#gvbconservancy

[jacquesmarais]

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So cool to collaborate with @ozone.africa & @mtbroutes on this new series of regular #mtbroutes #TrailBlogs. This week's post focuses on one of my favourite #backyardrides, the @gvbconservancy 🚲💙 . . | MTBROUTES |#GVBCONSERVANCY . . Go get some #VitaminG(VB)! Here's a huge #High5 to the fabulous #singletrack traversing the @gvbconservancy near #Heidelberg in the untamed #ExplorersGardenRoute. This means less crowds and way more kickass riding; this is why I often head to @strawberryhillfarm on my @giantlivrsa #Anthem to plug into their 140km of purpose-built #MTB trail network 🙌 . . Not many spaces in #SA can compete when it comes to land access, safety & riding stoke, not to mention #acrossthebars views! If you’re not sure where to ride, get in touch with @aileenoutside, a local #mountainbike guide, or just hit the well-marked trails for a solo #adventure of note. . . Easy access to a range of great accommodation establishments – such as #StrawberryHillFarm & Grootvadersbosch Farm – means you can #bikepack, go #XC on shorter cross-country jaunts, or get stuck into a serious mountain #enduro session. Follow the Links in post for more info on #grootvadersbosch & Hessequa. . . #mountainbiking #GiantLivRSA RSA #GiantBikes #RideGiant #LIVGIANT #LivRide #RideLife #oZoneAfrica #AndBreathe (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGRucqeJT6W/?igshid=1jilmjtnc4h5h

[jacquesmarais]

The @isuzusa #isuzuMUX winking cheekily at the start of a few days of #COVID19 shooting in the @hessequa_tourism region. A specific focus will look at how the rural people of @gvbconservancy & surrounds has been trying to cope with the devastating effects of the ongoing #lockdown. So great to include @aileenoutside, @rohangermishuys, @fleurvaneeden, @artofdonovanjulius and a whole bunch of top Platteland Peeps in this upcoming article 🙏🤙 #gvbconservancy #Hessequa #silvermountainmusicfestival #IsuzuSA #sonyza #sonyxperiaza #southafrica #travel #playlocal #oZoneAfrica #AndBreathe (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAkxObuptMu/?igshid=232b0kcm75sy

[jacquesmarais]

Taste #adventure 🔥 ... Making #coffee in the #greatoutdoors is one of life's true little pleasures. You get to warm your hands around an open fire or camp stove, with the aroma of #arabica beans wafting on the fresh breeze. Few people will argue that this is the best way to kick-start your day, especially if you are out in gorgeous @gvbconservancy near #Riversdale ☕ This headspace will be one of the things I'll miss most as we count down to the #COVID19 #lockdown. No mates, bikes, trails, surfing, kayaking ... it's not going to be an easy 21x days. At least I got an emergency delivery from the guys @baleiawines today, with their stunning #wine, olive oil and, of course, coffee beans 🙏😊 That's my morning personality sorted; now if I could just find a way to upload some endorphins? 😏 #caffeinefix #coffeebrews #coffeegram #camping #Baleia #BaleiaWines #gvbconservancy #oZoneAfrica #AndBreathe #bikepacking #bikelife #bikewander (at Baleia Wines & Olive Oil) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Ka-4MpneI/?igshid=1ubwzri9253tq

[jacquesmarais]

The Journey is the Destination ... . . We have all become so locked into life in the fast lane that we battle to disengage, even when we take time out. So, when we set off on a #bike ride, it focuses on the calories we burn, or the distance we cover, rather than the experience of being in nature. We tend to force, rather than surrender to the flow; push, rather than following our breath 🍃 . . This is a facet of life where small changes can deliver huge lifestyle benefits, and all you have to do is to #beinthemoment. Stop. Get off the bike. Breathe in the fragrance of the forest. Watch the dawn rays beam in through the branches. And brew a @baleiawines #coffee (yup, they do #singleorigin blends, and it tastes as good as their #syrah). . . And if you're searching for an #outdoor space in which to play, look no further than @gvbconservancy. This place is a #bikepacking paradise, but with endless #trail riding for the #allmountain, #xc and #enduro crowd to boot. Yup, if you love #mtb and have not played in this part of the @hessequatourism region, you are seriously missing out. . . #grootvadersbosch #gvbconservancy @outdoorwarehouseza #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sonyza #mtb #IsuzuSA #WithYouForTheLongRun #FrontrunnerZA #BornToRoam #SpotAfrica #GetLostStayFound #oZoneAfrica #AndBreathe #bikepacking #bikelife (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9JWYxiJQyl/?igshid=2g8e1ke3dkit

[jacquesmarais]

These last two days have been all about #redfins here in the gorgeous @gvbconservancy. Our mission has focused on monitoring #riverhealth in the off-grid canyons characterising this part of the #Hessequa, and what an adventure to hang out with the @capenature field crew 💦🏞️💙 . . Rock-hopping, ridge scrambles, eel wrangling, deep-forest hikes ... all while trawling the tannin-stained pools of the #Tradouw, #Kruis and other incredible mountain streams in the peaks above #Heidelberg, way off the beaten track, and as far as you could possibly get from the #ratrace. . . Superb to shoot the breeze with @aileenoutside and Carla Wood of @tablemountainfund; such a pity our @bionerds.co.za friends could not join . . #grootvadersbosch #gvbconservancy #outdoorwarehouseza #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sonyza #mtb #IsuzuSA #WithYouForTheLongRun #FrontrunnerZA #BornToRoam #SpotAfrica #GetLostStayFound #oZoneAfrica #AndBreathe (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AI5GcHXq6/?igshid=15qgv75c66ciy

[jacquesmarais]

Post-midnight Post, so I'll keep it short. Always incredible to play in the #greatoutdoors at @gvbconservancy with @aileenoutside and her crew. This place is a #bikepacking paradise, but with endless #trail riding for the #xc and #enduro crowd to boot. In fact, if you love #mountainbiking and have not played in this part of the @hessequatourism region, you are seriously missing out. Tomorrow we're heading into the off-grid canyons to do some fresh-water fish monitoring with @tablemountainfund, @capenature and @bionerds.co.za - what an excellent way to spend a Monday! . . #grootvadersbosch #gvbconservancy @outdoorwarehouseza #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sonyza #mtb #IsuzuSA #WithYouForTheLongRun #FrontrunnerZA #BornToRoam #SpotAfrica #GetLostStayFound (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B87V6ZgJ42r/?igshid=19n6qesvwr9xo

[jacquesmarais]

Two glorious #trail shoot sessions with @strawberryhillfarm @strawberryhillfarm on the superb @gvbconservancy #mtb and #trailrun routes here near #grootvadersbosch. Thank you for making this happen, @aileenoutside 🙏💙 This top #conservancy near #heidelberg is one of the #Hessequa Region's key #ecotourism destinations, with a myriad #outdoor activities to take part in. Look out for a feature article on the area in the upcoming #ToyotaConnect publication. #Hessequa #explorersgardenroute #grootvadersbosch #gvbconservancy #strawberryhillfarm #mountainbike #trailrunning #frontrunnerza #BornToRoam #toyota #fortuner (at Port Beaufort, Western Cape, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBU4FLhgm5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6tmdqkxqea2c

[jacquesmarais]

"And into the Forest I go To lose my Mind and find my Soul" . John Muir . . Trip back in time to 50 000 years ago - to a period when our homo sapiens forebears roamed Planet Earth as hunter-gatherer clans - and imagine a world utterly wild. No roads, no cities, no power lines, and no man-made structures, or the muted roar of planes, trains and automobiles. . . Forests stretched way beyond the range of the human eye, but the spread of #savannah grassland had seen us descend from an arboreal life as human apes living mostly in trees. Over time, we'd perfected our bipedal gait as we hunted small animals to feed the energy needs of our large and ever-growing brains. . . Our anatomy has not changed much since this #paleolithic Period of the Stone Age, but the same cannot be said of our lifestyle. Instead of the constant walking, squatting and clambering, we've become sedentary beings, sitting for up to 14hrs every day, and sleeping for a further 8hrs, leaving preciously little time to move around naturally. . . It is this lack of #naturalmovement and exposure to #nature that is a major contributing factor to backache, obesity and depression, but can so easily be cured by releasing your 'inner animal'. Lumber like a chimpanzee, clamber like a monkey, stretch like a bear, or lay back and lose yourself as you treat yourself to a rejuvenating #forestbathing session. And if you do it regularly, it is sure to benefit your life in untold ways 🍃💙 . . The forests of #Grootvadersbosch is a sanctuary from the rush of city life for us. It is our favourite #junglegym, offering a place where you can #rewild amidst sturdy trunks and spreading branches to return to your #paleo roots. What a privilege to play on the #trails & join @aileenoutside, @lukeonthego & @prainemma for some @baleiawines and a freezing #wimhoff cold-water immersion in a natural pond. One thing is sure, @gvbconservancy is a #trailrun, #mtb, #hiking and #birdwatching paradise, and the perfect way to escape the negativity around #COVID19 💙👌🚲 . . #Grootvadersbosch #Hessequa #strawberryhillfarm #IuzuSA #WithYouForTheLongRun #FrontrunnerZA #BornToRoam #SpotAfrica #GetLostStayFound #oZ (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-tML7pXZE/?igshid=2ow16gj0vale

[jacquesmarais]

Hello, #Hessequa! Yup, the term 'done and dusted' rang true today on #Stage3 of TransCape MTB Encounter, driven by #volvocarsa, as the riders hammered back roads all the way from the remote and tranquil Rooiberg Lodge to the glorious little dorp of #Riversdale, set within the temperate and mountainous Cape grain-belt. This hide-away section of the #gardenroute is not touristy at all, which is why it is known as the #ExplorersGardenRoute 🏞️ Again, there were no easy kilometers along a gnarly off-road track that rambunctiously rollicked amidst rugged #Renosterveld ridges and scrubby plains. A herd of at least 30 massive eland tracked me through a lonesome valley, while a handful of giraffes kept watch from the ridgeline. And on one descent, three kudu bulls nearly knocked the leading peloton of their bikes. Truly amazing 👌 A warm welcome awaited the sharp end of the peleton in town, but many riders took a bit of strain today as this 'Bike Journey across the Cape' continues along its incredible way. Yes, they once again had to cope with testing terrain and the merciless sun, but in the end, the rewards are memories for life. Four days of riding remains en route to #franschhoek, with top riding tomorrow to sumptuous #swellendam, via the stunning @gvbconservancy #singletrack. Tough cal, but this has to be my favourite stage (and yes, I've done Transcape 5x now)! Even better, it's bound to be way, way cooler 👌😊 #TransCape2020 #TransCapeMTBExperience #YourJourney #HardcoreLuxury #SevenDays #MountainbikeJourney #IndigenousForest #AridPlains #IconicMountains #volvocarsa (at Rooiberg Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8LFaqSJKxO/?igshid=1c38f71n43vvc

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Now that my front teeth are back in place and I've banked my first recovery #surf, it's time to focus on all those kickass #2020 missions stacking up as we unpack this brand-new and exciting year ... First up is a #canyoneering mission with @tablemountainfund within the remote kloofs of the @gvbconservancy, where we will go in search of rare aquatic species. Always exciting to spend time with @aileenoutside and the good folks of the #grootvadersbosch Conservancy 🌿��🐾 Next up is one of my fave boutique #mtb experiences as the #oZone crew saddles up to cover the @transcapemtb Stage Tour. This #mountainbike 'Journey across the Cape' traverses the Garden Route, Karoo, Overberg and Winelands, ending in fabulous Franschhoek after seven glorious days of wild cranking. Very excited about my @ozone.africa colab with @zaneschmahl, and the start of a lekker @the.africanadventurer #media project, too. Not too mention our @beyondexped journey, #BeyondBicornis, for #rhinoconservation. More about all of this soon 👌😊 All in all, blessed to have the calendar for the rest of the year pretty chockablock, too, but as always, the key will be to keep the balance right when it comes to work, family and play. So far, so good, with #outdoor mountain and ocean missions galore. We've scrambled through #Boomslang Caves, caught freezing #Scarborough waves, trekked and ran the #DeepSouth Trails, gone vertical @cityrock_cpt and even saddled up the @giantlivrsa bikes for a couple of rides. Big up to @isuzusa, @sonyalphasa, @sonyxperiaza, @FrontRunnerZA, @spotafrica, @giantbicycles, @sealandgear, @hitec_sa, @outdoorwarehouseza, @DarlingBrew, @beantherecoffee, @dripdropsa and the other brands who supported me in #2019 - here's to loads of media synergy as we roll into our next orbit around the sun ☀ #IsuzuSA #TheresWorkToDo #frontrunnerza #BornToRoam #sonyza #hellosonyza #sealandgear #discovernewpaths #TribalTourist #ifollowthetribe #SpotAfrica #GetLostStayFound #WithYouForTheLongRun (at Scarborough, Western Cape) https://www.instagram.com/p/B60nEA4JC_W/?igshid=23zrc89kesn1

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#BackYardRide #1 Go Get Yourself Some #VitaminG(VB)! How about some #TrailTuesday love? Starting from this week, I'm going to post at least one #InstaTrail #mtb Review every week in conjunction with a number of #trail owners and #outdoor destinations. The idea is to find the #Top100 backyard trails in #SA, so your comments and feedback will be most welcome 🙏😊 We start off with a huge #High5 to the fabulous#singletrack traversing the incredible @gvbconservancy, near #heidelberg. This area is also known as the #ExplorersGardenRoute, which means less crowds and more kickass riding space, which is why I regularly head to @strawberryhillfarm on my @giantlivrsa #Anthem to plug into their 140km-plus purpose-built #mountainbike trail network 🙌 Not many spaces in #southafrica can compete when it comes to land access, personal #safety and absolute #riding pleasure, not to mention the #acrossthebars views! If you’re not sure where to ride, get in touch with @aileenoutside, a superb local #mountainbike guide, or just hit the well-marked trails for a #solo #adventure of note.   Easy access to a range of great accommodation establishments – such as #StrawberryHillFarm and #GrootvadersboschFarm – means you can #bikepack, play #XC on shorter cross-country jaunts, or get stuck into a serious mountain #enduro session. Follow the #links in this post for more information on the brilliant #GVBconservancy and the #Hessequa Region. Now Go Ride! 🚲 🚲 🚲 👌   #GVBConservancy #giantlivrsa #GiantBikes #RideGiant #livgiant #giantbicycles #garminsa #beatyesterday (at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0g2s3pJApT/?igshid=1cdnuvh5roem7

[jacquesmarais]

Hello, #Hessequa! Yup, the term 'done and dusted' rang true today on #Stage3 of the #TransCapeMTB19 as riders hammered back roads all the way from the remote #RooibergLodge to the glorious little dorp of #Riversdale, set within the temperate and mountainous Cape grain-belt. First official #colab with @ozone.africa, and loving the energy! 🙌🏻 Cheering school children and a festival atmosphere welcomed the sharp end of the peleton to town, while many riders took a more leisurely approach to this 'Bike Journey across the Cape'. The true @libertygroupsa #Transcapers stopped at water points to sample gourmet offerings, chat to the amazing marshalls, or to just take in the incredible headspace of the ever-chaning countryside as they pitted themselves against the harsh terrain and merciless sun. There are 4x days of riding remaining en route to @holdenmanzwineestate in #franschhoek, but tomorrow will take us to sumptuous #swellendam via the stunning @gvbconservancy #singletrack. All results at www.transcapemtb.co.za ... this is one of those unique events you do not want to miss! #transcapemtb19 #asgsport #libertygroupsa #volvocars #mtb mountainbike #sony #sonyalpha #SonyZA #sonyalphaSA #sonyxperiaza #AndBreathe #theOzone (at Riversdale : Hessequa Municipality) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btgr4hlB6V0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ljkksnihf8z9

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Great #kloofing exploration afternoon with the kids on the beautiful @gvbconservancy near #heidelberg. This amazing space is famed for its #mtb #trails, but there are dozens of other #outdoor and leisure #activities to enjoy. Shot on @tomtomsports #tomtombandit #canyoning #grootvadersbosch #buff #hike #holiday (at Delish Heidelberg N2)