Elliot to Elliot ! ( Via Bastervoetpad ) 20/09/2011

There have been a few people asking me about the condition of Bastervoetpad lately . . .

So yesterday I decided to go and do the whole loop from the bottom/ Ugie side  :ricky:

The tar road has a few nasty pot holes but is well sign posted, please take heed of the signs !

Since PG Bison has moved in, the country side has changed its look, plenty trees gone. Looks very different now.

Please be careful when travelling these roads as there is plenty harvesting going on  :deal:

very nice thanks Glen  :thumleft:

Don`t turn left too early  : Don`t forget that the turn is at the cattle pens  :biggrin:

Cool!  :thumleft:

May be seeing you in December....  :mwink:

Wheres the "proper" stuff? :biggrin:

Now for the important part . . .  :

The have repaired the road from the gate, through the forest to the braai area at the bottom.

The guys the did the repair work did not do the drainage properly and I can see some of the road washing away again and some sections are also going to be very snotty when wet  :3some:

:thumleft: See you in December.

Now for the " Proper Stuff "  :ricky:

If you intend taking a back up vehicle, make sure it is high and has four wheel drive  :3some: Oh and make sure the cooler box is tied down properly and packed tightly  :

Or get the drinks wagon to go around and wait at the top  ot:

From the braai area at the bottom it gets interesting very quickly  :ricky: Plenty deep ruts to hook stray pots that are sticking out  :imaposer:

I would not recommend a pillion unless you both have skills !

Naais!  :thumleft:

Ek wil ook daar gaan ry! 

Lyk lekker  :ricky:

There MUST be more! What about the mountain section. Are you still posting more photies?
Show,show boetie

Thats better! :thumleft:

Please keep in mind that I could not stop on the knarley sections as its tough to get away again  :

There are a few places going up that need momentum or you will not make it or you will bin it. 

And besides . . . I can`t show you all the good stuff, that you`ll have to come and see for yourself!  :biggrin:

I will tell you that the bottom half is still more challenging than the top half and is way more fun !  :ricky:

Going down will be easier on you but where is the fun in not challenging yourself a bit ?  :

Oh and I forgot to mention that the mountain was also slightly on fire . . . .  :imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer:

The views from the top are spectacular and are well worth the sweat to get there !  :3some:

Going down towards Mountain Shadows Hotel, the road is bad but not horrible and there is only one spot where you have to really think about a line, thats the last pic . . .

So thats my short trip, did it alone too :ricky:

If you want to come and do it, go for it. Its not impossible, even with a block of flats.

Yes there is skill needed but also luck. I had one  " Oh shit  " moment when my back wheel cacght a rock and shot the rear end out but I made it on my KLE500 and I never binned it either, although I did bottom out a few times from choosing the wrong line  :biggrin:

Take lots to drink because you will get thirsty ! Yesterday was only 24deg and I sweated properly !

Now you all know a little more about what its like at the moment and I hope you enjoyed riding along with me !

Cheers !  :thumleft:

Almost forgot . . .

One last pic to help summarise the ride.

Do not take too much notice of the total time as some of that was standing at Mountain Shadows Hotel having a dop  :mwink:

Everything was reset when I left Elliot and the pic was taken once I had returned.  :thumleft:

Very nice, thanks for the photos

Thanks Glen. It does not look as though the pass has deteriorated too much since December. Thanks for showing.

juslaaik Glen, you undoubtedly have the most beautiful riding area in SA

That's why the Rallye Raid keeps coming back  :thumleft:

:thumleft: Thanks Glen for the great info!!! Hopefully we'll see you in just over a week! Looking forward to say 'cheers' with a cold one!!!

Flippin awesome route Glen. Thanks for the great pics as usual. :thumleft: