I have just realised that the Argus cycle tour is in just over two months.

So, I guess I had better get onto my bike…

Driving into New York City, originally uploaded by Craig Strachan.

Driving into New York City from Foxwoods, on the I95. You have to learn to be quite an aggressive driver to survive here.

But being from Cape Town, I adjusted pretty fast.

Outside, it is pouring with rain, it seems like the sky is trying to empty on our heads. This is after I told Lois that I thought that we were over the worst of the rain, oh well clearly my prediction skills are not as good as I would like.
However, in less than a week we will be in the middle of summer, first in New York, and then in Connecticut, attending the Toastmasters International Convention at Foxwoods. Foxwoods is the largest stand-alone casino in the world.

I have been to the MGM in Vegas, if I am correct the casino floor was over 50000 square feet, so for this one to be larger than that is really quite something!

The next day, we will rent a car and meet the other half of our group, Rob and Keryn, and then off to Foxwoods, the largest single casino in the world. I am really looking forward to catching up with my Toastmastering friends, and meeting new people.

MGM Hotel in Las Vegas

So we are getting towards the final stages of packing for the trip. Packing for me always seems to be a little of a last-minute thing, I don’t seem to be able to plan it to far ahead. But then I think that it is because I don’t feel a need to have to plan it too far ahead, after all I seem to remember to take everything and I don’t really forget anything important.

Also, it is not like we are travelling to the middle of nowhere, it will after all be USA, and we really can get anything that we need there! We are going to hire a car, so that will also make the travelling arrangements a little easier.

Times Square

We are going to have Pizza on Time Square with my cousin Bruce when we get there, I have not seen him in a very long time, so I am looking forward to catching up with him, and to meeting his wife Melissa, and their new baby. I am dreading the long flight. 16 hours in an aeroplane is simply far too long for me, I have done it three times now, and I really don’t feel like a forth, but not too much choice there!

So, just two days left at work, and then off to USA – I am really excited about the trip.

Hi all

Just a quick update that the recent Toastmasters induction dinner was featured in the Cape Town newspapers. They also displayed a full colour photo of me and Lois. You can read the article on my other blog.

Craig

Hi all

A huge thank you to everybody that was at our charity gig last month. After deducting the costs, I am very excited to tell you that we managed to raise over R3500 for the trust, which is fantastic. Thanks to everybody that was there, and thanks especially to our wonderful team of helpers, especially Rory, Lynne, James, Malcolm and Neil.

We had loads of fun, and judging by the reaction, everybody else did as well. Neil recorded the whole gig on video, so once he has finished editing, we will let you know.

This is our first gig in a very long time, and it has inspired us to do some more playing, so watch this space! Anyway, here are a few pictures.

Lois on guitar

Rory on Sound

Me playing my new guitar

Live mixing

Hi Friends

You have been asking us when we are going to play next, so now you have an answer, next month! I hope that you will be able to join us (more details below the advert).

Craig

Lois and Craig Strachan will be playing a selection of covers and their own songs Saturday 25 April 1st Pinelands Scout Hall St Stephens Road, Pinelands Doors open at 7:30pm Prebook your ticket for R90, or R100 at the door. Book online www.tuesdayschild.co.za/bookings Email craig@johnwhiffen.co.za, or call 082 789 3899 Bookings limited to 100! Charity Gig! – all proceeds donated to the John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust, promoting and supporting personal growth for disabled people through Toastmasters membership.
Download some of our tracks for free now www.craigstrachan.com/tuesdayschildpodcast
The John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust is a registered Not For Profit Organisation—NPO 47-931 For further details, please visit www.johnwhiffen.co.za

So, what exactly does the John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust do?
Most of you know that that Lois and I have been members of Toastmasters for many years. Toastmasters is one of the best ways to develop communication and leadership skills.

A few years ago, a friend of ours, John Whiffen started a Toastmasters club in Johannesburg, to create opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged to achieve personal growth and integrate more fully with society through Toastmasters in South Africa. John died tragically in a construction accident in 2004. As a tribute to John, the trust has been setup to continue John’s vision, providing Toastmasters training to people that otherwise do not have a voice.

About tuesday’s child
When Lois was declared blind in Durban in 1992, the first thing she did was to join a rock band. When she moved to Cape Town, she met Craig, and it was not long before they were performing a mixture of original and cover music throughout Cape Town, mostly under the name “tuesday’s child”. The music varied from a quite acoustic duo, through to a full four-piece rock band, with Mike on lead guitar, and Richard on drums.

Tuesday’s child have been played on both national and international radio, and one of their tracks even reached #1 on the SA Rock Digest music charts in 2002. Tracks can be downloaded for free off the band’s website – www.tuesdayschild.co.za

To misquote Charles Dickens, Sunday was the worst of rides, Sunday was the best of rides…let me explain. I have been training for the Argus Cycle Tour for almost a year now, and this time I have really been putting in the extra hours in the saddle.

On Saturday evening the South Easter started to blow. By Sunday morning, it was howling. When I arrived at the start line, the city bowl was experiencing a regular Cape Doctor. Portable toilets had been blown over, banners had to be cut in half to prevent the scaffolding from blowing over, and later I learned that about 7000 people simply did not arrive at the start – it was too windy.

When my group eventually left (45 minutes late), it was so windy that just beyond the start line we had to get off our bikes and walk for about 100m through a particularly windy section under a bridge. The wind howled all the way through Simonstown, and up to Cape Point. My average speed at that time was a modest 17km/h (very slow).

For the next section, the wind was behind us, which was a pleasure. I could cruise along at over 50km/h, without even breaking a sweat. That was the only really enjoyable part of the race (except of course the finish line).

However, the rest of the ride was miserable. The wind (which at times gusted at over 140km/h) was gusting in every direction. One minute it would blow at you from behind, rocketing you forward, and the next it hit you head on, suddenly slowing you down to a stop. I had to hang only my handlebars simply to keep my bicycle in a straight line. In fact, I believe that somebodies bicycle actually got blown off the side of Chapman’s Peak; thank goodness they were not on the bike at the time.

I also believe that because the wind was getting too heavy, they had to close the mountain passes early. I eventually finished after 5 hours 45 min, over 1.5 hours slower than I was hoping for.

So, why on early was it the best of rides? Simple, because my training paid off. In every measurement (except for time), I performed better. I did not stop at all (except to full my bottles or to eat something), I did not get cramp, and I had no problems getting up the hills. Sure, the hills were tough, but I was not struggling. In fact, my relative placing was over 10% better (in improvement of about 2500 in position). I have no doubt that without the wind, I would have got my 4.5 hour time that I was hoping for.

Just a few days break, and then back into the saddle to start training for next year.

Yes, we are almost there.

Tomorrow the roads are closed, Cape Town grinds to a halt, and over 35000 cyclists take to the streets. They will cycle 109km through the wonderful city of Cape Town. It is of course, the annual Cape Argus/Pick n Pay Cycle Tour tomorrow – the largest timed cycling event in the world.

In fact there are so many cyclists that the last group, which starts at 10:09am, will start approx 1.5 hours after the first group have finished! I will be on the road tomorrow, leaving at a modest 8:30am, which is not too bad.

This will be my fourth cycle tour, it is going to be a hot race, but I am looking foward to it! Look out for me, and if you get a chance, pop past our tent #115 at the finish line.

I am cycling for the John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust, so how about making a donation to a good cause!

Just a quick update – Lois is being interviewed today on GHFM (Good Hope) at 12:50pm. She will be speaking on Toastmasters, communication and leadership skills.

You can listen online here.

I hope that you manage to listen.

Yes, that is right. After years of being quiet, Lois and I are doing a charity gig. Please keep the evening of Saturday 25 April open. Details to follow.

www.tuesdayschild.co.za

download the band’s music