I meat Leon in 2000. He was big on cycling. loved being on his bike and in some ways it was the other woman. Which, lets be honest, I can compete with :)
Cycling was a big part of his life, I did try to get on the bike with him. but its just not my vibe.
he cycled different events but the Argus cycle tour was the main focus for the year.
When I was pregnant with Gemma in 2006 and her due date came closer, I thought, just not on Argus. So when he got up that Sunday morning on the 12th of march 2006, and I felt a few little tingles I didn't say anything. even when he called to ask me to bring his arm warmers, I got in the car and dropped them off... by 8am I felt that maybe, just maybe I'm in labour. I called my cousin, Andrea, who is a midwife, and told her how I was feeling, she confirmed that it was very possible. So I called my folks to come from Pringlebay to be with me just in case. I still hand told Leon!
At 950am during the Lords prayer, I had to run to the loo. YIP that was the water breaking. fun. now what? don't panic. just walk calmly to your mom and whisper. Well my dad wasn't calm hahaha we left to go to the hospital. To add to it, We stayed in Woodstock and the hospital was in Constantia, cycle tour traffic meant we had to go via the main road. AND Leon wasn't answering his phone.
because why? it was on SILENT!
By the time the nurses had check me, Leon had stopped at Cape point and checked his cell. (lots of msgs and missed calls) He called and I advised him to finish the race, he had time.
I went home and waited it out. We went back later that afternoon and Gemma was born that evening.
Our cycle tour adventure continued. Every year we went to watch Dad do the tour. he was very proud the first year Gemma got to watch. and the year after our son was born, when he did his 21st (2011) and we surprised him at the end.
At the start of 2013 when he started training, he had some discomfort in his right leg. I convinced him to go to the doctor instead of the physio. He come home stressed as there was no pulse in the foot. going directly to the hospital for tests showed that there was clot below the knee.
They went in the next day, removed some of the clot. but sadly the artery had collapsed. after a few weeks and back and forth to different doctors, the leg was no better. walking short distances were painful, let alone trying to get on the bike.
So no TOUR that year.
Or 2014
Or 2015
In the middle of 2015, the situation was getting worse. and finally we find the right doctor to help, the bypass was done in mid November and an 80% recovery was expected.
2016 was all about improvements, we started walking together, he started cycling with Gemma, running with me, cycling with Jared. and life was nearly normal. In September he entered the 2017 Cycle Tour.
As we get closer to the 12th of March, the Tour date and our Gemma's 11th birthday, I cant but be thankful for where I find our family. How much we have been blessed and how much one event, means to us.
This year is Tour number 23 for Leon. And we will be there, on the side of the road. Proud. Happy. Blessed.
You can got this babe.
x
