Gareth Brauteseth

The 12 Apostles, Clifton and Camps Bay

I was sick of sitting indoors and recovering from a niggling cold today so I put on my shoes and hit the road, took a walk out of the house to appreciate what we have right on our doorstep.
I call Bantry Bay, Cape Town home and a walk from here is Clifton Beach, The Promenade, Sea Point pools, View of the 12 Apostles and the famed Camps Bay.
Sometimes it is all a bit too much.
So I decided to turn left today and head down to Clifton, with my trusty cell phone as a camera I bring back images of the promised land.
Everyone must live in Cape Town just for a short bit, there is good energy here! Good people, good food, good places and good spaces.
The big guy upstairs has created his own little piece of heaven right here on the southern tip of Africa- the fairest cape of them all.
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Dave and Mike Parsons pounding the asphalt

Chelsea and Camille

Chatted with the ladies at Herchel Girls here in Cape Town today.
Another amazing school added to the list for Western Cape education.
They were a great audience and I am sure we will be working together in the future be it with The Cadiz Freedom Swim, Adventure or Equal Education.

Thank you very much Herschel
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ST Cyprians School in Oranjezight Cape Town plays school to some 530 students.
I was lucky enough to address the ladies in assembly this morning and share my experiences of the Millennium Cycle for Change.
What an awesome, grand school. Ladies you are spoilt by some incredible surroundings and special teachers.
Libby thank you for all your help it was terrific.
Thank you for your support and I will be back with Bar Ones asap.

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With the St Cyprians ladies in Cape Town

Hout Bay- 1km Swimming Bliss

So,

I’ve been training for the Cadiz Freedom Swim from Robben Island to the mainland now for 3 weeks and to be honest, the pool is getting boring.
The lengths all morf into one long wet ride from one side to the next.I’ve studied the bottom of two gyms pools, counted their tiles and raced everyone in the neighbouring lanes and definitely decided that Greenpoint’s Virgin Active has the superior pool in the Mother city.
Nice and deep and awesome temp makes me remember the sweet lengths of Sheppy High’s perfection in a pool, where ProNutro was your fuel and Galas the goal.
Problem is, the swim is not in a gym and the water is not awesome, it is blady cold.
So I found a pretty hip training spot which delivers the magic.
The Republic of Hout Bay, although having Seal Island around the corner with sharks galore, is 1km, good introductory temps and you even have a Leopard to swim towards.
Sheez we are spoilt- What an amazing country to do cool things.

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 I visited Camps Bay High School today to share the Cairo to Cape Town adventure with them.
They were a great audience and I must say th eSchool head and captain of the ship, Dave De Corte, is steering a very steady ship. What a great bunch of kids who are very excited about the future.
Nissan got me there in style and the guys were keen to pose with one of the prizes- The Nissan X-Trail!

Thanks Camps Bay- you guys rock-
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Camps Bay Heavyweights with the Nissan X-Trail

In 2008 I cycled across Africa with a guy by the name of Rich Conyngham.
The man is super talented and has a heart the size of the continent itself (he also has quite an impressive leg spin.)
He has just returned from a masters at Cambridge University where he read English Literature and joined forces with a good mate of his to get a Library into the old “Charleys Bakery” building on Roeland street in Cape Town.
I popped down there today to see what was cracking and lend a hand. The team were hard at work creating something very cool for the kids. Our main man Mac 1- most famed Cape Town Grafitti artist- was directing proceedings while Rich and the foot soldiers cracked on with giving the place a facelift.
In a few weeks “The Bookery” will open its doors and children and schools, who would otherwise not afford it, will have a spot to read and trade their books. If you have books lying around get in touch.
This is going to be super cool!

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Rich and Team Tapping away at “The Bookery”

Cocktails and Celebs

This 3rd challenge of the BarOne Manhunt shifted the skills into a different gear.
We could not rely on brut strength any longer, this challenge required more finesse…it was all about organising and working under pressure that was gong to make this challenge happen.
A party for the SA “A” listers on the SABC building with the best view in town over the JOZI and Sandton CBD’s life stood still for just a few moments as I realised what an awesome opportunity it was to be having a few drinks with such an incredible view with what was fast becoming a great group of mates.
The day was frantic with crazy trips to Fruit and Veg city with the fastest spend of R3500 I’ve experienced and all of this followed by the craziest kitchen performance i’ve seen since Gordon Ramsays ordeals North of the equator.
Steve and Chubster are machines and are so well connected in the city of gold that decor and atmosphere was taken care of and yes even a rooftop in Gauteng can trasnport you to South Beach Miami, models included.
Barcode Mobile bars brought there “A” game and Brando and Col learnt to flare up a storm and were singularly responsible for Ursulas bizarre antics on top of the world-the high heels eventually came off.
Well done guys- great party! (Just lacked the roullette table!!!)

OUt

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I am so full of crap and sometimes come up with the most bizarre ideas. Like this last one for instance!
Swimming from Robben ISland to the mainland- 7.5km in 11 degree water- I mean, do me a favour.

But the challenge is there so we must do it!

This afternoon morning marked the official start of cold water training for my attempt at the Cadiz Freedom Swim to be hosted on the 2nd of May this year.
The swim from Robben Island to the mainmland at Big Bay is 7.5km and although a daunting task, the temperature for the crossing is something a little more worrying – averaging 11 degrees.
That’s enough to make your balls not only shrivel up to the size of peanuts, but to actually retract to hermaphrodite status.
In which case I should probably rather switch to athletics!
What makes matters worse is that the strict instructions for the challenge is to do the swim in nothing but a standard swimming cap, goggles and a speedo- yes a banana hammock.
The only way to train for this water is to head out there and spend time emersed in it.
So this afternoon saw me all speedo’ed up on clifton 4th just getting used to the water.
I could only manage 10 minutes, before my jaw froze and the reality of a 800m gold medal loomed – so the 2 and a half hours that the swim should take is still some time off.
The things we do in the name of challenge!

As the heavyweights headed to East London this weekend for the 70.3 half Ironman I decided to keep it local and have a look at what the wonderful forests and apple orchards of Grabouw could throw at us in the name of adventure.
The team at Quantum Adventures who put together team building events and adventure races in the Western Cape threw the perfect race together for the start of the year.
A Mountain Bike/Trail Run combo sprinkled with water obstacles, to cool the field down, ensured an awesome day out for everyone.
Like so many of these events, the emphasis is not only on athletic success but more importantly on creating an opportunity for families to get out, move their bodies and have a laugh together.
This was so true with many young families heading out to Oaklane Cottage in Grabouw for the weekend, hauling out the skottel for breakfast on Sunday morning and donning all shades of spandex for the race that ensued.

Some random group of cyclists backing themselves in the forest