It hasn’t been a normal trip, with the new job commencing, taking the time to adjust and making the time to meet new people, plus of course spending time with family, meaning that I have been away longer than I normally would expect to be. This has been my longest ever trip with Specialized (racing in 05 in Asia was long too), but like anything new, it’s important to put one’s head down in order to get things moving smoothly.

I arrived in Stellenbosch on Thursday evening after the flight from hell. I opted to bring road (don’t know why I brought the road bike in hindsight) and MTB bikes, plus some other bits and pieces, including Hugo’s new Apple Laptop, Tim’s wetsuit and other requests from the USA! Aer Lingus weren’t so pleased. I still try to give them “I am an Irish Athlete story”, which doesn’t work (Ireland has gone and got itself too official; too overly serious!!), or maybe I no longer look like an athlete …. Hmmm! Maybe I should have told them that I am “a has been”!!! Fast acting by my travel agent and I was on my way to Stellenbosch with Iberia, via Madrid and Jo’Burg. In Jo’Burg emigration said that from their records I over stayed a VISA in 2006. I couldn’t remember a thing about that, except that I was eager to get home at that point. A small fine, quick talking and I was on my way! Finally, I arrived in Stellenbosch.

Being back has been good. I spent some quality time with my sofa and TV (!!!), had two absolutely awesome MTB rides on Saturday and Sunday and met up with my cousin and friends in Cape Town on Saturday night after the Lions victory over Western Province. Yes I am a big rugby fan, prefer watching games from my sofa, but couldn’t resist going to Cape Town afterwards. It’s also great to be back at my office, working from my usual position and simply getting back into routine.

I plan to be here until July 2nd, when I travel for a few days to Frankfurt for Ironman Frankfurt and following that will probably spend a little time in Ireland.

I must take more photos, but Stellenbosch, although it’s winter is stunning.

On other fronts the athletes are all doing very well. Conrad Stoltz had a legendary story over the weekend. It just sums up “The Caveman” – he’s as tough as nails!!!! You can check it out on his "I Am Specialized" blog or at www.conradstoltz.com.