Excelsior to Hobhouse 80km

15th Dec 2010
After such a lovely break, Mrs Nash kindly dropped us off in Excelsior. The drive was way longer than we had expected and the map that we used didn't tell us that half the road was dirt road! When we stopped off to fill up petrol along the way, the starter of the car gave up. The petrol station was in a place that was so small it wasn't even on our map. Luckily Dan, Keegs, all the petrol station staff and I pushed started the car. This meant we couldn't turn off the engine anymore.
We had all our stuff, plus our bikes and ourselves, squeezed in the back of the bakkie so when we finally arrived in Excelsior, Mrs Nash had to off load us and quickly turn around and drive home again. We landed up in the Excelsior Hotel's door step. The owners (Gerhard and Hesta Fourie) and friends were confused at how we all of a sudden appeared! They asked us where on earth we came from. We asked where the nearest camp ground is and they laughed. Excelsior is so small it doesn't even have a camping ground. We asked if we could camp on their lawn and they insisted we stay in our own room. They gave us ice cold beers and our own 3 person room all from the kindness of their hearts! We felt honored. What people did for us on this trip was really amazing.
They were looking after Heta's sister's Bulgarian baby monkey. She was too cute for words and climbed all over us.That evening, Gerhard cooked us a delicious calamari and veg meal and slept like babies.

Early the next morning we set off in the mist to Hobhouse. Before we even left the tiny town, Daniel's tube valve blew (he was trying to pump it up). In the end we ended up leaving a little later than anticipated.... with bad weather approaching.

Half way to Hobhouse, the mist and rain swallowed us with surprise! The rain was seeping in under our clothes and soon enough we were soaked. The wind together with the rain was making us ride so slow it felt like we were moving backwards! W pulled over and found shelter under a split willow tree. We gathered damp twigs and used what toilet paper we had left and made a fire! it kept us warm and busy while we waited for the weather to pass. After attempting and failing to make tea on the fire, we came to the conclusion that the rain and wind would not pass that day. So off we went fighting the uncomfort all the way. When we got to Hobhouse it was not what we had expected. 2 coffee shops. One guest house. No camping areas and 3 little superretts. We had tea at the only place that was open. The people there were strange, so we moved on and left them quickly. We bought some supplies and while cycling around, wondering what to do or where we were going to sleep that night we saw a man in his garden. He kindly gave us his son's room and their coffee shop kitchen to make food and sleep for the night. Wonderful people he and his wife. Betty, his wife could only speak Afrikaans. She was delighted to see us and showed us all her husband's art work. He also did leather work which was displayed all over the coffee shop. That night the 3 of us huddled in one double bed trying to keep warm, knowing that tomorrow would be another harsh day ahead.