Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Journey Home
To my Big Brov well done on your life changing trip and a Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY another year older and Wiser. Big love Family and Friendsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Day 9 - Travelling home
Sitting on the plane with heavy heart. :-(
Make promise to oneself to come back and ride in SA some more.
Cheered myself up with a Happy Birthday song.
Make promise to oneself to come back and ride in SA some more.
Cheered myself up with a Happy Birthday song.
Day 8 - The Finale
Day 8 - 219km
Port Alfred to Port Elizabeth
A bright sunny day saw us head off on fast dusty gravel roads literally riding through one game reserve towards the Scotia game park 120kms away. On route we fixed a puncture for the red team and ourselves, saw some Rhino and some huge sand dunes. We had a quick game drive at the park and saw the lions at a kill and the rhinos. The park owner who's family had owned the property since 1830 also fired their cannon. After a great lunch we headed back out of the park and onto more gravel and eventually tarmac down to Bluewater Bay where we assembled on the beach and formed a cavalcade for the ride into Port Elizabeth. The sting in the tail was a 10km lap through a local enduro course that developed into a flat out race as the red mist descended! The course was a mix of sand, very close whoops and rocks which left us drained by the end. Luckily the course ended at the local bike club clubhouse and a cold beer :-)
Port Alfred to Port Elizabeth
A bright sunny day saw us head off on fast dusty gravel roads literally riding through one game reserve towards the Scotia game park 120kms away. On route we fixed a puncture for the red team and ourselves, saw some Rhino and some huge sand dunes. We had a quick game drive at the park and saw the lions at a kill and the rhinos. The park owner who's family had owned the property since 1830 also fired their cannon. After a great lunch we headed back out of the park and onto more gravel and eventually tarmac down to Bluewater Bay where we assembled on the beach and formed a cavalcade for the ride into Port Elizabeth. The sting in the tail was a 10km lap through a local enduro course that developed into a flat out race as the red mist descended! The course was a mix of sand, very close whoops and rocks which left us drained by the end. Luckily the course ended at the local bike club clubhouse and a cold beer :-)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Day 7
Day 7 - 294km
Morgans Bay to Port Alfred
Today was the big slog!, the first 120kms were fast washboard dusty roads in almost unbearable heat which gave you pins and needles in the hands, at times the dust was so thick it was like riding in fog! Lunch was a very welcome respite at the Stutterheim Country Club. The afternoon started with a long cool forrest climb on fire roads which broke out into beautiful hills by the Gubu Dam, we then dropped into the valley and the temp shot up again to furnace levels on a mix of gravel and rocky roads. After refuelling we hit the tarmac and the last 30kms was a flat out race to Port Alfred with plenty of slip streaming and lying prone on the bike to eek out the last couple of mph. At the end of the ride the bar was littered with tired dust bearded bikers.
Morgans Bay to Port Alfred
Today was the big slog!, the first 120kms were fast washboard dusty roads in almost unbearable heat which gave you pins and needles in the hands, at times the dust was so thick it was like riding in fog! Lunch was a very welcome respite at the Stutterheim Country Club. The afternoon started with a long cool forrest climb on fire roads which broke out into beautiful hills by the Gubu Dam, we then dropped into the valley and the temp shot up again to furnace levels on a mix of gravel and rocky roads. After refuelling we hit the tarmac and the last 30kms was a flat out race to Port Alfred with plenty of slip streaming and lying prone on the bike to eek out the last couple of mph. At the end of the ride the bar was littered with tired dust bearded bikers.
Day 6
Day 6 - 89km
Kob Inn to Morgans Bay
The day started with a team photo on the cliff and the sight of more breaching whales then we had the boat house challenge, a hill climb with lots of exposed roots which had a few people chewing dirt. Next up was the big climb out of the gorge with is a bit like Holins Clough in the Peak District only 3 times longer! Our team was one of the first up and then we walked back down to assist other riders. We then dropped into a forest and which was fast and shady, a welcome respite from the punishing heat of the gorge. One of the local huts on the hillside turned out to be a shop and we bought 4 litres of ice cold drink to share with the team. Riding through the rolling country side we then came across Takazi Falls which were dry at this time of year and we managed to pick up two punctures, one in my front tyre :-(. We then headed towards the coast and hit the sand and some great riding through deep twisty natural berms and popped out on a beach at the Wreck of the Jacaranda. After a kick paddle and some more sand we hit more gravel and raced down to the Ferry which carried us across the river Kei and then onto the hotel at Morgan's bay. Our room over looks the beach and we will fall asleep to the sound of the Indian Ocean breaking on the shore, another awesome day! :-)
Kob Inn to Morgans Bay
The day started with a team photo on the cliff and the sight of more breaching whales then we had the boat house challenge, a hill climb with lots of exposed roots which had a few people chewing dirt. Next up was the big climb out of the gorge with is a bit like Holins Clough in the Peak District only 3 times longer! Our team was one of the first up and then we walked back down to assist other riders. We then dropped into a forest and which was fast and shady, a welcome respite from the punishing heat of the gorge. One of the local huts on the hillside turned out to be a shop and we bought 4 litres of ice cold drink to share with the team. Riding through the rolling country side we then came across Takazi Falls which were dry at this time of year and we managed to pick up two punctures, one in my front tyre :-(. We then headed towards the coast and hit the sand and some great riding through deep twisty natural berms and popped out on a beach at the Wreck of the Jacaranda. After a kick paddle and some more sand we hit more gravel and raced down to the Ferry which carried us across the river Kei and then onto the hotel at Morgan's bay. Our room over looks the beach and we will fall asleep to the sound of the Indian Ocean breaking on the shore, another awesome day! :-)
Day 6 - Prequel "The Gorge"
Woke up at 6 and went for a quick stroll on the beach in the warm sunshine, hoping for good weather today after yesterdays rain as we have the infamous Gorge to tackle!
Day 5
Day 5 was a riding rest day and we went to Mcawezulu school finish off some work started by Touch Africa. We were greeted to the sound of the kids singing and by the end of day we had put a roof on a new classroom, painted the outside of all the buildings, constructed a jungle gym and wired up the whole school. Honda supplied a generator for power and the kids went crazy when we were finally able to switch on the lights and TV.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Day 4
Day 4 - 137km
Hole in the Wall to Kob Inn
On leaving the hotel we rode up to the Hole in the Wall, a Durdle Door style rock formation sticking out of the sea and as we were busy snapping away some Dolphins cruised across the bay, just another day on the wild coast! After a while on the gravel roads we hit the rough stuff again with some really steep descents down to river crossings and some breathtaking climbs next to the ocean. We mended 3 punctures today, one of our own and two for another teams(which we are owed beers for!). In total we did 3 beach crossings and arrived at the Kob Inn by the mouth of the Qora river near Willowvale (via a steep hillside road made from old tyres!) with huge smiles almost as big as the numerous African kids we meet along the way. Tomorrow is a rest day from riding and we'll be spending some time renovating a school and seeing first hand where the money we raised has been spent.
Hole in the Wall to Kob Inn
On leaving the hotel we rode up to the Hole in the Wall, a Durdle Door style rock formation sticking out of the sea and as we were busy snapping away some Dolphins cruised across the bay, just another day on the wild coast! After a while on the gravel roads we hit the rough stuff again with some really steep descents down to river crossings and some breathtaking climbs next to the ocean. We mended 3 punctures today, one of our own and two for another teams(which we are owed beers for!). In total we did 3 beach crossings and arrived at the Kob Inn by the mouth of the Qora river near Willowvale (via a steep hillside road made from old tyres!) with huge smiles almost as big as the numerous African kids we meet along the way. Tomorrow is a rest day from riding and we'll be spending some time renovating a school and seeing first hand where the money we raised has been spent.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Day 3
Day 3 - 135km
Port St Johns to Hole in the Wall
We left Port St Johns in glorious sunshine and travelled to a shelter for homeless kids where we donated the 30 mattresses we slept on the night before.
Today was less technical but stunning country side as we moved from tropical to the less humid temperate climate. Only one puncture to fix today and a bit of hot-wiring as our medic ran off a hillside track and ripped out the ignition wiring, luckily a tree saved him from a trip into the valley!. The day ended with another cliff top ride down into Hole in the wall and the beach side bar :-)
Port St Johns to Hole in the Wall
We left Port St Johns in glorious sunshine and travelled to a shelter for homeless kids where we donated the 30 mattresses we slept on the night before.
Today was less technical but stunning country side as we moved from tropical to the less humid temperate climate. Only one puncture to fix today and a bit of hot-wiring as our medic ran off a hillside track and ripped out the ignition wiring, luckily a tree saved him from a trip into the valley!. The day ended with another cliff top ride down into Hole in the wall and the beach side bar :-)
Day 2
Day 2 - 82km
Mbotyi - Port St Johns
The morning ride was 21km of hell through a deep valley with big climbs and more river crossings culminating in a deep crossing where we had to man handle the bikes via a chain of people in the river carrying our kit over our heads. The team leader's GPS had us 4 hours riding, 3 hours stationary, yes it was tough!!The final 61km was a lot faster in the beautiful valleys with a few steep climbs and we popped out on the Wild Coast near Cremorne where we were greeted by the sight of Two whales breaching in the bay. fantastic!! (BTW Andrew says Happy Birthday LINDA!)
Mbotyi - Port St Johns
The morning ride was 21km of hell through a deep valley with big climbs and more river crossings culminating in a deep crossing where we had to man handle the bikes via a chain of people in the river carrying our kit over our heads. The team leader's GPS had us 4 hours riding, 3 hours stationary, yes it was tough!!The final 61km was a lot faster in the beautiful valleys with a few steep climbs and we popped out on the Wild Coast near Cremorne where we were greeted by the sight of Two whales breaching in the bay. fantastic!! (BTW Andrew says Happy Birthday LINDA!)
Day 1
Day 1 - 208km
Big day in rural Africa with some awesome scenery and big river crossings, every time we stopped the local kids would appear from nowhere and would fight to get into the photos and then chase us barefoot up the road smiling and shouting. I have never seen so many happy kids!. Today's highlight was the Magwa falls. Lowlights were three punctures today, which we had to fix ourselves and meant we arrived at the hotel tired and in the dark.
Big day in rural Africa with some awesome scenery and big river crossings, every time we stopped the local kids would appear from nowhere and would fight to get into the photos and then chase us barefoot up the road smiling and shouting. I have never seen so many happy kids!. Today's highlight was the Magwa falls. Lowlights were three punctures today, which we had to fix ourselves and meant we arrived at the hotel tired and in the dark.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Arrived at the hotel TO strand in Port Edward (on the coast of Durban) and were allocated our bike and went off for a test/familiarisation ride, I fitted 45mm bar rises as the CRF230 is quite low. After team allocation(We are in the blue team with only yellow in front or 'team lemon' as they will be known hence forth)we had steak meal and some traditional entertainment. Sunday will be quite tough with 200kms of muddy going to greet us. Sat 16th October 22.06 Sweaty Laver
Nearly there!
Landed at J/Burg and waiting for a flight to Durban. Met up with all the other Enduros and just want to get going on the bikes now, roll on tomorrow.
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