“We are so LOST!! In a game reserve somewhere with no idea how to cross a very deep wooded valley!” So read a Twitter update on Thursday last week from Barry Armitage, who together with Joe Dawson completed a six-day Cape Town-to-Grahamstown horseback ride on Friday night, having used 33 horses along the way.
“We are so LOST!! In a game reserve somewhere with no idea how to cross a very deep wooded valley!” So read a Twitter update on Thursday last week from Barry Armitage, who together with Joe Dawson completed a six-day Cape Town-to-Grahamstown horseback ride on Friday night, having used 33 horses along the way.
Their ride was an emulation of the epic ride undertaken by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Harry Smith (called “Harry Whackalong Smite” by his troops) in 1835 at the onset of the 6th Frontier War, when he covered the 950km postal route from Cape Town to take command of the British garrison in Grahamstown – although Harry definitely wouldn’t have been Tweeting updates from the saddle.
Armitage and Dawson were due to arrive in Grahamstown around 6pm on Friday, having left from Uitenhage that morning, but the day’s journey took longer than expected and they eventually trotted down High Street to the Cathedral shortly after 10pm.
Waiting for them was a warm welcome from around 50 well-wishers, including councillor Pierre Ranchhod, councillor Julia Wells, Basil Mills and welcoming organiser Renette Kleinhans. Champagne was popped and Old Brown Sherry swigged as the depleted pair soaked up the celebratory atmosphere.
They put in an appearance at the Settlers' Show on Saturday before leaving to go back to Cape Town on Sunday – this time not on horseback, much to their relief.
The ride was filmed as a six-episode series. Season 1 of The Ride series, The Ride of the Peacemaker, saw Barry and Joe recreate the epic journey completed by Dick King 168 years ago when he rode 960km in 10 days, from the British trading station in Port Natal to Grahamstown, to request help for the besieged British garrison.
For Season 2 of The Ride, Barry and Joe travelled to Mongolia to compete in the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest, toughest horse race. The third season, The Ride of Harry Whackalong Smite, is scheduled to air on SABC 3 in October 2012.
