kandui

The bench is still in the overflow and looks like it may still be in one piece. Will ask San Parks why they don't pull it out and put it back where it belongs.

Usual route. Leaving now

Leaving the office now. will ride around 4:30-4:45.

I am going for a ride, but I have to be back by 6pm.

We can chat with Planning about it. No promises.

I can help you with Tokai. It should be easy now. The same signage for all areas, as proposed by San Parks. I can do a map for Tokai as well.

Good man for reminding me. Here is how this signage is set out. The signs with one arrow will be placed along the 26km suggested loop I have on my map. The signage with more arrows and destinations will be placed off the suggested route, at all the other intersections. For instance, Deer Park will get more of these , higher up against the mountain. At all locations, you have the numbers which you will find on the map. The last sign (the one I like the least), will be placed where we are not allowed to cycle. In fairness to everyone, there will be no more ambiguity about where we can and can't ride. Hard to swallow, but no more excuses. My next job , once the signage is put into the ground is to lobby to get the NO CYCLING ones removed. San Parks are doing a trail map of their own which you will soon find in large format at the Info Centre , top of Kloof Nek and other locations. The numbers will correspond on both the TMB and San Parks maps, so no confusion. A cool feature of the the San Parks map: They will have a QR reader taking you to the TMB website where you can find out about any potential security issues on the mountain.

Just thought I had to make it known that I received word an hour ago that San Parks have approved the trail signage design and given the go ahead to place the signs on Table Mountain. The Signage design was amended to fit in with the look and feel of the San Parks design template, which is absolutely fine. While no sponsor logo was allowed, the Table Mountain Bikers logo takes pride of place on the signage. Any interested companies out there who would like to assist with funding the signage? While I can't offer logo space on the signage, I can promise exposure on the TMB website and exposure to my members ( via my newsletter). This is the first time mtb trail signage goes up on the slopes of Table Mountain , but it will help a lot of other users to navigate as well. The maps will now go into print and be available all over the place soon. Thank you to all the map sponsors (Sweatsafe,New Balance,Advanced Physiotherapy,Revolution Cycles,Enjoy Fitness and UCS Business Solutions) for bearing with me and not complaining once that this process took so long. They believed in the TMB initiative, I hope some of you will consider them when needing product and / or services they offer.

I can't comment on the medical side , the pain you are feeling in legs and arms, etc. But, to strengthen your back for cycling I can highly recommend a weekly session of Pilates. It has helped my lower back handle the hours in the saddle.

Decided to jump on the Pioneer wagon at short notice and will ride it. I am thinking of bringing along my wife to do the massage. Anyone out there still wanting to book massages? Let me know.

This was the view we had yesterday. Left some skin on the mountain.

There are 2 ponds along Tafelberg road. They are fed by water cascading off the cliff above. The ponds are tucked into the corners of 2 bends in the road, the first one is about 400m from the damaged gate. The ponds have are about the size of a family swimming pool and have an overflow that is about 3x1m. The concrete bench was moved 300m and dumped into the overflow. If metal theft was the motive, they were unsuccessful and let their frustration out on the bench , or this was pure vandalism.

DJR, you care to comment on the "Litter" issue?

HAHA! I was waiting for that one!

Thick rope or chain attached to a vehicle and pulled. Could have been a bakkie to get the bench to the pond. I wasn't aware of any drag marks on the road. The bit of the boom that is left where the road was closed off, also looks pretty mangled. Somebody must have had some real hatred in their gut. I'll give SAPS a call as well. They patrol the road until 10pm. I think in this case you are allowed to use a swearword in this context.

That's my goal! I hope I get to ride it on 2 wheels and not in a wheelchair

I am sure a lot of you will have seen the big green gate at the end of Tafelberg Rd, ripped apart with the extensive damage to the stonework as well. The boom where the road is closed off was also vandalised and replaced with a chain. The concrete bench at the end of Tafelberg road also disappeared, until my wife discovered it, dumped into the overflow of the second pond on the road. I spoke to San Parks this morning and they are not sure when it happened . To those who did this. What was the point? You were perhaps adult before you did this, but now i would put you down with the crap that sticks to the soles of my shoe. I hope we find you.

Morning Hairy. The pipe track is on the list , thanks for mentioning it. Extend it and you're in Hout Bay. half way back to town via Newlands. Makes sense to include it in the EMP.

Morning. If I may add something to the debate. The patch of land called Table Mountain National Park (from the tip of Signal Hill to the tip of Cape Point) actually belongs to the City of Cape Town (so by extension, us the ratepayers) , but the mandate to manage the land was handed over to San Parks by the City. Don't ask me exactly when, I didn't ask that question. There is actually a person at the City who functions as the go-between, between the City and San Parks. Having spoken at length to him not so long ago, believe me when I tell you that the City is not always happy with the way San Parks handle issues in the Park. I approached the City to see where they stood on the issue of access to the mountain (in general) and they definitely want the open access. But, and this is where their hands are tied to an extent. The City has handed over management of the land to San Parks which means the Park has now become part of the total San Parks portfolio and a lot of decisions are taking in Pretoria and no longer here , on the ground , in Cape Town. Problem. As we know by now, revenue from the Level 3 Activity Card and day permits we as MTBers buy to access Tokai, goes into the general San Parks fiscus and could end up being used in Kruger for infrastructure maintenance. The TM MTB Forum (let me repeat for some Hubbers, this is not my club) will put this issue on the table and try to work out a better deal, where the monies generated in Tokai, stay in Tokai, or at least stay on the mountain where the money should be used. And to reply to a post further back. The TM MTB Forum will not levy a membership fee from members (members are organisations, not individuals). The Forum is not meant to be another layer to complicate matters. The Forum is simply the pointy end of a funnel. Everyone pours concerns and ideas into the funnel and the Forum goes to San Parks, City, land owners and "other" with that information on behalf of ALL mountain bikers.

Hear the knocking on the door? The words "Cape" and "Point" set off the Alarm at San Parks SWAT squad!

leaving at 4:30 with JGR. If he's keen, we'll ride to Rhodes Mem and back over Plum Pudding.

Hear the knocking on the door? The words "Cape" and "Point" set off the Alarm at San Parks SWAT squad!

No exception taken. This is about including all areas ridden, both the open and the unauthorized trails. This is early days, but once the EMP is signed off , to get San Parks to discuss areas not mentioned in the EMP will involve loads of hoops and hurdles

I am in slow mode at the moment.

I may take a ride over to Rhodes Memorial and back. Leave my place at 5. Depends on whether others join or not.