South Africa - The Lions on the Road: Cycling London to Cape Town - page 304

ateJuniorSchoolandSt.John'sSundaySchool.Ialsospoketovariouscongregationssuch
as St. John's Methodist Church (a family approached me and gave me 50 Rand for STC-
which I forwarded to Lucy) and a youth group called Hosanna.
I did a little bit of sightseeing while in this coastal city. I was taken to a dolphin
show and dinner with Charles and his wife who I met at one of my talks. I was taken to see
Port Elizabeth's rugby team play France (France won 18-8) and I saw a high school rugby
matchbetweenGreySchoolandQueenstown.IalsowentonafewdateswithToniforcof-
fee,toseeamovieandspenttime walking onthepier.Shewasalotoffuntobewith…but
alas, I was to leave shortly. Finally, I was invited to dinner at Allan Priest's fiancée's relat-
ives' home.
I was able to make contact with Derek Johnson, the one Vince Doly from St.
Joseph's CBC school in Bloemfontein recommended. Derek really went the extra mile to
arrange for me to get on a ship to South America. He had prepared several letters of intro-
duction to which I used in Cape Town when I got there. Again, thank you Derek.
Now for the second story regarding the Radio Algoa interview. I received a phone
callatmyhomefromagentlemanwholivedinGeorge,atown355kilometreswestofPort
Elizabeth and eight kilometres inland from the Indian Ocean. The gentleman, Mr. Philip
Hoole, insisted that I stay with him and his family as I passed through George on my way
to Cape Town. He also said that he would arrange any public speaking engagements with
the local schools and newspapers on my behalf. It sounded like a plan to me and I agreed.
He gave me his address and phone number which I jotted in my journal.
On June 11 th , my intention was to leave Port Elizabeth but the rain came down so
hard that I opted to wait it out. To pass the time, I went with Toni to the hospital to visit a
little girl named Marilee with whom she had been volunteering with for the past 5 years.
Even though Marilee had been in the hospital for most of her life (seven and a half years),
she maintained such a positive disposition and had a great sense of humour. I loved watch-
ing her interact with Toni and the genuine friendship that came through.
The poor weather lasted a few days and when it finally cleared up, I departed Port
Elizabeth. It was sad to leave the city but I was so close to completing Africa that I had to
go on.
I cycled up to Lower Valley Road and eventually onto Cape Road. With the sun
rising in the sky behind me and a slight headwind, I consciously kept a slow pace in order
not to strain me legs. Within my first hour of cycling, a police car pulled up behind me and
asked me to stop. The officers told me that I was not permitted on the freeway and thus
had to take the next exit. I complied and arrived onto the R102 which was the old coastal
highway.
In hindsight, I should have thanked those officers for the road I was on was more
peacefulandtheviewswerestunning.Ipassedmanycyclistsheadingtheoppositewayand