deanbean

Geez, she never shuts up ...

I think I cycled in your tracks on Sat, about 13 of you if I counted correctly. Its a lekker ride from Kei. Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

Thanks Slowbee, we were chatting over a few drinks on Sat eve about how we live in an awesome country. I feel privileged to be able to ride in the area's I do Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Mazeppa Bay panorama A familiar sight to riders who've done the Wild Ride, this means that theres only a short beach ride left to Kob Inn, and the end of the first day From Mazeppa; I had to ride another 5km's past the furtherest point, and the promised strong southwester was already making itself felt Dassies on the beach rocks, about 3km from Cebe The last stretch, I ducked into a promising path behind the dunes, but the sandy path was churned up by cattle, and the path was even worse than facing the wind would have been

My wife's boss paid for a family weekend to Wavecrest on the Wild Coast, while everyone had their fishing rods out, I left at sunrise for a ride to Mazeppa Bay and back. The southwester picked up when I turned at Mazeppa, and made for a very cr@ppy ride back into the wind. Sunrise at Wavecrest, I wasn't gong to cross the river and start with wet feet so I took the inland route to Mazeppa Wavecrest on the Nxaxo River from inland Crossing the river, typical of the river crossings inland, the moto's and 4x4's have dug them all out, and they are bad Typical Transkei view and empty beaches Blue duiker prints in the sand on a track through one of the forests near Mazeppa. What killed me was the kids and their dogs that I saw after exiting the forest on the way back. To make sure of their intentions I asked them what they were up to to which they replied " Siyazo zingela iNyamakazi ehlatini" (We're going to hunt wild animals in the forest). I rode away before I beat them, as these animals are not much bigger than a Jack Russel, and are easy to catch with dogs. You can see the tracks next to my glove.

A bit late, we decided to ride down the the Thomas River to the Kei, but this translates to an uphill ride for most of the way then a steep drop down to the Kei, so we skipped the Kei and went farming instead From here it's all downhill to the Kei and to justify claiming the input VAT on our bikes I had to swear at Mark to get him to put on his picture face Villages over the Kei There's a Fish Eagle there somewhere, It must be nesting in the tree, because it was sitting in the same place as when we passed earlier

Great stuff, I'm off to the wild coast for a few days Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Wow. Miller and Pehlekwayo pulled that one out the bag. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Yeah Fanie, for someone with way better skills than you and I. I must get the funtrax'ers up here sometime, but illness has klapped me this year.

Our group of farmers has dwindled a bit of late, I think that winter has taken it's toll. It's still winter here, I'm told by my daughter who goes to school in Slummies. We decided to ride in the mountains again, it being month end. So I put togather a short ride, with huge elevation gains, up Dohne Peak, and we had to do a bit of portaging, downhill... The views to the North(ish), on the way up, we had to stop for a breather.. Being farmers, we had to take pics of a buddies cattle grazing on the top of the mountain, The views along the mountain chain from the beacon at the top, with mount Kubusie, The Hogsback(in the clouds), Gaika's Kop and the Elandsberg. Mount Kempf and the Pirie and Isidenge range Wriggleswade Dam Decending off the peak

Even if it's their third string attack, you can never take the Aussie for granted. I hope they put up a better showing next game.

Thomas River is a farming community, and conservancy, the road between the N6 and the Tavern, where the accomodation is, is gravelled (6km), but is in reasonable condition. There is accomodation at the Tavern, which is rustic, but isn't primitive. The food served is typical SA, snack baskets, steak, sandwiches, pies, curry, etc. Make sure that you book reasonably early, because it does get busy in the holidays, mostly weekends though. I'd stay at the Village, (http://thomasriver.com/accomodation.htm#Station) the other accomodation is further away, which could be a problem if you are relying on your bike to get there. The farmers would probably fetch you from the N6, SA plattelandse hospitality. If you are lucky the farmers wll be around, and the pub can be entertaining at times. I live about 20min away from Thomas River and we go for a meal there occasionally, but TBH the menu needs a bit of a revival.

Entry form and Info sheet for the race Thomas River entry and Info.zip

The course designer, JG,has found some cool new singletrack along the river, so this will be even better than last year. It cuts out some bumpy cow pat strewn track that I suggested that they cut out and just ride the gravel road, last year.

Wow... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY

When my dad makes coffee

Cool story http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-11-13/crikey-snail-named-after-steve-irwin/1141288 http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/1141306-3x2-940x627.jpg Crikey! Snail named after Steve Irwin

No, perfect riding weather,and.... Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

My wife had a stall at the local market, Spring market, so I rode to the venue, Eagles Ridge, now I'm drinking wine at the fire, while it rains outside Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

I don't even know if this is a flyfishing story, but seeing as both John Costello and Fred Steynberg are legends in the SA fly fishing community, thought I'd post it here. What an awesome fish it must have been, as John says, was a fish of two lifetimes.

I so want to do this to the kids that come roaring past our beach house on their moto's and quads at Xmas time. Better yet, use a piece of toilet paper...

Eastern Cape mountains give awesome vista's in winter Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Had a hard ride today, but my f#@? I'm unfit. Our riding group, a bunch of farmers, rode in the Waqu today, a farming area between Cathcart and Queenstown. We rode through the Bengoil game breeding farm, I was so busy looking for buffalo, that I didn't take any pics of the zebra, wildebeest, eland, hartebees, pigs and sable antelope. But the view was great from the top Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk