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Friday, 08 August 2008 |
So often in life the little things are overlooked and often it’s the small things that end up making the biggest difference. It is also often to our surprise when a little person stands up to be counted and takes it on his small shoulders to make a difference and be an inspiration to giants around him.
 Robin Brewer (8 years old) has seen how this project has evolved and has witnessed the change that it has brought to the lives of many a child. Robin felt he needed to somehow make a contribution to this project and ultimately to the life of some child that was not in the fortunate position that he is. Racking his brain to some how find a way to contribute it then caught his eye. The first thing that every modern day child seems to latch onto after discarding their dummy, A Play Station. Toying with the idea, finally he made the decision. He felt that he could put the hours to better use that he was wasting playing the games.
The next morning arriving at school early, he littered all notice boards with his advertisements. He put all his games up for sale at R 100 each. Within 1 hour he was sold out and R1100-00 in his pocket. That afternoon he pledged all the money to miles for smiles and banked it into the foundation acc.
Robin, Thank you for making our journey count!
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
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 Finally the majestic table mountain manages to force her way through the swirling cloud and overcast sky taking up her position looking like a massive island in the sea. A sight cherished by many a traveller on land and sea, for me a welcoming sight a beacon of strength, in a way a post marking a mile stone of achievement as I was now to round the Cape of Good Hope and head up the east coast, the hardest leg of the journey was now to begin. But a time to reflect as the west coast slowly began to fade into an element of my imagination, thoughts of disbelief that I was back in the Cape. Standing staring over the bay at the mountain I slowly began to digest what I had just experienced along the west coast
Stark beauty beyond description, a landscape of ocean, rock and sand that just seems to intertwine with a natural sparkle, perceived by some as an ugly duckling, but has this hidden beauty of one of Africa’s Princesses. Plant life in abundance, small, robust delicate and unique to this harsh environment. Nurtured over the years by soft pampering hands of the coastal mist ensuring that there is water of life brushed over the succulent leaves daily .
 Tiny beetles, hand-stand on the dunes with their front legs, their hind legs reaching skywards catching the mist and funnelling droplets of water down to their mouths. Small Steenbok in abundance, aroused by the rattle of a Korhaan as it screeches off into the sky, slowly they lope over the low bush evolving into a dance like rhythm as they run into the distant hills, shinny bristling coats reflecting in the lazy winter sun.
Clapper birds soar into the air , close their wings and swoop back down shrieking as they barley miss the bush, opening their wings at the last minute by doing this, marking their territory with a breakneck bush top skimming aerial manoeuvre . Tiny creatures mill around the base of the plant life, leaving tracks of their daily toil in the sands. Chameleons slowly rock two and fro as they cross the game tracks adapting to the terrain colour as they beadily eye any opportunity to ‘blat’ something looking slightly edible
Through all the beauty are deep scars that the shore line bears, scars of mans relentless pursuit of the earths treasures, layered deep in the horizons of silt deposited over millions of years.
 Wounds of open cast diamond strip mining just left to fester in the desert sun. A coast once abundant in sea life and fish, but over fished to the brink of extinction from years of the unchecked rape of the natural resources. Many a community now suffers the consequences .Sitting day after day staring out to sea hoping that one day the fish will return and the stories of old are relived with massive catches bringing prosperity back to the impoverished communities.
A coast of some of the friendliest folk I have come across. Nothing seems to be a problem, and there always seems to be time for you- Cherish what you have and protect the environment. “It’s in your hands” Thank you West Coast
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
It’s taken a few years and thousands of km to realise the importance of my running shoes. I find there are basic lessons,
Shoe rotation
 I have a few pairs of each shoe type, and they are numbered 1 to 4, each morning I will use a different pair and so rotate them, never using the same pair more than once in 4 days. I find that this helps to stop the shoe getting too much ware and moulding to your foot thus retaining the softness and support in the sole
Use the correct shoe for the terrain ahead, we often think that one shoe can do it all, this really does not work on a long journey , you need to nurse your feet all the way and you will for the first time find out the importance of good specific foot ware
During the event there are 4 basic terrains on which we run.
a Tar- ultra soft well ventilated light shoe- My choice Adidas AdiStar cusion6
b Gravel-Slightly harder road shoe- My choice Adidas Supernova cusion7
c Sand and off road rough- when running in the sand or on the beach you need a firmer sole so that your foot does not flex too much and tire- also if possible make sure that the mesh on the shoe is fine to stop the sand from entering the shoes. With the rough terrain you also want to make sure the shoe has support on the sides to keep the bridge of the foot from moving too much and thus giving better ankle support- a strong sole that stops sharp rocks and thorns from bruising and penetrating into your feet- River crossing, make certain the shoe drains well or you run with wet feet all day- My choice Adidas Adistar trail3
d cold- rain- mountain I have a gortex lined semi waterproof shoe that keeps my feet warm till wind chill of -15 These are firm hard sole and heavier than all the other shoes as this terrain is mostly hiking- My choice Adidas Climaproof adventure trail series- gortex
 A really important point for any off-road shoe , make sure that you walk the sole in for a few km before heading down the trail, because a new shoe on a wet rock you will slip and fall as the rubber is smooth and has a bit of waxy substance on it from the mould, it needs to roughen up a bit to get to its optimum grip level.
I also try to change my shoes and socks, if possible once a day, when you slip your tired feet into a new pair of shoes – Well, it’s hard to explain, but really a great feeling!
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe.
Robert W. Service
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A brick in my life’s wall |
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
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When you have a day that is long and dark and you feel that you cant go on. You think that your problems are in surmountable and the biggest in the world. You have been dealt the worst deal in life. Sit back and think again , look at all the positive things that you have in life, be thankful.
The following message was sent to me.
“ Ek is self met 'n gesplete lip gebore. Dit is nie aldag maklik om mense se reaksies te sien as hulle na jou gesig kyk en merk jy is anders as hulle.
Mens leer seker maar mettertyd saamleef met dit. As kind het ek dit nie so lekker gehad nie, en dit los tog emosionele letsels op mens.
Hoe ouer jy raak hoe dieper begrawe jy dit iewers in jou menswees.
Ek wil net sê sterkte, en dankie dat julle so vêr gaan om 'n volmaakte glimlag op 'n klein kindjie se gesig te sit”.
I now sit here running my finger over my lips and wondering, what the pain must be like not being able to kiss your child good night?
Help make this journey count!
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