I haven't posted for 2 years for a reason.  Someday will explain.

Most of my weekend rides are under 5 hours.  Despite living in a mountain bike paradise eventually you need some new trails.

Reading about the Tour Divide race in USA i got the itch for a longer ride.  Decided on sunday and thought i would do circle around Monduli mtn. I do it about once a year, but I will try to do it a bit differently.  Done it several times alone, sometimes very strenuous, sometimes not so bad.  Last time it ws the fastest i had ever done.  I would also do clock wise so that I finish with a downhill.  Otherwise it is 15km slog home into the wind.  I also did some unplanned sections.

Despite getting out of bed at 430am and was hoping to start at 530 by headlight I whatever happened and i went out about 615.  Then i discovered i needed to add sealant in the back, and then learned the valve was slowly leaking, chain was dirty.

Then i decided I needed to weigh my bike.  It was 20kgs with racks, tools, and now i forget what else.

Ahh strapped the chair on the back and got on the bike at 7am.  Hmm now i heard that funny noise from he seat again and checked it out and the seat rail was broken.  this is the second time in 20 or so years i have broken brooks seat rails.  Changed that seat and finally left at 730am.

Two reasons to leave early around here.  

-Avoid heat during middle of the day

-have 12-13 hours daylight.  it gets light at 6  give or take 15 minutes and dark at 7 give or take 15 minutes.  

today I am okay as it is the cold overcast season (more later) and I figure this is about 8-10 hour ride.

Familiar highway, gravel roads and i move nicely the first 15km.  Take a picture of the gloomy farmland on the slopes of monduli mountain.  mostly wheat fields in this area.

The gravel road rolls and i almost break a sweat with a jersey and light pullover.  I hit the road to Mondul Coffee Estate and climb up it a few hundred meters and then take a new gravel road west again.  net gain is 200m and now i get to go down mostly towards a military academy.  this new road bypasses the old colonial road that doesnt exist but is rideable but very tiring with many washed out gulleys.  I said many right.  The road becomes a dirt track but good and i make it to the edge of the military land and steal a jog into their land to avoid more washouts.  In the end I have to do 2 or three washouts like this before i reach the highway to Monduli town.

this was a steep one.  Now i ride tarmac up to monduli town and opt not to stop for food or water.

the tarmac continues even as i climb the valley up to monduli juu plateau.  They tarred the first km or so as it is very steep and the soil was slippery.  Then i am on a perfect gravel road with a reasonable grade.  I sweated a bit on the steep part like 15% grade.  

the first time i passed this road I was with Father Chris Promis.  We parked his VW beetle at the mission in Monduli town and walked up.  the road was rutted and muddy.  We then walked accross the basin to a boma of Kukai his friend.  It was unique experience for me at the tme.

Three quarters of the way up at around 11 I look for a place to get off the road, have a rest and breakfast II.  The chair feels great, I almost fall asleep. Chai, bp sandwhich, couple bananas and i am ready to go.

I pass the village and then there is a longish hill to climb to 1900m and then  rolling accros the side of the mtn.  I am headed for the far escarpment a village called mfereji.  there i will pick up a track and climb along the northern flank of the monduli mtns and eventually to the saddle between Meru and Monduli

then "Seven cornors" to switchback and forth a step part of the mtn. the road below is one switch back below and then you see the road again .  While still descending i take a old jeep track that is only used by motorcycles.

On this stretch I see a giraffe close by.  I stop and i see a dozen.  In the next one km i see 50!

It is a dry area and didnt receive much rain this year.  i follow piki tracks heading north to mfereji village.  I want to cut east before the village and water tank.  the water tank will be a vast dust bowl around it from cows hoofs.  there is a branch and i take it but realize it was probably too early.  I figure i will somenow get over the the other track going to my friend melubo's boma.  I ask and the guys says everyone knows Melubu.

I get some directions and more directions and like the look of the clouds and mist in the canyon.  very steep canyon cuts into the mountain.

There are zebra in this picture, really

I find the old jeep track eventually with only one tough canyon to pass.  Then it peters out to single track and then cows went straight and pikis headed off north.  I know I passed where the cows did once before.  i take the piki but it seems not going my way and head back to the dusty cattle trail.  It isnt too bad except where it is steep and then it is 15 cm of dust.  I get to the canyon before Melubo's and make it down easliy the dusty trail but going up is a bit of a grunt and lifting the bike.

He is home and wondering where i have been.  I get a couple swigs of gin, some rice and potatoes, and a coke.  i beg to leave after an hour.

Melubu has a big celebration this coming week and while i was there a piki came with 4 crates of soda.  I knew i could follow his tracks although i knew this way somewhat.  5 minutes from the boma and suddenly I felt the feeling of being all alone in the world.  I couldnt see people, cows, or goats, nor houses.  just this vast treeless expanse.  It was cold and windy.  I didnt pay attention once and had to backtrack.  Then after a canyon i knew the 'road' veered left but the motorcycles went straight up a gulley that used to be a road or cattle trail.  it is eroded down to hard rock.  i follow the piki thinking it is just going around.  eventuyally i realize the piki is goiong up a trail from hell that we do on 4 hour rides sometimes.  The only time in my life i almost blcked out frorm exertion was here.  Do i go back or climb it.  it is probably shorter, but up to 20% incline.  I decide to keep on.  There continues to be a strong wind against me and even on the gentle parts i am in lowest gear.  Eventually i walk a fair bit.

I dont fair too badly and make it to the landmark church and a rough road what will take me mostly down to lengijave.  From there it is 95% down on a big highway.  

Komoot spaced out 3 times and it says 96km  in 7:35 moving time and 1600m climbing.  Total time with stops was 10:18 and top speed was 51kph.  

It was a good one.  I have been hungry since.  I only drank about 1.5litres of water, 0.5l chai, and a coke.  Amazing that i never took off the second layer.  when i got to arusha i bought a beer and put on my raincoat as it was cold.