Day 5 – Emseni to Clifton Nottingham Road
Possibly the hardest day of your 9 day adventure!
Distance: 123 kms
Ascent: roughly 2241m
Descent: roughly 1757m
All results see http://joberg2c.co.za/
After an early morning start at Emseni we will climb to the top of Spionkop lodge before blasting down some incredible Berg and Bush trails towards Winterton. The 23km new trail to Winterton is awesome but unfortunately it won’t last forever. The best part of day 5 is the changing scenery . From the bushveld to the lush green of the Drakensberg region, you will now start feel the mountain air. We have added a fourth water point to this day at around the 32km mark.
Some “lekker” single-track up towards Hangman’s Tree and then more farms and a special new section of single track before are onto rural dirt roads that take you to Water Point 2 at the 61km mark hosted by “Ze Germans”.
Day 5 is about the journey towards the mountains. You will pass rural communities and Wagondrift Dam, you will climb out of the Bushman’s River Valley as you cross Dalton’s bridge, and you will ride passed a private game reserve called Zulu Waters. You will climb and you will climb, and while the Old Mutual joBerg2c does not boast about how tough our ride is, you will realise getting to Scottburgh requires some mettle. As you climb the “Big Rise” you slog your way towards Water Point 3 at the 92km mark. You will feel the high altitude air and see the central Drakensberg soaring into the sky. Water Point 3 is a welcome break from the climbs. The passionate folk from the Endangered Wildlife Trust will top your energy levels up for the relatively easier off-roads ahead.
There is a super fast descent not far after WP 3 – be very careful. You will kill off many k’s but don’t lose control.
The rest of the 25km journey to Clifton School takes you past dairy farms, over dam walls and through back country roads to your place of rest. There is a bonus water point 4 on the ugly sister rolling hills to keep spirits high at the 11okm mark hosted by Treverton School. You will need to top up energy levels for the little sting in the long day 5 trail.
Clifton School uses the Old Mutual joBerg2c for more than just fundraising, they use it to raise fun as a team-building exercise among parents, teachers and pupils. The result is another passionate race village .
