noble steed
Race Dog
The plan was to explore further than I had previously gone into my gorge. And luckily, I could enjoy the excellent
company of Gunda Gunda for the day, who apart from good riding and good cuppichinos, also has very useful skills at
breaking beads (see later)
We set off along bumpy roads through padock, luckily recent rains have settled all the dust, without creating any
mud. Had a nice little detour through some sugar plantations, before we got to what Gunda calls 'the most beautiful
tar road in the country' (okay, it's a paraphrase). Took the opportunity to catch Gunda riding on his beautiful
road
Gunda stopped on a bridge and took the opportunity to test his olfactory senses against a shy reptile.
Unfortunately, it eluded us in its tree trunk.
The view upriver:
After coming out of the Oribi nature reserve, we followed a narrow track to a little view spot overlooking the road
we had just travelled. A mini overhanging rock, complete with a foot to prove I sat on it. Pity you cant really see
the overhang. But view was amazing!
Headed then to my little spot on the Mzimkhulu river. Did track in reverse to what I rode last time, much easier
this way, lots of steep uphills instead of steep downhills.
Stopping next to some local housing which has seen better times:
And on top of a hill somewhere enroute.
Reached our little picnic spot. Lovely riding weather, nicely overcast, breeze had disappeared as soon as we left
the main roads. No naked kids to marvel at our riding machines today though.
Gunda preparing his famous beverages
And a little too slow for the self timer 8)
Further on the route I stopped for Donkey to pose with some donkeys!
While Gunda posed with a glove in his mouth
We Took a little detour which we thought would provide good photo opportunities. I think this is where I picked up
the problem wire (again, see later). Nice pics of bikes in bushes, but the lighting wasn't great to take of the
valleys, sun in front of us.
The little kids enjoyed all the sweets, and a chance to see themselves on camera!
After this we noticed my back tire had gone all soft. Turned it around, didn't see anything pocking out of it,
pumped it up, kept it's pressure, problem solved. Thought may have been a small leak sealed by the fuggit.
Stopped somewhere later to try and capture the beuty of the surroundings. The camera definately doesn't do it
justice!
The bikes posing again with the Mzimkhulu in the background.
Somewhere on the road of many hills:
With Gunda near the top of one of them
And the winding road to come
Followed the large road for quite a while, then took a much smaller rougher road through some more of the valleys.
Crossing a little stream, some people where doing laundry just off the road
Gunda trying to make a big splash of things. However, the water level wouldn't cooperate...
And donkey threatening to be washed away in the pending flash flood
After climbing out of this valley, the rear started snaking again, checked and again, very flat. No luck pumping
this time, so a tire changing session ensued. Luckily, Gunda was much more effective at breaking the bead by
walking on the tire than I was. Wonder how that works?? >
A brief breakdown of tire change:
Step 1: Remove tire. Remove tube. Gets hands filthy with fuggin fuggit which has filled the inside of the tire.
Find 2cm laceration in tube. Place new tube. Replace tire. Pump.
Step 2: Wonder where the hissing air noise is coming from. Remove tire again. Remove tube. Patch small puncture in
exactly the same place as large hole was in previous tube. Look in tire...
Step 3: Remove 1 inch piece of wire protruding into tire casing. Sometimes helps.
Step 4: Replace tube. Replace tire. Pump. Again wonder where the hissing coming from... ???
Step 5: Remove everything again. Patch pinch puncture created during step 4.
Step 6: Put everything back together. Getting lots of tire on/tire off practice today!
An hour and 15 minutes, not 1 car, not one person, not one animal. Just 2 men with sticky hands...
From then we headed home, 15km more good gravel, hit the N2 and a lovely day of riding came to a close.
company of Gunda Gunda for the day, who apart from good riding and good cuppichinos, also has very useful skills at
breaking beads (see later)
We set off along bumpy roads through padock, luckily recent rains have settled all the dust, without creating any
mud. Had a nice little detour through some sugar plantations, before we got to what Gunda calls 'the most beautiful
tar road in the country' (okay, it's a paraphrase). Took the opportunity to catch Gunda riding on his beautiful
road
Gunda stopped on a bridge and took the opportunity to test his olfactory senses against a shy reptile.
Unfortunately, it eluded us in its tree trunk.
The view upriver:
After coming out of the Oribi nature reserve, we followed a narrow track to a little view spot overlooking the road
we had just travelled. A mini overhanging rock, complete with a foot to prove I sat on it. Pity you cant really see
the overhang. But view was amazing!
Headed then to my little spot on the Mzimkhulu river. Did track in reverse to what I rode last time, much easier
this way, lots of steep uphills instead of steep downhills.
Stopping next to some local housing which has seen better times:
And on top of a hill somewhere enroute.
Reached our little picnic spot. Lovely riding weather, nicely overcast, breeze had disappeared as soon as we left
the main roads. No naked kids to marvel at our riding machines today though.
Gunda preparing his famous beverages
And a little too slow for the self timer 8)
Further on the route I stopped for Donkey to pose with some donkeys!
While Gunda posed with a glove in his mouth
We Took a little detour which we thought would provide good photo opportunities. I think this is where I picked up
the problem wire (again, see later). Nice pics of bikes in bushes, but the lighting wasn't great to take of the
valleys, sun in front of us.
The little kids enjoyed all the sweets, and a chance to see themselves on camera!
After this we noticed my back tire had gone all soft. Turned it around, didn't see anything pocking out of it,
pumped it up, kept it's pressure, problem solved. Thought may have been a small leak sealed by the fuggit.
Stopped somewhere later to try and capture the beuty of the surroundings. The camera definately doesn't do it
justice!
The bikes posing again with the Mzimkhulu in the background.
Somewhere on the road of many hills:
With Gunda near the top of one of them
And the winding road to come
Followed the large road for quite a while, then took a much smaller rougher road through some more of the valleys.
Crossing a little stream, some people where doing laundry just off the road
Gunda trying to make a big splash of things. However, the water level wouldn't cooperate...
And donkey threatening to be washed away in the pending flash flood
After climbing out of this valley, the rear started snaking again, checked and again, very flat. No luck pumping
this time, so a tire changing session ensued. Luckily, Gunda was much more effective at breaking the bead by
walking on the tire than I was. Wonder how that works?? >
A brief breakdown of tire change:
Step 1: Remove tire. Remove tube. Gets hands filthy with fuggin fuggit which has filled the inside of the tire.
Find 2cm laceration in tube. Place new tube. Replace tire. Pump.
Step 2: Wonder where the hissing air noise is coming from. Remove tire again. Remove tube. Patch small puncture in
exactly the same place as large hole was in previous tube. Look in tire...
Step 3: Remove 1 inch piece of wire protruding into tire casing. Sometimes helps.
Step 4: Replace tube. Replace tire. Pump. Again wonder where the hissing coming from... ???
Step 5: Remove everything again. Patch pinch puncture created during step 4.
Step 6: Put everything back together. Getting lots of tire on/tire off practice today!
An hour and 15 minutes, not 1 car, not one person, not one animal. Just 2 men with sticky hands...
From then we headed home, 15km more good gravel, hit the N2 and a lovely day of riding came to a close.
