PETER GIDDY.: BUSHMANS RIVER MTB RIDE FROM ALEXANDRIA TO BOKNESS

PETER IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE ON THE TRAIL

LITTLE DO THEY KNOW WHAT IS AHEAD OF THEM

FARMING AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS

A STUNNING PIC OF VANESSA

A REAL FARM SCENE WITH DISUSED SILO

BUSHMANS RIVER MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE
Alexandria to Bokness along the Dirt (Farm) roads from West to East. Starting at the Woody Cape Conservation Offices.

Charles Du Toit
Venance De Silva
Headwig (friend of Venance)
Fred, Penny and Vanessa Kohler
Gerald Scheepers
Ben Carver
Mike Burmeister
Peter Giddy

John McGillvray and Darryl Smith were also supposed to be there but could not make it in the end.

Friday morning; Almarie, Robyn and John do a long run of 20kays. I am supposed to cycle but wake up simply too exhausted to do any excersize. Michael has been to the Doctor and had a scan as a result of the pain he is experiencing in his side. The scan shows more growths (Nodules) and it seems that they may have to operate again although the doctors seem reluctant. Michael is in good spirits today and is doing some calling on Spar for the agency for the Spar stationery that he has obtained.

This afternoon I leave the office early and pack a few things for our trip to Bushmans River. Ally and I visit Woolworths for grocery shopping. We then collect Gerald and his trailer. He has roof racks on the trailer. We collect my Bicyle and then fetch Charles. It is just about 5pm when we leave PE for Bushmans. We pass Mike Burmeister and Venance De Silva. Fred and Penny Kohler are ahead of us and will stay in the Caravan Cottage with Fred's Daughter Vanessa. As we arrive we cycle down to the Caravan to check up on Fred. All is well.

A DAPPER VENANCE

Back at Charles' house we start up the fire and shortly after this Headwig arrives. Headwig is a friend of Venance and a cyclist. Mike tells us that he has not cycled in a year. Charles and Gerald cycled an event at Kirkwood recently and want anything but the kind of hills that they experienced there. As Charles describes the route, Gerald realises that he and Andrew Barton have done this once before.

Charles puts on the Music. Penny makes some salad. Charles grills the meat and someone brings out some snacks. Fred makes some Rooster Brood. I am not eating meat right now and have a pasta with Vegetables supper. What a stunning evening it turns out to be. There is this really cool atmosphere as stories are swapped and people recount experiences.

It is around 10pm when I climb onto the top bunk and Gerald follows shortly thereafer. I try to read but cannot keep my eyes open for long.

Saturday Morning. As usual I am up first and make myself some coffee and porrige.
Mike surfaces briefly and then heads back to bed. Venance is up and then back for a last nap. Gerald joins me for breakfast. Then one by one the mob begins to move into the kitchen for coffee and wake me us stuff.

It seems that while I was in bed by around 9pm, some of the hardier of the group continued until this morning before turning in. Charles needs some Panado.

We gather our bikes together, load them on the trailer, bike racks and into cars. Fred arrives with his family and he is set. Penny will drive with us to Alexandria and then collect us at the Bokness parking area. Ben stayed at Kleinemond and drives through for the ride.

HELMET FITTING

We drive from Charles' house in Bushmans River, on the Tar Road to Alexandria. This is around 25kays. We turn right to the Conservation area of Woody Cape. A drive of around 8 kays which we may well Cycle next time to avoid this dirt road drive. This is the same road that we would take if we were going to be hiking the Alexandria Hiking Trail. We stop at the Conservation Offices and off load the bikes.

BEN AT THE START

VENANCE, HEADWIG AND MIKE

After some photo taking we cycle down back to the dirt road and then start the first of the hills. I am never any good before I have warmed up and am puffing and panting halfway up this little hill. I feel the sweat breaking out and my heart rate jumps. Will I ever make it? I think to myself.

A TIRED GERALD AFTER THE LONG HILL

THIS IS GERALDS MOMENT OF GLORY AS HE TAKES CARE OF THE ONLY JONG BOKKIE ON THE TRAIL

But not long after that we have the fun of our lives as we cycle down a steep hill. Twisting and turning and praying that we do not fall. Charles is ahead of me and I see a Knysna Loerie swooping over his head and into the bush. A Bakkie comes at a fast pace towards us. I hear a grunt of surprise and Headwig swerves in front of me to avoid a head on collision. After that we would be a little more careful and stay more or less to the correct side of the road.

A STRONG VANESSA CYCLING THE BOKNESS TRAIL

A TIRED GERALD AND A FRESH MIKE

After the long and steep downhill came to the same category up hill. I think that most of us were trying to get used to the gears and the shocks as we struggled up this hill. Later on there was some talk of the TDF and the Col De Tormoley. This is traditionally one of the toughest hills on the Pirennese. Mike has done it and ended up 3/4 of the way up before heading back down to the pubs at the bottom of the hill. And we think that our little hills are tough?

YOUNG KAYANISA DOES THIS EVERY DAY

Last evening I had heard Charles talk about the stunning views of the fields and the ocean. Well I know from hard experience that there is only one way to find those vistas and that is hard work climbing hills. This was no exception. The views were fantastic but so was the effort to reach the place where a view could be experienced.

FRED FETCHES VANESSA AND GERALD

We passed the cross road where the Alexandria Trail comes out of the forest and down to the resort and then across to the beach. I recognised this point as we have done this trail on more than one occasion.

BEN CARVER FITTER THAN EVER

At the top of each long hill the fast group would regather and wait for us. This is, for me, a really good way of doing a trail ride. The faster group is able to push themselves but we stay together as a group. Fred and Headwig would, from time to time, cycle back to fetch us. For me it was good to have Vanessa with us as she added some life to Geralds ride. He loves to think that he looks after the Jong Bokkies. "Ah well; Give him his moment".

HEY! CHARLES! I SAID NO PICTURES OF ME PUSHING

The road we were riding was not without traffic. We had to dodge the cars and bakkies. Although everyone we encountered was friendly and waved as they drove past us. The dust was a bit of a problem but really did not bother us that much. The Muggies were more of a problem as they got into our eyes. Mike enjoyed them as they added protien to his diet. I must remember to wear sunglasses for a ride like this.

HERDSBOY BEN

HEADWIG AND MIKE

The road was fun. Lots of ruts and ridges to ramp on. Plenty of cow dung to slip and slide through. I heard Mike remark: "Watch who you ride behind when cycling through the Dung as it flips up on the back wheel". Personally I love the smell of the farm and the cows.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER RIDING UPHILL

The young heifers were really curious of us. Each time we would stop the herd would gather at the fence. I think that they probably associate people and food. We would stop and look back across the fields and the ocean. Yes the views were really good and worth the effort of the climbs.

Mike was riding Venance's bike. Mike has not been out riding for a year. But he is still strong and seemed to enjoy this outing. Mike, Venance, Fred and Charles are part of the Church Music Group. They are talking about joining up with Geoff Evans who was part of the music of the church for some time. Geoff is a really entertaining man with his music as the base for his repertoir.

DISUSED GRAIN SILO, FAMILY LIVING HERE AND COWS DROPPING CALVES -- AROUND 10 KAYS TO GO

We came across a Disused Grain Silo with a tree growing out of it. This shows how long ago grain was grown in this area. Whenever I drive this road I see lots of Milk Trucks and so imagine that this must be a Diary farming community. I know that at one time they would farm both Chicory and Pineapples in the district. I am not sure to what extent this is still farmed in the Alexandria area.

GOOD LOOKING LEGS HEADWIG

HELLO PETER, MY NAME IS DAISY

This little enclosure with the Grain Silos also housed a small indigenous family and a couple of cows who were dropping calves. We saw these calves which could have been only a few days old suckling their mothers.

From here it was around 10kays to go. We pressed on and finally reached Canon Rocks and Bokness. The last bit is tar road and we cycled down to the parking area where Penny was waiting for us. Penny drove Charles and myself back to Alexandria where we collected the cars. Ben, Gerald and Vanessa waited at the car park while Venance, Fred and Headwig cycled back to Bushmans. This whole car swap thing took us an hour during which they had to wait in the sun in the parking area of the beach.

CHARLES LOVES IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

We loaded the bikes and drove back to the house. Here we had a wash and cleaned up the house. Drank a coffee and ate the last scraps before we left for PE. I dropped Charles and then Gerald. I was home by around 3pm.

This had been a stunning little weekend away and I am sure that if any of our group was asked: Will you be at the next MTB outing? they will all answer in the affirmative. The problem we will have next time is how to accommodate and limit numbers.