Can you hear the drums Fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this…….
(for the ones confused and thinking I’m totally mad…which I just might
be…but you never know…you will understand this line a little bit
later….but if you don’t…you had to be there…)
Well indeed it was another starry coolish Thursday night and by
18:59:59 (record time for DnD’ers) about 11 of us were ready…and by
19:01… Gadget arrived….quite surprised that everyone was already ready
for another episode in the dark and dirty fun expedition series!
Proudly brought to you by our trail master Hardy and well supported by
Q.T. making sure each and every one is awake and accounted for :)
Soooo there was some old folk….almost forgotten folk and brand new
folk! A good mix for a good ride and lots of laughter to come. The old
folk (nothing to do with age hey!! *grin*) Hardy, Q.T., Stealth
(Nico), Gadget (Eric), Malcolm, Tigger, D1 and Johan. Then the almost
forgotten folk was represented by Cat-I (Carine) & Fernando (*evil
grin*…I can see the light bulb moments happening…. ) and then the
brand new folk…last but definitely not least….Elton and Paul.
So after explaining the “rules of engagement” for the night, we were
off into the darkness. Chatting away, catching up and getting the legs
nice and warm. The first act for the night: Cruiser single track. Wow,
this single track is just the best! We cruised up there and no we were
not laughing at anyone who ended off about 10m off the track to the
right….ja boet…you only missed that one little turn in the road. At
the top Hardy decided that change is as good as a holiday – and
decided to take us around the koppie pass the Astro belt and down on
the other side – in the direction of PvR. We then hit ExtacyPark and
made a couple of loops on the track… and then headed in the direction
of the railway line. We…of course passed the “Zoid-Zone”…and the
crowds were honored (or maybe horrified) with a version of the
Dinosaur song…. *grin* We cruised next to the railway line and
everyone was yelling something about “wire” “wire” and then sort of
swing to the right….Stealth made the comment…have you never heard of
blue tooth? So we changed the “call” to “old technology in the road”…
needless to say I don’t think the message made it to the
sweeper.... ;)
We reached Nelmapius drive, and the scene of 12 MTB’ers with lights
everywhere shocked a motorist so much he came to a tire-screaming-
halt! We were next to the road….not even aiming in his direction….but
ja shame…the pure dude had a little skrik. After we let him pass us
*grin* - we are nice people you know - we crossed the road and headed
for Wash-a-go…but being winter…it it was a dry-run....more like a
dusting-session where the grass just sweeps away the dirt on your
face ;)
We reached Python single track, and the crowds went wild for a “ghost
ride”! So we all obliged, we lined up in the track en then it was
lights-OFF…camera…and ACTION ;) There were a few interesting moments
and turns missed…you just here the guy behind you zig-zag over the
track as your eyes adjust to seeing the ghost track…. A w e s o m e
stuffs….and at the end there were quite a few nervous giggles going
around. Then we turned our trusty steeds around and had to do it all
over again…this time it was LIGHTS, camera and CHASE!!! Gadget leaded
the pack and was away in a flash. The chasing group of Stealth and Cat-
I tried their best….but he hold them off and took it by a mile!
>From here we headed for quad-busta-hill….the first speed zone for the
night. You see there….way up theeeerrrreeeee….that is the top of the
hill…first one there – can rest the longest? *grin* So from the word
go the guys hammered those pedals…and we just sit back and think…you
are going to fast…way to fast… but hey – it should be a good show ;)
Mr. new Folk Paul took the lead with Hardy and Malcolm in pursuit. Now
the definition of pursuit is: the act of pursuing in an effort to
overtake or capture. But they could not do any of these things.
Malcolm encountered mechanical failures in the last bit of the zone,
and Paul managed to grind they teeth and make it to the top in first
position. This of course, was viewed….from the bottom of the hill…..so
spare me a few moments to reach the top and catch my breath…I’ve given
up on this hill…the quads will be busted at the top…never to recover
again *grin*
*sigh* Ok…so after getting the inside scoop on all the trials,
tribulations and excitement of the speed zone, we head for the famous
– look-ma-no-breaks single track. Just before we start, Stealth was
commanded to bring the back pack to the front – this of course is mos
the “golden mile” for the DnD virgins – so they are permitted shoes
and helmet… and off they go! This caused some serious panic for the
new folk – which nervously looked around and stared into straight
faces making them think this is their worst nightmare....this is not
“look-ma-no-breaks” single track…this is “look-ma-no-clothes” single
track! LOL!! But in the end everyone just burst out laughing….and they
sighed the biggest sigh of relief imaginable…we even heard it way at
the back of the group *grin* Good one Hardy….good one!! :)
At the bottom of this track we hooked a left passed the cement factory
and headed for the famous false flat. This is where we had to start
getting creative so that the legs can rest and the brain can work
overtime to remember the words of an old Abba song…we needed to
serenade or do something to get going on this stretch of road…..so the
crowds were entertained with the…. Can you hear the drums Fernando…
then we struggled a bit….but found the chorus….
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Fernando tried his best to send the serenade in a more respectable
direction and we tried versions of Bicycle…Bicycle…Bicycle….I want to
ride my bicycle I want to ride my bike!....
But we soon reverted back to searching for lyrics for the Abba song,
and Tigger helped along with Boney M’s Little Drummer Boy song….so in
between Fernando and parum pum pum pum!! We composed our own little
version of the next hit song…Drummer Boy Fernando? *grin*
But in the end he was forced to race the speed zone to get away from
the serenade (that was totally in his honor) and we cheered him on
with….. There was something in the air that night, the stars were
bright, Fernando…..
But it was not long before breathing and singing and riding your bike
became problematic…so in the silence we made our way to the top…to get
the inside scoop on who won and who was at the back….So first place
went to Mr. new Folk Paul…and then second place was highly confusing…
Elton claimed he was at the back….but for the serenade group at the
back…we in one voice protested to that statement….and seems like Elton
was at the back of the winner….which gives him second place…and
Stealth powered in on third. Well done guys :)
We then headed for the last little bit of climb all the way to the
Bill Boards next to the highway. Malcolm almost lost a wheel in tha
single track but turns out it sounded worse than it really was. He
said he was fine but we were more concerned about his bike! *grin*
At the top of the highway the silence fell over the group as everyone
was getting mentally prepared for the next speed zone. Tha Shabeen
Queeen speed zone….. Everyone was still sort of thinking of
tactics….but the moment we made the turn the race was one…lead by Q.T.
from the word “this is a speed zone…..” Everyone thought this can only
be a “mock-charge”… but then Q.T., Elton and Paul was off in a flash!
Malcolm was with them but encountered some serious chain slipping
noises…. It was like a U.F.O. taking off….you see those red flickering
lights disappearing into dust and the gap between you and them
increases with what feels like the speed of light! In the chasing
bunch was Cat-I, Malcolm and two more…..but their best efforts was not
good enough…. So…you speed down the hill…not to reach your max speed
of the night…but because you want to know what happened…..so as we
reach the bottom of the hill they stand there already recovered! But
there is silence….who won who won??? And the total disbelief and utter
surprise and aura of respect written over those faces were absolutely
CLASSIC!! Q.T. out powered the oaks and destroyed Paul’s hope of a
clean sweep in the speed zones by taking “Shabeen Queen” speedzone. It
was an insane hard and fast chase all the way - but in the end at the
right time she made the attack and left the boys wanting.....what a
chase!! As everyone arrived there were high-five’s and congratulations
going around. This will definitely go down in the record books as a
very famous en legendary DnD speedzone chase! Well done Q.T. :)
That was absolutely the highlight of the evening! We had one more tour-
da-tar-speedzone down to Rietvlei, but everyone was just cruising. We
then headed to the moo-mall and loaded the bikes and still kept on
talking over that chase over hot chocolates and beers till late :)
What an awesome night! Starry skies…crisp fresh air (some places more
fresh than others ;), buddies, laughter, fun…what a privilege!! :)
Total distance for the night: around 27km of smilage!
No known crashes
No fatal mechanical problems
And that’s all folks!
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