Rookie Rider - Graduation

The last day of off road riding looms

• By now the route is familiar and confidence is on the upswing
• Opt for some single track only to find it heads off on the wrong line
• Smile and wave at bemused locals
  
• Retrace steps - @onegiantride is now in front but doesn't know i,t having wiped out on wet grass
• Wait at boulder in river crossing.
• Try phoning - yes there's signal.
• @onegiantride is on top of mountain waiting.
• Ride boulder in river crossing and do a mental fist pump
• Ride single track to top of mountain and find it suddenly easier than two days before.

• Start to feel good after hectic day before.
• Ride single track to bog patch - opt to head out on foot.
• @onegiantride continues on bike

• Decide after 400m that walking is montrously inefficient
• Walk back, study bog and pick a line.
• Have hand gesture discussion with old man herding one zebu and realise a better path lies on top of ridge.
• Cross safely over bog and resume path
• Reach gully and opt to ride straight up mountain through veld onto top path.
• Feeling pleased with self - another mental fist pump

• Ride single track along ridge until path goes up over boulders - go around until reach saddle and decide that's far enough.
• Decide to retrace path to to split and wait for @onegiantride
• Bike falls down the slope because foot can't reach the ground.
• Land on already bruised shins.
• Make like The Hulk to lift bike.

• Retrace path and opt to go around boulder choke point on path
• Return to path and bounce right over and land on bruised shins again
• Bike is now lying face down.
• Drag front wheel straight.
• Remember to hold front brake and attempt to lift
• Try again
• Try again
• Eventually do monumental leg press and get bike upright.
• Return to saddle, park and rest under some trees
• Patch shins
• Wait for @onegiantride

• Reunited - ride single track back to jeep track
• Head for home
• Ride boulder in river crossing  the other way but too tired to fist pump

• Ride home warily
• Lie down
• Off road is over and face two more days of tar riding back to Tana.

Moral: If you bite off more than you can chew - swallow the damn thing whole.

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