The Munga Journey

BRAND VAN ZYL WRITES:

(In honour of Andre Snyman’s The Munga Journey)

At sixty-three, with heart ablaze,

A cyclist’s dream ignites the days.

In Namibia’s dawn, where the sun softly rise,

You greet each morning as the world harmonizes.



With the whisper of tires beneath you, the sound,

You set forth each day, where possibilities abound.

With dedicated spirit and resolve in your chest,

The Munga called out – a personal quest.



Through the fields of the Free State, you ventured so far,

From Bloemfontein’s embrace to Ceres’ bright star.

Five dreadful days on that rugged terrain,

With the sun bearing down, and the heat was a bane.



But the night skies above, with diamonds so bright,

Filled you with wonder as you pedaled by light.

Little sleep you would steal, as doubt would creep in,

But your hunger for triumph burned deeper within.



The road twisted high, then dipped down below,

Each turn brought its challenge, a test of the will,

Against howling winds or with gusts at your back,

You rode on and on through the beauty and lack.



Alone in the night, with the moon as your guide,

You found strength in the silence, with faith by your side.

And with each pedal stroke, the friendships would grow,

Newfound comrades in spirit, as together you’d go.



From the laughter of daylight to the stillness of night,

The journey unveiled the resilience of might.

A realization blossomed, as the finish drew near,

That you’d conquer this Munga, your goal crystal clear.



With just one hour remaining, the finish line glowed,

A testament of effort, where your true spirit showed.

Joy flooded your heart, an overwhelming grace,

For all fellow cyclists who had run this tough race.



In the epic of struggle, in the triumph of pain,

In the respect for each rider, with their own goals to gain,

You embraced the victory, with humbleness profound,

Knowing life’s richest glory is in the journey we’ve found.



So here’s to you, Andre, with your heart in full flight,

A beacon of passion, burning steadily bright.

With grace from above and a spirit so free,

You’ve shown the world what it means to truly be!!