The two of you missed a good ride....

Myself and two riding 'buddies' had planned to go for gravel road ride on Sunday in the Clayville/Olifiantsfontein area behind Midstream Estate.

Both of them cancelled on Saturday for two different rain related reasons. One because he got too wet on Saturday and the other because he was 'concerned' that the roads would be too wet on Sunday.

Instead of a 7am start as planned - and because I was now riding alone, I only got away at 8:15am. By 8:39 I was at the turnoff just after Pinedene station


Went around the 'local' houses and farmland to have this facing me


Road was not too wet but while riding along the wall behind Midstream I had to avoid pockets of mud. Just where I was about to take the left fork I noticed a small stream of water across the road, slowed down to go through the mud but it was thicker and looser than I had anticipated. Felt the front wheel slide to the left and the bike was going down......quickly stepped off to the right and down the bike went. Luckily I had not gone down with it.

While I was getting the camera out to take a picture four riders on plastic bikes rode up and stopped to help pick the bike - one of them obliging by taking a picture. Had to endure chirps about knobblies in mud and if they could ride along for some entertainment....all good natured.




Thanked them for the help and off we all went on our seperate ways.

I had been in this area about two weeks earlier in the bakkie with the dogs and was trying to find a dam I had seen then. Soon realised I had turned too off too soon and reached a dead-end at this river. Water being pumped to a farm that still operates in the area.







Now had to also get up this slippery slope


Eventually got to a road branching off to the left in the direction I estimated that I needed to go. Saw some deserted houses - presumably old farm houses




Was enjoying the countryside


....and then through the trees I saw the dam....


Had to work my way around


along this road


with water on the right...


and also on the road - no option but to go through or turn around - I was going through...come hell or high water


The previous time I was in the area I had noticed a private graveyard and wanted to see who was buried there. Would normally shed some light on some of the history of the area


Graves from the Strydom family.


Looking back towards the bike


As it turns out, according to Dorothy's mother, her grandmother's sisters family owned the farm in the area - they were Strydom's. How's that for co-incidence!!!

View of the little dam - can just make out some fishermen on the other side under the trees.


Ducks on the dam


At this point I was riding on a grass tweespoor


...below the highwater mark


Kept hearing cattle moo-ing in the distance


The track I had been riding for a while


was now blocked by this!!


The ground in the ruts felt pretty solid but they were deep enough for the pods to get stuck on the upper level. I had to decide whether to turn around or go round throught the grass on the right between the ruts and the barbed wire fence.

By moving two rocks out of the way I could clear a path and rode the bike around the ruts


I still had no idea where this grass track was going and the back wheel was starting to slide around a bit. Anakees are not made for mud!!

Eventually got to some gravel again and was relieved.




The track I had come out from..


...onto this gravel road


However, my glee at being back on gravel was shortlived on coming around one of the corners..


Decided to ride through the farmland instead and when I was near the tar again had to decide on this


or a right turn onto the tar. The tar won. I had enjoyed the ride and taken 88minutes to cover about 16km - although I did stop a lot to take photos.

All in all I really enjoyed this ride.

AWESOME !!!

I always see that area on Google Earth and always wanted to go and explore there. I should go.

Thanks for the RR and pics!!!

There lots of other roads I still want to check out there - also a quarry where some riders have made a bit of a track.

DaveS wrote:There lots of other roads I still want to check out there - also a quarry where some riders have made a bit of a track.

Lekker,

I have done the path over the koppie at Jan Smuts house (between JS house and the M57) quite a few times. Nice and rocky, but very enjoyable.

But I want to go closer to Midstream / Olifantsfontein area.

Can you post a screenshot of the track you rode? or please e-mail it to me.

Thanks!!

ps: Let me know when you want to ride there again, I would love to join.

Good one Dave.

Nice to see the confidence coming through after Country Trax.

.......after our little incident 2 weeks ago I’m still on the previous page of trying to avoid mud where possible

JR wrote:I’m still on the previous page of trying to avoid mud where possible

Me too!! Don't like the mud at all - but it seems to find me.

KnopKop wrote:
Can you post a screenshot of the track you rode? or please e-mail it to me.

You have mail!

Great stuff Dave! Well done with those road tires in the mud

Now, now... don't be like that - you have to e-mail me a copy of the track too. I can look, but not touch

Seriously - when you guys go back there again, I hope it is when I can join you.

Nice, I also like that area. Go and hunt my cache (or go to the co-ords), then you can play in the area around there!

S 25° 55.847 E 028° 12.869

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5c780cb0-7153-4d12-a280-2ceb8fcc1078

Very adventurous !
What a great outing !
Thanks for sharing !

Wow ...
sorry I cancelled and was not there to help pick up the bike

It seems that more than 2 missed a great ride!

Great ride, next time I’ll be there, if it doesn’t rain the day before.

Nice one!

So Dave... when are you going to show me that route?

Marnus - have not been there on the bike since - have been in the Isuzu with the dogs though. Weekends just a bit hectic this time of the year.

Saturdays usually with things to do - this Sunday is toy run, next Sunday club ride, following Sunday is a christening - maybe the Sunday after that.

Will have to see closer to the time - maybe one day in week of 21 Dec.....