Missile in Zuid Afrika - Hippo Dodging + Mooketsi MTB Challenge

I wasn't idle in South Africa - apart from stroking monkeys (and lion and tiger) I also got two MTB rides in!!! At the time, it was stroke more monkeys or ride.......so I rode.

I contacted the Tzaneen MTB club - the local bike shop loaned me a bike and I got lucky with the location of the first ride - it started 4 km from where I was staying!

Ride 1 - around a citrus/avocado/macadamia farm with crocs and hippos 'here and there'. This was a 2 hour ride on one guys farm!!  41km with an average just about 21km with 250m elevation in a sticky sand/mud combination! Bike....an entry level Felt 3x8 trotinette that was slightly too small.Oh well. I was riding.

A small ride....approx 20 riders showed up! Off...no-one waited for anyone!!! The path was clearly marked with chalk and we just "rode". Thought I was going to get lost at one point as too many vacation beers took their toll and I ended up struggling to keep up with the leading pack(s) - there were also quite a few people behind me too so I felt somewhat satisfied that I wasnt letting the Swiss side down too much.

Saw some hippos....REALLY. But just their ears and nose. I didn't hang around to see if I could spot some crocs - the ride started 4 km from where we were "monkey stroking" and Bob (the owner) had shot a 2 metre croc that had been hanging around the centre the day before we arrived!

I then got invited to a post ride Braai by Nicolaas the local host. This involved pre Braai beers (Carling Black label - havent had that since I lived in England) and (a few bottles of) pre Braai south african wine. Niiiice!! Then 4 kinds of meat, pap and a special peper and onion Braai sauce. I ate my fair share, you can be sure.

They then insisted that I rode with them the next weekend. So I did....

Ride 2 - the mooketsi MTB challenge was a 35km dash around a mountain - 550m elevation gain. Mostly 70% 2 track, 30% single track. I fell off once: someone asked me a confusing question at a water point - "Do you want water"....I proceeded to slam on the brakes, fell sideways and splat.... opened my knee up. (see photo) The most interesting part was the 50 metres pallet pontoon. Some people stayed dry. Somepeople got wet. See photos.

The result...I came 4'th scratch out of 150 contestants doing the 35km ride!!.
I have to say there were some fatties riding.....

http://www.mooketsimtb.co.za/

In 4'th place...I think...

50 metres of floating pallets

almost there...

must...keep...momentum....too...many...beers...

oops....

....these weeds are JUST the right green colour!!