A hearty welcome awaited three cyclists from Oudtshoorn – Vussi Marenene, Neels Terblanche and Pieter Marais – at Gearing’s Point in Hermanus last week.
They arrived in Hermanus on 8 September, ending Day 5 of the Sea-Battical Paracycle Tour, which started in Mossel Bay.
With 327 km of cycling done for the week, hand-cyclist Marenene said: “Reaching Hermanus is accompanied by relief that the pain is over, but also a huge sense of satisfaction.”
He and fellow cyclist Terblanche, a former Hermanus resident who organised the tour, are planning to cover 20 000 km over the next 18 months – Terblanche on a mountain bike and Marenene on his hand cycle. This Sea-Battical Paracycle Tour serves as a training precursor to the latter’s two-year pedal-boat voyage due to start in December 2024.
Neels aims to be the first person to circumnavigate Africa in a specially designed human-powered pedal-boat (28 000 km of pedalling).
He has registered his trip aboard the Vaquita II with the Guinness Book of Records.
During this epic sea trip he aims to create awareness about the critically endangered Vaquita porpoise. This species is on the brink of extinction with a mere 300 left in their natural habitat. Through the expedition he also hopes to raise funds in aid of millions for malnourished children.
Terblanche is driven by an innate sense of curiosity and a desire to live life to the fullest, firmly believing constant change is key to fulfilment.
“I approach life as an adventure, constantly seeking new experiences and opportunities to grow and evolve. I firmly believe we have only one chance to live life, and it should be lived to its fullest potential.”Visit www.sea-battical.co.za for more.
