Joe Low Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Had a great time at Modders this morning, 4 cars in the car park at 9 so I was happy I could amble about how I wanted. At the start, going uphill along the Gautrain fence inside the reserve (ie the wrong way) I saw a blue crane which I thought was very surprising - anyone else seen them in there? I watched it for quite a bit and they are very distinctive. Later on I saw a large eagle take off from a tree - black with white patches on the upper side of its wings, the only thing I can see it might be is a black eagle, but would be interested to know if others have seen or got other ideas. The trail surfaces are in very good condition, there's a bit of mud but nothing to worry about. The foliage is overgrown, due to the time of year and staff being on hols. A bit of handlebar grabbing was going on, by the grass, not the staff and I'm sure they'll sort it out in the next couple of weeks (the staff). I managed to cut myself and got some impressive blood trails going down my arm, which I BearGhryls'd with some grass and a leaf plaster until I found a first aid box. Wow! pretty good Modders, there was a lot of stuff in there, one of five positioned around the park, I was impressed. Now I never was much one for mtbs but I haven't been on the road thing since June, so looks like I've switched. I love the run out of the park on the downhill singletrack and I caught this young, thin thing up 100s of metres in no time with him going captain-cautious on his brakes. Ok, no worries, I saw it coming but then we get to the jeep track and an uphill, and he f****s right off - Gone in 60 Seconds, well more like 20. There's something wrong there and I had evil thoughts about meeting more of a dirt roadie than myself. And finally, the bike wash, I love the bike wash at Modders, you can pay R10 but I pay R15 and get it valeted as well. It's quick and nicely done. And finally, finally - there's signs up all over the place down there saying "Ride Free" - so why am I paying every time I go in there?
Guest Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Your eagle with white on the wings might be a long crested eagle.
Joe Low Posted January 5, 2015 Author Posted January 5, 2015 Your eagle with white on the wings might be a long crested eagle. Thanks - and yep you are right, the pic below is exactly it. Habitat didn't seem right for black eagle but.... it was black.
Odinson Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Nice little review on Moddies - it's my preferred park for long distance training.
CleatsnCleavage Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Luckily that Chinese property development looks like it might take some time to finalise planning permissions etc so we can still ride here for a few more years
Davey_Jones Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I love modders. It was my first and remains my default track. I've seen both birds you spoke of before and more. The track is a little over grown at the mo but usually very we'll maintained. It does get pretty muddy though after rain but that makes for some exciting ridding if you don't mind getting dirty.On the weekends the guys managing the ride free desk are really awesome, the guy helped me out the one day when I was having issues with my rear brakes. I think the ride free thing seems more inclined to ride free of worries than free of money. But I'm happy to pay the R40 that goes towards the upkeep of the nature reserve and trails.
Joe Low Posted January 5, 2015 Author Posted January 5, 2015 I love modders. It was my first and remains my default track. I've seen both birds you spoke of before and more. The track is a little over grown at the mo but usually very we'll maintained. It does get pretty muddy though after rain but that makes for some exciting ridding if you don't mind getting dirty.On the weekends the guys managing the ride free desk are really awesome, the guy helped me out the one day when I was having issues with my rear brakes. I think the ride free thing seems more inclined to ride free of worries than free of money. But I'm happy to pay the R40 that goes towards the upkeep of the nature reserve and trails. Yeah, agree with all that, "Ride Free" was my little joke. I like the guys at the weekend too and they had a paramedic vehicle parked there last time I went, just waiting for business in an out-of-the-way place. What else interesting have you seen there? I trailed a genet for a couple of hundred metres along the fence one night driving out (me driving, not the genet). Pay R400 and get 14 entries - R28 a time is better.
Odinson Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Yeah, agree with all that, "Ride Free" was my little joke. I like the guys at the weekend too and they had a paramedic vehicle parked there last time I went, just waiting for business in an out-of-the-way place. What else interesting have you seen there? I trailed a genet for a couple of hundred metres along the fence one night driving out (me driving, not the genet). Pay R400 and get 14 entries - R28 a time is better. Saw a Black-backed Jackal there once - just as I came out of a section of singletrack. We stared at each other for a second and then he darted. There are also a lot of antelope hiding in the trees. Oh, also saw a feral cat once (not a wild cat - domestic type) - big, black and fluffy. Disappeared into the tall grass before I could even whip out my phone for a pic.
Uni Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 According to the reserve guys there is a pair of black Eagles there. I haven't seen them. Have seen the blue cranes, I got some fuzzy pics of them. Didn't get too close as I didnt want to scare them off. Love the pair of fish Eagles too Also my home playground. One day I hope to be brave enough to ride there from home.PS. The bike washes are free - sponsored by tracker ride free - on weekends when the official bike wash guys are there) but they work on donations (tips)During the week the security guys get bored and they usually wash my bike for me. Also chatted to some of the trail guys that were busy cutting back stuff on the yellow/red section ... Seems they're changing things up again as they were told not to cut the chicken run... The guy told me I'm going the wrong way and when I to,d him I'm a chicken... It got translated to amachicken () Heading there tomorrow, my last day of leave. Edit: I haven't seen the wildebeest in a while, they still there?
WezGK Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Wildebeest are still there... saw about 3/4 when I was there last... end Nov.. if I remember right, there were two Zebras too...
Uni Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Luckily that Chinese property development looks like it might take some time to finalise planning permissions etc so we can still ride here for a few more years The development plans are supposed to happen around the reserve, but sadly building up the area, I doubt the reserve will survive.As a CT visitor, what's your thoughts on the place?
Andrew64 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 And not forgetting the Wednesday night rides #Awesome
Davey_Jones Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 And not forgetting the Wednesday night rides #AwesomeI still want to try one of those. What time do they kick off? Is it a group ride or just pitch and ride when you get there?
Joe Low Posted January 6, 2015 Author Posted January 6, 2015 I still want to try one of those. What time do they kick off? Is it a group ride or just pitch and ride when you get there? People organise their own groups or you can ride by yourself. I had maybe 4 hartebeest come out of the bush and across the road in front of me one night- silent and solid! Otherwise, quite a few birds will take off as you go by and there's owls too.
PhdotD Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Nice trail and well maintained, but I would rather go to Northern Farms if I had to decide between the two. I think it's best as a night ride as there isn't any technical and challenging sections on that trail, a perfect dirt roadie park and as an introduction to newbies of mountain biking, but not real mountain biking. More like 'park riding'.Animals I've come across there, seen the pair of long crested eagle, never seen the blue crane, have seen white stork in the summer, slender mongoose and the spotted genet, a marsh owl and a barn owl, also a rock kestrel. If you're out riding to do bird watching though, Northern Farms has a bigger variety imho.At the moment there doesn't seem to be many 'real' mountain biking spots around, the list's short and starts with Hakahana, Kings Kloof (sadly closed) Thaba (black route), Wolwespruit (bits of it)..........maybe Groenkloof and surrounds.
HaydenWilson Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 The long crested eagle is actually a resident. Very cool to see! Also, if you go for the evening rides you will likely see grass owls, marsh owls, eagle owls, fish eagle, jackal, bullfrogs, hedgehogs and buck.
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