One of my absolute favorite events on the PEARS/HAMNET calendar is the Great Zuurberg Trek, or GZT. Three days in the Zuurberg, camping, 4×4-ing around the place and getting to watch people cycling while I sit and watch. It was an awesome way to spend my “May 24 to May 27 2018”!
Hayterdale is a really nice get-away with facilities that let you know you are not in the bush, but you are definitely out of town. This year the event was made even more awesome as I had the Zulu in attendance!
Andre had joined me on the IronMan 2018 event earlier and I’d invited him to join in the fun and he agreed. We decided Bev (my XYL) would do all the food prep for us and we would travel in Andre’s bakkie. My trusty tent was used and the stretchers, tables, chairs, and so on were all packed.
Thursday late afternoon we set out for the weekend, arriving at the farm to find a few others already there. We picked a spot and pitched the tent! The weekend starts now!
Apart from the stunning scenery, clean air, and great friends, there is also the evening fire. It was not long before the fire was blazing, the Scotch flowing, and the laughter ringing out – probably disturbing our fellow campers 🙂
Missing from the list of the usual suspects were Colin and Jimmy – ZS2CRS and ZS2JIM. Them buggers were off hiking the Fish River Canyon! I kept the tradition of mussels on Salti-crax and toasted sarmies on the fire, but as Tony pointed out – a poor substitute. Chris, ZS2AAW was also missed.
The Dam at Slagboom – from the other side.
Friday morning, the Zulu and I worked a point on the Slagboom road where we operated from handhelds into the Viewlands repeater. After the last cyclist had passed we made our way to the Police training camp and had a look around before heading back to the camp site to relax for the rest of the day.
Samatran Premium Coffee sponsor coffee for the cyclists and for the radio hams and let me tell you, it is damn fine coffee! Andre and I made our way to the hotel for lunch and to grab a cup-a-heaven. Lunch was (as always) provided by the organizers and generous and delicious. Thank you!
Jou lekker ding!
The evening braai was as loud as the previous evening, but Eric and Isolda told us about the DJ who had “entertained” them – “Jou Lekka Ding” soon became a familiar chirp – it’s actually amazing how often it could be relevant to what you were saying! “Is that meat done? – Jou lekker ding!”, or, “You want another dop? – Jou lekker ding!”
Saturday we caught a lift with Eric and Isolda to their water point which is where the Zulu and I first set eyes on “jou lekker ding”. It was early in the morning and there he was singing Karaoke!
I am pretty sure I have never seen someone break a pedal on one of these events prior to this one. The leaders came flying passed us at the water point and then returned – with a broken pedal! Watching them as the next few cyclists came past them was heartbreaking, but when someone stops and offers to help it can restore your faith in humanity!
Once the last riders were through, we saddled up for our point and Eric gave us a lift to our point on the way to their second point. Andre and I worked a point in the Elephant Sanctuary – but without seeing any Elephant (probably a good thing since we were simply dropped off with our chairs and radios!) A stunning morning by all accounts, spent “encouraging” cyclists from the comfort of our chairs.
The last thing one would expect 🙂
Not long after we arrived, we found a nice spot in the shade and were waiting for the first cyclists to arrive, when out of the bush came a sight so unexpected, we could only chant “Jou lekker ding!”. I was being a perfect gentleman, while the Zulu turned on the charm to find out what he could – her husband was cycling, so we had to make a note of the team number and give him a “bigger than normal” shout. Poor men are probably still wondering who we are!
As usual, after we finished we stopped by the hotel to grab our lunch and some of that coffee! When it was time to leave, on our way back to the car, we saw the DJ at the medic station – on a drip! I must apologize, but I had to ask the medic why he felt the need to put the DJ onto a drip – when he had been a drip all day!
That night around the fire the jokes were flying! Jou lekker ding -this, Jou lekker ding -that!
GZT 2018 – the new part of the track
Sunday the ZULU and I headed off in different directions – both on foot from the camp site. Andre went to the Tank Bottom site (as for the Herald Mountain Bike Race), while I went off on a new route in search of a spot behind the koppie. I had a great walk – even almost bumping into a female Nyala on the path!
On my way back (it was an early finish here as this was about 5Km into the route), I did some signal checks from the valley behind the farm and managed to make it into the XBand repeater rather well.
I moved over to the crossings where ZS2RL and his good lady were stationed, before moving back to the farm gate where I would one again team up with the Zulu, this time to help cyclists onto the last stage of the race – a 9Km uphill slog to the hotel!
This was where we saw the DJ once again – this time a little more subdued and sitting on a chair. I once again had to apologize – this time that I had not recognized him without his drip! LOL.
The last cyclist through saw us start to pack up and mid afternoon we were back at home, tired, dirty, but happy!
As usual, there is a random bunch of photos below – enjoy.
Thanks to those who made the effort to have an awesome weekend – and to Tony for another well planned event. Tony – Jou Lekker Ding!
Don’t laugh…it works!
Andre and I found this trap up near Tank Top.
A tree along the way
The leaders coming through at high speed!
Should I be calling ZS2DH Mobile division 2?
I could live here!
