Knynsa to Wilderness
57km (37km tarmac, 20km dirt/unsealed)
There was an air of euphoria this morning with everyone realising aloud that "this is it". Bikes were unloaded from Peter's trailer and wheels pointed forwards from the sideways storage position. Sam's trailer was loaded with the luggage. Henck decided that we should do our warm up exercises, in the middle of the public car park! Bless him. You could almost feel the envy from the tour bus "cattle" as they gazed longingly at our bicycles, dreaming of the freedom to go at their own pace along tourist free country roads, instead of being herded from one tourist trap to the next.
A photoshoot was on the cards at the lagoon, and we rode off to the end of the road from the Ashmead Resort where we had stayed the night before and onto the lagoon edge path. An Action Cancer t-shirt clad photo at the end of a boardwalk was set up and duly logged. We continued on our way past a few boatyards and some nice white folks out power walking or what seemed like attempted jogging. Funny how the local black population were somewhat more preoccupied with working and daily survival!
Maybe we're stopping at the car park where Sam had dropped us off the night before for dinner? Nope! We continued on to the main road out of town. It was a beautiful sunny morning and riding alongside the lagoon was just brilliant. That we were inches away from the traffic on our right hand side didn't matter. Just before the hill out of town we stopped and our trusty steads loaded onto Peter's trailer....and off to Ruigtevlei (Ruich-teff-lie).
It had been originally planned for us to get a steam train to this isolated halt, but thanks to heavy rains and a landslide that option was taken away from us. You'll never guess what awaited us? Yes. An undulation. To be honest we were climbing up into the forests, and would be riding along the Seven Passes (Pawwwwses - for Henck!!!) Road. Once again the scenery didn't disappoint and yet again the joy of riding a bike allowed you to just freewheel and take in the views and the glorious sunshine.
A water and nibble stop was arranged at a drif (ford) just before quite a long and persistent climb. Long hours on the Tullymore Road, Glen Braes Road, Carnalbanagh etc paid off as I steadily made my ascent in pretty hot conditions. Sam was never too far in front, yet, as we came to tease him, just as you got close to him and his van, he would take off. Almost teasing you that maybe next time you would get to stop and rest.
If you were paying close attention earlier you'll recall the complaint that we were riding too fast. Well today was no exception and we reached the tar road in record time. So a cunning plan was hatched.....a nature trail. Peter led us into the bush (fynbos) for a nature study. Not a naturalist study. Please! Do pay attention.
However he could only delay us so long. The tar road furnished us speedsters with more opportunities to tuck down into the handlebars and let rip. Sun in your face, and the wind in your hair (ahem!)...life was indeed good. As I said before though for every downhill....an uphill was waiting. Henck came up alongside me and we "chewed up the miles" at a steady 20mph. We were feeling pretty good with our cycling until we were passed by a fetching young lady on a road bike. Man, Henck was all for cycling hard and catching up with her. Ego thing!
I realised the ego massage that would provide, but if we failed to catch up (and remember she could well have just started her bike ride for the day) then we would crash and burn in glorious fashion. Henck conceded the point, albeit reluctantly. I've no doubt he could have caught up with her and left her in his wake had he put his mind to it.
Our next excitement came in the form of a mad dog! It tried to snap at Henck - him being closer, before turning it's attention on me. Methinks it realised my loose right foot was loose for a reason and could easily connect with its head, so it gave up the chase...protesting loudly and hoping the rest of the group would prove slower targets!
My reputation for being first at lunch was thwarted by Henck. Having reaslied his boyhood dream of doing a wheelie (well, you have to amuse yourself someway when you're waiting for the rest of the group) he left me to direct the group up the laneway to our lunch spot. George arrived in Peter's baccie as the derailleur on his bike had broken. The route had certainly tested these bikes with the terrain, rain, mud and dust.
Sam had just the best lunch waiting...complete with a hand prepared fruit salad. A strong breeze coupled with full on sunshine made for a lovely relaxing break.
"Only one more undulation" announced Henck with his usual grin. It would turn out to be a double undulation. No surprise there Henck! At our gathering point at the top of the hill we were told that we would ride into town together, as a group. That worked okay until the relatively steep incline where we spread out yet again. Henck was pedalling quite normally, and keeping alongside us. Yet without appearing to increase his pedalling he just took off. It never ceased to astonish us how he could just turn on the power. He spent so much time at the back of the group keeping spirits up that it must have been a wonderful release for him just to let rip and head off for a bit.
The left turn for Wildnerness came upon us, and we stopped to regroup. "For f*%k's sake" was all I heard behind me. Yes it was Shaun. Yes it was his chain! But this time it had broken. The bike was upturned and whilst an inspection was taking place a traffic police van appeared. Henck swore that he hadn't organised its arrival. Hmm! To cut the long story short (what do you mean, 'too late'?) Shaun's bike was put in the back of the van. Henck gave Shaun his bike, and Henck got into the van alongside the policewoman.
And so it was that we got a police escort at around 10mph all the way downhill into Wilderness. Can you believe it? Downhill and not allowed to enjoy it! Still the police escort made up for it. For some reason Henck thought it a good idea to stop in Wildnerness town and get us to tie balloons to our helmets! Why not? Then it was a long ride along an undulating road along the lagoon to the Ebb and Flow resort, and our chalets. A group photo was taken at the entrance before the final victory ride to the final stop at Peter's van.
Champagne and nibb
les had been prepared by Sam and Peter. Everyone was of good cheer realising just what an epic adventure we had experienced, endured, but completed since Sunday morning. We relaxed on the boardwalk outside the chalets until time for dinner. Again by dessert tiredness was setting in, and coupled with a 6am departure for Cape Town, there was going to be no late night partying tonight.
57km (37km tarmac, 20km dirt/unsealed)
There was an air of euphoria this morning with everyone realising aloud that "this is it". Bikes were unloaded from Peter's trailer and wheels pointed forwards from the sideways storage position. Sam's trailer was loaded with the luggage. Henck decided that we should do our warm up exercises, in the middle of the public car park! Bless him. You could almost feel the envy from the tour bus "cattle" as they gazed longingly at our bicycles, dreaming of the freedom to go at their own pace along tourist free country roads, instead of being herded from one tourist trap to the next.
A photoshoot was on the cards at the lagoon, and we rode off to the end of the road from the Ashmead Resort where we had stayed the night before and onto the lagoon edge path. An Action Cancer t-shirt clad photo at the end of a boardwalk was set up and duly logged. We continued on our way past a few boatyards and some nice white folks out power walking or what seemed like attempted jogging. Funny how the local black population were somewhat more preoccupied with working and daily survival!
Maybe we're stopping at the car park where Sam had dropped us off the night before for dinner? Nope! We continued on to the main road out of town. It was a beautiful sunny morning and riding alongside the lagoon was just brilliant. That we were inches away from the traffic on our right hand side didn't matter. Just before the hill out of town we stopped and our trusty steads loaded onto Peter's trailer....and off to Ruigtevlei (Ruich-teff-lie).
It had been originally planned for us to get a steam train to this isolated halt, but thanks to heavy rains and a landslide that option was taken away from us. You'll never guess what awaited us? Yes. An undulation. To be honest we were climbing up into the forests, and would be riding along the Seven Passes (Pawwwwses - for Henck!!!) Road. Once again the scenery didn't disappoint and yet again the joy of riding a bike allowed you to just freewheel and take in the views and the glorious sunshine.
A water and nibble stop was arranged at a drif (ford) just before quite a long and persistent climb. Long hours on the Tullymore Road, Glen Braes Road, Carnalbanagh etc paid off as I steadily made my ascent in pretty hot conditions. Sam was never too far in front, yet, as we came to tease him, just as you got close to him and his van, he would take off. Almost teasing you that maybe next time you would get to stop and rest.If you were paying close attention earlier you'll recall the complaint that we were riding too fast. Well today was no exception and we reached the tar road in record time. So a cunning plan was hatched.....a nature trail. Peter led us into the bush (fynbos) for a nature study. Not a naturalist study. Please! Do pay attention.
However he could only delay us so long. The tar road furnished us speedsters with more opportunities to tuck down into the handlebars and let rip. Sun in your face, and the wind in your hair (ahem!)...life was indeed good. As I said before though for every downhill....an uphill was waiting. Henck came up alongside me and we "chewed up the miles" at a steady 20mph. We were feeling pretty good with our cycling until we were passed by a fetching young lady on a road bike. Man, Henck was all for cycling hard and catching up with her. Ego thing!
I realised the ego massage that would provide, but if we failed to catch up (and remember she could well have just started her bike ride for the day) then we would crash and burn in glorious fashion. Henck conceded the point, albeit reluctantly. I've no doubt he could have caught up with her and left her in his wake had he put his mind to it.
Our next excitement came in the form of a mad dog! It tried to snap at Henck - him being closer, before turning it's attention on me. Methinks it realised my loose right foot was loose for a reason and could easily connect with its head, so it gave up the chase...protesting loudly and hoping the rest of the group would prove slower targets!
My reputation for being first at lunch was thwarted by Henck. Having reaslied his boyhood dream of doing a wheelie (well, you have to amuse yourself someway when you're waiting for the rest of the group) he left me to direct the group up the laneway to our lunch spot. George arrived in Peter's baccie as the derailleur on his bike had broken. The route had certainly tested these bikes with the terrain, rain, mud and dust.
Sam had just the best lunch waiting...complete with a hand prepared fruit salad. A strong breeze coupled with full on sunshine made for a lovely relaxing break.
"Only one more undulation" announced Henck with his usual grin. It would turn out to be a double undulation. No surprise there Henck! At our gathering point at the top of the hill we were told that we would ride into town together, as a group. That worked okay until the relatively steep incline where we spread out yet again. Henck was pedalling quite normally, and keeping alongside us. Yet without appearing to increase his pedalling he just took off. It never ceased to astonish us how he could just turn on the power. He spent so much time at the back of the group keeping spirits up that it must have been a wonderful release for him just to let rip and head off for a bit.
The left turn for Wildnerness came upon us, and we stopped to regroup. "For f*%k's sake" was all I heard behind me. Yes it was Shaun. Yes it was his chain! But this time it had broken. The bike was upturned and whilst an inspection was taking place a traffic police van appeared. Henck swore that he hadn't organised its arrival. Hmm! To cut the long story short (what do you mean, 'too late'?) Shaun's bike was put in the back of the van. Henck gave Shaun his bike, and Henck got into the van alongside the policewoman.
And so it was that we got a police escort at around 10mph all the way downhill into Wilderness. Can you believe it? Downhill and not allowed to enjoy it! Still the police escort made up for it. For some reason Henck thought it a good idea to stop in Wildnerness town and get us to tie balloons to our helmets! Why not? Then it was a long ride along an undulating road along the lagoon to the Ebb and Flow resort, and our chalets. A group photo was taken at the entrance before the final victory ride to the final stop at Peter's van.
Champagne and nibb
les had been prepared by Sam and Peter. Everyone was of good cheer realising just what an epic adventure we had experienced, endured, but completed since Sunday morning. We relaxed on the boardwalk outside the chalets until time for dinner. Again by dessert tiredness was setting in, and coupled with a 6am departure for Cape Town, there was going to be no late night partying tonight.
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