South Africa - The Lions on the Road: Cycling London to Cape Town - page 280

WecycledtogetheruntilthevillageofBandolierKopwherewestoppedattheturn-
offtohaveonelastconversation.HemountedhiscameraonthestopsignasIheldhisbike.
With the self-timer activated, he ran into position as we both stared into the lens. We said
our final good-byes as he turned to the east and I to the south. (Upon my return to Canada,
I received a letter from Wolfie and the three previous pictures above.)
Within10kilometresofleavingWolfie,Istoppedbyalargemonumentmarkingthe
Tropic Of Capricorn. Unlike crossing the equator, this geographically significant location
was hard to miss. I pulled off the highway to make a visit but quickly had to stop cycling.
Disappointingly, there were broken glass, garbage, and graffiti everywhere. I hopped off
the bike andgingerly walked the bike aroundthe shards ofglass continuing past the monu-
ment. My intention was to take a break and eat there but I quickly had a change of heart
because of the unpleasant ambiance. I walked back to the highway and after checking to
make sure my tires were free of glass, I resumed cycling.
Daylight was winding down, so I began to look for a farm to seek permission to set
up camp. I eventually came upon a farmhouse just off the main road and went to the front
door. I knocked and stood back so I could be seen through the front window. The owners
opened the door and after asking permission to camp, they insisted that I stay in the house
instead. By the time I placed my sleeping items in the guest bedroom, there was food on
the table and the bathroom had been prepared for me to take a shower. After dining and
washing, I sat with the couple at the kitchen table drinking tea and chatting. The sad thing
was that I never got their address and failed to write their names in my journal.
Wehadbreakfast together andIthanked them just before Ileft. Iwas offtoPieters-
burg(nowcalledPolokwanewhichmeans'placeofsafety')andbylunchtimeIarrivedand
went immediately to the Catholic Church. I met the rector and asked if there was a Cath-
olic Church in the next town called Potgietersrus. He told me that there was a church but
perhaps no resident priest. He then asked me if I wanted to stay in Pietersburg for Easter.
Without hesitating, I said yes and so he called a family that he thought might want to put
up with me… I mean, put me up.
TheMcArdlefamilyhadthreeboys(Tommy,KevinandDavid)whowerethesame
age as the Sciclunas in London. They were active in the parish and were also keen cyclists.