Sniffie

https://www.bikehub.co.za/events/event/2461-2-river-mtb-challenge/ Not the same day, one weekend later. The longest distance on offer is a 65 km, but don't be fooled, it is not a dirt road race at all. Most of it is purpose built single track on the banks of the Vals river. There are lots of short sharp power climbs, fence bridges and some sweet flowing berms. The race is taking place for the ninth time this year. It forms part of the Freestate MTB marathon series. It is CSA sanctioned and also a SA Seeding event. For a relatively small race there is also substantial prize money, in different categories, on offer. The annual Two River festival is also taking place, so there are lots to do for non riders as well. What is more is that Bothaville has some very fancy guesthouses.

Unfortunately no joke: http://www.cycleevents.co.za/mtb-events/anatomic-ride-crater-cruise-2016/

Imagine if you have booked and paid for accomodation! There's gonna be some angry people out there?

From their Facebook page: 2 hrs · Crater Cruise 2016 canceled. Dear cyclist and loyal supporter of the Crater Cruise. Due to an unforseen land access refusal, the 2016 event has been canceled. Access to the town and venue from the river side has been cut off due to the refusal. Rider entry fees will be reimbursed in full. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. Sho! Short notice!

No, only the latex between the sapwood and bark of freshly cut timber is poisonous.My mom used to have a mortar and pestle made from Tamboti, which she regularly used. We are all still going strong. In fact I think my sister sill uses it today.

No, I used a new crushgrind ceramic mechanism. They have a 25 year warranty.http://www.crushgrind.com

Just finished 2 pepper grinders. The first is Tamboti, and the red and yellow is the left overs of the Padauk and Yellow Wood.

Managed to complete the cutting board on Saturday. Man it was a struggle to glue the Padauk and Sand Yellow wood! Some pieces were glued 3 times, ended up using gorilla glue on some of them. Decided to put a border of Meranti around to hold everything stable. The smaller board on the right is Sand Yellow Wood and Rhodesian Teak. The RT plank had quite a lot of sapwood, that is why it is mostly pink.

Thanks Bergman and DJR! I think you got me on the right track. Have to agree it is most probably Padauk. The open endgrain, and difficult to plane interlocking side grain is a give away. I got a plank of roughly 70 cm by 19 cm by 2.5 cm from a friend. Busy assembling an endgrain cutting board with some sand yellow wood. The 2 don't glue very well though. Will post a picture if I manage to stick them together. Must say it is looking amazing the yellow and red. http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/african-padauk/

Definately not rosewood. This wood is little bit softer than rosewood and a lot more red. Almost a light beetroot kind of red. From images I have googled, it looks a lot like Rooi Ivoor, but it can't be, because Rooi Ivoor is a lot harder and heavier. Somerhing else that it almost resembles is Cocobolo, but the darker streaks in the grain pattern is not so evident as it is in Cocobolo.

Does anyone know what this beautifull red wood is? It is harder than Kiaat, but not nearly as hard as yellow wood or Rhodesian teak. It has quite difficult interlocking grain, and the endgrain is quite porous.

For ease of application, great finish and durability, it will be difficult to beat a simple wiping varnish finsh. It is a simple mixture of an oil based varnish and paint thinner. Easy to apply without leaving brush marks or bubbles. Please google "wiping varnish".

About to break into the top 10! I think I have the highest score of anyone without Cav in his team? If only! (:

There is no ribs attached to the lumbar region of the spine?

I have 3 of the 4 plus todays stage winner. Does it count? Should move up some places today.

That awkward pedalling position also worried me! Worth the risk for 30 seconds at this early stage in the tour?

I feel so sorry for everyone, including me, not having Cav in their lineup! Crying myself to sleep at night.

The price for African rosewood, at the moment is R13 750.00 per cubic metre. I got this from Primewood in Kroonstad. They are importers of African timber. If my maths did not fail me you have 0.25 cubes, that equates to about R3 440.00.

Kiaat coffee table finished today.

Two things which gave me my biggest fright; Geelslang, cape cobra, on our local Two River trail in Bothaville, and once while doing a night ride on my farm I heard a rattling sound in the dark next to me. Shining my headlamp towards the left there was the biggest porcupine you can imagine running alangside and shaking its quills at me!

Vrystaters going to natal on holday all the time, will make a plan of some sort. Might be worth going on holiday myself for a piece of mahogany or tamboti!

Any one having some logs lying around which can be turned, pun intended, into something beautiful and useful like bowls, candle holders or pepper grinders?

Clock wise from 6'o clock American ash, Tamboti flower pot, Kiaat segmented bowl, cedar plates, white karee candle holder, selection of eggs, two kiaat candle holders, pine honey bowl, rhodesian teak/ sand yellow wood/ rosewood segmented polka dot bowl, american ash bowl with cracks filled with coffee grinds and ca glue, selection of eggs in polka dot bowl (biggest one being tamboti), Rhodesian teak segmented salad bowl.

Clock wise from 6'o clock American ash, Tamboti flower pot, Kiaat segmented bowl, cedar plates, white karee candle holder, selection of eggs, two kiaat candle holders, pine honey bowl, rhodesian teak/ sand yellow wood/ rosewood segmented polka dot bowl, american ash bowl with cracks filled with coffee grinds and ca glue, selection of eggs in polka dot bowl (biggest one being tamboti), Rhodesian teak segmented salad bowl.

Wag ń bietjie natural edged bowls.