Freedom Challenge RASA day 14

FCRASA day 14

Day 14 was short as far as distance was concerned, but it included doing the famous Grootriver Valley also known as Mordor!

The ride down the road which crosses the Grootriver is very steep with breath taking views, which we could not appreciate because it was still dark. Once across the river there was an equally steep ascent, which led us onto the road past the entrance to the Osseberg jeep track. This used to be a road down the ridge of the mountain onto a campsite next to the river. It then meandered along the river crossing it about 11 times until it linked up with the Goedehoop campsite and from there onto the road through the Baviaanskloof. This road has been totally neglegted and has disappeared at some points. We are to follow this. The part overthe ridge of the mountain is still ridable, but the wind was sonstting that we had difficulty in staying on our bikes! We found the first crossing point quite easily and picked the track on the otherside. We slowly made our way through the river finding all the entry and exit points. The signs of the original road is still visable but has been blocked by fallen trees with the result that we quite often had to make a detour. We did have some difficulty connecting with the road after the last crossing, but managed to find it after scrambling up an embankment. Before leaving the famous Grootriver, we had to get over a locked wobbly game fence. We managed to got into Kudukaya at 16:45