Howick Ride
At last after a long drive from JHB we and a bit of a wild goose chase thanks to the gps we made it to Howick Private Hospital. This was where, according to mtbroutes.co.za, our ride began. We set off up Curry’s Post Road. What is it with mtb rides starting up hills??
I had a print out of the route directions and we soon came upon the first sign that said “home jerome” and the start of some great single track through a gum tree forest until we came out at a road where we were told by the route guide to go to “wattles”, via “wattles bridge “,via “merrils perril” …..hmmm no sign of any of those. My cycling parner soon found a very waterlogged trail that did lead to a bridge over a fence which was sign posted….”wattle bridge” so on we went.
Flying along fantastic single tracks through trees, between bramble bushes, up hills and down dips and every so often stopping to check that we were on the right path. I have to just comment that whomever wrote the route description was either blind or just plain incompetent. His directions were rubbish!!
We got horribly lost at one stage and when checking the gps it told us we were almost in Karkloof. the opposite direction to where we wanted to be. Never -the -less, the riding was fantastic. So much single track of varying degrees of difficulty. Well marked with “easy”or “moderate” or “careful you could die here” signs.
I loved every minute of the ride and could have done more but sadly my partner lost his sense of humour when we got lost and had been wandering around aimlessly for an hour.
So when we finally found a trail mentioned on the incredibly rubbish route discription we realised that at last we had a way back. What a way back!!! I have to admit in shame that I pushed my bike down most of “pines” . It was very rough and rock and mostly a descent and I like my bones and bike intact.
Soon we were back at “homejerome” and flying at top speed along the truely fantastic single track back to the road where it all started.
I take my hat off to the guys that built those trails and say a Big thank you.
As for whomever wrote the route description. He should have his bike confiscated!!!