29 December 2023, Lydenburg, 53.46km
Angel Guest House R550

Charl's first day on the bike as a 74-year-old was not an easy one despite the fact that we lost more elevation than we gained.
Our day began in Dullstroom in intense anxiety, but settled into relative pleasure for the last 30km of 50-plus to Lydenburg (in 2006 renamed Mashishing, which means "long green grass").
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It has been cold and very wet since Xmas eve afternoon. We managed to get our grocery shopping done early on the 24th, which turned out to be a good thing as it rained so much we barely left the house thereafter, even staying an additional night in Dullstroom.
We had originally booked five nights at Muddlers Minnow, but our host, Craig, popped in early on our last morning to say he had mistakenly double-booked our last night. As his next guests had booked for three nights, we proposed that provided he found us new accommodation, it made more sense for us to relocate for our last night than that he shunt his next guests back and forth. In addition to which, we are accustomed to a gypsy lifestyle and can pack and move fast(ish)...
So we spent our fifth night (and a sixth) at the Artists Cottages, perfectly pleasant and just off the main road.
On Charl's birthday, we bought patches and solution at Osman Arbee Co General Dealer. The man pictured above, aged 70, has been working there for 53 years, taking the well-stocked shop over from his dad.
We breakfasted on pork kaiings (crackling) and krummel pap, and trout and potato fritters respectively, enjoying a little giggle over a misunderstanding with our waitress. I had said I would have "coffee later"; she pitched up shortly thereafter with a "caffè latte".
So... we awoke this morning to icy weather and fog. The precipitation ranged from mist to mizzle to drizzle. As we had also been warned by more than one local that the road was badly potholed and truck-busy, this added to our anxiety as we departed town.
But... the road was less potholed than anticipated; in fact, more often than not it was in good nick. It also quite often sported a decent shoulder, making most encounters with the 66 coal trucks Charl counted, stress-free. There was a woman driver who hit a pothole badly, slewing her car toward me. Shortly thereafter the car pulled onto the verge and the woman and her male passenger switched seats. And we had two punctures...
But the scenery through which we cycled, once we had escaped the mist and could see it, was lovely. Green and hilly, with waterfalls and trout-filled lakes.
In the end, a good day with a late lunch at the Spur. We were provided with the Seniors' Special menu only, not the full menu!
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A major problem with wet weather on the bikes... Our shoes and socks, once wet, will reek for days. The only solution we have found is to air them outside at night, but it can take several days before they can safely be removed and stored inside our room. Anyone know of a solution?
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We hope you all had a happy holly-day. Ours was quiet, but pleasant. Tomorrow we have a tough run to Pilgrim's Rest where we will bring in 2024 (though we are likely to be abed).