DirtHound
Race Dog
I've been working my backside off the past couple of weeks - so much so that Charlene and I decided to postpone celebrating our wedding anniversary for a week or two.
A baby sitter was arranged, and we decided to go for a ride! What an awesome wife I have! (I'm pretty sure that a 9 year wedding anniversary gift is an offroad ride
We left the trailer at the Peregrine Farm Stall in Grabouw, offloaded the bikes, and headed South to make use of Highlands road. Highlands road is a nice, easy gravel road that winds through the Elgin farmlands. We took it easy, and just enjoyed the freedom of being out on the bikes - away from the hustle and bustle of the city and a house full of kids.
Peregrine Farm Stall
Highlands road
My wonderful wife and I
Yours truly
Highlands ended at the R44, where we turned left and then left again onto the R43, which led us North into the peaceful little town of Botrivier. We stopped outside the Botrivier Hotel and ordered some drinks. It was nearly lunch time, so we scanned the menu and had something to eat as well. Charlene loves old colonial style hotels, so we went to investigate what Botrivier Hotel looked like. Nobody was around, except for an old Great Dane passed out behind the reception desk - obviously sleeping on the job.
Our stop in Botrivier
Botrivier Hotel's receptionist
The next leg of our ride was the section that I had been looking forward to since I started planning this little trip. It was the Old Houw Hoek Pass. It's a short little stint of about 6km from Botrivier heading back towards Grabouw. I originally wanted to ride Houw Hoek from Botrivier towards Grabouw, then turn around and do it again in the other direction to get back to Botrivier. Reason being that there are two passes North of Botrivier and Grabouw that I wanted to include in our outing. Van Der Stel Pass is located on a dirt road between Botrivier and Theewaterskloof dam, and Viljoen's Pass is on the R321 as you head back to Grabouw - closing a nice little loop of about 100km. Unfortunately, we forgot to leave milk for 6 month old Jonah (who is still being breast-fed) with our baby-sitter. She called us to ask where it is, and after a few minutes, we realised that it was probably still waiting in the cooler bag on the kitchen counter... *sigh*
Fortunately, Melissa (fantastic baby-sitter, and one of Charlene's best friends) went to get some milk fomula from the shop, so we could continue with our ride. We decided to skip the two passes to the North, since we were already running a little late, and just use the N2 to get back to the car and trailer once we were done with Old Houw Hoek.
On our way to join up with Old Houw Hoek Pass
So, we leave Botrivier, and find the start of the old Houw Hoek Pass. It's a superb tweespoor (jeep track) winding through the picturesque Elgin valley. The first little section ended where I can only assume a farmer had decided to dig a trench to keep bikers out. Fortunately the tough biker chick that was with me was quite happy to make her own way through the bush just right of the trench. And we were back on track in no time, enjoying the obstacles the route had to offer.
Annoying trench
Not even a kilometer later, I realise that we had gone slightly offtrack, and were heading down into the valley. We decided to press on, and explore a bit. The road got pretty rocky, and Charlene stopped to let me go ahead, coz she was a little nervous. I went down the first descent, and waited for her to catch up. She passed me, and then paused again shortly after. The next part was really steep (the video doesn't do it justice), and after about 100m, I decided that we were heading completely off-track, and the terrain was getting worse. This was only Charlene's second real trip on the bike, and I didn't want her to loose interest in biking due to me choosing a road that was beyond her abilities. I turned around, helped her to turn the bike, and we headed back to join up with the correct Old Houw Hoek Pass.
Charlene stalled the bike a few times getting back up the hill and I gave her some time to get the bike going, but then I decided to walk back to help her. Started the bike, gave her a helping push, and she was on her way. This process happened a few times, so by the time we got back to the railway line, I was huffing and puffing like a steam train. She commented that her gym sessions were working, coz she was fitter than me... I let her have that one, coz I was trying to hide my heavy breathing.
The downhill bit where I decided to turn around
Over the railway line we went, and then followed the tweespoor towards Grabouw. We were moving a bit faster now, and the wind on my body was very welcome. We stopped for an obligatory "Old Houw Hoek Pass photo" and to catch our breath. Being a Monday, I was surprised to see a blue KLR heading in the opposite direction. I nodded, and waved the "we're both adventure bikers enjoying this beautiful ride" wave, but he glanced at me, and continued along the path. Maybe he was just concentrating too hard to wave back.
The lady of the day, and of my life
Nine years together, and forever more!
We mounted our noble steeds, and continued along the stunning road until we hit the N2. I had plotted a few nice little paths on Google Earth, and would love to explore this area more next time (Charlene agrees), but at this stage, we were thinking of our poor little baby most probably screaming blue murder for his mommy's milk, so we slabbed it back to the farm stall and onwards to collect the kids from Melissa and Ashley. When we got there, Jonah was pleased as a pig in poo - not even a peep out of him, what a good baby, and what great baby-sitters - thanks guys!
That was a superb ride, thanks Shaz!
[flash=480,385]https://www.youtube.com/v/M0qT7KNktK8[/flash]
A baby sitter was arranged, and we decided to go for a ride! What an awesome wife I have! (I'm pretty sure that a 9 year wedding anniversary gift is an offroad ride
We left the trailer at the Peregrine Farm Stall in Grabouw, offloaded the bikes, and headed South to make use of Highlands road. Highlands road is a nice, easy gravel road that winds through the Elgin farmlands. We took it easy, and just enjoyed the freedom of being out on the bikes - away from the hustle and bustle of the city and a house full of kids.
Peregrine Farm Stall
Highlands road
My wonderful wife and I
Yours truly
Highlands ended at the R44, where we turned left and then left again onto the R43, which led us North into the peaceful little town of Botrivier. We stopped outside the Botrivier Hotel and ordered some drinks. It was nearly lunch time, so we scanned the menu and had something to eat as well. Charlene loves old colonial style hotels, so we went to investigate what Botrivier Hotel looked like. Nobody was around, except for an old Great Dane passed out behind the reception desk - obviously sleeping on the job.
Our stop in Botrivier
Botrivier Hotel's receptionist
The next leg of our ride was the section that I had been looking forward to since I started planning this little trip. It was the Old Houw Hoek Pass. It's a short little stint of about 6km from Botrivier heading back towards Grabouw. I originally wanted to ride Houw Hoek from Botrivier towards Grabouw, then turn around and do it again in the other direction to get back to Botrivier. Reason being that there are two passes North of Botrivier and Grabouw that I wanted to include in our outing. Van Der Stel Pass is located on a dirt road between Botrivier and Theewaterskloof dam, and Viljoen's Pass is on the R321 as you head back to Grabouw - closing a nice little loop of about 100km. Unfortunately, we forgot to leave milk for 6 month old Jonah (who is still being breast-fed) with our baby-sitter. She called us to ask where it is, and after a few minutes, we realised that it was probably still waiting in the cooler bag on the kitchen counter... *sigh*
Fortunately, Melissa (fantastic baby-sitter, and one of Charlene's best friends) went to get some milk fomula from the shop, so we could continue with our ride. We decided to skip the two passes to the North, since we were already running a little late, and just use the N2 to get back to the car and trailer once we were done with Old Houw Hoek.
On our way to join up with Old Houw Hoek Pass
So, we leave Botrivier, and find the start of the old Houw Hoek Pass. It's a superb tweespoor (jeep track) winding through the picturesque Elgin valley. The first little section ended where I can only assume a farmer had decided to dig a trench to keep bikers out. Fortunately the tough biker chick that was with me was quite happy to make her own way through the bush just right of the trench. And we were back on track in no time, enjoying the obstacles the route had to offer.
Annoying trench
Not even a kilometer later, I realise that we had gone slightly offtrack, and were heading down into the valley. We decided to press on, and explore a bit. The road got pretty rocky, and Charlene stopped to let me go ahead, coz she was a little nervous. I went down the first descent, and waited for her to catch up. She passed me, and then paused again shortly after. The next part was really steep (the video doesn't do it justice), and after about 100m, I decided that we were heading completely off-track, and the terrain was getting worse. This was only Charlene's second real trip on the bike, and I didn't want her to loose interest in biking due to me choosing a road that was beyond her abilities. I turned around, helped her to turn the bike, and we headed back to join up with the correct Old Houw Hoek Pass.
Charlene stalled the bike a few times getting back up the hill and I gave her some time to get the bike going, but then I decided to walk back to help her. Started the bike, gave her a helping push, and she was on her way. This process happened a few times, so by the time we got back to the railway line, I was huffing and puffing like a steam train. She commented that her gym sessions were working, coz she was fitter than me... I let her have that one, coz I was trying to hide my heavy breathing.
The downhill bit where I decided to turn around
Over the railway line we went, and then followed the tweespoor towards Grabouw. We were moving a bit faster now, and the wind on my body was very welcome. We stopped for an obligatory "Old Houw Hoek Pass photo" and to catch our breath. Being a Monday, I was surprised to see a blue KLR heading in the opposite direction. I nodded, and waved the "we're both adventure bikers enjoying this beautiful ride" wave, but he glanced at me, and continued along the path. Maybe he was just concentrating too hard to wave back.
The lady of the day, and of my life
Nine years together, and forever more!
We mounted our noble steeds, and continued along the stunning road until we hit the N2. I had plotted a few nice little paths on Google Earth, and would love to explore this area more next time (Charlene agrees), but at this stage, we were thinking of our poor little baby most probably screaming blue murder for his mommy's milk, so we slabbed it back to the farm stall and onwards to collect the kids from Melissa and Ashley. When we got there, Jonah was pleased as a pig in poo - not even a peep out of him, what a good baby, and what great baby-sitters - thanks guys!
That was a superb ride, thanks Shaz!
[flash=480,385]https://www.youtube.com/v/M0qT7KNktK8[/flash]
