Adventure Quest Africa (2)

---

Leg 11: 13km Hike

Cindy Van Zyl / 03.09.2002

T10 – Finish: Grootbos - Mountain Zebra National Park
We wanted rest, repose, food, but found our seconds delirious with anticipation: both teams Kinetic and World of Endurance were still in the transition. We had a shot at 6th position!

After a blitz meal we were hustled out of the transition, hot on the spoor of Kinetic who left just three minutes before us. Kaptein Kobus’s and the Jabberwock’s finest hour had arrived; cometh the hour, cometh the man! He led us tiger-line straight over the crest of Bankberg. We left Kinetic far below in the Kloof.

So cold was the wind chasing over the peaks that the mist froze into big slabs of ice on the wire fences. Despite cold and fatigue the Soutie still had the presence of mind to plan a full-scale marketing campaign and a Vooma-based celebratory dinner for the team (Vooma sherry, Lamb with Vooma sauce, vegetables sautéed in Vooma, ice cream with a twirl of Vooma, etc).

With no concern for voltage we hopped the electric fence and raced down the side of the mountain into the Kloof where we found a smooth, two-lane jeep track. The clouds parted and the stars hung like fat jewels in the sky. It was as if though the Winterberg threw its worst at us and now congratulated us on passing the test. Not pain, nor nausea, nor fatigue could detract from this moment under the blue moon and we were sure that we could easily race for another three days – no problem!

At 19:00 we passed under the Mazda Drifter banner in 6th place and were cheered home by our friends, fellow racers and delighted seconds. What an awesome race, what an epic adventure! And as we walked away from the finish, I was sure I heard the faint echo of the Jabberwock’s Whoooop-whoooop in the mountains all around us…

See All Event Posts