Where does "The Spruit" run to/from

[Joe Low]

I've seen this route spoken about a lot but not being "that way inclined" it just conjures up pictures for me of woodland glades with pixies sat on toadstools whilst happy mtb'ers break there necks on dodgy bridges whilst being chased by knife-wielding thugs high on pepper-spray fumes.

 

It's possible that this isn't 100% accurate, but all my info comes from the Hub. I have no idea where it is or any desire to go there.

 

However, I have a couple of friends new to mtbiking looking for new places to eat mud and thought I'd ask on their behalf.  So please, what is the route of the Spruit, roughly how far does it go, and what would be the best access points for someone coming from Kensington / the East?

 

Are there any regular organised rides on the Spruit?

 

Thanks for your help and sorry if this info has previously been posted elsewhere.

 

 

Joe Low2008-10-11 03:31:58

[Thug]

"The Spruit"or to give it its correct name The Braamfontein Spruit starts as far as I know somewhere near Mellville but the generally accepted MTB trail starts from the Botannical Gardens (I suppose one could include Mellville Koppies).

 

From the Gardens the route runs through Greenside, Craighall Park up towards Hurlingham where it hits Republic Rd. One then cycles down Republic (on the pavement) to the intersection with William Nicol before the trail "resumes" through Bryanston and meanders to the N1. Total distance is approx 16k's from the Gardens.

 

Mampara has a Google Earth picture of the whole route which when he sees this thread will probably post.

 

I'm not too sure about regular organised rides but Fritz Pienaar Cycles in Paulshof might do so.

 

[Guest Agteros]

 

Have a look at http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=44143  for the trail on Google Maps / Garmin Mapsource.

 

The guys at Northcliff Cycles said that they will have/start Saturday morning shop ride(s) on the Spruit on Sat, 18 Oct starting from and ending at the shop (Heathway Centre) with brekkie afterwards.

Agteros2008-10-11 05:05:33

[Minion]

 

From the Gardens the route runs through Greenside' date=' Craighall Park up towards Hurlingham where it hits Republic Rd. One then cycles down Republic (on the pavement) to the intersection with William Nicol before the trail "resumes" through Bryanston and meanders to the N1.[/quote']

I read somewhere that the trail continues beyond the N1 all the way to Hartebeespoort. Anyone know if this is the case?

 

[Nancy Drew]

I stand to be corrected, but doesn't Mrmed and/or Mampara also hold Saturday morning group rides on the Spruit from the Cresta Wheelers clubhouse?

[Johan Bornman]

From RiverRangers.org.za

Braamfontein Spruit

Further west the next stream is the Braamfontein Spruit, which provides residents with a much-needed green lung running through the northern suburbs. It begins life in the grounds of the Barnato Park High School in Berea, and has two major tributaries: Westdene Dam and Albertville.

From Berea the stream runs through Pieter Roos Park, down Empire Road to the Frank Brown Park, then on towards the German School in Auckland Park. The stream then flows towards the Parkview Golf Course, where sections of it are channelled into canals. It exits the golf course and runs through Parkhurst, where it meets the second small tributary of the Braamfontein Spruit - the Westdene Spruit.

This spruit has its origins just above the peaceful Westdene Dam, once a brickfield. It flows north east under the RAU sports grounds, and down through the western and central sections of Melville Koppies to the popular Emmarentia Dam, then to Parkhurst.
The third stream is the Montgomery Spruit, which lies over the next ridge with two small branches - one in Albertville, another in Albert?s Farm, Albertskroon. These two streams converge in the Roosevelt Park, and from there flow towards Parkhurst.

The three streams merge at the bottom of Rustenburg Road and flow through the western edge of Parkhurst, heading towards Delta Park, then they wend their way through the northern suburbs, heading towards its confluence with the Sandspruit at Sunninghill Park.

Religious groups use the Spruit on Sundays, often for baptisms and, in Craighall and the Sandton Field & Study Centre, horses are stabled near its banks. 30 horses are also kept in Paulshof at the point at which the Sandspruit meets the Braamfontein Spruit to flow through Leeukop and Lonehill. They are used for river patrols and leisure activities.

http://riverrangers.org.za/images/bryanston_map.jpg

Early Joburgers relied more heavily on the river than we do these days. They fished in it, used it for their household needs, their cattle grazed alongside it and drank from it, children used it as a playground and when it flooded, caused consternation to those north of it cutting them off from services like doctors, schools and the postman.

According to long-time Joburg environmental writer, James Clarke, trout were seen at Lonehill as late as 1978, probably having swum upstream from the Magaliesberg, some 80km north west of the city.

The Braamfontein and Sandspruit merge near Leeuwkop Prison, at a rocky spot marked by a large gum tree. The resultant river, with it?s increased width is called the Jukskei and it meets the Ellis Park Jukskei a kilometre or two beyond. Then it gains volume as it flows in the direction of Hartebeespoort Dam, north west of Johannesburg.

 

Klein Jukskei

[Joe Low]

Thanks folks - quality replies one & all.

I'll wait & see if there's any more group ride info.

(nice to see everyone ignoring my crude baiting attempts)

 

[Nancy Drew]

Thanks folks - quality replies one & all.

I'll wait & see if there's any more group ride info.

(nice to see everyone ignoring my crude baiting attempts)

 

 

 you were trying to bait us spruit folk??!

 

Joe.. I ride there all the time, your friends are welcome to contact me if they ever want to hook up

[Joe Low]

Thanks Nance that's very kind of you.

 

 

[Pocketbikes]

... she needs the body guards, even if she is from the Souf  

[RockCoach]

 

From the Gardens the route runs through Greenside' date=' Craighall Park up towards Hurlingham where it hits Republic Rd. One then cycles down Republic (on the pavement) to the intersection with William Nicol before the trail "resumes" through Bryanston and meanders to the N1.[/quote']

I read somewhere that the trail continues beyond the N1 all the way to Hartebeespoort. Anyone know if this is the case?

I haven't ever carried on past Leeukop prison but I have ridden offroad to Harties. Take the pavement along Witkoppen to Lonehill, down

Main road to Leeukop prison, through Helderfontein, Daynfern, Northern Farm

Sewerage Works, down tpo the Juskskei, through Le Farge Quarry (sshhh! we aren't

supposed to be there), up to Lanseria, around the runway and on to Chicken Pie,

northwards through Mystic Dolphin, Kalkheuwel, down to Nikita, into the Harties

mountains, through the gorge to Pecanwood or along the Crocodile river and doen towards the railway line.

[Nancy Drew]

From the Gardens the route runs through Greenside' date=' Craighall Park up towards Hurlingham where it hits Republic Rd. One then cycles down Republic (on the pavement) to the intersection with William Nicol before the trail "resumes" through Bryanston and meanders to the N1.[/quote']
I read somewhere that the trail continues beyond the N1 all the way to Hartebeespoort. Anyone know if this is the case?

I haven't ever carried on past Leeukop prison but I have ridden offroad to Harties. Take the pavement along Witkoppen to Lonehill, down Main road to Leeukop prison, through Helderfontein, Daynfern, Northern Farm Sewerage Works, down tpo the Juskskei, through Le Farge Quarry (sshhh! we aren't supposed to be there), up to Lanseria, around the runway and on to Chicken Pie, northwards through Mystic Dolphin, Kalkheuwel, down to Nikita, into the Harties mountains, through the gorge to Pecanwood or along the Crocodile river and doen towards the railway line.

 

Sounds like an amazing ride, what distance is that (let's say from Witkoppen)

[RockCoach]

ND, from Bryanston it's 70 - 80km depending which twists and turns you take closer to the dam.

 

JMBC do it every year on 27th Dec. The slow "yellow" group (12km/h avg.) starts at FPC right at Witkoppen. The faster groups start at Emmerentia. You should do it with us.It's open to everyone. I'm not a JMBC member anymore but will not miss this ride. They have decent rests at Chicken Pie and Nikita Pub & Grill. I did find that the yellow group stopped too frequently and for too long sometime. Plus they all walked over every little technical obstacle.