May
15
Riding on the wild side…
Filed Under Training Adventures
Lately, I have sought out a new training ride, away from traffic, pollution and noise that is Johannesburg…
With training partners being scarce at this time of year, I decided to venture out to greener pastures and add some excitement to my training routes. I have found a wonderful nature reserve, 38km from where I live, and yes, I have to load the bike in the car and drive there, but it is like Eden close to home! This week I headed out there for three hours of bliss on a bike – there is only one road that goes the whole way around the reserve and there are no short cuts. The best part is, there are no cars (ok maybe one or two slow moving ones on the weekend), no criminals and I can be completely assured riding on my own!
So, there I was, straining on the uphills, whizzing down the hills and then hitting the winding bit, when all of a sudden I saw a movement from the corner of my eye – a zebra! Clearly, I was a foreign presence and when I looked up I had startled a whole herd – I literally slammed on brakes to avoid colliding with these beautiful creatures. The entire herd charged across the road in front of me! It was an exhilerating spectacle, they were so close I could smell them, sense their panic and feel the vibration of the mass of thundering hooves… Ah! Only in Africa!