Showing posts with label Katberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Katberg. Show all posts

Monday, October 06, 2008

From Katberg to Morgan Bay

Short break after gold group all complete early morning climb stage from Katberg.


We are in the Amatola mountains, it's full of wonderful view of high country, cliffs and indigenous forests.

This is a panaramoic view from the road up to the ominously named Hogsback.


The name of 'Hogsback' comes from the high rocky ridge looking like a bushpig's spine.

It's 10am we have been riding for 2 hours, so far no problems.

We are doing 280km today ending up in Morgan Bay.



Fuel stop in a town called Alice.






In Alice we are welcomed by local kids!



After long ride, we arrived safely in Morgan Bay!

This is a view from my hotel room.


COWS.

That's the abiding memory from today's ride.

Oh and the Green Team being awarded "Dick of the Day" for the second night in a row.

What started with a steep climb up a rocky moutain side;

the ascent and descent of the Hogsback and a truly wonderful ride though a forest carpetted with wild lillies ended with a heard of unpredicatable cows stampeding down the track.

One of the Red team collided with one of same and came off worse.

One of the blue team hit a cow which then promptly fell on her and damaged her spine.

She is fine and recovering in hospital.

Unfortunatley the cow had to be put down (No. There are no sexist jokes in this!).

Green Team where a mess today, getting lost and split up so much so they were still arriving as Gold Team celebrated well into their fourth beers in the bar at the Morgans Bay Hotel.

It was dark and raining as the last stragglers arrived but Gold Team is still in tact and Pat - the grandaddy of all the participants - was awarded the "Spirit Award" for his steady and dogged progress.

My body is still sore but only a couple of minor crashes today.

Having a great time!

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Looking like a secondhand!?


Spotted this on the fence where we stayed last night.

Would not have slept if I had known!


TOUGH.

That's the only word to describe todays 250 km ride.

Red group lost 3 riders one with a broken arm.

Blue group lost one also.

Gold group - my group - suffered two spectacular crashes both unfortunately involving me.

However, I am still in one piece, and so is the rest of Gold Group.

My bike is however looking a bit secondhand!

The ride today was fantastic.

Mountain passes and deep ravines and not forgetting that the day began with the climb up the 60 degree hill we descended last night.

We are overnighting in Katberg.

Not sure what tomorrow will bring except of course aching bones and muscles.