Ok, So... We are having a small get together in a few weeks and I still have a bit of time to scout about for a black route option for part of the days adventures. When I say black route, I mean by what I would class as a black route of for someone who is an odd weekend rider on an adventture bike. A mate of mine who came with today, is an acomplished rider of many years, and he was looking a bit bored at one point, so I guess its all relative. Anyways, I digress.
We headed out after a bit of a slow early breakfast and a fuel stop. The idea was to get to the part I wanted to scout as quickly as possible so that there would be plenty of time in the day to get lost/stuck/crash/chill out etc etc. A quick blast through the Karkloof and out towards the D55 saw us get to our starting point in the day nice and early while the weather was still relatively cool.
We decided to stop off and chat to a local farmer about riding in the area, but as it turns out the section we were wanting to ride is now government land/tribal land. After a bit of a chat we headed off to the end of what I was hoping to be the black route. We stopped off again a few kms later to chat with some of the locals at the little shop in the veld to see if they thought it would be ok to ride in the area and what they thought of us trying to get through wild bush out to Muden. Much to their delight they though us a bunch of nutters and wished us well on our way out. We got down to the river and within the first 20 meters I came off after having a small rock unpin my front wheel. A bit of a left right left right, and down I went. :ricky: Luckily though I was going slowly. With all the rocks about it could have ended in disaster
atch:
We had a break and a good lok around, but in the end it was decided that the proposed route is definitley a plastic bike route only. Its fair to say that I was quite gutted at this point. I mean, we had only just got here and already my plan was feked!! So we headed back to the dirt road, and on our way our, Jimmie came unstuck and ended up tipping over and had his KTM upside down. Went to put his foot down, and with him being on a bit of a ledge, there was nowhere to put his foot so down he went.. Fred helped him back upright. But the chop managed to heave himself into the saddle again, then fell off the other side without so much as moving an inch.... :lol8:
I knew from google earth that there was a potential track from higher up the valley. We decided to go have one last look before throwing in the towel for the proposed black route. Needless to say that when we got to the top, that too proved to be unridable on adventure bikes. :xxbah: The day was not loking good at this point.
And that was that.... my so called black route is so black its unrideable!! :lamer: :xxbah:
By this stage it was heading on for mid morning, so we decided to head over to Muden for lunch. A quick chat and a plan was hatched to ride part of the proposed red route in reverse down to Muden. This actually proved to be a bit of a mission as we ended up riding in circles while looking for the track that would take us over the ridge and down the hill. Eventually we found it and I tell you, what an awesome little track!!! :thumleft: A nice downhill rocky section which eventually flattens out to some lovley tracks through the thornveld. THis track certainly made up for the loss earlier in the day. :ricky: :ricky:
this little water hole is usualy dry. great to see water in it!! :thumleft: :thumleft:
Last little descent before heading in to Muden.
We had a great lunch and good coffee in the afternoon shade. We ended up yacking away for ages and were horrified to realize that it was now 4:00pm and we still had about 100kms to ride to get home. I wanted the guys opinions for the proposed green route. So we agreed to ride that in reverse on our way home. Its a lovely tootle along a gravel road that follows the river up the valley. A bit of a hill climb and we got to the red/green route split without any fuss. We agreed that it is a green route track, but it is a challenging one for newbie riders. There is one section of a few hundred meters that goes down the hill that has a few rocky bits. Certainly not that hectic, but if you are new to this game, then you will be tested.. which is kind of the point to adventure riding i reckon :ricky:
After that is was a bit of a trek back home. The karkloof was covered in pea soup mist, so thick you could barely see 20 meters in front of you. We ended up crawling back to Howick and arrived at home in the dark.
All in all, a fantastic day out. The proposed black route is a definite no ride zone, but all is not lost... A black route was eventually found and will be an option for those who are keen on the day.
We headed out after a bit of a slow early breakfast and a fuel stop. The idea was to get to the part I wanted to scout as quickly as possible so that there would be plenty of time in the day to get lost/stuck/crash/chill out etc etc. A quick blast through the Karkloof and out towards the D55 saw us get to our starting point in the day nice and early while the weather was still relatively cool.
We decided to stop off and chat to a local farmer about riding in the area, but as it turns out the section we were wanting to ride is now government land/tribal land. After a bit of a chat we headed off to the end of what I was hoping to be the black route. We stopped off again a few kms later to chat with some of the locals at the little shop in the veld to see if they thought it would be ok to ride in the area and what they thought of us trying to get through wild bush out to Muden. Much to their delight they though us a bunch of nutters and wished us well on our way out. We got down to the river and within the first 20 meters I came off after having a small rock unpin my front wheel. A bit of a left right left right, and down I went. :ricky: Luckily though I was going slowly. With all the rocks about it could have ended in disaster
atch:
We had a break and a good lok around, but in the end it was decided that the proposed route is definitley a plastic bike route only. Its fair to say that I was quite gutted at this point. I mean, we had only just got here and already my plan was feked!! So we headed back to the dirt road, and on our way our, Jimmie came unstuck and ended up tipping over and had his KTM upside down. Went to put his foot down, and with him being on a bit of a ledge, there was nowhere to put his foot so down he went.. Fred helped him back upright. But the chop managed to heave himself into the saddle again, then fell off the other side without so much as moving an inch.... :lol8:
I knew from google earth that there was a potential track from higher up the valley. We decided to go have one last look before throwing in the towel for the proposed black route. Needless to say that when we got to the top, that too proved to be unridable on adventure bikes. :xxbah: The day was not loking good at this point.
And that was that.... my so called black route is so black its unrideable!! :lamer: :xxbah:
By this stage it was heading on for mid morning, so we decided to head over to Muden for lunch. A quick chat and a plan was hatched to ride part of the proposed red route in reverse down to Muden. This actually proved to be a bit of a mission as we ended up riding in circles while looking for the track that would take us over the ridge and down the hill. Eventually we found it and I tell you, what an awesome little track!!! :thumleft: A nice downhill rocky section which eventually flattens out to some lovley tracks through the thornveld. THis track certainly made up for the loss earlier in the day. :ricky: :ricky:
this little water hole is usualy dry. great to see water in it!! :thumleft: :thumleft:
Last little descent before heading in to Muden.
We had a great lunch and good coffee in the afternoon shade. We ended up yacking away for ages and were horrified to realize that it was now 4:00pm and we still had about 100kms to ride to get home. I wanted the guys opinions for the proposed green route. So we agreed to ride that in reverse on our way home. Its a lovely tootle along a gravel road that follows the river up the valley. A bit of a hill climb and we got to the red/green route split without any fuss. We agreed that it is a green route track, but it is a challenging one for newbie riders. There is one section of a few hundred meters that goes down the hill that has a few rocky bits. Certainly not that hectic, but if you are new to this game, then you will be tested.. which is kind of the point to adventure riding i reckon :ricky:
After that is was a bit of a trek back home. The karkloof was covered in pea soup mist, so thick you could barely see 20 meters in front of you. We ended up crawling back to Howick and arrived at home in the dark.
All in all, a fantastic day out. The proposed black route is a definite no ride zone, but all is not lost... A black route was eventually found and will be an option for those who are keen on the day.
