Recycleds take on 'Hog to Pumba' trail

STAFF REPORTER

TRAILBLAZERS: A group of Port Alfred mountain bikers recently completed an exciting new route from Hogsback to Pumba. From left (standing) are Auret ‘Lappies' Labuschagne, Yvonne Yendall, Cecile Price, John Ralph, Chris Price, Richard Legg and (kneeling) Neville and Sue Gordon, Jen Ralph and Yvonne Surtees Picture: SUPPLIED

A GROUP of Port Alfred cycling stalwarts calling themselves "Team Recycleds” don lycra and helmets every September for a five-day mountain bike safari.

Over nine years of such adventures and with friends from Johannesburg, Yvonne Yendall, Yvonne Surtees, and Sue and Neville Gordon (occasionally joined by Cecil and Dee Jones-Philipson) have logged about 2 250km.

THE MEN BEHIND THE MAP: Richard Legg (left) and Auret ‘Lappies' Labuschagne of the Cycle Asylum in Port Alfred mapped the new ‘Hog to Pumba' route undertaken by the ‘Team Recycleds' group of mountain bikers Picture: SUPPLIED

"We have pedalled up the West Coast, sampled a Wine and Whales route, made our dusty way around the Little Karoo (three times), enjoyed cherries in the Free State spring, braved the snowy Tiffendell altitude - with attitude - and even cycled France's Loire valley together,” said Sue.

"This year super-fit Jenny and John Ralph, marina residents, set the pace, leaving the rest of us in their dust.”

In September Richard Legg and Lappies Labuschagne of the Cycle Asylum in Port Alfred mapped out a brand-new route traversing parts of the Amatola, Makana and Ndlambe countryside.

Team Recycleds tested the trail for them, starting at Hogsback and ending six days and 260km later with lunch and game viewing at Pumba Lodge.

Their itinerary also skirted the heritage of Piet Retief. On Day 2 they passed Post Retief and a plaque at the ruins of his house. Mooimeisiesfontein was a girls' orphanage he established near Riebeeck East, and Pumba itself was once a Retief farm, Sue explained.

"Our balance and ‘abs' were put to the test the afternoon of our arrival,” said Sue.

From Hogsback's Arminel Hotel they were soon ‘Away with the Fairies'.

"The town's own trail builder, dreadlocked enthusiast Neels, took us on an ‘easy' 15.5km trail to his secret spots. That many of us were unrecognisable on our return after three hours of ‘leisurely' but muddy forest single-track sounded a caution for what lay ahead,” said Sue.

"This involved climbing out of Hogsback next morning and skidding and scraping our way down the rough surface of Mitchell's Pass. It was an experience not for the faint-hearted, but eventually we – and 67km - were done and dusted,” she said.

"We were warned that, like the rest of the world, Monday would require a bit of work - over 72km.”

Beautiful crisp mountain air at the Katberg Hotel was a stimulus to starting up and over the Katberg mountain.

"Once this beast was behind us, a long downhill with undulations (and corrugations!) brought those cyclists who were still going strong to Molweni Safaris, where an icy pool, spa facilities and a braai awaited. Once again ‘granny gear' and our ‘shocks' had been heavily employed, but a sense of achievement crowned the day!”

After the solitude of Molweni, the cyclists encountered rush hour in Adelaide the next morning before turning south to Bowker Safaris. This was a route along private farm roads and jeep tracks in the Koonap River Valley. They logged a further 62km.

The next morning's stretch led them out of the Koonap Valley, into that of the Fish River.

Crossing the river at Carlisle Bridge, with a pleasant 3km re-engagement with tar after days of jarring stony farm roads, was a different angle of encounter with this familiar landmark.

"We enjoyed wonderful scenery, glimpses of wildlife and eventually coffee, muffins and a quick view of the beautiful church in Riebeeck East,” said Sue. "This was our reward for having scaled two more not-so-small passes along the way. But more hills awaited.”

They spent that night in Alicedale. Their final day, over 36km, took them up a long black gravel climb via a welcome stop at Springvale Olive Farm, to Pumba.

"Our group always has a great time, but the excellent organisation, provisioning, back-up and convivial company of our two organisers (themselves mountain bikers of considerable reputation) made for a fun and stress-free experience,” said Sue.

Cycle Asylum is planning a variety of cycling getaways from Port Alfred, over different distances, terrains and for all abilities.