Bijou To The Burn By Bicycle - An Afrikaburn Outreach fundraiser

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Wow time does fly hey...

So I'm riding to AfrikaBurn with some cool peeps. 

#BijouToBurnByBicycle

We doing this to raise funds to collect all the bikes left behind, restore them and put them back out to people who need them...

Also taking the idea of radical self reliance to the next level.

Prepping so last minute getting a trailer built by AMS Mechanical services for my GtZasker 29er,

Trying to pull all the strings together.....

If you would like to make a donation towards our endeavour please check out this site.

http://www.globalwheeling.org/

We leave 25 April Thursday Morning from Bijou Hq in Observatory at around 7:30 am heading out to Malmsbury for our first stop...

Day 1 Thursday 24 April

Cape Town too Malmsbury

85km

From Tears to Elation

Wow where do I start well I had organized a lift from my home Base Muizenberg at about 06:30 to get to Observatory to the Bijou Afrika Burn HQ but he decided to over sleep....

So I packed all my stuff onto my un-tested single wheel trailer with the help of my beautiful lady Shani, I was up in arms because I was never going to make it in time.

She made sure I left with a massive hug and a big smile what a awesome partner to have at your side.

I was off trailer and all in peak hour traffic and it was tough the trailer wobbled but I mad it even thou I was 30 minutes late...

I got to Afrika Burn Hq with everyone awaiting my arrival and they where all stoked flip it was good to become one of a team of awesome like minded people...

 

    Katja,Kevin and Gerhard.

Well with a quick photo session and hello to this who did not know each other we were of on our adventure, an Adventure for a purpose.

We have two support vehicles and 4 bikes permantly on the road , some have hardly ever cycled some just looking for adventure. But I am awed by the instant camaraderie and can do attitude.

 

    Kayden & Katya doing there thing.

We left Cape Town via the cycle route heading thru the heart of the industrial area onto the west coast just chatting smelling the awesome mix of smells and pretty much just getting to know each other.

We cycled through Melkbos of R27 down into Philidelphia a awesome little town that if you don't know  go find it. Here we ate lunch it was epic with 25km to go we headed out towards Malmsbury for the last push.

We got here and where put up at a amazing guest house called Manasse Manor.

Gerhard Van Eck

And here starts day 2 next overnight Guinevere Guest Farm today should be awesome.

Day 2 Friday 25 April

Malmsbury to Tulbagh

Massive Trucks No shoulder 

Well we left Malmsbury after a awesome nights sleep at Manasse Manour, such nice people they even helped me ad onto my trailer.

Watching the night change to dawn on their balcony with sheep bleating in the background is something special.

We stopped at a rad bike shop called Kroff cycles where we got some disk brake pad for Katja's bike and some new ones for mine too as I was worried about the weight of the trailer coming down some of the passes!

We crept out of Malmsbury onto some awesome back country roads with acres and acres of farm land  .

Katja grinding through farmland

Everyone was feeling strong and their were smiles all around the comraderie was and is awesome, what a laaker (nice) group of people.

We picked up a reporter for the local Malmsbury paper so if anyone comes across it please pass it along.

We had our halfway stop at a little place called Du Vlei a really cool little lunch spot with some epic people. 

Lunch at Du Vlei

After this we had to head out onto one of the more dangerous parts of the route. So had a little briefing  By Kayden Klienhans I donned a high visibility vest and my helmet and headed out onto the R46 no shoulder big trucks and hi speed cars it was stressful but the team worked like a well oil machine.Two bakkies working as buffers and then us.

We made it safely back onto the shoulder, we headed passed Gouda where we had stop to stick a tube in Katja's rear tyre as it was not handling the road and started to warp.

A De stress

We found a beatiful river to take a swim and met a man who has been living on the side of the road for 17 years.

Cool Down

After that it was the long flat burn against the setting sun to get to Guinevere Guest farm, which we made just before sunset not with out some fun and games along the way though.

My trailer was taking strain and wheels were falling of literally as Packed cars of Weekend warrior mountain bikers flew past heading in for the TransKaroo race.

Well we made it to Guinevere to catch the sunset and a quick swim thank you so much to Carli and Will for their epicness and hospitality and our amazing breakfast sponsored nogall.

Felix And I

Blown away by this ride thank you universe.

Day 3 Saturday 26 April

Tulbagh to Karoo Port 

A day of Climbing 

Wow what a awesome night we had at Guinevere a braai, cyclists pulling in and preparing for the TransKaroo. 

It was great seeing the weekend warrior in full force and then us just a group of cyclists taking it easy our hearts beating to a different drum....

I won't lie I am itching to race again i think it's good for the soul....

So this morning I decided to stay behind and use Guinevere's workshop to modify and get my trailer ready for the R366 dirt and desert.

I was grinding chopping adding and totally lost track of time whoops..

So I left Guinevere at a round about 11am and had a bit of catching up to do, I rode out and put my head down what a epic ride along the R46 we are blessed to live in such a beautiful country truly.

My phone was ringing with Kayden and Gerhard checking up on me, they were already passing the Toll Huis on Mitchell's pass.

I had some catching up to do at least they were going to do some final shopping and water re filling.

Mitchell's pass what a climb what a epic epic ride and just put my head down and rode by the time I got to the Toll Huis tears of pain were rolling down my cheeks, which soon turned to whoops of elation as i crested the pass and rolled down into Ceres trailer and all.

I caught up with the crew got a rushed shop in and found a ATM for some cash and we rolled out as Ceres was crazy with Saturday morning kayoss of a small town.

Kayden warned us today would be tough and time was becoming a factor as the sun sets early and we still had Theronsberg pass ahead.

Off we headed Kayden, Katja Jannel and Myself with Gerhard driving the support vehicle.

My gosh Theronsberg pass was a beast 1091m of climbing epicness,

I took a break under a tree about half way up after a Adventure Motorcyclist just put his head down shaking as if to say "bru are you MENTAL!"

While doing this I sent out a quick tweet and got tuned buy Kayden come know hurry up. So I did A man on a racer passed me and shouted "YOU CAN DO IT 2KM TO GO".

I spotted Kayden under a tree we used one of my handy Holdfast straps as a tow rope and got ourselves to the top.

Back too Sea Cape Town Too India Via port Louis Mauritius Aboard M/V MARANJOS.

Monday  Day 1

21 October 2013

01h00 

leaving Cape Town

34'45,079E 19'14,625E 

So we have just passed Gaanbaai. What a crazy last 2 days, I was sitting on my couch last night applying for jobs crawling the net, when I get a message from a mate, hey bru what's your number you wanna help take a boat too India leaving TOMMOROW MORNING, I was like aah okay!

Next thing you know here I am On Solo watch on 86m Palate carrier On her last voyage to India too be scrapped. Russian Captain and Chief both named Sergiv which makes life simple, One other Saffa and a mixed batch of Namibians and Eastern Europeans. I even have officer status, My own cabin and 3 meals a day, well I might miss breakfast seeing I finish my watch at 4am....

Apparently she used to carry potatoes and stuff up too Rwanda and places in Africa. She was built in 1978 in Norway.

First night watch in a while and just sliding back into the groove a bit nervous when seeing lights but all the knowledge is still hidden in this brain of mine feels good. Awesome evening full moon a couple of dolphins round. The sea has calmed down the South Easter is but a light breeze and we cruising along at about 7.5 knots.

Well I'm going too get back too keeping my eye on things and will try keep this as updated as possible, though there is no Wifi aboard.

Wednesday Day 3

Off St Francis

34'18,90S 25'25,20E 14h26

Well it's been pretty uneventfull so far cruising along at around 9 knots, Seeing lots of whales while on watch which is 4 hours and I sit through two of them 12 >16h00 and then 12> 4am and that's pretty much my day in a nutshell. So stoked we have aircon in our rooms cause it is going too get very warm in the next couple of days.

The route we taking is up the coast as far as about East London then we going too head towards Madagascar flip wish we where stopping there....  Then we head up past Reunion onto Port Louis in Mauritius.

If the sea state stays nice to us we should be in Port Louis by around the 2nd.

Well I just finished a movie called The Impossible wow go find it and watch it.

Passing time playing need for speed.

At the end of my watch things got a but busy, I had too dodge some fishing boats.

Well we have officially headed off into the deep blue of the Indian Ocean next bit of land I shall see will probably be Madagascar.  So time for lots of reading walking circles around the aft deck for exercise and what ever else I can find to occupy myself....

Monday Day 8

32'07,64 S 34'22,45E

03:07 5.2 kn

Braaivlies on the boat epic dinner chops wors and mash I was stoked ha ha.

Well the weather has been pretty miserable for the last couple of day 3 - 5 m swells and gale force easterlie winds which equals rather uncomfortable sailing...

We have been rocking and rolling all over the show and this also has the negative effect of slowing us down somewhat! Even on a boat this size I sleep with one hand always ready too grab on and braced for the worst. I really hope we do get some calmer seas but the weather reports are not on our side so far but one can only hope.

This language barrier again it gets too me I was speaking with the young Able Seaman ( deckhand ) today and he was saying the same thing communication is a reall problem, for instance the other night I had a alarm go off, know I cannot read what it's for because it's in Russian I think so I phone the engineer on watch all I get is a grunt well I said alarm and he said? Pretty funny but also scary in some ways.

On a another subject that bothers me over the last couple of days being quite far offshore you are allowed to throw 90% of your rubbish of into the ocean there are pretty strick guidelines though, but NOT PLASTIC but do these guys give a damn everything just goes overboard! It makes me wonder how many other boats do this pretty scary thought....

Sunday Day 14

25'24,75 S 048'24,20 E

01:50 8.2 kts

Well first bit of rain a thunderstorm too top it off, such a epic thing too watch as it just slides over and carrys on over this massive ocean....

We are passing Madagascar at the moment, I cannot see it as we are too far offshore. You know lands there as life has returned we've had some tiny little birds that hung out in the mess for a afternoon they where super cute but did not hang out for too long. Then with the rain this evening came dragonflies loads of them.

I took myself outside this evening and sat and watched the show that nature put on and also to enjoy the fresh rain soaked air, seeing as we are getting into the warmer climates these days.

Hopefully we should be in  Mauritius by Wednesday woo hoo then another two long weeks too India....

You really know that you have too set the clocks forward when it starts getting light at 03:53 ha ha!

Wednesday Day 24

13 November 2013

06'39,51S 062'58,76E

12:16 8.6kts

So here I sit on the bridge of this vessel watching over a vast empty blue ocean. We have not seen too many other ships over the last couple of days and if we do we are very cautious because we are in pirate prowled waters.... Every night for the last 3 or 4 nights we have sailed black ship, meaning that we have not had any navigational lights on pretty dodgy I reckon. 

To tell the truth I cannot wait too get to India boredom is at a maximum, the worst part of it is that when we got too Maurituis we stayed at anchor for 3 days no shore leave nothing. 

I was really banking on getting some shore time so I could attend too some online business, like wishing my GRANDFATHER HAPPY BIRTHDAY and paying rent. Would have been epic to just get a bit of change too.

Watching....

We are know sailing to Alang which is north of Mumbai as this is where the break up yards are. I suppose it's not too far too go know, we have done over 3000Nm and only have about 1800Nm to go hopefully about another 10 days. We should arrive around the 23 of November....

Okay I shall return too staring over this great Indian Ocean watching the flying fish, we should cross the equator later today or early tomorrow. 

Oh ya some where is getting some cracking surf as we have been rolling around in some good clean long range swell for the last couple of days aaaaah wish I was getting barreled!

Okay we'll wish me luck.

Friday Day 27

15 November 2013

01'35,15N 065'33,26E

03:10 8.4kts

We crossed the equator this afternoon at about 14h30 yeew!

We even had a ceremony was good fun, we all got sprayed down with the fire hose and drank some wine around the braai. We even got Diplomas's to mark the occasion, it was an epic change in the routine and probably the first time the whole crew has been on deck this trip.

Well 8 days to go too India not long know then home too plan the next adventure, I reckon that's the plan.

Almost full moon out here on the vast Indian Ocean and the sea she is like a millpond this morning really beautiful. 

It's amazing how empty this part of the ocean is we have only seen maybe 3 ships since we left Maurituis pretty crazy.

I won't lie I can't wait to get too India it's been a long journey....

Day 29

Sunday 17 November 2013

05'35,64N 066'48,01E

12:44 7.0kts

6 days to go yeeeew...

Day 50!!!!!!

Sunday 8 December 2013

At Anchor

23:03

Oh my we are in India but this is crazy and in humane we have been stuck at anchor for over a week we wait with no news and no definite time or date that we shall be going home.

Our water runs low. We are off Alaing were ships drive up on to the beach too die there are about 20 or so ships along the beach in various states of being broken apart.

This is getting ridiculous no news it is crazy that they can do this just leave us here aaaah going slightly crazy!

Day 67!!!!!!

Wednesday 25 December 

At Anchor off Alang

21'25,12N. 072'15,15

MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO ALL.

Yes so we are still stranded at anchor off Alang it's hard to believe that we have been at sea for 67 days when this was supposed to take just a month. It's crazy sitting here with pretty much no contact with the outside world, everyday hoping that they will finish this process and that we can go home.

Living on a diet of pasta, some kind of pork which I don't eat and eggs, i cannot wait to eat one of my Grans home cooked meals...

We have also managed to get our hands on some whiskey by trading with the local Indian fisherman who come and holler at us almost every day, at least that helps some days go by a little faster!

There may be some respite we have word that we should be home before New Years know that would be epic.

 Today I'm really missing home Christmas lunch with the family would have been awesome, alas I'm sitting on anchor watch on the bridge listening to Xmas carols on my laptop staring out at this brown ocean....

Christmas cards I made for the crew, trying to lift our spirits...

Day 75 

Thursday 2 January 2014

Ahmedabad  Airport

FREEDOM YEEEW

Wow we free and know it's all a fond memory. We disembarked this morning at about 04:30 am!

I had the honor of steering her onto the beach what an experience not something I shall quickly forget thanks so much Sergey Moroz for giving me the helm....

Okay we'll know its travelling time it's going to be a adventure too say the least we boarded the bus this morning early at Alang went through customs bleary eyed since I had been up since 11am on Wednesday the 1st then onto a hotel in Bhavangar. We got a room, got som breakfast and lunch while we awaited our flights and passports to arrive...

From there into Good by to the Ukranian crew and into a taxi for about 180 km drive to Ahmedabad and know ahead of us airports and aeroplanes....

- Ahmedabad to Mumbai  21:25 > 22:50 2nd January 

- Mumbai to Nairobi  03:10 > 06:35 3rd January 

- Nairobi to Johannesburg 20:35 > 23:50 3rd January 

- Johannesburg to Cape Town 07:00 > 09:10 4th January

 Okay well we about too check into our first leg cannot wait to get onto that plane and sneak in some shut eye! Almost home time for that new leaf....

Friday 3 January

35000 feet Above Kenya

Drinking Amurula at 6am in the morning that's a first for me and at 35000 feet ha ha....

We just flew past Mnt Kenya pretty awesome!

Getting thru the day at Nairobi airport with some help from Tusker beer.

Saturday 4th January 

On the home stretch, and it looks like there should be surf stoked for that.

Managed too get some sleep in last night at OR Tambo  airport we found a patch of fake grass opposite Woolworths stretched out my sarong and passed out, I was broken from the last couple of days travel.

Well amped too see my friends and family this has been a cool adventure one I shall surely tell my kids one day. 

Know it's time to get started on 2014, have too find a new place to live, get back to gym and get on my bike and into the water oh ya don't forget it's time to find a job....

I hope u enjoyed this little story.

Till Next time...

Autism Awareness Ride In Solidarity with World Autism Week

Autism Awareness Ride In Solidarity with World Autism Week

Argus 2013 29er all the way

What a amazing ride.

So another argus cycle tour under the belt and my what fun did I have this year, I decided to stick too riding my lovely GT Zasker 29er and wow what a great choice I made what a absolutely enjoyable ride.

No hand pain disk brakes rock in a pelaton and the noise my off road Continental tires make well one word, AWESOME.

My Baby GT Zasker Elite.

I tell you what though rocking up at the Argus on ya MTB, in such an early group you really do feel like the minority, I mean I hardly saw another mountain bike, it was quite eerie to say the least! I won't lie though I did love the attention......

It was amazing the responses you get riding on those big wheels.

This year I got to start up in the F group(06h40 start) which makes a massive difference to your ride, the group well they wanna race, the pelaton it works like a well oiled machine.
People talk too you they use hand signals and all these small things make the ride so much more enjoyable, I really take my hats off too those further back I know how much hard work it is.
 

Don't get me wrong there where still quite a few close calls, like coming down hospital bend at 50+ plus km's per hour and as u get too the bottom all u hear is shouting, all you can smell is burning brake pads, this is where u start appreciating your disks! Or at the end of the Blue Route freeway where I think someone in front dropped their spares back and everyone slammed on brakes, with disks and big tires you just stop but those little racing tires have no wear near the stopping power and come screaming literally shouting BRAKE AAAAAh, I flipping love it, love racing love speed love the adrenaline.

Well I loved every moment of this years ride but boy did not expect the output and cadence that you have too keep up, in the Mountains yes you work hard and have big climbs and technical sections but on the road its just flat out spinning, but what epic training.

Thanks to IonOnTheAction  for the pic easy to use camera, and all the Help from Maruwaan at Caladonian cycles Legend.

Camissa Bicycles: Bullitt Cargo Bikes - South Africa

Camissa Bicycles: Bullitt Cargo Bikes - South Africa: If you are a business or individual that needs to carry stuff quickly around the city - then feast your senses on the Bullitt, the world's...

Summer Has Arrived

Epic Times Ahead

So It's been a while....

Hout Bay From Chapmans Peak

What a epic city we live in, seems like it just suddenly comes alive with the return of the summer wind our "beloved South Easter."

Suddenly there girls running around in almost nothing, Endless party's and events too go too. Long hot summer days with ample time for the beach and all those other activities we love so so much.

Summer Fun

I am stoked I am moving to a Beautiful new spot in St James right next to one of my most favorite beaches with warm waves all summer as long as the wind blows amped for some epic fun board sessions and lots of Beach Time.

On another note I broke my collarbone about 3 weeks ago what a horrible injury. I could not do anything for the first two weeks except lie on the couch I was going stir crazy....
Good lesson learned though we are not as INDESTRUCTIBLE as we think we are....

I cannot wait to get back on my bike and start riding again and back in the water on my boards gonna be sooo so good...

Ps keep a look out for a new project of mine GONE WALKING SA..... 

Hole In The wall Transkie

Watch this space catch u soon....

A wacky Weekend

Weekend of 9 June 2012

Well some weekend landed up working at the Wacky Wine Festival in Robertson for Blend events, got a free tank of fuel and I got to race this morning in the Robertson MtB race!

What a epic race this morning, I almost did not make there though.
After spending the night in the back of my little green bakkie good old faithful.