100 kays of cycling each day, after a month of marathons ...

[Mushilele]

Kim van Kets, mother, lawyer and wife of ocean rower, Peter van Kets (winner of this year's Out There Adventurer of the Year award) is undertaking an epic four to five month challenge which she's called TRI-THE BELOVED COUNTRY. This will see her run along the coast of South Africa, cycle the interior and paddle down the Orange. Kim set off in March (two days sooner than expected because she forgot that February only has 28 days!) and put down a marathon a day (more or less) to complete the first part of the run from East London to the Moz border north of Durbs.

 

Kim's aim is to hug the coast and border - so she's run along the beaches and over the hills of the Transkei. She's swum or waded across the rivers, including one known to be populated by bull sharks. She did, however, choose to take a boat across a croc-infested river. In the really isolated places she's had a companion run or cycle with her ... but often she's out by herself. Kim is on the move for six out of seven days - her rest day is Saturday.

 

At the left turn at the Moz border, Kim got on her bike and is hugging the Swazi border. She's cycling 90 to 100 kays a day. Kim says she isn't a natural cyclist and has felt huge pain the last few days. Hullabaloo (new agent for Rocky Mountain in South Africa) has sponsored a Rocky Mountain Soul 29er which she took delivery of today. She says she's looking forward to riding the bike tomorrow - something she'd never thought she'd say after her experience of the past few days. (I wonder if Kim's noticed that tomorrow's a rest day.) Things can only get better - Kim is a superb extreme athlete (and all-round lekker person).

 

Kim's support consists of her hubby and daughter, and two young people who are on the adventure of a lifetime. People have been gracious and helpful all along the way. What really inspires me about this adventure is that it was a dream of hers ... and she's made it happen herself. She has attracted some sponsors who've been impressed that she's stood by Pete and his adventurers and is now doing hers and she's putting in some serious kays. The beneficiary is a charity to help deaf children learn to speak (the Carel du Toit Centre in East London).

 

If you'd like to keep up to date with Kim's adventure join her Facebook group 'Tri-the beloved country' and check out her website www.kimvankets.com which has stunning photos and the blog, etc. Maybe join her along the way ... cycling, running ... paddling?

[Tiny K]

Awesome stuff!

[gummibear]

Wow,i have huge respect for people who take on a challenge like this

[Shebeen]

good good luck to them.

 

 

when her husband is riding/running with her, does the 5year old daughter drive the truck?!(ja i know they have more back up). i also think 90-100kms is a bit short for cycling per day, even for a beginner.

 

the run is beeeatch, it's been done before by braam and david grier as miles for smiles. i'll wave when they swing past muizenberg.

[Mushilele]

After a last day push of 155 kays, Kim van Kets arrived at Khamkirri at Augrabies to commence the paddling part of Tri-the Beloved Country. She's now completed 2,500 kays on bike (her trusty Rocky Mountain Soul 29er) and the first 1,000 kays of running (from East London to the Moz border).

 

This is Kim's Day 67 blog entry (www.kimvankets.com) (We refers to her and her support team. Kim does all the cycling/running/paddling, of course!):

 

Since leaving Zeerust a week ago we have been heading towards the N Cape and the Kalahari. After re-stocking in Mafikeng, we headed off into the middle of nowhere and were put up once again by the SAP this time in Tshidilamolomo. The terrain is markedly drier and more sandy with more and more patches of the characteristically red Kalahari sand.

 

From Tshidilamolomo we did a 122km day to the village of Bray on the Botswana border. Half way there we were stopped by a farmer who insisted on organising accommodation for us in Bray with the astoundingly hospitable Eloff family who plied us with food and drink and hilarious anecdotes about the village. They sent us on our way the next day with bulging bellies and a list of contacts who would put us up for the next couple of days, all of whom welcomed us like long lost friends when we had expected to be camping on the roadside.

 

The Kalahari is really a magical place and its people are second to none with regard to hospitality. Despite the beautiful scenery and fabulous hosts, the riding has been very tough this week with long distances, very sandy and rutted surfaces and head winds. Thankfully there has been loads of rain so the landscape is uncharacteristically green and covered with flowers and the temperatures have been quite pleasant. We have had some interesting wildlife experiences and seen lots of cheetah, leopard and hyena tracks. We also saw a black mamba (freshly killed by a bakkie) of over 7 foot in the road this week but have not come across any of its surviving relatives to my great relief.

 

Hannah [Kim and Pete's daughter] has been riding a couple of kms with us every day which has been great, I am going to have to push to keep up with her after she gets a new bike for her 6th birthday next week! We have just spent a fabulous rest day at the Vanzyl’s Rus Hotel - a totally trendy and tasteful spot in the middle of nowhere and are now stuffed with bobotie and venison pie and sufficiently fortified to head off again into the unknown for our last week of cycling that will take us to Khamkirri near Kakamas on the Orange River. As at today we have covered just over 3500km (of which 2500 have been on bikes). About 2500km to go!

[Above Average Joe]

Paul van Kets was my u/10 cricket coach! When I saw him paddling across the ocean it was hard to believe that an 'ordinary' guy could do all that. Well done to you two for taking on this awesome journey!