Went exploring all the back roads other than the main ones (non provincial). First of all sorry no photo's taken. I was too busy having fun even though I had the camera mounted I never got to take photo's or video's, next time.
Google Earth says there are a few dirt roads in my back yard (not really my back yard but less than 5 minutes away from where I live). I've been playing at a site which is about to become a 9 hole of some sort and the owner was "mowing" the lawn with his tractor today and doing some other prep work. From our previous engagement he was quite pissed at the guys riding plastics because "they mess up the elevation of the green" and he was going to fence the site off. Decided to stay away even though we had pleasant small talk.
Enter the dirt somewhere between Kingfisher and the R 554 (going west this takes you to Alberton). GE says there is a twisty towards R554 but none to be found. Instead very straight line twee spoor and at times single track, at other times no track and you sortof have to navigate into some generic area. It worked well and got the the R554. Please note this isn't very far but the grass is tall, bugs everywhere so visor closed or goggles on, the creepy crawlies gets in everywhere I'm afraid of ticks after being bitten by one and landed in hospital a few years ago (not a fun experience). The roads in this section is all I could find despite GE saying there's more. I wasn't feeling "that" adventurous today because last weekend I tried to gun it through the reeds. Bad decision. Swamp. Took 30 minutes to haul the 1190 out of that mess and it stinks. So this ride was about exploring but had to tame the beast in order not to get too excited. Road conditions, fair, never getting going over 3rd gear. Wet patches made sure for some fun in the mud but otherwise, dare I say, civilised.
Then past the Virgin active close to Barry Hertzog there is an entry to twee spoor dirt. I've ridden here many times before, long sweeping bends but nothing more exciting than that. Was I wrong. Seem some plastic guys built a track here and jumped right in when I noticed the tyres demarcating some spots and follow the dirt trail. Track is in exceptional nick. Deep ruts where the guys do fast sharp turns and having seem some of Graham Jarvis' video's around sharp turns (extending your leg) I give it a go and find myself having a ball in no time. By far the biggest highlight.
I wanted to explore the mine dump close to Carnival Casino, found the entry, again some twee spoor and sometimes single track mostly in good nick. At the most Eastern side of the dump there is a pan of water. There is no rescue out here, you get stuck, you're f#%#@. So decide to do this some other time. Explore the tracks and nothing eventful so go back to the most Eastern side thinking I can make it. Park the bike and walk, I can make it but I've been riding tracks for 2 hours now, didn't bring water (I know it's a mistake) and starting to feel fatigued. Next time but I can see a dirt bike(s) went through this earlier today and somebody got stuck from the deep wheel burial. Walk up half the dump and the track on the other side looks great.
I'll certainly go play at the dirt track again which turned out to be a HUGE confidence booster and try the mine dump soon.
Arrow's show the track and mine dump. There is one further down the R23 towards Heidelberg but believe this is private property.
Tinus
