A lot has happened since rounding Cape Point late in June! After battling the freezing rain and flu all the way to Cape Aghulus, things started looking up and we began to make great running progress in the direction of home. However, after completing 6000km and with a mere 600km to go, I have finally succumbed to a serious injury.
While running between Stilbaai and Mossel Bay I began to feel severe pain in my lower left shin. I hoped it would come right and kept going for another 60km to Mossel Bay by which time I was unable to run at all and virtually unable to walk. Huge thanks to Nadia and Estienne Arndt (of Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon fame) and Sonja and Hano Otto for looking after us, organising great medical and physio help etc. Thanks also to Mark and Liz Beard for putting us up for days in Knysna! I have been diagnosed with a severe stress fracture and advised to use crutches and rest completely for 6 weeks. As this is not an option, I am continuing on my mountain bike and attempting to keep weight completely off my left leg.
(Thanks to Rob and Ant at Cycle and Sport Centre in George for making my Rocky look and feel brand new after weeks on the roof racks and hooray for the Casa Castile Pete’s bum Balm and Arnica cream which Nicky and Andries sent down to Knysna – wouldn’t make it home without that miracle cream!)
As I am basically cycling with one leg, my main concern is secondary injuries to my right leg which is now doing all the work. But so far all seems to be going well and we are once again heading home with much excitement and relief! What an epic and magnificent journey it has been.
[noteblock] We hope to arrive in East London at Nahoon Beach where the journey began 5 months ago on Tuesday 26 July. [/noteblock]
Author: Kim
