Just Blip It!
Race Dog
After a fantastic evening at Frog & Fern in Chimanmani and a lekka breakfast the guys were ready to ride! To days route would take us through the foothills of the Chimanimani mountains over Tanksneck pass to Cashel then through some spectacular granite kopjies towards the Bvumba.
Frog and Fern Chimanimani.
Spectacular and challenging riding through the Chimanimani foothills. Very dusty!
Bok, under a Msasa tree.
We then tackled a nice little technical climb that leads on a back road into Mozambique. We sneaked in to admire the breathtaking views of the Chimanimani mountains. Marc Ongers who started the ride with 3 broken ribs battled on this section. Craig rode his bike over the worst part, then Marc took over but got it wrong and launched his bike off the edge of the road falling on his ribs again and dislocating his shoulder. His son Dain managed to relocate his shoulder. A decesion was taken to take his bike back to the bigger main gravel road for him, Marc would walk the 1km down and continue towards Cashel. (When we got back to SA and more X rays were taken, it was determined that Marc had broken another 4 ribs!
) He would ride tar for the rest of our Zim trip. Still a very tough brave man!
The rest of us continued to the viewing point high in the mountains.
First of all the Trannie suffered it's second puncture that needed repairs. The rest of us enjoyed the break with awesome scenery to admire!
After the tyre was repaired we finally conquered the climb up to the viewpoint. Spectacular, even though it was a bit hazy.
Jaapster and I.
Werner and Craig. 2 very capable riders!
We headed back to the main drag for the last section of 23km through to Cashel. Little did we know that this would be the most demanding section of riding on the whole trip! A month before I rode this section with a previous group and they were resurfacing the road with a clay type soil and I remember remarking on that it was the wrong soil to use ans it was to slippery and powdery. Well!! The forestry had been logging along this section and the trucks had turned it all into a talcum powder this fesh fesh dust that was up to 30cm deep the whole way down. I have never ridden a more terrible section of "road" in my life! It was 1st gear slow going, any faster and the powder would spray over the front of the bike like water burying you in zero visibility, Then their were the hidden rocks, branches and logs hidden beneath the dust that knocked the bike off line the whole time. Sometimes we would meet an approaching track that would bury us under the dust that we would have to stop for a minute or two before we could continue! I don't have any photos of this section as we were too busy fighting to get through it!
The hidden rocks took its toll on Craigs front tyre. A new Karoo 4 in its moer in. Cut on the sidewall.
While the guys tried to make a plan we had some refreshments.
While others dropped their bikes in the parking lot.
Leaving Cashel the scenery change and the granite kopjies dominated the skyline.
More issues with the Karoo 4's.
The ride got quite technical again.
We pulled into White Horse Inn late afternoon. A charming old colonial Inn with beautiful gardens and old school hospitality. Dated but comfortable rooms. Some were tired, some were thirsty! All in all a great days riding!
Moeg!!!
Frog and Fern Chimanimani.
Spectacular and challenging riding through the Chimanimani foothills. Very dusty!
Bok, under a Msasa tree.
We then tackled a nice little technical climb that leads on a back road into Mozambique. We sneaked in to admire the breathtaking views of the Chimanimani mountains. Marc Ongers who started the ride with 3 broken ribs battled on this section. Craig rode his bike over the worst part, then Marc took over but got it wrong and launched his bike off the edge of the road falling on his ribs again and dislocating his shoulder. His son Dain managed to relocate his shoulder. A decesion was taken to take his bike back to the bigger main gravel road for him, Marc would walk the 1km down and continue towards Cashel. (When we got back to SA and more X rays were taken, it was determined that Marc had broken another 4 ribs!
) He would ride tar for the rest of our Zim trip. Still a very tough brave man!The rest of us continued to the viewing point high in the mountains.
First of all the Trannie suffered it's second puncture that needed repairs. The rest of us enjoyed the break with awesome scenery to admire!
After the tyre was repaired we finally conquered the climb up to the viewpoint. Spectacular, even though it was a bit hazy.
Jaapster and I.
Werner and Craig. 2 very capable riders!
We headed back to the main drag for the last section of 23km through to Cashel. Little did we know that this would be the most demanding section of riding on the whole trip! A month before I rode this section with a previous group and they were resurfacing the road with a clay type soil and I remember remarking on that it was the wrong soil to use ans it was to slippery and powdery. Well!! The forestry had been logging along this section and the trucks had turned it all into a talcum powder this fesh fesh dust that was up to 30cm deep the whole way down. I have never ridden a more terrible section of "road" in my life! It was 1st gear slow going, any faster and the powder would spray over the front of the bike like water burying you in zero visibility, Then their were the hidden rocks, branches and logs hidden beneath the dust that knocked the bike off line the whole time. Sometimes we would meet an approaching track that would bury us under the dust that we would have to stop for a minute or two before we could continue! I don't have any photos of this section as we were too busy fighting to get through it!
The hidden rocks took its toll on Craigs front tyre. A new Karoo 4 in its moer in. Cut on the sidewall.
While the guys tried to make a plan we had some refreshments.
While others dropped their bikes in the parking lot.
Leaving Cashel the scenery change and the granite kopjies dominated the skyline.
More issues with the Karoo 4's.
The ride got quite technical again.
We pulled into White Horse Inn late afternoon. A charming old colonial Inn with beautiful gardens and old school hospitality. Dated but comfortable rooms. Some were tired, some were thirsty! All in all a great days riding!
Moeg!!!
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