Railways and Canals

So after a 7 week absence from bike riding, I could not wait to get back on the bike again, so on Sunday morning I decided that I need to do some riding. The bike has been in the garage for a week now, and I only received and fitted the mirrors on Saturday. I did not want to ride with the broken mudguard, so I just removed the whole thing. I think it looks pretty cool, sort of like a Rallye bike, but a water crossing is a bit of an issue.

I had to decide where the hell to go. I did not want to go towards Cullinan because I have done most of those roads already, so I settled on the Brits area. I know that the canal roads are nice to ride, because when I was in the Hostel in Brits in Standard 8, me and two buddies managed to roll his dad’s bakkie into the canal. I almost drowned!!! We were in pretty big trouble, but it was helluva funny at the time...

Right, so I get kitted up at home and as I walked outside, Susan stops me dead in my tracks with a “where the hell do you think you’re going?” She had some crazy idea that I cannot go and ride 7 weeks after a broken collar-bone, I felt fine, I did not see any problems. So I convinced her that I will ride nice and slow, won’t do anything stupid, phone her every 5 seconds and so on and so on...... All she said was “If you crash, don’t even think of calling me!!!”, so my plan worked, I kissed her goodbye and off I went towards Horn’s Nek, ready for the canal roads.

I made my way nice and easy (see I did not lie to Susan) over Horn’s Nek towards Brits. I went off the tar near the entrance to the Brits Golf-club, now called Seasons Golf Estate, I think Jomo Somo from Jomo Cosmos bought this whole place and it is sadly being turned into yet another Golf Estate. I remember bunking school to go and play golf here!!

The Canal roads from here are split into two, the North Canal Road, and the West Canal Road. I took the North one, as we rolled the bakkie on the West one. This is an awesome road to ride, with the road hugging the canal on the right.









I bit later on they have built some speed bumps for the cars and bakkies, but I tell you one thing, those speed bumps are niiiiiiiiice. Man I got some lekker air time on those!!! My bike’s shocks are not too happy with me. I did not take any more photos of this canal road as I was having such a good time!!!

I took the canal roads for about 14km when I came to a dead end with a railroad. I knew that the one thing canals and railways have in common is that they both have service roads. So I took the railway service road until I ran out of road on that road. The road came to this:


So I decided to take a couple of pics, I tried to be creative, but I am an accountant, so my creativity, and writing skills, are VERY limited!!!!




I decided to get a sideways pic of the bike....



And then I saw these in the back round.....................................



I felt like I guess Jamie feels when he sees a twisty tar road. I thought to myself, should I give it a go??? But then sanity prevailed, only because I was alone. Next time...................... maybe............

I then turned around in search of the rest of the service road. I found it eventually and I followed it for a few km’s. I came across a signpost for “Pendoring” Station, as there is no station, I thought I would take a picture of my bike at the sign. Just as I parked my bike, I heard a train coming, so I took the picture with the oncoming train. Cool hey?

After my railway ride, I continued looking for the missing canal. I back tracked into Brits, where I knew for sure where the canal went. I took up the canal service road through Brits’s Township, or Location, not sure what they are called. But it is officially known as “Oukasie”. Typical township conditions followed, with lots of rubbish every where, and the typical township smells. As always when riding through an area like this the people were sooooooooooo friendly with kids waving and singing and urging me on to pop a wheelie, I have no clue............ The very common species of Africanis Socialis (Township dog) is also in abundance here.

The canal road leads on and on with some excellent riding, I took some pictures....

After the canal roads, I made my way back to Brits, and then on back to Harties. I had a quick beer at Harties and then took the dirt road past Schurweberg back to Erasmia. When I got to Erasmia, I still wanted to ride some more, so I took the road through the Daspoort tunnel. As I went through the tunnel I saw the two massive Water Reservoirs on the Magaliesberg Mountains ahead. I wondered to myself if there is road that can take me up to those concrete dams. Guess what, there was one. I took the little track all the way up to the dams and stopped at the top. It was a bit dull, I must admit.

I took the track all the way down again, and went towards Mountain View. Again I saw, what I think, was Communication Towers, big white and read ones, at the top of the mountain. I knew that there must be some road going all the way there, so I stayed as close to the mountain as possible, taking the northern most streets possible in Mountain View. And guess what??? I found the path!!! I must admit I think I was very lucky to find the HUGE gate unlocked. I took the paved path all the way to the top. It was AWESOME. I worked out the gradient afterwards and it was 16%. Do not try this path if you are afraid of heights!! At some stretches, the side of the road is right next to the cliff, if you get it wrong, you will fall all the way to the bottom, and I don’t think anyone could survive a fall like that.

I only took this one pic on that road, the cliff is to the right, and this was taken on my way down again.



All in all it was a great “first” ride!!!

Thanks for reading my report on my first ride back, and sorry for my crappy writing......

I must admit, it is good to be riding again.....

Cheers,

Thanks for sharing Sharkie!! I'm sure you had a GREAT deal of fun.... it sure looks like it! Glad that you are back on the bike. This obviously means that you will be joining the June ride, right??

Fantastic! Jy moet volgende keer bietjie vorietyd praat! Of laaik jy dit om alleen te eksploreer? Ek het dit noudie dag probeer, maar was nie sooo suksesvol nie. Het nou nie 'n gps nie.

Die lekkerste stuk was die treinspoor dienspad van da naby Rhino Park af na Pretoria se kant toe, tot by die N4. Ek sal bietjie die kanaal dienspaaie ook in gedagte hou!

Thanks for sharing!

Hey sharkie,
Don't forget to invite yours friends when you planning these kind of riding!!!!!!
You Know, "It is very dangerous go alone"!!!! rsrsrsrs
Congratulations!

BON wrote:Hey sharkie,
Don't forget to invite yours friends when you planning these kind of riding!!!!!!
You Know, "It is very dangerous go alone"!!!! rsrsrsrs
Congratulations!

Howzit Mr Bonotto !!!


I am planning a ride on these roads including some more canal roads and a trippie to "The Rock" at Jericho, with Lunch at Beestekraal.

I want to do it this Sunday 31 May. It will be about 300km with lots and lots of dirt.

If anyone is interested to tag along, please let me know. I will post this in the "Planning Section" if there is some interest.

I reckon it will be an easy ride, but I have not done all of these roads before, so we will see as we go along.

Lekker man!

Gunda posted some canal tracks on Wild Dog a while ago, been wanting to do them for some time, including The Rock and Koos se Klim...

Hehe, saw I posted before you mentioned The Rock! Maybe it is time for a proper De Wildt GS ride...???

dakardrix wrote:Lekker man!

Gunda posted some canal tracks on Wild Dog a while ago, been wanting to do them for some time, including The Rock and Koos se Klim...

Yes, I got the tracks from Gunda Gunda.

I want to go and ride them on Sunday - I first want to see what "Koos se klim" actually looks like.

You wanna join ?

Jis, goed om jou weer op 'n yster te sien.

Welkom terug

Ag stel dit uit met 'n week, toooeeee

Sias wrote:Ag stel dit uit met 'n week, toooeeee

Daai pad is so lekker ek ry hom sommer drie weke in 'n ry !!!!!

The following week-end is the Club Training Day, so I can't do it that day.

Here is the link to the planning:
http://bmwclubs.heavenforum.org/other-trips-f29/31-may-2009-canal-roads-the-rock-beestekraal-t851.htm

Sharkie wrote:

dakardrix wrote:Lekker man!

Gunda posted some canal tracks on Wild Dog a while ago, been wanting to do them for some time, including The Rock and Koos se Klim...

Yes, I got the tracks from Gunda Gunda.

I want to go and ride them on Sunday - I first want to see what "Koos se klim" actually looks like.

You wanna join ?

Sorry, the next two weekends are out for me..

unfortunately, this weekend we have the ABBG!!!
Shame, if I didn't have payed...
Next time...FOR SURE!!!!

I will join you Sharkie If only to see how rusty you've become!!! And to gloat about all the Bulls victories...

Speaking of interesting rides... A certain club member and I rode the veld route next to the R21 towards Babsfontein this weekend and that certain club member even took a certain GS over a couple of hills on the abandoned MX track!!! I was certainly impressed

Marnus wrote:I will join you Sharkie If only to see how rusty you've become!!! And to gloat about all the Bulls victories...

Speaking of interesting rides... A certain club member and I rode the veld route next to the R21 towards Babsfontein this weekend and that certain club member even took a certain GS over a couple of hills on the abandoned MX track!!! I was certainly impressed

Nice!!!!!

Did you guys ride the railway service road?

I think I will take that route back home after work today........................

Sharkie wrote:Did you guys ride the railway service road?

We did wide gravel roads
We did 2-spoor veld trail
We did railway service road
We did MX track
We did bridge over railway
We did tunnel under railway

I think we serviced the railway pretty well

Sharkie wrote:Thanks for reading my report on my first ride back, ..... I must admit, it is good to be riding again.....

Lovely! Thanks for sharing!

Glad you're back on the bike! - even if it's a bit nude in the front!

@ Sharkie - I've just noticed the irony of your signature - perhaps time to change it??

2006 - BMW F650GS
2008 - Honda CRF230F
"If it ain't broken, it don't need fixing"

Marnus wrote:

Sharkie wrote:Did you guys ride the railway service road?

We did wide gravel roads
We did 2-spoor veld trail
We did railway service road
We did MX track
We did bridge over railway
We did tunnel under railway

I think we serviced the railway pretty well

Nice

I did take this road back home after work last night....................eish..........

I left work a bit later than I wanted, so I got caught out by the light, or rather the lack thereof..

Ja, is was not my smartest move ever, that 2spoor is not so much fun in the dark

And to think there are people pondering about night races!