5 PROVINCES IN 5 DAYS (Not Planned)

[Vis Arend]

5 PROVINCES IN 5 DAYS

We had a planned three week holiday, but unfortunately things do not always go the way you want.  Our three week trip was cut down to a week.

All of a sudden we had to cramp up a three week trip into a few days.  Our original plans were to go to Nelspruit, Sabie and Hoedspruit and as far up as Messina / Beitbridge coming down to Bella-Bella / Leeupoort, Kimberley, Gariep Dam and then back home. We wanted to explore the areas and visit as many as possible attractions, but our plans crashed and needed to be altered.

We then considered routes closer to home, and looked at the “Sharing your Routes Thread”.  One particular route shared by Tommie Transalp got me interested as it included the Mullers, Normandien and Colling’s passes.  We started to plan our new route around the Midlands Meander and then saw that we had two days to our credit.  

This is when we decided to incorporate some of our original planning into the new route.  We still wanted to explore the Nelspruit, Sabie and Hoedspruit surroundings as we heard it was beautiful up there. We planned and planned and eventually came up with the following trip.  

Day 1 Kokstad to Badplaas.

Day 2 Badplaas to Witrivier via Longtom Pass.

Day 3 Witrivier to Hoedspruit via Blyde River Canyon.

Day 4 Hoedspruit to Wakkerstroom.

Day 5 Wakkerstroom to Mooirivier via Normandien Pass.

Day 6 Mooirivier to Kokstad

We could not do half the things we wanted to, but hey, we tried, did what we could and had a wonderful trip.  I mean, any time spend on two wheels are much better than nothing at all.

So our trip started on Saturday, 18 August 2012.  Not by choice, but to save some time, we had to stoetie the Big Blue from King William’s Town to where our daughter stays in Kokstad, this is then also where we slept that night.

Day 1
This day would be the longest route at almost 750km in the saddle.  This was necessary to get us as far up north as possible.  We considered it as doable as it was the first day and most of the day’s riding was on tar. The route for the day was from Kokstad to Badplaas.  

Also see file attachment of the route.

Leaving at first light.

The sun starting to rise.

Two weeks earlier the road to Kokstad and Underberg were closed for a couple of days due to heavy snow.  
Evidence of the snow is still visible.  

The Big Blue and the Big Cold White.

Knee deep.

Watch out!  Snow ball coming your way.

A beautiful bridge.

Lekker padkos.

The Colenso Garden of Remembrance (Dis waar die gesneuwelde Ingelse begrawe is want die Boere en die Ingelse was alweer kwaad vir mekaar.)

Some scenery on route.

Nature called.

We arrived in Badplaas 7 hours and 30 min later, tired but happy to be safe.

We booked in at the Badplaas resort at the rate of R171-00 for camping.  We had a lekker braai and a not so good night’s rest.  We went to sleep on a well inflated mattress just to be woken in the early hours of the morning with aching bodies.  We were lying flat on the ground.  The mattress must have got a puncture at the Skaapkop ete at the Spookhuis.  (Damn ghost!)

Some photos of the camp.

The rest to follow soon.............

 

[jorust]

Lyk lekker!  :ricky:

 

[Geotraveller]

Subscribed. I may be blind but dont see the file attachement? Looking forward to the next installment

 

[Vis Arend]

Subscribed. I may be blind but dont see the file attachement? Looking forward to the next installment

Nothing wrong with your eye sight. The attachments is on its way.  :biggrin:

 

[Geotraveller]

Thanks, I am collecting as much as I can so ONE day i can do some of these awesome routes you guys are posting.

 

[Gerard]

Eish ! ek sien dit was nodig, maar dis darem sad om JULLE bike op 'n treiler te sien  :eek7:  :imaposer:

 

[Topie]

Jitte Vis Arende...julle weet hoe om ons bekke te laat water...

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Eish ! ek sien dit was nodig, maar dis darem sad om JULLE bike op 'n treiler te sien  :eek7:  :imaposer:

Ja jupiter, dit is nogal sad, maar ai, ons sal seker enige iets doen vir 'n rytjie.

 

[subie]

Blerrie opblaas matras. Toe ek by old thump bash kom toe het my matras n gat waar ek my vinger kan indruk.  :eek7:
Wie sal nou weet waar die gat ge-happen het. Sommer met tyre patch gedoen en stuk duct tape bo oor en hy het gehou.  :imaposer:
Dankie vir RR  :thumleft:

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Day 2
Today will take us from Badplaas to Longtom- and other passes on route as well as Sabie and then to Witrivier.  (Attached is a file of the route of the day.)

The sun rising and we were in no rush to leave too early.

Ready to go.

One of many stop and go’s that we experienced on the trip. This one in particular will be remembered as we were almost taken out by an oncoming truck although we had right of way.  

Some scenery photos.

Bridge over the N3.

Schoemans Poort.

En die kat kom weer……

At the bottom of Chom se pad.

Lydenburg’s Butchery.  This guy must be a Bull supporter.

Just outside Lydenburg I saw the Lydenburg museum and I wanted to turn into the museum grounds but completely misjudged the turn and drive-way and stopped awkwardly on an embankment.  There in full view, we moered over! As I connected with Mother Earth, it felt as if somebody has hit me with a ten pound hammer on the chest.  To add insult to the injury, the two of us were pinned under the bike.  A cyclist stopped and managed to lift the bike just enough for the Mrs to get out.  My left ankle was still pinned under the rear foot peg with the full weight of the bike resting on it.  Whilst I was still pinned under the bike, I heard the cyclist mumble “nou hoe de hel moer julle so staan-staan om”.  The two of them lifted the bike and I could free my ankle.  

Here I am sitting, licking my wounds, catching my breath and waiting for the pain to ease.  My ribcage was throbbing of pain, and I struggled to breathe.  

After I took some painkillers we were on the road again.

Some scenery over Longtom Pass.

The Longtom

Die Ingelse was alweer kwaad en het hierdie kanon gebruik om alle dinges uit die Boere te skiet.  What amazes me, is the fact that this canon could shoot over 9 000 meters.  That was quite an achievement considering that it was back in 1899.  

Horseshoe Falls.

After the falls, we had pancakes at the Petena Pancakes in Sabie.  From Sabie we headed to Witrivier where we stayed at Benmari resort at the rate of R190 for camping.  What impressed us about the place is that each campsite has its own ablution facilities and little kitchen with a full size fridge/freezer, two plate stove and oven and a washing machine.  There is quite a nice article of the place in the September 2012 Wegsleep magazine.
 
We found the puncture on the mattress and tried to fix it with duct tape.  

Photos of our camping at Benmari where we again had a very nice braai and a better night’s rest.

Day 3 to follow….

 

[Wolzac]

Nice. Keep rolling away.

 

[woody1]

Lekker om te sien julle is ok.  julle was n rukkie stil gewees. Is daar nie opvangs in Sabie nie. :imaposer:
Daai aaklige foto van die Bloue op die treiler is n bewys die wittes is vinniger. ;D

 

[ShaunF]

:thumleft:

 

[Vis Arend]

Lekker om te sien julle is ok.  julle was n rukkie stil gewees. Is daar nie opvangs in Sabie nie. :imaposer:
Daai aaklige foto van die Bloue op die treiler is n bewys die wittes is vinniger. ;D

:lol8:  Had nie tyd gehe nie, was te besig om die bloue in toom te hou.  :biggrin:  Dis die dat ek hom moes vasmaak op die treiler,  :ricky:

 

[Casting from Turd]

sub

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 3

This day’s route would take us to Hazyview, Graskop and then to the Blyde river Canyon which will include the Pinnacle, God’s Window, the Potholes and the Three Rondawels.  From there it would be the J G Strijdom Tunnel to Hoedspruit.

We however decided to stay another night as Benmari resort as we enjoyed our stay there and we in any case had to pass Witrivier the next day again.  It also saved us time to pack – and set up camp.

It was hazy on the way to Hazyview.

Some scenery on the way to Graskop.

Berlyn Water Falls.

Scenery

The Pinnacle

View from the Pinnacle

God’s Window

View over the forest.

Trichard Potgieter Gedenkplaat

We took a turnoff to a view point and found this beautiful place.

We found one or other cat spoor, but it was definitely not your average house kitten.

 

[Vis Arend]

Methinks I need a trailer like this. 

The Potholes.  It is breathtaking.  There are a few places that really stand out for me, like Spitzkoppe and Eppupa Falls.  This is another one of those.

The Three Rondawels

A waterfall close to the tunnel.

And some more scenery

J G Strijdom Tunnel

Scenery

A lone Baobab tree

One for JMOL

Die Arende se ontmoeting

From Hoedspruit it was straight home (Witrivier / Benmari resort) were we had another good braai and a well-deserved rest.

Day 4 to continue…..

 

[JACOVV]

Baie mooi sover.  Dankie vd windpomp  :mwink:

Gedink julle sou eers vandag terugkom, maar bly jul is veilig!!

 

[woody1]

Lekker trippie weereens. Daai area is darem maar mooi. Julle was gelukkig om Gods Window so skoon en oop te kry. Hy is maar partykeer mistig en deinserig.

 

[frans1]

Pragtig! en Dankie