Photograph: In the mud and rain on the Homtini Pass

A road gang was collecting litter beside the N2. The foreman said they were employed to do this by the toll road company.

He also warned me that having my little digital camera dangling from my neck was an invitation to getting stabbed.

“There are some bad people on the road and watch out especially as you enter Knysna on the downhill through the township.”

I took his advice and tucked my camera inside my shirt but felt completely unthreatened on the downhill.

A cool wind came off the lagoon. It blew in the perfect direction, hitting my back.

I barely needed to pedal as it powered me like a yacht on a wide, tiled roadside pavement along the shore of the lagoon. Then it hit me side-on and I had to lean into it.

COMMENT: Was the foreman right? Is it dangerous to wander along the roads in South Africa?

In the mud and rain on the Homtini Pass

The holiday traffic was beginning to build up on the N2 between Knysna and George, via Sedgefield, which was the route of the inaugural Tour of South Africa. Seeing as I was only more-or-less following the route I cycled along back roads to George, up and down several mountain passes, the first of them being the Homtini.

I left at first light in the drizzle that lasted all the way to George.

The tarmac petered out when the road dropped down into thick Knysna forest around bends, over peat-filled rivers and up windy hills. The sand on the road was a white mud that splattered all over my panniers.

My rain gear was on the flimsy side and I was as drenched as if I had been swimming.

My cellphone rang. It was a friend from Knysna at whose house I had spent the night, saying it was raining buckets back at their place.

“Can’t I rescue you and take you through to George,” he offered.

“Thanks but no thanks,” I replied. “I’m having far too much fun.”

COMMENT: Have you ever had fun in spite of not having your comforts?