Toasting to u guys!

Thinking of u at our dinner! Luv u come home soon!!!! Xoxoxoxoxoxo
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

calm before the storm .....

the day is finally here and the team is in gear and ready .... the day was spent in Camp's Bay legs immersed in Atlantic's frigid sea - a cool 9 degrees C ... A few shark sightings but....

OK for Citizens to take law into own hands

This is the article in the Cape Town Times located directly below the mentioned Zuma Headlines. Only in Africa.

Curent Headline- Zuma Case

As noted on the front page of the Cape Times, a long standing trial for the current president of the African National Congress has been scraped. He was on trail for rape.

Camp's Bay

Here is where Jonathan and i will stay for the next three day's prior to the race start. This is Camps Bay just south of cape town. A photo from the air and from the window of our cottage. If we walk onto the street and to the right or north a long row of shops and restaurants begin. The beach includes white sands and the water very cold. This is the town Jonathan grew up in.

Tuesday In Greyton

We were joined by Spiro (photo), a friend of Jonathan's who lives in Greyton and has become a life coach. He spent about an hour touring a couple of the stage 4 race loops with us. The race courses have been marked and we are able to pick up the trails with a little investigation as hard copy routes have not been provided as of yet. You can see the red arrow sign in the picture of me. The cows in the back were completely amused by our presence. We then headed back to Cape Town and our beach cottage for the next three days prior to the race start.

Monday training

Jonathon and I decided to go back to the stage 3 route and try to find the 3K hike a bike section of the course. The previous day we did succeed in finding the first climb. After the lunch mentioned below and trying to repair the rear hatch of our vehicle, we ended up going up the nearby hills and back riding the course. We ended up parking far up this hill and rains where in the sky and cool temperature. Yesterday we were hitting the highs of our stay and today rain and clouds. While riding in the cloud fog and rain Jonathan had stopped and held me back. There where heavy cries which where either hiennas or baboons. It was very irre and unsettling but we continued on. After rolling over the mountain and down we got to the top of the hike a bike section. 20 percent up a 2000 foot high face with more rocks, cobbles and boulders then imagined. This was part of a 4 by 4 path. Both Jonathon and I were amazed any vehicle would attempt this. So all in all we accomplished our goal for the day. Then off the Greyton and our cottage.

Today at lunch

typical cape dishes, frikkadels, babotie, tomato bredie and green bean bredie. I decided on the babotie which cost R45. the rand is about 10 to 1 so roughly $4.50.

Baboon Highjacking

Franschhoek

We arrived in Franschhoek today and checked into the gable manner (see photo). Franschhoek is located within a valley sounded by the craggy mountains. This region was populated by elephants in the late 1800's and the wine making can be dated back to the 1600's with the french. Jonathon and I joined by Niko drove east out of the valley and into the adjoining region for Epic stages 2 and 3. We reconned part of the course and then back to the Gable Manner for a Ice bath. We went to Dinner at the Tasting Room, recently named one of the top 50 resturants in the world. Robin I wish you were with me as you would have loved it and this region.

Arrival Text

We arrived in SA Friday morning at sunrise after a long night of flying. I ended up with 4 seats and a complete lay down in coach while Jonathan truly enjoyed business class food and seating. While I enjoyed the space, I got the curse of no sleep and endless time. In the afternoon we got to the bikes and a fairly leisurely ride south down the beautiful SA coast. The photo is from Dinner at Mano's and we where joined by Jonathan's friends Niko and Candy, Richard and Sam and Dirk and Riana. Niko was the original rider in the cape epic but we took his spot. Dirk is a three time finisher and provided lots of helpful information. Richard was just plan fun. Saturday we meet Niko and headed a couple Kilometers to the start of the race prologue. The photo is on the course looking down into cape town. After a lap of about 1 hour Jonathan experienced a sidewall flat which put havoc in our day. We have been experimenting with tires and now may be making a change. Niko has a khs chain link come off at the end of the second lap, have not seen this one yet. We are now off to a 2 night stay in FranschHoek. This area is a big wine region and look forward to arrival and the expected countryside. We plan to recon days 2 and 3 of the epic.

Arrival Cape Town SA

Thursday March 12 in London

The day started out with a quick cab to Chelsea and breakfast at Daylefords Farm Cafe. Jonathan and I were joined by Aidan and Borra. The restaurant includes fresh organic foods and a very stunning interior. We ventured through the streets and observed Chelsea life. From the dog in the window, to the typical London bus. the woman are hard core here and you can see abundant woman riding bikes in the rough London weather via bike. We are at Heathrow and depart for SA.

Aidan's on mission to crack the Xdream trickster gym bike

I went to Aidan's gym in London at the Roehampton Club to help advise him on his obsession to crack level 20 on the Beginner level of the Xdream trickster gym bike. (Check out a review in the Guardian newspaper online article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/26/healthandwellbeing.fitness1)

Aidan needs to come first in each race in order to progress to the next level There are 20 races and three levels - 60 races in total. He has achieved 19 wins on beginner level but he is struggling big time to crack the short 1.5km race in order to progress to the next level - the intermediate level where another 20 races await him! Aidan is finding it especially difficult on the last 500m ofthe race where good technical skills for downhill are required. I saw his heartrate reach 171 at one point! Any advice to help Aidan achieve his goal would be greatly appreaciated. Then maybe he will be ready to start training for the 2010 Cape Epic...

Adios,
Steve

London Stoppover

Jonathon and I have arrived in London for a 1 night stopover. Then off to Cape Town, South Africa. We were picked up at Heathrow Airport by a good friend Aidan McKenna and will stay over night in his house with his wife, Borra and 2 children. We had dinner in London at a great Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge called Sale e Pepe with Jonathan, Steve, Aidan, Borra and a colleague of Jonathan's, Cynthia.

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Silverado Canyon

Rich, Steve and Jonathan with the last California training day. We leave Tuesday evening from Los Angeles to  London for a one night stay. Then we are off to Cape Town, South Africa.

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Cape Epic Charity

As noted, Jonathan Williams and Steve Strickler will be riding the Cape Epic and will be looking for donations to Breakaway from Cancer. Our last adventure included riding the stages of the tour of California and over $10,000 was raised.

Here are two options for donations at this time. The following link is the direct breakaway from cancer web page. Donations can be done via this web page.

http://www.breakawayfromcancer.com/

Alternatively, the following link can be used and you can just use the 8th stage and add either the name of Jonathan, Steve or yourself. We are looking into modifying this page for this event.

http://www.velogen.org/agm/consec.cfm?do=cc_signup

Thank you for any donations