Post 23 Build it Journey

Blog Post 23

So I am back on the blog after a great weekend and a few days either side of it doing some much needed admin in the office, helping my dear Mum with hospital visits on Friday and Monday. She is being so brave and positive and I am so proud to be her son. Chemo with radiation is not for the faint hearted and how Mum is keeping her spirits up is testament to a strength of character not bestowed on many.

I also got to enjoy a fantastic bike ride with very old, great and fun friends on Saturday morning. All 3 ½ hours of it. I have known this particular bunch most of my life and one in particular my whole life and it was literally a laugh a minute. There were some mean hills along the way which I actually loved as the more pain there is the fitter you are getting. The banter flowed thick and fast and it was good for the soul to have some good belly laughs with friends whom you share a rich and varied history with. I must ad though that judging by some of the conversation I do worry about the standard of education in the eighties of Westville Boys High. Ha Ha 

There was a good braai on Saturday night after watching the Sharks getting beaten by Western Province and up very early again on Sunday to ride again. After a few good wines the night before there was no great sadness when rain scuppered our planned efforts and so it was back to bed for a few hours of slumber before some real fun began.

Sunday was such a great day. I went with a whole bunch of mates to watch polo as South Africa played Uruguay at Shongweni. We had such a ball and thank you so much to Geoff and Murray Evenett for hosting us. You guys are the A-Team and such good guys. There were over 20 of us and it was one of those days that starts at mid-day and finishes after carte blanche in the evening. The polo was of an excellent standard and South Africa won narrowly scoring a goal a free hit which was to be the last strike of the ball in the game. I think the score was 9-8 and there was much celebration with the win. Not that there was any shortage of festivity before and during the game.

As I mentioned Monday was back in the office and then taking Mum to the hospital. I had an early night and then after an early wake up it was back to business for me.

Today was a long day on the road. I sped down the South Coast to my first stop which was the mighty Margate Build It where I met with the very friendly Sharmaine. We had a good meeting and then it was off to Port Edward where I met with Dyllan having just missed the owner of this impressive store by a hair’s breath as he drove out while I was walking into the store. It was no worries as Dyllan who is the manager of the store treated me very well.

It was then into the beautiful Transkei which is not so beautiful (the roads) until you perhaps get into the many magnificent resorts, lodges and camping areas that dot the spectacular coastline. I am not saying this glumly as my day was not so bad but if you are planning a holiday down the Wild Coast whatever you do don’t go on the Port Edward through to Port St John’s route. Unless of course you plan to visit the Build It’s on the way then of course the trip is well worth the effort!

There is an incredible amount of road works going on and the wild west prevails with driving with cars, trucks and taxi’s passing at every opportunity even when you think you are on a single lane after waiting in line with the numerous stop and go’s that pester your trip for the first 80 or 100 kms into the trip. I kept my patience, as I really love the Transkei having spent most of my holidays camping with my awesome Dad and friends while growing up and into my early twenties. Such memories of a different life. It was really wild back then but maybe more of that in a later blog.

The very positive thing about road building is the obvious that sometime in the future you will have nice new roads (hopefully with no potholes for a few years) and then the less obvious positive that your tax money is being wisely spent and the country’s infrastructure is being built or enhanced and this will mean a better economy and therefore a better life for all. Well maybe, human advancement has not always meant a better world for all…

The thing that I noticed while these roads were being built – and I think the roadworks must have lasted about a 100kms – I literally can’t honestly say that I saw any work being done on them. I did not see a single person working except the people operating the stop and go signs. Maybe I was missing something and maybe I was in a continuous tea or lunch break time but I just felt if there is going to be a hundred kilometres of roadworks than let’s get cracking. Just as an aside observation I have never understood why there has to be a hundred kilometres of roadworks. Why not just do 5 or at a push 10 kms at a time. I do not have the benefit of a higher education though so what do I know. Ha ha  (Please these are all observations and I am far from slipping into any dark place on this trip. Just giving any brain-addled readers a glimpse into the South Africa – great and challenging both – that we live in).

So it was onwards and upwards as they say and I found myself eventually at the Bizana store where I met with the most impressive Siniko. He was so busy and we had to go on two computers with much trying (wi-fi and internet challenges) before getting onto the Bizana Build It listing. The meeting was interrupted (not in a horrible way) by what seemed like a hundred people needing to see Siniko for one thing or another and I realised what a busy life it is to own or manage or even work in a Build It store. Such a successful business.

After saying farewells, I was starting to get anxious as mother time waits for no man as they say and the day was seriously running away with me. It was touch and go but I arrived just in time to see Rashid at the Flagstaff Build It with the staff closing up for the evening. What a kind and gentle man and I appreciate so much Rashid you helping me, after our meeting, find a place to stay for the night. What a good man. Whenever I meet people like Rashid my mood gets a great lift as I realise how many awesome people live in this world, in busy towns and in far-flung places.

I eventually did find digs after many frantic phone calls. Most of the accommodation was booked up in Port St Johns because of some government conference but I did find a single bed in the Jungle Monkey Backpackers in the pitch darkness of night as it was by now very late when I got in. After two diet cokes and literally stunning fish and chips at a local restaurant/pub I was in my bed by 9 pm and lights out. It was a long day but I got to see four Build It’s and experienced the Transkei in its toughest form from a road wise point of view but it’s wonderful to be travelling through our unique and beautiful country.

This is quite a trip and I think that it is going to be something I am not going to forget for the rest of my life.