Biking with the WBHO ‘ooligans’ |

Biking with the WBHO ‘ooligans’

Published by yojules October 3rd, 2007 in General

(posted by Jules for Grant)

With a little coercion from the Apprentice WBHO ooligan Rob, Jules and I decided to go to Swaziland on the bike. A bit of adventure we reasoned.

By the time we got to Friday midday, one hour before leaving, I was in a complete ‘toestand’ (a little anxious for those of you that don’t understand). I could not make a decision whether to go on the bike or in the car, rain, safety, timing, etc worry fret worry fret develop big knots in your stomach kind of worry fret. Jules got home, I said I don’t know what to do, I can’t decide between the bike and car, worry fret worry fret”. She said “Were going on the bike!!! full stop” OOOOOk decision made (why the hell was that so easy for her and so hard for me?)

If you want to know more about this we run a whole flippen course on personalities and behaviour styles, which I must say I’m quite good at running but I am still the one in a complete toestand (still the same as anxious). Needless to say off we went on the bike, heading out to Swaziland and what a wonderful journey it was. No rain either, by now the level of anxiousness had abated and I was feeling much better.

The real adventure started on Sunday. Rob and Donald had convinced us to join them on a leisurely day of biking back to joburg VIA the rest of the ou Transvaal.We had a spectacular ride from Maguga dam (which WBHO were instrumental in constructing) to the Bulembu border post, 20 km up and over the mountains along narrow, winding forest tracks in the rain and mist. It was beautiful. Bulembu to just above Barberton was a dirt road under construction. All in the mist and rain.Yet it was still spectacular. We had glimpses of the valley floor as the sun broke through the clouds every now and again and then it would all close up in the mist, only to shine through a little later in a different spot, absolutely magical. Next on to Barberton, Nelspruit, White river, Sabie, Dullstroom, and then homeward bound.

11 hours and a good few thunderstorms later, we rolled in home. Had to peel Jules off the bike, but it was an adventure for all of us! Thanks, Rob and Don you took us where we would have been too timid to venture alone!

5 Responses to “Biking with the WBHO ‘ooligans’”

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1 yojules Oct 3rd, 2007 at 12:25 pm

Aren’t normal people just supposed to play golf with their clients…….? Eish - my bottom STILL sore…!
2 Carin Oct 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm

Wow - that looks (and sounds) like such an awesome experience!

Very cool!.
3 Clint Oct 3rd, 2007 at 4:24 pm

What an adventure, it sounds like you guys had an amazing time. we better be careful it looks like you guys might be applying to work at WBHO if they are going to have this much fun!
4 Rob Puttick Oct 6th, 2007 at 5:45 pm

Hi Jules & Grant.
It was certainly an adventure for myself as well. The scenery, especially the burnt forest plantations that me drove (rather bounced, slipped and slid) through from Piggs Peak to the Bulembu (yes, checked the spelling on the map)Border post. Then the ride from the Bulembu Border post to Barberton was great fun. Barberton to White River was uneventful. Then after a Wimpy coffee we hit the “wall” of rain and cloud/mist. What a wonderful lunch in Sabie at the diner. The oxtail was one of the best to date (this might have also been influenced by the fact that my first pair of boots were full of water and jeans had got wet through my bike pants). You do realise that we will have to plan a return trip to have the lunch we had planned at Pilgrims Rest. I will work on the “chairman” Donald.
I have also been talking to all and sundry regarding the Avo presentation - well done.
5 yojules Oct 8th, 2007 at 9:31 am

Hi Rob

I will edit the post accordingly! And am still going to send you the pics (left the memory stick at home…!)

Grant was just reading in his biker mag last night that those bends on the way to Hazyview are legendary - there are bikers who fly their bikes in from overseas to do that stretch!

Eish - I was actually just trying to stay on the bike and keep dry (with my eyes closed!). The mag said there were over 70 bends in thiat road. I confess I forgot to count!!

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