First Long Distance Trial Ride

From Durban to Pietermaritzburg - 94km

We woke up early on Saturday morning and rode quickly to the train station in Pietermaritzburg - hoping not to miss the train. By the time we got there it was 5:30am and thanks to an old man who's son was on the train, we knew it had just passed Nottingham Road. All we had to do was wait.
The train arrived at about 6:15, and with a bit of persuasion we mannaged to get the train officials to let us on with our bikes! We had a whole compartment to ourselves and our bikes sat comfortably opposite us on the seats.




The train ride was beautiful! The scenery absolutely magnificent. By the time we got to Durban it was just after 9am but the ride felt like only a few minutes.



On Route


We spent a hot day in Durbs, first relaxing when we got to Nomads Backpackers, then taking a walk in the streets of the city. Sadly Daniel couldn't join us for the trip because he was in Hilcrest and his bicycle in Howick. My aunt, Ingi, helped us out and sponsored our accommodation at Nomads.
Later we met up with some of Keegan's friends and had a good evening.

My conscience woke me at 5am. We'd slept through both our alarms! We jumped out of bed and got dressed. A few minutes later we were on the road back to PMB.


The Halfway Point!

 We got lost somewhere in Pinetown and ended up in a township. I forgot to bring a map with us, so foning my mum was what we had to do... She didn't know the route either. It was a matter of which way felt right! After missioning up a steep hill, at the top, a man in a video shop showed us a short cut over another steep hill. This hill was not-cyclable. We trudged up carrying our bikes and made it to the top. By the time we got to Hilcrest if felt like we'd been riding for days. We didn't eat breakfast when we left, and by this stage it was already lunch time. We found a little pub called The Ugly Duck to fill our hungry tummies. After that meal I could feel my energy replenish!

The ride was tuff, but we made it. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was cloudy and cool all day. Only when we got to Camperdown did it start to drizzle. Trudy, Keegans mum, came to fetch us half way up the hill by Polly Shortts.
I've now looked up the Comerades Route and will deffinately take a map with us the next time.
It was a long day, and was well worth it!