I ride for Madiba today.

[T-Bob]

 

I ride for madiba

 

Today I will ride. I will ride hard and I will ride true. I will go father and harder. I will go beyond what I expect of myself. I will rise earlier, be cleverer, more compassionate and love this land more as dawn rises.

 

No, I am not fortunate to have been born of this land but I grew up knowing the worst of it's time. I hated it, saw the actions as the wider world did. One man and a whole nation changed that narrow minded view. I live, love and believe in Madibas world. No where else I would rather be. I have a daughter, wife, dogs and mortgage in the rainbow nation and no doubts. At all.

 

I have never been happier to laugh at skeptics and believe in hope. To wear the gold of 'stralia @ Barbie so I can banter with the green and gold at a braai. To see that political coverage, debating & fighting is the sign of a healthy nation. From Rey's & Brand to Toy Toying, it means we are alive and the spirit of democracy will keep a firm hand on the rest.

 

So today, as I rise, as I kiss my daughter good bye as she sleeps, as I strap on my shoes, I don't worry about the future, I don't debate about my choice to raise her here, I don't feel the negatives or the suffocation of the narrow minded idiots.

 

Today I ride, as free as ever but with more purpose, more belief and a promise not to let one mans legacy fall away. It's not my country by birth but I'll be damned if I'll let it be abandoned by the naysayers or eaten by the corrupt. I'll support those in government who have sacrificed endlessly on a vision of a better world and get no coverage. I will call to task those who think politics is anything other than for the people, by the people.

 

Burn it to the ground if you wish or take the challenge to make a change.

 

Yes, I'm only riding today, like most days, but, this is day like no other. For a man who gave everything for a country like no other. Like South Africa, here, now, I am the captain of my fate... I am the master of my soul.

 

Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika

[Cav']

Enjoy the ride

['Dale]

Beautiful post, hellocolour.

 

***

 

My black kit is all laid out.

Looking forward to it to my 4 hr ride too.

 

 

“Appearances matter — and remember to smile.”

― Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

 

[footdoc]

Ditto, memorial ride to Jbay today.

[Hardtailrider]

Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika!

[Tankman]

 

 

Today I will ride. I will ride hard and I will ride true. I will go father and harder. I will go beyond what I expect of myself. I will rise earlier, be cleverer, more compassionate and love this land more as dawn rises.

 

 

I read your post before getting on my bike this morning and the quoted section stuck in my head.

 

While out enjoying the beautiful Boland & Winelands, I started thinking about some numbers, wondering what would be a good number to honor Madiba with.

 

27 - the number of years he spent in jail

95 - the number of years he spent roaming the place we call home.

'95 - Also the year we won the Rugby World Cup with Mandela as President. Remembered him and Francois Pienaar holding the Webb Ellis trophy, proud as a nation, united.

111 - Know as "Nelson" in cricket, nothing to do with Nelson Mandela but none the less.

 

Unfortunately I could not just stop my ride on 111km since I was not done and about 30kms from home still.

Forgot about the numbers and finished my ride, only to see I rode 146.6km ... close enough to 46664 for me!

[Shebeen]

It is a rare thing to appreciate an Australian, well done sir