone, so we arrived at our accommodation wet, cold and prune-wrinkled.
4. I hit a water-filled pothole badly and came very close to a nasty fall into the roadway. Absolute fear of what might be approaching from behind me gave me the presence of mind and strength to stay partially upright while the back of the bike dropped to the side. Scary, but no harm done.
--
More on the plus-side
For much of the distance we either cycled decent pedestrian pavements or wide shoulders, always a relaxing bonus in a busy city.
We love that most Africans greet with white smiles in black faces, or shout encouragement like _trap, trap_ (pedal, pedal). One man asked "How are you, mammie?" My answer, "Hot", was overheard by a (white) woman and her daughter. The woman answered for me: "Strong and brave!"
We put down roots tonight, entirely _toevallig_ (coincidentally), just two blocks from old friends of Charl's, so he popped out for a quick visit.
Favourite sighting: A man sitting in the shade of a thorn tree making reindeer out of wire and red beads.
--
It was too exhausting to qualify as a lighthearted day, but we will sleep well tonight and tomorrow is another day...