Day 71 Friday
The morning was spent packing up the truck and trailers ready for Blakeridge. It was to be a far shorter journey then any of the other rides which we had travelled to, due to it only being the other side of Graaff-Reinet.
Once at the venue camp was set up, ride registration, vetting and weighing in ready for the following day.
Day 72 Saturday
With my ankle securely bandaged up for support and a painkiller taken I was ready for the 80km race.
All 80km riders would be starting the ride at 7am regardless of class. The course was extremly flat so speeds would be fast. Ashley and I left and did the first loop with the front pack. The first loop was 32km and we completed this at a speed of 19kph. Both of us went through vetting without any problems. Due to my twisted ankle I had one of the gooms to trot Liberty up for me.
Onto the second loop and I was a minute in front of Ashley. Although he soon caught me up due to Liberty not wanting to part from Mercury. This second loop was 30km and we did it at relatively the same speed as previous. Coming back into the venue I managed to hit my right leg/ankle on one of the gate posts (at SPEED!) which caused me to yell some not so pleasant words from my vocabilary. We cruised in with Liberty and Mercury and Donalyn riding Mabruk was also with us who had ridden with us for the majority of this loop.
Mabruk has such low pulses that he practically walked straight into the vetting! Liberty and Mercury took a little more time. But we were all through and ready for the final leg, a short 18km stretch.
Out on the final loop and we decided that once over the road crossing we would pick up the pace. The training had paid off and Liberty flew alongside Mercury. Definitely lives up to the nickname "Pocket Rocket". Ashley was in the Young Rider class and we had two YR's on our tail but once on the home stretch into the venue there was no way they'd keep up with Mercury. Ash cruised in ahead of me and I managed to overtake one of the riders in my class meaning Ash came in 1st and I came in 3rd in under 4 hours.
Donalyn had won the Standard Weight category on PSV Mabruk which is his second win within the last month and only his second ride since having African Horse Sickness.
Bob came in 2nd in the Heavy Weight category with PSV Matrix.
Guest rider, Joe Carr, stepped in at the last minute and rode PSV Neptune in a 30km ride and also completed.
Another fantastic weekend for Team PSV!!!
Day 73 Sunday
Having travelled back from Blakeridge the previous day, we could all spend Sunday resting up. In my case I was nursing a sore ankle.
Mattresses were thrown down in the living room and we planted ourselves in front of the big screen for some filmage! I also had my first taste of fast food from a place called Steers, not a fast food restaurant I am at all familiar with. Can't say I'm a great fan of fast food but still the trip to Steers can be ticked off from my invisible "Tourist To-Do List".
Day 74 Monday
So I was on orders to rest up and nurse my ankle injury. What on earth am I supposed to do if I can't ride??? ......To the kitchen!
And so when not reading my book I was baking chocolate cake for that evening's desert, YUM!
Day 75 Tuesday
Joe had spent a week with us at Perseverance and would be flying out that day. I went with Lucy to P.E. airport to say farewell and also to keep Lucy company.
This would also give me something else to do rather than mope around the house due to me not being able to ride.
Day 76 Wednesday
Three days without riding, thats enough for me, I had to ride something! So I strapped up my ankle and hopped onto Ibis to take her out for walk. Ibis is still only slowly being brought back into work after an injury so this was perfect for the pair of us.
Despite the swelling having gone down the bruising is still there and its on the inside of my ankle. I rode for about an hour in walk, most of which I did not have my foot in the stirrup at all. So glad I was on a sane horse! But it was such a nice ride out in the sunshine, I was however feeling sore later on.
So having ridden that morning, what could I find to do that afternoon. Yes another moment in the kitchen! This time on the menu Apple Pie and Cinnamon Cream!