The Valley of Death night expedition Primary Objective: Locate the Valley of Death, and survive it (A mission on its own)
Secondary Objective: Find some quality dirt on adrenaline pumping topography The team: Clinton Hardenberg as "Hardy" Pierre Oosthuizen as "Dirt Rider" Werner Gillmer as "Daemon" Gordon Kienbaum as "Flash" Craig von Joburger as "Himself" Wessel du Plooy as "Myself" The extensive planning and pinpoint of the meeting point was an easy task that took most of the day, confused millions, left people scattered and still left 98% of the night to chance. A perfect setting for adventure loving masochist. At 19:00 we had the pre-expedition briefing that was to prepare everyone for the dangers and hurdles the night would bring. The briefing included Hardy saying "Howzit guys", and Daemon saying "Hi, I think we should go in that direction and see what happens", it was unanimous and the fellowship was on its way. A rather fast pace lead us quickly away from the warm city lights and comforting noises of passing trucks blowing that nice fresh breath of diesel into your lungs. Past the last traffic light, and arguably the last piece of civilization we traded the well rolled out dirt road for a mean looking single track. Light was fading. The single track provided some entertainment and left Daemon gracefully leaving his bike. As we reached the summit where the clear difference between the city behind and the unknown darkness ahead could be felt, Hardy noticed that Dirt Riders pipe was leaking…. not as bad as it sounds, it was fixed quickly and we left the last lights behind us as we charged down a long downhill much like the cavalry of the barbarians in those roman movies. I even heard some wolves' cries from some of the riders. In all the excitement the turnoff speed by us without it even being noticed, and the thrill of the downhill left us without caring too much about it either. Down through the dip up the next climb that was over before we knew it we turned left. I noticed it suddenly became dead quiet around us, and the headlamps came on. We were high up on the hill, just on the south west side of Lynnwood road. Between these hills we were cut of from any lights, apart from the starry filled sky with the mere first quarter moon. The valley was lying before us like Mordor. Traversing south on what seems like it was a tar road around the time Andries Pretorius first decided to settle here, we came to another nice downhill. Adrenaline was on again as the road disappeared below the white rays of the handlebar lights. We bounced and bunny-hopped involuntarily towards the stream that could be heard at the bottom, passed the stream and up the other side, as fast as possible, trying to maintain speed and get the uphill behind you. Daemon, flash and dirt rider climbed the hill like mountain goats and was already waiting at the top when the rest of us came steaming in. It was decision time, the valley of death was close by and this was the last turn around point. We made it this far. Slowly we head up the tar (Tar?? I did not say that!! This never happened!) road that joined in from the left, and climbed up the next section of the Bronberge. Not to far ahead I saw Flash, Craig, Daemon and Dirt Rider stop, me and Hardy realized that this is it. They were standing looking down a narrow little road heading towards a gate. Arriving at the gate, the entrance to the Valley of Death was visible. We starred down the dark abyss, as Hardy was reminded of the german philosopher that once said "If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you" and thus he was volunteered to go down first, and without hesitation, he went. In a mere 4 or 5 seconds his rear wheel disappear even from Flashes bike light, and only heard chain whips, and loose rocks departing us. Then suddenly a big thump and footsteps next to bike… The rest of us soon followed suit in a rather semi hike-a-bike-want-to-ride-but-cant fashion. A few puddles and a little mud further we got to a dirt road that we followed back north. The next T-Junction did not stop us as we headed down an overgrown single track where a water crossing was inevitable, I don't recall anyone making it through dry. The uphill was a really technical single track with some really good attempts. We rode back up to Atterbury road (Atterbury road is a dirt road there), talked a bit nonsense and jumped speedily onto the single track we came up with. What an incredible single this makes going down, with sudden hills and bumps, some banked corners, other off-cambered corners, eroded surprises and nice slippery rock sections. It was around the time I realised we have had no serious wipe-outs when Dirt Riders bike lights suddenly and violently disappeared into a thorny bush. The advantage of falling into a thorn bush is that the thorns grab tight hold of your skin, tearing and holding as to prevent you from rolling into any further injuries. With a bleeding lip, bruised shoulder and flat front wheel Dirt Rider unhooked himself, just as the second bail happened jut out of sight about 50m down the road. All fixed up, and re-hydrated we completed the single track, and hopped onto some urban free riding on the way to the Mug and Bean called News Café. Checking the odometer in shock, Myself, Hardy and Himself (Craig) decided to hit a last 2km up Hans Strijdom while Flash and Dirt Rider gets few cold ones, and Daemon checked out the wild life. A return would be planned soon. Thanx again to the cast, for making another Thursday night worth living, and also to Chris, Penny and Craig that came from far. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. 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