Day 2 – Bethlehem to Baadplas – 583 km (Team Lipstick)
We woke up at 6am in freezing conditions despite the electric blankets. It was indeed difficult to get out of bed and face temperature of minus 2 degrees – frost all over the grass. Even the hot shower took 10 minutes to deliver Luke warm water and Andre made good use of this and started to wash his socks. In order for them to dry out prior to departure he hang them over the steel railing outside and could later not remove them but had to break 2 solid frozen socks of an ice-cold tubular rail.
Despite the freezing temperatures all members were in good spirit and looking forward to more tropical temperatures once hitting Mocambique.
We took off at 7am towards Warden but lost our way despite Garmin’s due to many detours and roadwork’s causing up to 25 minute stops. Finally we made it through Vrede via detour to Perdekraal and many other small Freestate Towns which all had one thing in common – the main street was always called Kerk Street.
At 11 am we stopped for a late breakfast in Standerton where we found a nice restaurant in needless to say KERK Street. We seem to climb higher and higher and by 13.00h we reached a height of 1710m above sea level.
We arrived at Baadplaas at the “Forever Resort and set up Camp deciding to use tents – Andre and Willy put their stretchers next to the car – wanting to sleep under the stars. Team Bulldog put their tents opposite team Lipstick and made the central table the number one bar counter being called table 59 of the Lowveld.
All other teams camped adjacent and shared a wonderful braai and drinking session. Finally the bikers from East London also arrived with Doug being pulled by the back- up vehicle. It later emerged that his alternator had failed.
The “Dick of the Day” trophy was unfairly handed over to team Lipstick for getting lost around Vrede.
