Anti-Clockwise to St. Lucia.

[Ian in Great Brak River]

This was our winter trip we did in May this year, ALLEN I would head SW from Pretoria whilst I headed NE from Great Brak, the half way spot was Colesburg and depending on the weather once there we would either go to Botswana and Northern Namibia which is unfinished business for us, (basically it's Namibia: 2 - Dinosaurs: 0 !) .... or up to St. Lucia and onwards to MP.
Perfect weather for the start of the 700 odd km day, I was heading for Klaarstroom where I'd turn right onto the R407 to Willowmore.

Great gravel road this is with nice closely spaced ups 'n downs to get into the mood.

Turned left for Graaf-Reinet for a pit stop, then left town via the R63 to the N1 and on to Colesburg for the night.

I have always been fascinated with the Boer War and the hero's that emerged from those times, driven by the need to preserve our country and the sacrifices it took that allows us to live the life we do. Gideon Scheepers was certainly one of those men, driven by an unshakable belief in God and country and I have always wanted to spend some time at this memorial to him.

The R63 is another great little quiet gravel road with practically no traffic, one passes farms that look quiet too ... great places to live but I have no doubt that it has it's challenges out here too.
 

I spent half an hour just chilling out here ...

 

[troos]

Subscribed

 

[ALLEN I]

cool carry on

 

[Mr Zog]

Seems like a great ride. I'll tag along too  :ricky:

 

[ALLEN I]

gets a whole lot better as we progress down. but unfortunately we didn't do much sand sand roads this trip

 

[Chrisl]

Tik tok makes the clock

 

[stan1975]

Subscribed for sure... great gravel highways so far.  :thumleft:

 

[COLES]

looks just great

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Colesburg has always been an overnight stop from me on various bike trips and now and again when forced to take 4 wheels instead. Conniston House has been welcome and serves a good breakfast so that was where we crashed for the night. The weather had been plenty rain up the Natal coast but had turned sunny and Bots looked to be getting the left over weather so the decision was an easy one: KZN it will be, neither of us had ever been to St. Lucia before you see. In hindsight we should have camped at the Dam, the Gariep Dam as it's got a cool campsite.

I learnt to water ski at 4 on the Vaal River, so have always had an affinity to SA's dull brown river/dam water... somehow it's makes me feel at home.

Great to see the dam was full too.

We hit the road general direction East via Burgersdorp - Molteno - Ugie - Maclear to Kokstad for the night.

Weird rain water wash formations along the way.

Nice and green in this part of the world in May.

By now the trip had taken on a character of it's own, the pace was slow, we just kept heading slowly East by a little North and would see what Kokstad had to offer.

The Old Orchard Guest House was just in the right place at the right time, 5km's from town, so that was tonight's stop.

They were certainly a little wary of the bikers in us but put up a brave face ... and placed us far from the larny crowd.

The accommodation was first class, the breakfast likewise. It was also chilly with lots of frost in the morning, the GPS was convinced we were at 1200m ... so who am I to argue?

Don't worry, it's a Honda, they love winter.

Yamaha's on the other hand need special treatment ...

Allen was woken by the birds, a nice way to start the day I think.

If in Kokstad again I would have no problem staying here again.

 

[Casting from Turd]

gan gou kryhom daai popcorn.

 

[Loneman]

Sub :sip:

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

It's been ... ah, something like 20 years at least since I last had a ride along the whole Natal South Coast other than a short stretch when Charlotte and I did a SA trip on the Kawasaki 1000R in ... 2000 I think it was ... how much has changed for all involved !

Never been to Port Edward either but Al had so he led the way.

We go past this sign, stop up short and spent some time discussing whether of not we should offer them our services for the good of all humanity ... decided to have a beer at sea level rather ... that's what age does to you.

The great thing about tropical countryside is one all of a sudden pops out and a whole new world awaits  

On his trip down to Colesburg the XRV's speedo had given up the ghost so Al had no idea of speed, distance or tank range but our Nam trip a year ago had shown remarkably similar consumption rates up to 120kmh. We stopped wherever we could but could find no speedo drive unit for the AT ... they (the agents) all said it had never been asked for as a spare part before so they did not have any inventory. This would prove to only be repaired after the trip was completed. The nylon worm drive was stripped.

Anyway, we slowly make our way up the very busy coast road ... it's nothing but house after house ... no wonder it's where SA goes on holiday.

We camp in Hibberdene camp site ... last time I was here the ride down was in the back on an El Camino bakkie towing a Jurgens caravan in ... ah, '73 I think it was. There were 6 of us in the back of that El Camino ... I dare any dad's to try that today!

I remember this to have been a moerse river back then ...

Of course nothing looks remotely like it did then, in fact it's become a semi permanent retirement camp site. R400k gets you a two bed brick house for R500pm in park fees.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

We continue North up the coast stopping at Honda in Umhlanga at their Gateway dealer, no luck there either for the AT.

Tonight's stop is the Woodpecker Inn in Richards Bay where Al has some family members ...

Next day was all of 116km to St. Lucia ... my mate in GB's youngest sister owned a pizza joint here, St. Pizza it was called so I had to see where exactly that was. I can now see why it was a good business back then and still is it seems.

I have sailed this coast before in The Crystic Week regattas in the '80, and also a Mauritius - Durban Beachcomber Race that was one hell of a ride in a 52ft sled, 1760miles in 7 days 18 hrs.  

As all good up country tourists must, Al dips his boots in the Indian Ocean.

We camp at the Sugarloaf Camp Site all the way at the end of the road right up against the mouth of the estuary. Nice place but stay close to the main gate as things tend to grow feet and walk away around here we're told.

This was the high light of this trip ... lots of wildlife wandering in and out, what a fantastic spot St. Lucia must have been years ago if it's still great now.

I'm woken just before 6am by the Hippo's making sure everyone for miles around knows who's in charge here.

There's a lekker walkway out to the beach that's crosses over a Hippo bush track that they use to come ashore to forage at night.  

Sunrise.

 

[spoedvark]

Lekker to see the number plates of my old hometown where i grew up. Mossel Bay. What a lekker dorpie to have grown up in!!

Thanks for sharing your ride with us!!

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Lekker to see the number plates of my old hometown where i grew up. Mossel Bay. What a lekker dorpie to have grown up in!!

Thanks for sharing your ride with us!!

Yep, Great Brak falls under MB municipality, however some guys here register in CAW George. It's still a lekker dorpie.

8)

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Lots of warnings signs about to keep ones eyes open above and below water level here.

Get back after the early morning walk to the beach and these two Bossbokkies are out and about ...

... as is this crowd of heavyweights still throwing their weight around.

We do all we can to take the road to Cape Vidal but they will not budge on letting crazy bikers through ... pity as we believe it's great.

So we head for Swaziland ... and cross the border at Mahamba.

I clearly did not do my homework on Swaziland as I expected plenty greenery and some mountains, but we get straight roads, a flat landscape and Swazi Vodacom that does not like RSA Vodacom. Anyway we find a nameless river and promptly name it Dinosaur River in our honour.

I love this sign as we go through a nature reserve ... and 5 km's further we pass one guy sitting in the long grass oblivious to any danger.

Before we know it we're at another border post that the name escapes me, we cross through heading for Nelspruit. Again we stop at the Honda dealer and again no luck on the AT's speedo drive, we stay just outside town at Nou's Toeka Lodge and change the brake pads on the AT.

Off early the next morning.

We're surprised by the volume of traffic on the SA side.

Stunning sights at every turn so we take it slow.

But reality intrudes just around the bend ...

... we've been passing cars for 2km when we see this drama ... it takes over 40 mins for these guys to load and tie down the Toyota and the canopy that has blown off ... we contemplate pushing past on the right but what's the point - there's no rush.

We go over the Long Tom pass, amazing to think that in the 2nd last century this canon had a range of 9000m ! Today they produce fine expensive pots and pans.

We follow the pass, great views on either side, the Long Tom, viewed from across the valley where we have just passed an impact crater.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Pilgrims Rest is still alive and kicking despite all the political drama about who has the rental rights ... there's plenty super bikes shooting past and we can see why.

We try to get lunch at the golf club outside town but no luck.

To think the biggest nugget found here on one of the 4000 claims weighed nearly 6kg's or 214oz !!

In 1911 this was the 2nd town in SA to be electrified.

We make it to Grasskop for the night, staying at the Summit Lodge just outside town. Nice place. The next day the weather has changed as expected so it was good we did all the sight seeing yesterday. We have done practically no gravel in a week so take a small de-tour the next morning but it soon ends in a dead end.

It's clear the weather is here to stay so we reluctantly head SW but not before a stop at the Blyder River Canyon. As we park the bikes a JHB tour bus pulls in with lots of travelers and they are soon chatting to us as we are from far away. We make some good times possible.

... then head down to the canyon.

I have not been here since '78.

Whilst the previous photo shoot was in progress another couple had been lurking close by and on return they are still there, turns out they're from Germany and she too would love a shot on the Yam ... aber ja, naturlich schatz.

We hit the road for Bela Bela but stop at another nameless canyon and yes, it's now officially known as Dinosaur Canyon.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

There's so much history in this part of the world, with great views and excellent road conditions.

We pass a Voortrekker grave site, something serious must have happened in 1848 as quite a few graves date from then.

Can anyone tell me what trees these are with their lime green trunks ?

In Bela Bela we spend a night, Al's kids join us and we have a great time in the warm pools.

Hardies, my favourite birds.

In PTA Al heads for home and I make the most of the trip back to Great Brak.

This gravel road (R795 I think it is) runs parallel to the N1 from Colesburg, starts just left of that new intersection under construction.

It's being worked on so I take it easy, no one passes me ...

... but I do see this handsome dude, a Roan Antelope.

It's a pleasant de-tour to end this ride.

Thanks for the good company. Till next time

8)

 

[Krod]

Awesome!

 

[Bokveld]

  Thanks,Ian,for sharing this great trip.