"If you do things well, do them better!
Be daring, be first, be different, be just"
Leaving Johannesburg
In March 2008 I launched the first leg of my trip, attempting to cycle solo from Johannesburg to Cape Town. On Thursday afternoon I hopped on my bike in Rosebank, Johannesburg, to begin my trek. I reached Cape Town on the 11th of April and saw Table Mountain for the first time in my life. Table Mountain is absolutely phenomenal. I would visualize seeing it for the first time whilst on the road, but nothing comes to the real thing.
Seeing Table Mountain for the first time
With great interest and some scepticism, the country looked on as I cycled on my own all the way down to Cape Town. I made it to the Mother City in 18 days time and approximately 1500km's later.
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear"
Upon hearing my story people throughout the country would offer help in whatever way they could, either sponsoring accommodation, providing meals, organizing interviews with local newspapers and radio stations, assistance on the road and even at one stage a tour of the town! I received a night's stay sponsored by an individual in Dublin, who had followed my progress via my website, proving of international interest. My story provided a mixture of responses from the South African audience following my progress throughout the country. With so many possible dangers, the response seemed to take on one of two directions. That of people supporting me with a big dream and unwavering determination to realize that dream, and that of scepticism around whether I would make it to Cape Town alive. After all, South Africa is perceived as one of the most dangerous countries in the world and here you have a young white South African woman attempting to cycle on her own, without any backup support, across the country.
There was not a single second where I felt endangered in any way, and I felt overwhelmed at times by all the friendly, caring and giving individuals that crossed my path.
Buttercup at the Orange River
The big questions I probably get the most is: WHY?
Because I believe in dreaming with your heart, I believe in swimming in the ocean of possibility. I believe that nothing is impossible and I believe in recognizing the beauty that surrounds us each day in our lives. Others may not believe in what I believe, but my beliefs do not require them to. We all have within us, the power to make positive change happen in the world.
I'm just finally getting out of my own way.
On my way from Johannesburg to Cape Town