Marnitz Nienaber

I have been part of one off the wattsup groups, the current group with it's members will merge into other events during the year, Mike Woolnough is the administrator of this group, he is also part of this topic and if you want to be part of the wattsup group please send Mike a personal message with your phone number. I must say that on one stage we were more than 300 on the group and if you don't have limitless data you are going to be out of data very soon with all the pictures, comments and video posted. The magic of the wattsup group is that it's live 24/7 there are allways dot watchers at all times of the day, which means that one is receiving updates at all times, it also means that you will never be able to sleep or work, which is nice. I have posted this like on the wattsup group, it is also available on the Freedom Challenge main page. The nice thing about this topic is that we can share advice for any blanket aspirations, we have used it with great success in the past and I think that should be the main aim of this page, assisting others in succeeding in their blanket dreams and preparing for the next Freedom Challenge event.

Once again it has been another magic life changing year, fortunately for me I find myself now in the middle of the country and right in the middle of the RASA. Thanks Carl for starting the topic, I think myself and Tim is getting older and hopefully wiser, might be the reason why we weren't racing, or possibly unfit and scared of the racing snakes. I have been speaking to a lot of the newly and old blanket wearers about the soul purpose of this unique race, why are we competing or what is it that we want out of this race and I would like to have some comments from the dot watchers perspective as well as the blanket wearers. Watching everyone finish brings a smile and tears at the same time and a lot of fomo, I had a look at a lot of pictures taken during my years and basically 3 years stood out : My first year doing most of it on my own and getting to grips with the real Freedom Challenge and it's emotionsThe year doing it with Ivor Jones, didn't enjoy it at the time but watching the pictures we had a ball of a time while doing some crazy stuff.My last year ( Hopefully not my last year ) due to my gentle soft marsmellow texture, I couldn't race but instead I saw a lot of places previously unseen. Since turning into a gentle soft marsmellow not being able to dice, I would like to share knowledge about the race and if you give me enough time I might also be available as a guide on the shorter races and if I'm lucky enough to get a sponsor I might be racing Tim Bivvy style next year. You are more than welcome to contact me on email marnitzn@ovk.co.za or 0837619606 I will gladly try to assist with advice needed, it might not always be the best advice, like for instance going up the waterfall in Stetteyns but it will be helpfull.......

When you're a professional athlete , you know what not to take, no excuses....

and it will have 1 x 14 gears, or an internal gearbox maybe they can call it a very expensive Rholloff hub worx

and so the marketing strategy continues.........

You can play with tyre sizes to get the same advantage. Tyre circumference according to cat eye : 26" x 2.1 2068mm 26" x 2.35 2083mm 650 x 20C 1938mm 650 x 23C 1944mm 650 x 35A 2090mm 650 x 38A 2125mm The different size bikes and gears are only a market ploy by manufacturers to stimulate sales, it all depend on the engine, in this case you, the one that's pushing the pedals......... My argument remain the same, if a bigger circumference was so good, why don't they use it on downhill bikes, and why has a BMW GS 1200 off road bike got 17" wheels and not 29" ? Why hasn't the road bikes changed to 29" ? Are we been lead by our noses by the manufacturers ??? Only asking ??? PS I think the manufactures will get hold of your idea and in the couple of years time when the 650B crase has died down, they will build your 29" Front 650B rear and change the UCI rules.

Any kind of Windhoek will do, but I prefer Windhoek Draught, give me legs for the next day. If I need more legs to give the oaks a proper hiding I will consume a couple of glasses of lekke Red Wine, Diemersfontein Pinotage is my favorite. Around the camp fire I will make use of Richeleu and coke, will only need two to amuse the crowd....... The best thing about being fit is that you don't need to many to be happy :w00t:

Thanks again for every pledge all of you made, all my rough sleeps are documented on my blog www.afreedomexperience.blogspot.com The banking details are as follow : Name : Freedom Trail Foundation Bank : FNB Branch code : 00254905 Branch : Cresta Account No : 624 7344 9356 Reference : Marnitz Nienaber Till we race again !!!

Thank you very much for all your support and the pledges you made. I will post photo's of all my rough sleep places. Here are a list of the nights out : Boshelweni forrest Tinana sheppard's hut Abandoned farmstead Elliot turn off on the way to Chesney World Abandoned sheep shearing shed Rossow Stormberg Block House Sheep shearing shed before Tam Safari's Struishoek Bucklands Bergplaas Baviaans Anysberg

You don't have to worry a bit about their welfare, there a lots of friendly people who will take the in as if they are family. If they don't find a home they will spend the best night ever under the stars and for years to come they will talk about that night. Ask the container brother hood, still talking about it. Remember God is watching them from the sky, He will keep them in safe hands. Enjoy PS I will be on the look out for them and give them your best wishes.

If you don't pack maps you won't get lost.........

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More about the rough sleep madness on www.afreedomexperience.blogspot.com I will try to update every night, depending on battery life & coverage and if I'm sleeping or racing during the night.......

I might have gone completely mad, but here is my plan. First of all this plan is not about me, it is about what you can do for charity. This plan will only depend on your involvement and how much you want to make a difference in someone's life and how big a smile you want to put on their face. The plan is for you to make a pledge from R 1 to whatever per night that I sleep rough on the Freedom Challenge. Sleeping rough will mean that I don't sleep in a support station, intermediate support station or any other accommodation where we normally have to pay a fee including farmers letting me stay for free. Sleeping rough will thus mean, sleeping under the stars, or sleeping in an open abandoned house / hut or kraal where no fee is charged. You the life changer may make a pledge per night, that will be collected afterwards and I will donate all the pledges to charity. Now is this a mad plan and are you willing to make a change in a life.

Yes I do prepare a few nights before the challenge, just to get the body use to sleep on a hard surface, I have got a buvvy, which I pull over my face to prevent cold air from entering into my igloo. Normally the Freedom Challenge tire you down so much that you do sleep, but the cold prevent you from sleeping more than 3 hours..... The Freedom Challenge is a life changing must do, just do it !!!