Enduro Africa 2009

[SamD]

I realised that I never did a proper Ride Report for this trip, so I thought I would rectify this

I know this trip is one of those organised trips that a lot of people hate and don't understand why anyone would pay to have someone organise a trip for them etc, but the fact of the matter is that - less than a year into my riding career - I would not have done this any other way. If that makes me a bad/lazy/weak person, then so be it

Anyway, on to the ride report. This is made up from excerpts from the diary that I kep during the trip

Friday 16th October 2009

In a couple of hours I am leaving for the long slog to Durban (12 hours to Joburg, then a wait in the airport there before a connection to Durban). Pretty nervous today, just want to get going! The ride starts on Sunday, and to say I am apprehensive is an understatement.

All that remains to be said at this point, is....

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

 

[SamD]

Saturday October 17th 2009
So after 24 hours travelling we finally reached TO Strand near Durban. We were greeted by African drums and dancing before being asigned to our chalets - I am sharing with 2 others tonight but have a room to myself. Barely had we settled in when it was time to go for a ride on the bikes. We were taken on some local trails and to fuel the bikes up.

Back for a quick shower and clean clothes and down to the bar for a few beers and to stock up with water for tomorrows ride.

This evening we were all assembled for the assigning of teams. I am in the Marvellous Maroons - also known as the beginners. We have a great team leader called Ian who seems to have a cracking sense of humour - which he's going to need with us lot in tow!!

Tomorrows ride is a long one and it's raining hard here now so it's bound to be challenging too.

 

[SamD]

Sunday October 18th 2009

Wow what a day. 208 km largely on dirt, river crossings, hill climbs, crashes-the works!

We left TO Strand with a police escort in convoy - it was quite overwhelming to finally be on our way.

It was a very long day - geting in after dark in the pouring rain. I landed heavily on my shoulder early this morning and have a fair bit of swelling. The wonderful medics gave me a shot and some pills which are helping (I didn't find out until I got home that I had partially dislocated my shoulder and done a fair bit of damage to the joint!)

Tomorrow is a very short and technical day which given the rain tonight is sure to be a challenge.

The hotel here us beautiful and right at the mouth of a river with spectacular ocean views. Tomorrow nights is a little more basic from what we've been led to believe so I am makingthe most of the semi luxury!

 

[SamD]

Monday October 19th 2009

Today was a relatively short day for the Marvellous Maroons with only approx 100km covered. There was a choice of wild or mild route for both the morning and the afternoon. I am not ashamed to say I chose mild both times. Lovely gravel roads and mountain passes were the order of the day for us.

Our planned meetup with the wild group didn't go to plan as it took them 6 hours to cover 20km - vindicating my choice of route!
The weather has brightened up and it's much more how I expected South Africa to be.

The hotel at Cremone is beautiful with the mouth of the river at the end of the gardens and surrounded by cliffs. 3 to a room tonight should be interesting as the room is barely big enough to swing a kitten in!

I am stunned with quite how much water I am getting through each day - about 5 litres, but better that than the dreaded dehydration.
I am glad to report that my injured shoulder from yeaterday is recovering well after a but if medical attention.

 

[SamD]

Tuesday October 20th 2009
A totally epic days riding today. We left at 9am to visit a local childrens shelter to donate the matresses that some of us slept on last night.

After that we had 135 km to cover of mixed terrain - from tar to rutted stream crossings. There were a couple of awesome climbs out of the streams up rick steps and roots - great fun if a little scary!

We stopped for lunch today at a village store and ate "African style" - bread and sardines. We were instantly surrounded by kids of all ages, fascinated by us and our bikes. We bought a couple of packets if sweets for the kids and handed them out - it was quite a riot!

The day finished well with 50km of dirt track taken at a good speed. We beat a few teams in to Hole in the Wall of which we were justifyably proud.

Sadly one of our team had a bad fall on the dirt and managed to crack a couple of ribs. Hopefully she can still ride as it would hurt to lose a team member as we've all bonded really well!

 

[SamD]

Wednesday October 21st 2009


The day before the rest day presented a long technical day of 170km from hole in the wall to the gorgeous Kob Inn right on the seas edge. The morning route included numerous river crossings, steep descents and even steeper climbs and finished with a fast dirt section through a spectacular mountain pass near to the Mbashi river.

The afternoon saw the group split with some people choosing 60km of low road and the rest of us taking a scenic tour through some fantastic villages on fast dirt and singletrack roads followed by the final 20km of low road section.

Saw something that made me think of UKGser today

In one of the villages we were treated to a rendition of the SA national anthem by some school children - very moving indeed. The final section was totally spectacular following the wild coast. It culminated with a 50 degree climb up a road made of old car tyres - it was raining by this point so slippery was not the word!

We arrived at the Kob Inn to a fantatic welcome and lovely rooms. The evening went on late as tomorrow we rest.

 

[SamD]

Thursday October 22nd 2009

This morning was spent on a TouchAfrica project at Mgcawezulu school.

We rode down to the school " spanish style" (ie without protective gear on) which was quite scary on dirt roads in the rain! When we arrived the school was in a sorry state and our tasks included roofing, wiring, carpeting, painting inside and out, making desks, making a jungle gym and moving the crèche out of their current windowless classroom into the nearly decorated one with new desks and toys. All in all I'd say we succeeded in our mission and the looks on the faces of the crèche children when they were presented with their new classroom and toys made it more than worthwhile.

It was a morning for reflection seeing children so young with so little - they really do have less than nothing. That said the fact that they are in school is a positive thing and will hopefully help to break the cycle of poverty of which they are part. I had a tear in my eye on more than one occassion and spent the morning quite emotional. In our own way I hope that we have made a difference to these children's lives, for me I hope it will be the start of a long association with Touch Africa and the great work that they do.

 

[SamD]

Friday October 23rd 2009

89km. It doesn't sound much does it? Now consider 20 river crossings, climbing a 1000ft gorge and more technical riding than you can shake a stick at at it starts to sound more challenging.

In the end it took us 9 hours to cover the tiny distance with many falls, damp boots and shattered bodies. A ferry crossing on a small motor ferry marked the end of the hard riding and I am not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two in joy/relief.

The team were the 12th man for me today. Without the encouraging words of each one of them I really don't think I would have made it. The maroon team really are a special bunch of people who I hope to remain in contact with for many years to come.

 

[SamD]

Saturday October 24th 2009

A long day of dirt and tar. 300km was the target to get to Port Alfred. A fairly tedious day required to cover the miles.

Tiredness and complacency ended up in a fair few accidents. I came off in a rut and ended up with a bike hitting me - luckily no great injuries, but I did suffer from a total loss of confidence luckily the team pulled through and i had someone to follow for a few hours! Lots of wildlife tried to take us out - only a small cow succeeding!

Lovely hotel tonight, big rooms and it backs onto a Marina.

 

[SamD]

Sunday October 25th 2009

The epic adventure has come to an end today. A simple ride from port Alfred to PE passed without incident and we had a game drive on Scotia reserve to break up the day. Saw some great game and it was a treat to be driven for a change! We even rode our bikes through another reserve - scary when there are signs everywhere telling you not to leave your car!

30km from PE we assembled the whole group for an escorted ride along the coast to the Cherry Cafe - owned by Mike Glover for drinks and to say goodbye to our faithful Honda Crf230s

We were then bused back to the splendid Radisson hotel to get cleaned up before another bus back for closing speeches and beers.

It feels very odd right now to have finished and I think tomorrow could be quite hard emotionally to be leaving the team to travel home. I came on this trip 11 days ago alone and I return tomorrow with a whole load of new friends and some if the best memories I could ask for.

 

[SamD]

Tuesday October 26th 2009

So it's all over. If I am honest I am a little lost, the last week and a bit have been so intense, there is a feeling of a hole being left now that it's finished. Still, we still had to get home to England. We started off with a nice leisurely breakfast in the fantastic Raddisson restaurant. Jeff and John had prepared an oscar ceremony for the team, each of us receiving a little gift based on some aspect of our personality or riding. It was very funny, and had us all in fits of giggles! We were joined by Ian, our team leader, for final goodbyes. I don't think he wanted to let go of us really

The group then split as there were two flights out of PE to Johannesburg, the early group leaving at 10:15 and the later group at 1:20. I was in the later group so spent the morning hanging around the hotel and had a couple of beers with some of the group. The flight to Johannesburg went smoothly - I slept for most of it, and we met up with the rest of the group in the airport. Lots more hanging about was achieved, before out 8:30 flight to the UK. The flight was fine on the most part, but I didn't manage to get any sleep.

The flight landed on time at Heathrow and once we had all collected our bags we said our goodbyes which was a fairly emotional experience, but we all know it is fair well rather than goodbye as we are sure to see each other again.

So it's all done without too many injuries (for me at least). I escaped with a badly bruised ankle, numb left hand, bruised hip and dodgy shoulder, I expect those to all work themselves out over the next few days and weeks.

 

[SamD]

There is a map of the journey we took here that was plotted from various GPS locations I saved through the course of the trip.

 

[chad]

fackin ace

 

[Gundog]

Very Good

 

[Mandylicious]

Looks like ya had a grand time Sam and some lovely pics. I like the one with the lion

Didn't see many of you mind

 

[SamD]

Looks like ya had a grand time Sam and some lovely pics. I like the one with the lion

Didn't see many of you mind

There is one of me there


(the splashy water one)

 

[Davel]

Excellent stuff!

Thanks for sharing.....

 

[Dee Tee]

Sam,guided tour or not,the Bike didn't ride itself. You did yourself credit.

I'm afraid that there is not enough Tarmac for me,on a Trip like that.

 

[SamD]

Sam,guided tour or not,the Bike didn't ride itself. You did yourself credit.

I'm afraid that there is not enough Tarmac for me,on a Trip like that.

Thanks

 

[Aidan1150]

A fine trip Sam and quite an experience no doubt. Thanks for posting.

less than a year into my riding career

Sam,guided tour or not,the Bike didn't ride itself. You did yourself credit.

I'm with Dave. After only one year of riding you can feel a justified sense of pride in what you have achieved so far.