Weekend Warriors: Richards Bay to Hluhluwe

Ride Plan
Saturday - Richards Bay to Hluhluwe via the ‘Bird Park’ – camp over and return Sunday
Planed distance – 220km there and back . Fuel point 90km.
Riders – although the invite was extended to the regulars, only Stewart Can-Am, and Shelley committed.
Weather - prediction for the weekend was good with weather changing later on Sunday afternoon.
Fuel – 60 km point is at Mtuba and the 9o km point, Morisons, has a dual browser LRP and diesel.
Bikes – Can-Am DS 650, Kymco 300 and the ‘pack horse’, Kodiak 400 4x4

Packing. - After returning from Maputo, late on Friday the 6th June, the packing was done in the dark. From a previous ride with Can- Am Stewart, we learnt how beneficial the ex army kit bag was, so the sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses, clothing, toiletries were bundled into the bag. The benefits are, plenty storage, with the long zip, easy access to all the kit, dust tight, easy to strap to the frame and relatively water tight. On the back, we carried the perishables in a plastic ‘ammo’ box, spare fuel and some refreshments. Shelleys’s Kimco carried the 2x man tent and Stewarts kit bag.

Saturday morning 06h30, load the bikes onto the trailer and head for Alton. The launch was to take place at Stewarts workshop. Its ideal as its located close to the servitude alongside the rail link leading towards the forest entry point. Final checks and we were off before 08h00.

The morning was particularly fresh with the grass still damp from the night’s dew. The initial part of the ride took us past the rail siding and then into the forest area. Following the river route to the power-line servitude feeding RBM. This point marks the 20 km point. A short break and a snack we headed on towards the Bird Park.

The Bird Park marks the 55km point and by now it was after 10h00, so we agreed that a toasted beacon and egg sandwich will go down well, considering the next meal will be later that night.

The ride then leads down the hill towards River View where we follow the cane rail line around the outskirts of the Mtuba town. The idea is to avoid paved roads and traffic. This route skirts the cane fields and leads to the road running between Mtuba and St Lucia.

Crossing the road is the only piece of tar the ride will have and from then on its gravel track to Morisons 22 km north. This parte of the ride is relatively straight and we opt to let Shelley navigate, setting the maximum pace.

After a further 15 km we stopped for a short break before arriving at Morisons.

Refuelling shows up the Kodiak 400 as the heavier of the three bikes with 10l /100km. The DS650 and the Kymco are much the same with 6.5l/100km. Leaving Morrisons we head towards Hluhluwe. The next trip we must endeavour to find an alternate for this section and avoid the gravel road. Following the routine gravel road is unattractive, very dusty and the occasional vehicle is a bother.

Navigation made easy using the Garmin 276 with Topographical charts.

Stewart checks the tyre pressure. This is not his usual Can Am 800, but rather the "butt kicking, neck wrenching DS650.... Somehow manages to stll use less fuel than the Kodiak400????? Arriving at ‘BushBabies’ in Hluhluwe, was great with the owners extending a warm welcome to the three of us. We were shown the neat camp site. The sites offer plug point, light and the grass is neatly kept. We were then shown the wood cabins and for the price, they seemed more attractive, besides we were not keen to set up tents and blow up mattresses. The cold beers on offer were more attractive….. Soon it was getting dark. The warm shower was welcome.

Dinner at the restaurant was great. Prawn starter, grilled chicken, veggies and desert, all for R95, made it a bargain. The log fire gave us a chance to reflect on the ride and plan the next.

During the night the SW wind picked up and by the morning the temperatures were down. We packed the bikes and were on the trail by 08h30.

We opted to follow the river course back to Morisons. This gave us a chance to top up the fuel before the 90km run back home. During the next 20 km the temperatures continue to drop further. By this time the head wind was strong and cool. A short stop to warm up was necessary as Shelley’s hands were ‘frozen’.

Shelley reluctantly agreed to swap bikes to allow me to check-out her ‘new’ Kimco 300. At face value, this little machine is misleading. Coming off the back of a 400cc 4x4 onto a 300 2x4, I expected it to be less able in the soft sand but was amazingly surprised, Secondly the ride is softer than the Kodiak allowing for a more comfortable ride. The steering is lighter which takes some getting used to. The brakes are sharper but the power is more refined with more ‘top end’ than the Kodiak. When the going gets tough, the Kodiak comes into its own, particularly when the 4x4 is engaged. Let’s face it, these occasions are few and far between on out rides. I can’t explain why, but climbing back on the Kodiak felt more at home and Shelley felt the same getting back on her Kymco……horses for courses…?

Arriving at the Bird Park was a relief as we were starved and keen to tuck into a burger which warmed us for the last 55km home run.

The team agreed to pick a new route form the Bird Park, following one of the streams leading in the homeward direction. This route is more sheltered making it the best yet and will become the preferred route for the next trip.

20km from home, the rain started and this encouraged us to step up the pace, arriving back at the workshop in Alton at 14h30, albeit slightly wet.