TERRAIN Undulating & granite outcrops called kopjes Sandy with many rocks Tall grass with few trees esp acacia thorns WARNINGS Wear long sleeves Thorns ripped my forearms Take spare tubes puncture repair kit & pump TRAILS Not purpose-built MTB track but network of interlinked walking paths So not wide or flowing & no berms custom jumps or switchbacks Challenging as they twist & turn thru bush erratically narrow & closely skirt thorny trees Many rock gardens - from beds of small rocks & rock-paved paths thru rock faces & drop offs to downhill bits with 0.5 to 2m boulders Also “rock pinches†very narrow (8-20cm) between rocks up to 0.5m high Some paths worn 20cm into ground Singletracks narrow (~30cm) with long (1m) grass concealing rocks LOOP No marked trails Leave carpark, go N toward boom gate turn R to BBQ area L onto indistinct track Skirt kopje & cross dam wall thru rocks to dirt road climbing great rock garden Take R fork & 20m turn R onto singletrack with rock drop offs & pinches Cross road & wind thru grass (hidden rocks) Cross road onto red dirt track Couple of rock gardens most rideable Track ends @ steps to Upper Dam wall Just before turn L Ramp over rock ledges to edge of Upper Dam Follow along stone wall Join double track 20m then turn R onto singletrack. Follow until it joins double track Turn R Pass picnic & fishing sites Appears to end at back gate of a house Turn R onto singletrack just before. Curve R & climb 30-40m rock garden up & 30-40m down All singletrack from here Follow thru rock pinches & small step climbs. Take L forks to more & bigger rock pinches for 1-2 km to fork Go R along river bank on well-worn path Leads to ford & rock garden climb Many paths but all turn N thru couple of tall & daunting rock pinches & up onto rideable rock face Carry bike up 1st climb to rideable (trust me!) downhill. Follow path 150m to 2nd climb Navigable downhill section then more climbing over rock faces & large buried boulders to short downhill rideable on R side Couple step climbs to fork Turn L Climb v difficult rock garden Skirt a kopje & turn R Follow root- & rock-ridden path to W end of Upper Dam wall Go 5m & turn L onto 1st rock path down Follow round sharp R curve & down steps to wide, straight path lined with trees and onto road back to car park Real excitement was exploring virgin MTB trails plus the diversity of intricate interwoven network of tracks not exhausted after 2 months So don’t stick to loop Explore! RULES OF ROAD Pedestrians made paths They have right of way Met very few but most surprised so go easy Stop & pull over or call out (Remember thanks!) Otherwise hit it hell for leather!
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