Around the campfire

PASSING THROUGH LAINGSBURG?

Travelling down to Cape Town this summer? Six years ago I met Poppie van As (63), an elderly underprivileged lady who has a small roadside 'roosterbrood stand’ on the N1 in Laingsburg.

I happened to be cycling in Laingsburg around New Year’s about six years ago, and the first thing that drew me to Poppie’s roadside stand was the wonderful aroma of her roosterbrood! I bought one - with jam and cheese - and we had a chat. If you’ve ever met Poppie you’ll know that she is instantly likeable. Just full of great energy. Before I left town I returned to her stand and bought a few more plain roosterbrood, simply because they’re that delicious.

Since then the Italian representatives at the Eroica South Africa cycling event has invited her to Gaiole, Italy to attend the main Eroica event as a special guest, covering the cost of her plane ticket for the three-day event.

When I told her about the invitation to