Constantia Greenbelt Trail news and updates

[Rhodent]

it was awesome in yesterdays rain and empty too

its definitely better higher up though even with the slippery roots

coming down resulted my coming home covered in muck from head to toe

great fun

Just got back from a trip from top gate to peddlers and back.

 

Muddy as hell. Fiancé hosing me and the bike down.

 

Won't get the smile off my face tho!!!

[DJR]

Just got back from a trip from top gate to peddlers and back.

 

Muddy as hell. Fiancé hosing me and the bike down.

 

Won't get the smile off my face tho!!!

Only way to get rid of that type of smile is to shove a beer and a piece of pizza into it. But that results into an even bigger one a few minutes later.

[Kona Kula]

Hi All, I just moved down from Jhb and am itching to get onto the trail. If anyone is keen to show me around it will be much appreciated.

 

I am on the edge of Claremont and Rondebosh. So happy to ride up to Kirstenbosch.

 

Riding level pretty fit but just keen to check things out.

[Tatt]

Will probably take a cruise down it later..

 

Strava route (hope the link works!):

 

Check out my ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/636503016/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-GB&v=1468829219

 

Tom

[Kona Kula]

Will probably take a cruise down it later..

 

Strava route (hope the link works!):

 

Check out my ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/636503016/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-GB&v=1468829219

 

Tom

Thanks that does help  a lot. Heading out at about 13. So will get to see all the trails.

[Tatt]

Thanks that does help  a lot. Heading out at about 13. So will get to see all the trails.

 

Enjoy, the complete trail to Tribakery is also a few rides back. Great place to stop for a coffee and bike friendly.

 

Tom

[i24]

I expect the low lying areas are very wet after the last night's rain. It maybe a good idea to wait 24 to 48 hours after the last rain has stopped before riding. There are a few grassy parts that are looking like a total mudbath, best to pick lines that avoid the worst of the muddy areas.

 

I hope there is not too much damage being done.

[Headshot]

Trails are holding up well and drying out nicely. The descent from Southern cross stayed slithery for a few days after the last rain. Water damage seems minimal in general. 

[i24]

It looked OK yesterday. Just the "short cut" (through the river) near Lower Tokai entrance is a muddy mess. Also one or two spots between Peddler’s and Firgrove Way are a bit muddy.

 

It drains quite quickly but riding the day after heavy rain is likely to be messy and could cause wear on both bike and the trail.

[Headshot]

Update on the Kirstenbosch trail.

 

There is some new signage up. The fence line loop is to be ridden anti-clockwise only. They have provided an alternative up route through the middle that is also unidirectional. Its a lekker little climb through some indigenous forest and across a stream. 

[HowardSteele]

Update on the Kirstenbosch trail.

 

There is some new signage up. The fence line loop is to be ridden anti-clockwise only. They have provided an alternative up route through the middle that is also unidirectional. Its a lekker little climb through some indigenous forest and across a stream. 

Interesting...that Kistenbosch gardens can take the initiative to provide trails yet Parks still won't even allow us to use an existing cork tree run

[Headshot]

Interesting...that Kistenbosch gardens can take the initiative to provide trails yet Parks still won't even allow us to use an existing cork tree run

The difference could be the legislation that governs the National Park. The stranger thing is that SANBI which runs Kirstenbosch have recently become something of a thorn in the side of the Tokai trail rebuild effort....

[HowardSteele]

Tokai Park Loop closed for a while...lots of protest and debate going on,the park gave me a nice relaxed warm up loop and cool off loop start and end to my ride...now missing 8 ks.

[i24]

I rode that loop this morning. I often go through lower Tokai and we cycled past to see what was going on. We arrived at Lion's gate and it was open so we went in going anticlockwise. The entrances on Orpen Road were open. At the next corner was a banner and bunch of ladies protesting. We carried on round and passed a group of rangers carrying hammers and tools. Greeted them and further on all the entrances were closed with tape. We could not get out at the bottom bridge so we did a complete loop and back onto Orpen Rd and did another half loop around the outside of the park.

 

By which time we learned the story. It seems the protestors have got a court interdict. No tree felling for the next 9 days. The rangers were busy taking down the tape opening all access. So it is open for cycling again, for a while.

 

Meanwhile workers had moved into middle Tokai, below the picnic site. That was closed off and it looks like that compartment of trees are getting the chop.

 

The whole thing is a real SANPark mess. It seems they planned a secret ambush to close Lower Tokai and start felling trees without informing any stake holders. I accept that the trees must go, but doing it in that manner is guaranteed to get all of the locals upset. Least they could do is finish in Upper Tokai and get that re-opened before closing Lower Tokai.

 

Maybe they could also leave one or two compartments of pines for nostalgia, and the birds. They are after all part of the history of the pace ...

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Hey i24, I can tell you now that it wasn't a secret parks plan. MTO (who schedule and control the felling schedule according to their own requirements re profitability, planning etc) hardly ever give parks more than 24h notice. And theyre lucky if they get that.

 

Parks are NOT controlling the cutting, they're just looking after their end to ensure nobody gets into the areas which are being felled.

 

Have a look at the San parks site for their media release detailing the whole situation. To blame parks for this is missing the point entirely

[i24]

Sorry, where and when did SANParks publish something to say something to the effect that they were "closing Lower Tokai with effect from 9AM on Monday 29th August 2016"?

 

MTO know when they are going to start felling trees. If the locals can get a court interdict to stop them, then I don't believe SANPark are not trying very hard to get reasonable notice from MTO of proposed closures and then passing that information on to effected parties.

 

"Everyone has the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair." - South African Constitution, Bill of Rights.

 

Fire or no fire. I am not convinced SANPark have been trying very hard to meet their obligations. Nor are a bunch of other people who live near to or frequent Lower Tokai.