5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO, this countdown was what 11 teams have been waiting to hear since we accepted an invitation to a friend’s 40th birthday bash on the outskirts of the Western Cape . All the teams knew was that the start was at Pascals at 09h00 am on the 24 August in Napier, 2 hours drive from Cape Town.
After a quick cup of coffee and croissants the teams were sent on their way by the race marshals. The 1st clue took us to the Millitaria museum in the town where we had to take a picture of the Der Fuhrers Signature with another team which had to be sent electronically to the race organizers before in order to receive our next clue. After searching around for a while, all the teams found the clue and we were off to the next stop in the race a 20 minute drive away where we had to find a church whose congregation consist of washed-up old wrecks and take a picture of the Marie Elise statuette and another photo opportunity with a rival team. With the museum only opening at 10h15 all the teams had a chance to catch up to one another. As a lover of history I completely got lost in what was to offer in the 2 museums and it cost my team some valuable minutes. In the shipwreck museum I missed a valuable hint when I was asked by the curator if I had seen the clue inside the main hall and answered in the negative. Her confused smile said “It is inside”. After finding the clue and my wife (who was searching elsewhere) we had our picture taken and were on our way to the 3rd leg of the race, where we had to find a place that is big enough to house a ‘wagon’.
A phone call from team 1 with whom we had to take a picture sent us on our way to Waenhuiskraal nature reserve and a cave. My attempt to hitch a ride in a 4x4 was unsuccessful and we had to walk more than a kilometer to the cave in loose sand. We received a celebratory Champaign drink and then proceeded over the slippery rocks to have our picture taken inside the cave while it was still low tide. Teams then received their next clue which sent us off on the 5th leg of the race, taking the road less travelled via the farm Prinskraal to the Cape of Needles and on route have a picture taken with sheep. As the signage to the farm was facing the wrong side of the road most teams drove past before eventually making a U-turn. On the way we uncounted another road block as some cows from a nearby farm had wandered onto the main road. A bit of confusion ensued when a message came through that all the teams had been given the wrong clue and had to go back to Willene’s Arts and Craft in Kassiesbaai for lunch and the 4th clue. Following strict instructions from the race organizers the hostess at Willene told the teams of the next step in the race and the protocol each team had to follow. The 5th clue, which every team knew already, took all the teams back to Prinskraal.
Here some teams got delayed as their smartphones could not scan the next clue for the instructions which would take them onto leg 6 of the race to Pondjiebotter. By now nerves started to fray as teams drove off into the unknown and phoned around for help. By now cars were low on petrol and drivers were looking out for the nearest petrol station. The long drive to the next clue caused tension among drivers as uncertainty took hold of them;some co drivers also were not up to speed and were of no help to the drivers. After stopping for petrol and asking for directions to the next clue the teams finally arrived at Pondjiebotter to look for the Ghost that protects the town at the entrance to the town of Cape Agulhas. With cellphone batteries nearly dead and morale now at an all time low, teams were going through the motions to get to the end of the race. Next leg of the race took the teams to the lighthouse in town where every team ended up waiting for team 5 who wandered off to buy wine. The next clue took the teams to the southernmost tip of Africa and another photo shoot-this time with team 6. With tired legs and weary bodies the teams arrived at the southernmost tip of Africa. We spotted 1 of the race organizers giving us the idea that the race was almost over. Leg 8 of the race took us to a parking lot from where we walked onto the beach looking for a clue which led us to a house at the bottom of the beach, which thankfully signaled the end of the race. The amazing race was a great concept with teams determined at the start of the race to win. This mentality soon gave way to camaraderie as teams got to know one another and enjoyed each other’s company throughout the day. The speeches at the party was a great testimony to the birthday girl, as friends and family celebrated her birthday throughout the night.