This is what I found outside my house this week. New white-faced owl fledgling that had not learned to fly yet. It put its wings up to make it look very big. Making that clicking warning sound as most young owls make.
White-faced owl
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Prepare for Joberg 2 East London
For those of us that do not have much time to do a long tour/safari that spans many months. We have to do some pre-training to help get in shape, to make the tour a enjoyable experience.
1) Need to put some kilometers in the saddle to harden the tender parts.
2)This will also strengthen the neck and shoulders.
3)Pack some weight on your bike so as to build strength.
Need to do the following also:
1)Get gear together.
2)Book train tickets.
3)Medical aid kits.
4)Clothes for riding.
5)Food plan.
Well hope you will join me.
Joburg 2 East London Safari
Time is running out to get ready for the next trip from Johannesburg to East London in December. Get your gear and ride together.
Leave a comment if you interested in joining me. Or drop a tweet on @kennyfagan.
Safari at Entabeni private game reserve
Did not get a chance to ride this weekend. I went with my wife to a five-star lodge called Kingfisher in the Entabeni private game reserve. The reserve is 22000 ha and is home to the big five. Reserve is in a malari free area and with in 250 km from Pretoria. Making it a quick African Safari when doing business in Gauteng area.The reserve has a high land area and low land area which are separated by a big mountain range.
Blue wildebeest and Zebra
We had the chance to see African elephants,white rhino, red hartebeest, blesbok, blue wildebeest, zebra, blue duiker, kudu, black backed jackal, ostrach, impala, warthog, hippo, vervet monkeys and cheetah.
Elephants with mountain
Close up elephants grazing
White Rhino family
Cheetah on the move
Date to start Joberg to East London
Having done some organizing of my December holiday. I plan to set off from my house on 12 December 2014. Will be able to link up with anybody who wishes to join me along the road. I must be home by 28 December 2014. I am planning to catch the train back on the night of 26 December to be in Johannesburg by 27 December.
This gives 14 days to complete the trip. We will have to put some good kilometers in on the good roads to give us some time on the gravel roads and hilly sections.
See Life is coming back into the bush as Spring comes. This means it will be more pleasurable to do some training rides in the evening. Not much time left to get into shape. Remember if you are doing a long extended ride you do not have to do training before as you have time to strengthen up on the ride. However if you have to do 1200 km in two weeks there needs to be a level of fitness before starting. The fitter you are the more you will enjoy the ride. It will also give you more time to explore.
So leave a comment to this post if you can join me. On the other hand tweet me @kennyfagan.
Bicycle repairs
Put bicycle in for major repairs. Put new cassettes,Bottom bracket, bearings on wheels and back disc brake pads. They went through the bike and tuned it. Did this because there has been all sorts of sounds coming from the bike. Every time I ride it feels like the bike is not going to make it.
Got it home and did a ride to see how it is going. First put my panniers on and put 3 litre water in it to get some weight training again. Bike went like a dream. By the end of the first 10 km dirt road it started to creek again. By the time I got home 77 km later it was not sounding so good. I am sure it must be the bottom bracket again. Looks like I will have to get an expensive bottom bracket. Need to be able to clean them and lube the bearings. Looks like these sealed bearings just cannot take dust. I did not even go in the water or rain, it was a dry ride.
Is there some advice from one of you followers? @mtbdiyshed says I should look at some stainless steel or titanium or platinum bearings.
Feel the adventure of tour cycling
I made a short video to let you feel some of the adventures that I have had. Well I see it would be far better to write a book or sit and have short videos of some of the best stories. I am currently editing my first book. Looks like it should be finished by the end of the year. Take a look at this video. Hope you feel some of the excitement I felt when tour cycling.
You could join me along the road and make your own stories.
Joberg 2 East London Introduction
Joberg 2 East London Follow up
Have added more information to trip plan. Go Check out Joberg 2 East London page. Scroll down to bottom where new planning is added. Note no accommodation costs entered in table yet. I am working on places to stay on route. If we do land up camping wild then it is always nice to stop and have a nice shower and bed to sleep in every now and then.
Repair time
Remember a good ride always needs a good service before starting.
Joburg 2 East London
Have added more information to the page Joburg 2 East London. Have added a route plan with a link to Google. That way you can zoom in and out to see more details. Route can be changed to meet any needs that may arise.
Long day safaris 