Someone always leaves

“Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes.” - Snoopy (Charles Schulz)

Rob West, MBA Classmate - Thank you for the laughs, spreadsheets, motivation and for looking after me. You will be missed :(
Burry Stander - Thank you for the dreams you gave us
Donovan Nunes - Tomorrow it will be one year since you left. Thank you for the rides, the adventure and the laughs.
Dad - This time last year you were still healthy and hiking dust into the kids' eyes - the cancer was already eating you up and no one knew
Hans Loedolff - My first Transbaviaans team captain - thank you for Dark&Dirty rides, adventure, laughs
Other people - an uncle in December, the BBF's brother in law, a friend's dad.

"I know what I need. I need more hellos" - Snoopy (Charles Schulz)

New Year, New Resolutions

The Argus Tour is 3 months away and Sani2C in May. And

 I haven't been on the bike since the bit of Cederberg-exploring in December (and before that, 94.7 in November).

So the New Year Resolutions included, among other things, getting some time in on the bike.

Then South African Mountain Bike hero died in an accident involving a car on Thursday. This weekend, according to Twitter reports, 2 more cyclists were hit by cars on Friday, and another one killed on Sunday. And today a tweet from someone who passed yet another cycling accident this afternoon.

When will it stop?

I was driving home one night after a Critical Mass. There were 3 cyclists on Emmarentia avenue - riding right in the middle of the road - with some dark coloured clothing and no lights. NO LIGHTS. No law of 1.5 m would have helped them. I drove behind them for a while to protect them from other cars coming from behind who also might not see them. At a traffic light i told the one guy that they were totally invisible .... and I got a finger and some words i didn't care to decipher. So I stopped riding behind them. I assumed they got safely home because I didn't hear about any incidents afterwards.

Point is: we are all responsible for our own safety:

So here's my 2013 resolutions:

When driving:Not typing on a cellphone while driving
Not taking calls or reading whatsapp messages while driving

Respecting other road-users. It's not going to take much time and it may save a life.

When cycling:Making eye contact with any driver that may be a threat. And slow down regardless ... he may underestimate your speed
Assuming that i am invisible, regardless of the bright clothes and blinking lights
Showing respect to all other road- and pavement users
Acknowledging drivers when they see me at an intersection and give me way, even if I had right of way to start with

Every single time. It only takes a minute of non-concentration and someone may be gone.

Here's to a safer 2013.

Where the grass is green

Thank you for the dreams, Burry Stander.

May the grass always be green where you are now, and may there be plenty of singletrack.

Rest in Peace.

Xtreme Dinner 2013 (Fort WonderboomPoort)

The Wonderboom Fort is one of four that was built to protect Pretoria during the Boer War (the others are fort Klapperkop, fort Schanskop, and fort Daspoortrand). The ruins are inside the Wonderboom Nature Reserve, home to the 1000 year old wild fig tree from which Wonderboom got it's name.

Zu and Mummy man on the path of the 45 minute steep uphill hike to get to the Fort at the top of the hill.

The view from the top.

Inside the fort.

Getting dressed for the party

Hardy in a tree to get the exact right angle for his photo.

Exploring the Fort

The party in full swing

Pan-fried berries being pan-fried

... with ice cream ...

... served with fresh berries. 

Then some extreme Chess

Men at work: Air Guitar, Xtreme Ironing and Xtreme Waiting

All packed up, looking like muggles again, and ready to go down.

A great way to start the year - thx all!