Flying across the Camdeboo, UFO's and Noorsveld

Take a few moments to chat to a Karoo farmer about his day to day doings and you'll learn a lot about the passion for the land, conservation and community building. Trenly and Wilmarie had been the most amazing hosts, the jeep track had been graded  and the north wind continued to howl. We went to bed with a triple rainbow around a magnificent full moon and we woke up to two clouds, UFO looking but pancake looking to some. We headed out through fast, fast hard pack narrow roads, skirting the hills south of Kriegerskraal and then through the Harris veld with the most amazing aloes. Kendrew and Marais siding flew past but not before Bertus and Neal had rescued a Steenbok who flew head first into the fence and got stuck. Big sky country, the camdeboo, an incredible landscape! The wind turned a bit chilly and farmer Gerber's barn was a welcome stop out of he wind. Shortly after the stop we hit the Noors, a strange but valuable cactus type plant that is unique we think to tis area. Skirting Jansenville we hit the corrugation and after 130km, driekopvleiwes was an awesome site from the koppie preceding it.it was so lovely to see Charonne and Hansie Terblanche, our hosts for the night, after four years since ours last visit to the farm. THE most amazing game pie, lasagne and melktert with a bottle of Stone road merlot and a good chat to Hansie and Charonne, we hit the sack after another great day on the Transkaroo.

The North wind doth blow

Balmy weather we're having! An amazing evening in Bethesda was followed by a restful night next to the fire place on the tennis club floor. Our party left Bethesda crossing the suspension bridges over the Gats River and it was soon Stylkrans, our first climb of the 800m we were to do today, in the 97km. The view looking back over the valley was glorious as it always is, but to catch the peloton of 42 riders on the switchbacks with Compasberg as a back drop was very special. The ride to our first water point at Rietpoort, 25km was incredibly pretty, but the NW was beginning to show its teeth. The waterstops have been incredible! The next 30km were to be some of the best anyTrans Karoo rider in the past could ever have ridden , with riders clocking above 60km per hour with the wind behind them on the flats towards the Murraysberg road. The jeep track thereafter was technical, steep and one had beutiful vistas of the valley below. We all pulled in to Rheboksberg, Greig and Lynn Rose Innes and were treated to roostekoek, wors and pumpkin soup in the shelter of the barn on the hay bails. What a waterstops, wow! The climb out over the mountain was my favorite part of today, with views of the Camdeboo from the top and a technical descent to the Kroons farm. The turn into the wind for 10km was tough going and the Bothashoop water point was a most welcome stop, again in the shelter of Paul Merrifields guest house. Well, what a finish it was. With the wind behind us the last 25km was an amazing way to finish a great day cycling through, Gods country! Trenly Spence and Willmarie, welcomed usvto their farm, Kriegerskraal, andvWillmarie had bravely and successfully joined us from Bethesda. The local farmers joined together to provide the most delicious lamb Braai, chops so tender and flavour some, Malva pudding and all the trimmings. Several beers were shared until late by some, but really, what an incredible welcome by more very special Karoo people. 

Azure

Middelberg had an electrical power outage, so 60 people getting going at 6am was our first challenge we overcame. The day dawned, still and clear with an amazingly clear blue sky. We were blessed by Pastor Fred of the Alcapaye Church and wished a warm farewell by Carol, Bertus and the children. Rob Southey and Rhett escorted us out of town and into the golden countryside for our first 37km to the first water point. Brent, magic made sure some early tech issues were sorted out and it was more or less plain sailing, with an incredible array of delicious treats set up by Caroline at the stop. The NW wind had picked up, but that just pushed us up past Suurfontein and a heard of 20 Eland, past Gordonville and herds of Wildebeest and Blessbok, up and over the watershed down to The Rest where our second water point was stationed after 60km. The last 20km was a mad dash for the showers for some. It was a most welcoming sight seeing the village appear around the corner and the tennis club with its campsite and hot showers. 2pm and everyone was in, with the remainder of the day spent relaxing in the village. The evening was a very special occasion, a gorgeous Braai provided by the farming community, renown artist Albert Reedlinghuis sharing his artistic talents, Charl playing the violin over supper, Peet giving us facts about the village, Low doing the Braai, Ansie and Darleen spending ages preparing the food and Martin and Charmaine Haines moving mountains to make our stay a most memorable one indeed. Thank you NIEU Bethesda for a wonderful evening and helping us to touch Emmanuel!

All safely in Middelburg

A fantastic day greeted us all and the car park was a buzz with activity this morning. We were able to keep to schedule the entire journey and our stop at Polka in Graaff Reinet was amazing. What a place, what food and the Americano was so worth coming back for. The view from the top of Ravelskloof over the Kamdeboo was its usual breathtaking beauty. Spandau Kop in the distance a beacon to Graaffies and boy were we glad to be flanked by the Tandjiesberge, for our petrol gauge had been orange for 40km already. We climbed steadily over the Sneeuberg and then down into the attractive flats of Middelberg, everyone synching together their arrival at Emmanuel. It was good to be back in Smid Street with Carol, Bertus Rhett and Michelle and of course all the children. Pastor Fred so kindly opened his doors of the church complex for us to use as an ideal overnight stop and Michelle Newton and crew laid on THE most amazing supper. The vibe this evening has been great, old friendships rekindled and new ones made. It's a COLD night with a massive, full moon!

Geoff nursing his babe

Thanks Total for your incredible help

Polka you were amazing today, yum!

Mark Thijs prepares for bed

Ready like a coiled spring..............hope there's enough coil.

Its the night before we assemble at Woodridge and I've been carbo loading all week.......but not sure if I should be feeling like I'm five meals ahead and six "you know what's" behind!!! Hopefully it'll sustain me for at least the first day.

I'm absolutely sure I haven't done enough training but hope to call on inner reserves that exist somewhere in this body and want to tell you all that I'll be drafting wherever possible so please do not expect some form of reciprocation on route.

The Karoo, hill repeats and punk!

Geoff Vorpagel

I live in the Klein Karoo (Little Karoo) where the vistas are on a slightly diminished scale compared to the Greater Karoo, the wings of the horizon clipped by staggeringly beautiful in-your-face mountains and air so clear that the mountains themselves look like they have been photo-shopped. But the philosophy of the land is much the same as the Greater Karoo. Everything that lives here lies in a constant state of readiness to sting, scratch, bite or plain eat you...including the plants.
The climate itself is either indistinguishable from a microwave, or like a deep freeze preserving you (post sting, bite or scratch) for later putrefaction in the microwave. Everything has its seasons, or so you would think. Last week Bronwyn came back from her morning run looking a little frazzled after nearly treading on a puff adder on the driveway (which is 4kms long...driveway, not puff adder) who clearly hadn’t got the office memo about summer being snake season.
If you had participated in the Cape Pioneer Trek this year you would be more than familiar with the damage a swarm of migrating bees can do. I understand the George (town not bloke) evac helicopter was kept quite busy with the carnage. LOL.
If you have done the Karoo to Coast race you will be familiar with the “Old Wagon Path” at the beginning of the race. This is a 4 km climb at 10% that is very technical at any time of the year except race time when Jimmy Zondac grades it. The rains have started in my part of the world though, so its back to all its rough and ready glory. Proper mountain biking.
My intention to do hill repeats yesterday was ruined by the “office postal system” which clearly screwed up telling the bees that spring is “hive migration time”. Doing hill repeats on this stretch of trail requires an iPod playing punk very loud, thus it was only the first sting to my head that alerted me to the fact I had ridden into a cloud of bees. The first sting tells all 10 000 others where to attack, so I did the sensible thing and dropped my bike on the spot and jumped straight off the side of the road, a drop of some 5 meters thanks to the astonishing stone work of that Bain bloke who built all the ancient wagon roads down here.
I escaped with just one sting. There was nobody watching, except some baboons that I swear were snickering, so my pride was not all that was damaged. I crept back down wind, climbed back to the road and retrieved my bike. The swarm had passed.
If you are one of those interesting people (we ALL know that latex cat suits, zippers, whips and handcuffs figure largely in you private life) and who intend to ride the TransKaroo MTBtour with a hydration pack make certain you don’t spill anything sweet and wet on it. The bees are thirsty and hungry at the minute, and those paks are hard to get off fast.

The 'Crazy Aussie' tracks his training and puts it to us .............as it is!

Geoff Vorpagel shared Transkaroo Mtbtour's album.

May 9

Oh my poor aching butt by Day 3

Geoff Vorpagel

May 13

Ive hit the pause button on todays Frank Liebenberg (as taught to him by Josh) Russion Training Workout...which is 100km on an indoor trainer. This pause isnt because I have gone soft, but rather to undertake the somewhat complicated instructions for the second 50 kms which involve putting broken glass in chamois cream and applying liberally, putting electrodes on my gentleman bits to make them go number than the saddle already is and refill my bottles. This is all strengthening me mentally for the second half of every day of the Transkaroo Mtbtour (I am told).

Geoff Vorpagel

May 15

Ive run out of Chamois cream and have started to really enjoy the electrodes, so no more of this sissy Russian training. Think I shall ask Paul Cordes and Kevin Evans for some real "toughen up" tips. They survived the MTN Team training protocols, so they have no sympathy for anyone on a bike now.

Geoff Vorpagel

May 20

Many years ago I spent a decade and a (not inconsiderable) chunk of cash trying to get South African riders interested in Cross Country (now called OXC) racing, all to no avail. This is short, brutal, technical and fantastic fun, and undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of MTBing. It remains the only MTBing that has made it into the Olympic Games, and it basically kicked the front door down to do it only a few years after it was invented as a form of sport at all.
There was a time when there were more Marathon MTB races in SA in a single year than in the rest of the world combined and multiplied by 6. The races were basically 80 kms long and involved hellish climbs on dirt roads for half the race followed by warp speed descents on dirt roads for the second half.
I could just never see the attraction in that sort of racing, but eventually the rest of the world decided it was a bit of fun, made the distance closer to 140kms and put in some single track here and there. I remember Kevin Evans formally requesting the distances be increased in SA so he would be competitive internationally, and Ultra was born in SA.
It is therefore ironic, that I am now attempting to ride from Middleberg to PE with the Transkaroo Mtbtour. BTW there are still 2 spots open for a fully supported 5 day tour at R3600.
I am one of those idiots that thinks that any ride with more than one bike is a formal race, and even riding alone tend to watch my numbers and do better than last time I did the same route. I suspect that days one and two of this tour will beat that out of me. After that I will be able to settle back and try to use this as a launch platform.
If you are one of the riders of the Trans Karoo and find me half wheeling you, please just remind me that it isn’t a race. If you are fat, or old, or have so much metal in your body that you have to carry x-rays with you on international flights (like me) try to remember that this tour could be the first day of the rest of a new life if you ride it within your limits. If you ride it even 1kph outside those limits it will break you down. If you are clever it will make you stronger and leaner.
I have had to make peace with the fact that I will never have another race number on my bike after having two metal hips inserted and a section of my gut cut out in the last couple of years. I am taking strain training to survive the long days in the saddle. I am no less fat, but somewhat stronger.
The Trans Karoo is for me a launch, not an end in itself. I have a fantasy that it may even lead me to strap on a race number again. I also have a fantasy that Meg Ryan may call me up and want to go out for a drink (I already have the best girl in the world but you cant blame me for dreaming about having 2). The one thing that is certain is that I will ride every km under my own power; I will not complain (much); I will not race it; I will finish strong and lean.
I will be changed when we are done, and I will NEVER be weak again.

Geoff Vorpagel

May 26

Having made peace with the idea of "trimming up" ON the Transkaroo Mtbtourrather than before it, it raises the question of vanity versus bonking. Vanity says that in order to not look like a string of pork sausages keep away from lycra. However baggies catch wind like a parachute and slow you down so that even downhills feel like up hills. The jury is still out. But I will make sure that my chamois is worth the same as your car in dollar value whatever way I go. Remember, bibs not shorts!!!!

Geoff Vorpagel

June 5

I am living in abject terror of riding halfway across South Africa with the Trans Karoo MTBtour. Hence I am spending most of my waking hours sitting on a trainer (theres snow outside) and the remainder in a coma recovering...but there is also laying under my godforsaken Landy in sleet that needs to be factored in and cumulatively, this has used up all my happy thoughts. Sorry Im a bit MIA at the minute but (one way or another) it will all be over soon as there are only (terrifyingly) 15 more days to prepare for the onslaught. I REFUSE to die!

Geoff Vorpagel

June 7

Given the snow has melted from my mountains, I thought I might pass on the bicycle seat enema of the CompuTrainer today and see if I can still ride a real bike, a real mountain bike at that.

Geoff Vorpagel

June 9

Ive heard an evil rumour that Mark Thijs is rolling up on the Transkaroo Mtbtour. This is really bad news for the youngsters (anyone younger than 55) with all the fizzy hormones who are thinking they are gunna play. Mark is an Master TT Champion who will delight in slowly breaking all his playmates. Its actually spectator sport! Shame I'll be too far off the back to watch, but am sure will see the wreckage each night — feeling excited.

Geoff Vorpagel

June 9

For any participants in the Transkaroo Mtbtour who are considering riding without tubeless wheels and tyres, I strongly recommend being declared legally incompetent quite soon so that your new legal guardian can fit tubeless to your bike and sell your model T Ford before the start of the adventure. Whilst tubeless wont exempt your from thorn punctures, it is possible (hopeful) that the only way you will know you have punctured is the spray of latex that speckles you eyewear. Use only Stans or Joes. Put in double quantities. Choose robust rather than light tyres. Avoid anything growing across the trail with cute little yellow flowers.

Geoff Vorpagel

Friday

Im really looking forward to seeing some good friends on the Transkaroo Mtbtournext week. I am also terrified of riding that far. A first for me. I have spent many miserable hours lately on a Computrainer riding the Alien Crop Circle 28.77 with a 12/21 flatblock cassette on the back. Mark Thijs is probably one of the few (Paul Cordes and Yolande Speedy may be a couple more) who would understand the misery this represents. Its also too little too late. — feeling excited.

Geoff Vorpagel

Friday

I have always thought that Billy Teeton was one of those blokes that just didn't have a bad bone in his body. Many hours sitting on a Computrainer (ask Beatrice Hoganwhat that is if you don't know) leads one to think a lot. Billy has reinvented (probably unwittingly) a harsh and cruel professional training method (usually reserved for ball sport teams on LSD conditioning runs) called "sheep dogging". This means that no matter how fast you are you will spend as long in the saddle as the slowest rider, but cover more distance. It does mean I am forced to consider and bend sinister in Billy's make up! Cameron Dewaal's dad Bertus and I would like to apologize in advance because it is us that all the Transkaroo Mtbtour snakes will be waiting for, as we have a pact that even if we have to walk the whole way we will not get in the evil sweep vehicle and surrender our bikes!!!

Geoff Vorpagel

Friday

Another word of warning for Cameron Dewaal and Gus Teeton. Make it your business to identify Mark Thijs on day one. I will predict that if either of you attempt to hold his wheel on days 3, 4, and 5 that it will be you two little pups dragging yourself on your bellies to crawl the last 5 kms of the Transkaroo Mtbtour