Another beautiful morning - this time we came back via Hersham and down the Vishoek Trail which was built by local conservancy members around 1882.  Check out the Hiking & Walking or Beach Walking sections of the website for more details about the trail (we took the short-cut, joining it from the side-trail at the corner of Esher Crescent, instead of further down where Susan Pardew Road meets Hersham Drive) or other options in the area.

See the route we took on the Sports-Tracker.com website by clicking on the image below.

Looks like we're in store for another beautiful day - with weather like this it's sometimes hard to remember it's almost April...

Click on the image below for the full workout details on Sports-Tracker.com

You can just make out the grey heron in the mid-ground enjoying the evening as well...

Quite an adventure doing the Harkerville Red Route MTB trail this time:

- we started with 4 couples
- we had 1 flat tire (I am 2 for 3 now...)
- we had one broken thumb (not a sprain, a real break)
- after a mini-evacuation and escort out to the gravel road we were left with 3 couples...
- we had 1 camp stove, 1 fuel cylinder, 2 pots, lots of coffee... and no matches
- we had 1 tick
- we had quite a few bumps and bruises
- we had fantastic weather
- we had lots of fun 
- all in all a great success (if you don't count the broken thumb, of course)

Click on the map for the full work-out details or for more photos on the Sports-Tracker.com website

Had a tight time schedule this morning, so cut it a bit short - warmed up with a circle around Great Brak River village, then headed up to Little Brak via Sandhoogte, crossed the N2 and came back through Fraai Uitsig, Reebok & Tergniet before heading across the R102 and coming back via the village to avoid traffic.  Also took the gravel path beside the railway tracks to avoid the narrow R102 bridge before returning to The Island for a quick loop.  Lekker dag!

Click on the image below for the full work-out details on Sports-Tracker.com

Years ago I saw a flock of about 70 previously, but none recently.  For a list of the birds seen on and around The Island, check out the Birdwatching section of the website.

High tide made it a bit difficult to cross the river and take the Vishoek Trail, so instead, we did what I like to call "the Reverse Hersham". ;>)  So, after a quick tour around The Island it's over the bridge and up the hill and through Hersham before walking down the stairs and back along the beach.  By the time we got back to the river mouth we were able to find a spot to cross without getting more than the tips of our toes wet.  Just in time for a sundowner!

Click on the link before for the full work-out details on Sports-Tracker.com

A new route this morning - up to Greenhaven, then cutting across to Sandhoogte and along to Little Brak before coming back via Fraai Uitsig and Reebok.  We stayed inside Fraai Uitsig & Reebok before joining the R102 (it is narrow and gets busy from about 6:45 a.m. onwards and drivers are heading into the rising sun, so not ideal).  Perhaps next time instead of turning right onto the R102 when we exit Reebok, we'll continue straight, cycling past Leani's Kwekery and then turn right on the gravel road which runs past Oasis and comes out by Suiderkruis Security and then make our way back via the village.  

Still, it was nice to do something a bit different - it keeps things interesting!  And it's yet another beautifully clear day - though it's definitely getting a bit crisp out there, especially first thing in the morning.

Click on the image below for the full work-out details.

The sky was clear and beautiful after last night's wind & rain.  A bit of a headwind going up the R102, but not too bad.  Looks like we have another glorious day in store for Garden Routers...

Click on the image below for the full work-out details on Sports-Tracker.com

A nice afternoon with a little bit of cloud cover (not too hot!) - perfect for a short stroll to the Great Brak River Pump Station (downstream from the Wolwedans Dam).  It's less then 2 km there and back from the parking lot opposite Beatnix Leatherworks.  Though it was a bit wet after last night's rainfall.

To get there, take Charles Street (the road the Spar - soon-to-be PicknPay) is on and turn left on the gravel road (Willow Street) just after the bottle store (opposite the New Apolostic Church).  You'll pass about 5 houses lining the Great Brak River before coming to the end of the road which marks a good spot to park.

Walk a bit further up the road and you'll come to a few steps which you climb before reaching the trail head.  To do the "official" trail, take the route to your right (marked by a foot sign).  For a description of that great little hike see this previous blog post.  Otherwise, go as we did this time and continue walking straight through the cow pasture, across the weir and onward until you see the pump station.  A great place for a picnic!

Click on the image below for the full "work-out" details as well as several photos