One day on a Choo Choo track

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Our weekend started with a BIG surprise for young Johann who got a CRF50F on Friday. He was really stoked and slept with the key under his cushion on Friday night.



Saturday he rode the bike and got used to the size (it’s bigger than the PW50) and the gears. Johann is 6 years old and Andre is 8. Luckily we live in a quiet Cull de Sac (they only did about 10000 laps). These bikes run so quietly it’s unbelievable. None of the neighbors complained (they probably didn’t hear a thing).



On Sunday we were going off road. This was to be the first real off road trip where the whole family was on the ride, each on their own bike. I chose a route that wasn’t too technical, but had enough challenging bits for the novices to get experience. There had to be uphills, downhills, sand and scenery.

We set off in high spirits!



Soon it became clear that I overlooked a major fact – we had buckets of rain over the last week!





We rode through some beautiful scenery but water damage was everywhere. Since we thought this was going to be a slow Sunday afternoon ride Mom had Dad had helmets only. Turns out the ATT of ATGATT are very much applicable.







This is not the first time this area was flooded. During August 2006 much more water came through here and effectively brought the Outeniqua Choo Choo to a standstill. This is why a steam train trip from George to Knysna is no longer an option.







Seeing the power of nature is awesome and necessary. The kid’s eyes got really big when they realized that the water level, when the floods came through here, was much higher than dad’s head! (I thought the fact that it bent a railway line was much more impressive)

From there the route had more mud and the first uphill.





Then a MAJOR downhill! Traction was OK, but the descent was hectic. The white dot at the top is a motorcycle!



Johann on the downhill - mom is the dot at the top...



Mom was the most nervous…



From here it was a nice ride through the indigenous Flora of the Southern Cape.











…but the fun was not over yet. Turns out the mud-monster’s mother were also on this route. I guess the 6 year old on the 50cc got thrown in at the deep end…





Next up was a steep uphill. As per usual the incline is not clear on a photo, but suffice it to say that I have personally seen 3 quads being back-flipped at this very spot.

After some instructions Andre on the 70cc went first. Fearless, this one...



Johann on the 50cc was next up.



And then a VERY nervous mom followed…



Having done this route without a single off did wonders for the confidence. Check out Mrs. Trailrider:

Very scared at the start of the route:



Very confident at the end of the route:



Well, all good things must come to an end.



What a day. What a privilege. I am Trailrider and my family shares my interest.

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