Life begins at the end of your comfort zone - Neale Donald Walsch

3 March 2019, Darling to Moorreesburg, 40km
52 on Main R350

Charl says his “comfort zone” is sore!
We had been unhappy yesterday to hear that today’s route was not tar as assumed, but dirt. And particularly unhappy to find it was a rough ride and that under a hot sun. So tiring was the ride, that at one point I had to lie down under shady trees and wait for energy to return to my shaky legs. Luckily the distance was short-ish and the terrain not too steep, and we made it to Moorreesburg just before Shoprite shut up shop for the day. We always forget that small towns literally close down half day Saturdays and Sundays; not even the open Oudestoep pub could offer us anything but crisps to eat.
Confession time. Despite 20,000 cycle touring kilometres under my belt and in my legs, I am a wuss on the bike. I am particularly afraid of riding on dirt. Here’s why: I am afraid of falling. No doubt everyone dreads a fall, but as I am morbidly obese, my fear is this. I come off the bike, I put both hands down to break my fall, and instead break both my arms. This fear is infinitely exacerbated on uncertain dirt.
Before leaving Darling we stocked up on water and snacks for the road, and paid a brief visit to a floral tribute to local character Daniel, recently beaten to death. Then past Evita se Peron (Evita is the alter ego of well-known South African political commentator, Pieter Dirk Uys, based in Darling), and over four railway lines, and down a long avenue of eucalyptus and past the graveyard and onto dirt, which lasted until the last two kms into Moorreesburg.
Day three of 422 to Casablanca done and dusted.

For today's route see below photos
For overview route, click on ROUTE tab above…