The End

In my last blog I forgot to mention my cousin Sharon, thank you so much for pulling through to spend time with me when I was in Durban!

The last stretch of my trip has been incredible, an awesome way to finish!

The ride from The Prawn Shack into Richards Bay was a lekker ride, I had a tail wind which made life so good! When I arrived in Richards Bay I met up with Craig and Cher. I met them when I pulled into the Prawn Shack the previous day, and they offered me accommodation at their house in Richards Bay. They were so kind to me, really incredible! I was spoilt with an awesome curry, a very comfortable bed, amazing conversation and to top it off, Craig and Cher organized me an interview with a local magazine, and a new back wheel at the local cycle shop, Zululand Cycles! Thank you so much to Craig and Cher for your awesome kindness and care! Really an incredible couple with big hearts!

Zululand Cycles is an awesome shop, no doubt the friendliest, most helpful and efficient bicycle shop I have ever been to! They gave me a new back wheel, as I had buckled my one quite a while back, for no charge! Thank you to Terrance and everyone at Zululand Cycles!

The next day I planned to ride into Mtubatuba along the N2, however I met an awesome guy by the name of Ian at a farmstall on the side of the N2 when I was about 30km from Mtubatuba. He was a mountain biker and told me about this epic route that would take me to St Lucia. He drew me a map and I was off, I got lost a couple of times on the farm roads that branch off everywhere, but always managed to have a jol on these new detours. Then my luck ran out, I suffered two punctures in quick succession only to find out that I was out of spair tubes and my puncture kit was missing vital components that I needed to fix the puncture! It was 4pm and I was now 30km or so from any town as I had taken this new route, so now I had to make a plan to get into a town to get a puncture kit and somehow get back to the same spot the next day to carry on the ride. So I started to look for cars passing by to give me a lift, the only issue being that I hadn't seen any car on the road I was on for the past half hour that I'd been on it. Then I started to think of other plans, I realized that I was on the banks of the Umfolozi River and if I could find a boat I could float down to the river mouth which I hoped would be right next to St Lucia, this idea died when I couldn't find a boat and got told that there where crocodiles in the river. I then started looking for a lift again, my saving grace being a tractor with a trailer, such an awesome guy who was more than happy to take me to a more main road where I could find a lift easier. Once on this main road it was no issue getting a lift into St Lucia!

Once I reached St Lucia I went to the nearest bar to find directions to a backpackers in St Lucia, at the bar I was called over by an awesome family! They were so kind to me! I was fed a huge burger that was so good and had awesome conversation with all of them! Thank you so much!

The next day was a day that I had been looking forward to for a very long time! I would be meeting my incredibly awesome family and beautiful girlfriend, Jessica, along the way and I would be with them the last three days of the trip! I had been looking forward to that day for a very long time, and it was an awesome feeling to be able to be with them again!

I was spoilt with incredible food by my Superwoman Mother and Master Chef Sister! It was so good to be mothered again! There was not a piece of dirty clothing, not a single space left in my stomach, not a chance of skipping a shower or going for more than 10minutes without being smothered in hugs and kisses by my mom, really awesome to be with my incredible mom again!

I got a whole box full of my sisters famous ginger bread biscuits which didn't last longer that the first two days! She has been too cool! Fussing over me non stop, making me tell every story about my trip! A very awesome sister who has been an inspiration to me throughout the trip!

Spending time with my girlfriend Jessica again was too epic, she has given me such support the entire trip! I am really lucky to have such an epic girl like her in my life! There was not a day where I didn't get a message from her wishing me luck for the ride and ensuring that I had arrived safely, what a babe!

I had such an awesome time riding the last few days with my dad, we made sure that we found a Tavern within the last 10km or so everyday we rode together! It was a jol! It was very cool to not be the only one moaning and wining if we woke up and saw that we would face a headwind that day. It really was 3 days of riding that stand out for me!

I was bowled over with surprise and excitement when my best mates Jono and Gav and the legendary Jane came all the way from Joburg to be with me when I reached the border! Absolutely incredible people!

My dad rode with me the full three days, and I was super lucky to have my sister, gav and jono ride a good portion aswell! The three of them not having peddled a bicycle for ages! I was super stoked to have the opportunity to share part of my trip with all of them!

The finish line came with very weird feelings, it was awesome to know that I had achieved what I set out to do and would be seeing all my friends and family again, however I was extremely sad in that I had actually finished and would have to go back to living in 'reality' again.

I will be writing another blog after this one to fully thank all the people that made my trip so special.

Thank you for all the support, in supporting me and most importantly, supporting the cause! It is much appreciated
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