Cape Vidal to Sodwana

Now officially classified as an “event” within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, permit and all. A 35km drive to Cape Vidal at a 40km speed limit; the forecast tailwind never really arrived, leaving a hot, still, shadeless day on the water. My music player froze before the start, so no music to distract from the heat – just splashing myself with water every few strokes.

Just before Sodwana I spotted a purple lure bobbing in the water and took three attempts to fish it out. By then I was thoroughly knackered, my right buttock cramped into a hard knot that no amount of stretching could fix. Got through four litres of coke-and-water mix before the finish. The surf at Sodwana was a little bigger than at Cape Vidal, and friends Ken & Romey Finlay, in town for a 50th birthday, were waiting on the beach with Warren.

Stayed the night with Corel Divers, who’d also hosted me on my first attempt – shattered, and not looking forward to the 85km planned for the next day with a cramped buttock still in knots.