Although I finished the 2010 racing season on a high the team knew that without new sponsors I might have to sit on the sideline as it was Rough Rider's last year of being involved in production car racing. Unfortunately this has happened and although it is terrible not to be there banging mirrors and contributing to the panelbeaters's Xmas bonus I know the right thing will happen. There are current negotiations, so lets hold thumbs and hope for the best....or I'll be forced to start contributing to the traffic dept's Xmas bonus!
Not racing and leaving the hijackers, pollution and spruit behind for the greener pastures of KZN's sugarcane fields has put my mind in a great place........and I nearly completely almost forgot about this blog...
We arrived in Ballito in mid December and settled in nicely, half the people were very friendly and by January they were all friendly when the grumpy half went back to Gauteng. We had two days to unpack before Coach's (Russell White) urgent sms's started flowing freely with messages like "Salt rock beach swim in 5min" or "Hops-Run, swim run 10mins" or my favourite "French club hill repeats at 4h30" which normally comes through at 4h15! The guys TRAIN down here.....I had to escape to Mozambique (twice) just to get a break! It is great suffering with top Xterra, moto-X, MTB'ers and other athletes and it just forces you to up your game
Holla trails is a mere 10 min (easy warm up) ride from my house with 300km of trails including awesome single track and more uphills than downhills. Following Russell, Tyrone, Daniel, Guylin and many others I had to hang on for dear life on my now almost obsolete 26" bike as the 29er revolution seems to have happened here decades ago...
My fishing trips were awesome with the last one being the best fishing we have ever seen on Inhaca. My "boetie" Greg was adamant that we will find Marlin and we got five hook ups landing three. The last one was a Blue Marlin weighing +- 260kg's. We don't know exactly as we release all the fish after carefully reviving them. A dozen GT's (Giant Kingfish) over 25kg's were landed with my PB of +-48kg's.
The only bad thing has been my Dachshund's sudden blindness after Retinal detachment, I think we were more upset though as she still runs flat out on the beach following the Spaniels everywhere. These three delinquents are already well known, mostly for the wrong reasons unfortunately!
Although not racing cars I have raced in some events down here. The first was the Mudman Xterra in Hermansberg, then Wartburg MTB race, the SA marathon championships at Inanda and finally last weekends Golovane Boxlee race at Holla Trails. As it was a team event I paired up with Daniel Carlton-a top X-terra triathlete. The race was tough, 85km and 1600m of climbing was hard enough but after having lost my rear brakes only 10km in I had some very anxious moments in the mud as it was pouring with rain. Despite this I don't think Daniel even broke a sweat while my tongue was dragging on the ground.
Dagmar has done very well in these races and have upped her game nicely, winning the ladies event in Sunday's race and buying us lunch with her prize money.... a favour I would love to return someday!
We are racing Karkloof this weekend with my Sani partner Manbearbig also known as Donavan joining us for the weekend.
Although I really don't miss Joburg I really miss my riding buddies and would be very happy to show anyone the way around Holla....even if I shout directions from behind!
Keep it sideways
Reggie #111
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