Day 148 – The Ending

Tri the Beloved Country is over. 6 762km done in 148 days. The breakdown is 2 409km of running, 3 748km of cycling and 615km of paddling/kayaking – 1 262km further than anticipated! Our target was to be home by no later than 31 July, which we managed by a 5 day margin.

It is totally surreal to be home! To be still, to have clean dry, fragrant smelling clothes (a selection!) in my cupboard, to be able to access my fridge without opening the trailor, to not spend many wasted hours every morning and evening searching aimlessly for Hannah’s toothbrush….wow!

Thank you so much to all the magnificent East Londoners who came to say hello at Nahoon on Tuesday (despite the arctic weather conditions) and to all my amazing mates and family for the flowers, champagne, well wishes and general spoiling. It is totally fantastic to see you again. Thanks also to everyone everywhere for the help and encouragement and messages along the way – you have no idea what a highlight it was to hear from you.

A particular thanks to my brilliant financial sponsors (Global Business Solutions, Mpekweni Beach Resort and the Spar) for their involvement and enthusiasm. We loved having Dave, Nathan, Craig as well as Johnny and Linda (colleagues and friends from Global) join us on foot and bike for parts of our journey – that’s taking sponsor involvement to a whole new level!

Huge thanks to Peter and Kirsty and Hannah for the million things they did for me every day and most of all thanks and acknowledgement to God for being with us every step of the way.

Thanks also to Kingsley and Tino from Go2 Websites – you guys totally rock! And to the dynamic and fun New Balance Team, and Protea Hotels for saving us from becoming totally uncivilised. Huge thanks also to Nicky and Andries of Casa Castile for preserving the van Kets bottoms with Pete’s Bum Balm and to Barbara of Murambi Roses (one of my stresses about being away was that I wouldnt be able to give my mom roses – so Murambi donated an delivered a bunch every week for 5 months! How cool is that?!).

I am disappointed with the amount of money I have raised so far for the Carel Du Toit Centre – we have not even managed to raise 10% of my target. We have however decided to keep the Wilderness Safaris competition open for a while longer (possibly even until the Carel Du Toit Charity Dinner scheduled for 4 November at 2 Swans) so its not too late to make a donation. Thank you to the many people who have already done so.

My immediate plan is to avoid the obesity that will follow if I continue to graze as I have for the last while, spend some time making a living and to dedicate a couple of hours every day to writing a book about our journey. Hannah is happily back at school (as if she never left), Pete has massively exciting plans in the pipeline and Kirsty is sifting through the 1000000 job offers she has received since her return.

[noteblock] Eish – I can hardly believe its all over. Now what next I wonder? [/noteblock]

Author: Kim