Around Lesotho with Tulie - December 2009

[Big H]

DAY 0:

Route: Centurion > Johannesburg > Frankfort > Tweeling > Reitz > Tulie's Farm

Distance: +/- 290 km

After an extremely hectic day at work, doing my best to tie up what feels like hundreds of loose ends, I say stuff it and get on my bike and ride to Tulie’s farm. Along the way I meet up with BikerSmurf and NickyO and with the help of BikerSmurf’s map we find Tulie’s farm without any problems.

Tulie’s farm, which is somewhere between Reitz and Bethlehem, is a stunning place, and Tulie and Carene are two of the nicest people you will ever meet.

That night I meet the rest of the people who will be joining us on the trip, and Tulie and Carene treat us to great food and drinks and we have lots of laughs.


Arriving at Tulie’s place:

The log huts on Tulie’s farm are great to stay in:

A misty start to the first morning:

Ready to start the trip:

 

[Big H]

DAY 1:

Route: Tulie's Farm > Harrismith > Geluksburg > Bergville > Himeville

Distance: +/- 350 km

We left Tulie’s farm early the Friday morning and took gravel roads to Harrismith where we had breakfast. From Harrismith we headed directly South to Geluksburg and rode over the Middledale Pass on the way there. In Geluksburg we stopped at The Homestead and rustled up the owner to organize us some beers.

From Geluksburg we rode to Bergville and then we rode all along the Kamberg Mountains towards Himeville.

120km from Himeville my bike died, but luckily I was able to get it started again by going down a very steep hill and starting the bike in 5th gear. On the way to Himeville I noticed that my bike was behaving strangely but after we replaced the battery at the local Yamaha dealer everything was fine again (see this thread for details: https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=42038.0).

We stayed over in the legendary Himeville Arms and had lot to talk about after an amazing first day!


On the way to Harrismith:

Between Harrismith and Geluksburg:

Stopping for drinks in Geluksburg:

Stunning scenery on the way to Bergville and Himeville:

Relaxing in the Himeville Arms after a fantastic day:

Himeville Arms the following morning:

 

[Big H]

DAY 2:

Route: Himeville > Underberg > Kingscote > Swartberg > Matatiele > Mount Fletcher > Naude's Nek > Rhodes

Distance: +/- 400 km

The Saturday morning we left Himeville and rode to Underburg, and from there we took the back roads to Swartberg. It rained during the night and still drizzled for the first couple of hours of the ride, which meant that the dirt roads were slippery so we took things slowly at first.

Luckily the weather cleared up nicely after a while and the scenery on the way to Matatiele, where we had lunch, was fantastic.

From Matatiele we took a back road to Mount Fletcher which turned out to be quite bad. Lots of rocks and corrugations caused two bent rims. The front rim of Carene’s F650GS was bent quite a bit, but was fixed quickly with a couple of big rocks...

After passing through Mount Fletcher we turned off onto gravel again, in the direction of Lower Pitseng and Elands Height, and the scenery became better and better the further we rode.

We rode up Naude’s Nek in the mist, and I can only imagine how stunning this ride must be if the weather is clear. (Note to myself: You have to go back there real soon). On top of Naude’s Nek I came around a bend and saw a R1200GS Adventure parked, to put it mildly, in completely the wrong place!

Neels misjudged the turn and couldn’t stop in time and almost rode off the edge of the cliff. Luckily his crash bar stopped against a big rock, which stopped him and the bike (and his wife, by the way!!!) from rolling down a very steep and long hill. We got the bike out quickly and continued on our way, very relieved and thankful because the damage could have been much worse.

The mist cleared on the other side of Naude’s Nek and the views down the mountain towards Rhodes were amazing. This is definitely one of the best DS rides in the country!

We spent the night in the Rhodes Hotel and once again we had a lot to talk and laugh about and had a fantastic evening.


A rainy start to the second day. Luckily it cleared up quickly:

Scenery on the way to Swartberg:

Rest stop between Swartberg and Matatiele:

On the way to Matatiele:

On the way to Naude’s Nek Pass:

Heavy mist on top of Naude’s Nek Pass:

A little mishap on top of Naude’s Nek:

Riding through the mist on the way to Rhodes:

Relaxing in the Rhodes Hotel:

 

[Big H]

DAY 3:

Route: Rhodes > Tiffendel > Lundin's Nek > Palmietfontein > Zastron > Wepener > Hobhouse > Ladybrand > Clocolan > Fouriesburg > Bethlehem > Johannesburg > Centurion

Distance: +/- 450 km to Bethlehem, and another +/- 300km from there back to Centurion

The Sunday morning we decided to ride up to Tiffendel. The road up the mountain is for 4x4 vehicles only and the steep inclines and sharp turns really tested our riding ability. I think there were a couple of falls but everybody made it up the mountain in one piece.

We stopped for a group photo at Tiffendel and continued on our journey, and due to all the ruts and loose rocks the ride down the mountain was almost just as interesting as the ride up!

Lundin’s Nek was another highlight of the trip! Fantastic roads and stunning scenery makes this another one of the must-do rides in our country.

On the other side of Lundin’s Nek we reached the Lesotho border and rode all along the border to the Telle Bridge Border post at Palmietfontein.

We stopped for a late lunch at Wepener and from there I left the group and rode home because I had to be back at work the following day. The rest of the group rode back to Tulie’s Farm and spent another night there before they went home on the Monday. Yes, I was very jealous...

I reached my home at 18:00 that evening, tired but very happy.


Between Rhodes and Tiffendel:

Group photo at Tiffendel:

Between Tiffendel and Lundin’s Nek:

Rest stop between Tiffendel and Lundin’s Nek:

Lundin’s Nek:

Riding along the Lesotho border between Lundin’s Nek and the Telle Bridge border post.

 

[Big H]

IN SUMMARY:

Another brilliant trip with great people, and some of the best roads in South Africa!

Tulie and Carene are fantastic hosts and I really recommend doing a trip with them. You will not be sorry, I can guarantee that.

Check out www.tulie.co.za for more info.

 

[TCS]

Thanks BigH the RR and shots is stunning!!!! I agree we must go back and do Naude's neck again soon hopefully without mist...... I agree Tulie and Carene are wonderfull people and i am looking forward to my nest trip with them ..... :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Big H]

For sure TC.

The text trip must happen sooner rather than later!

:ricky:

 

[JustJane]

Great RR!!! AWESOME PICS!!! Know the mist must've spoilts some of the views... but definitely makes for some beautiful photos!!  :thumleft:

 

[Chrisl]

Big H I see youre busy taking stunning pics again!!
Beautiful!!

 

[Tienie]

Lekker RR! Waar kan ek Theunis Nel se kontakbesonderhede kry?

 

[KAT-WP]

Tulies place is spectacular, beautiful setting :thumleft:

very nice photos & RR, thx

 

[Gee eS]

Great RR. I really like the fourth photo in the RR.

 

[Dustdevil]

That is really good photography and some spectacular riding. We traveled from Barkley East over Tiffendale, Rhodes, Nuade's Nek and Lower Pitseng on our way to Lesotho at the end of December and although we only traveled through this part to get into Lesotho it was still one of the highlights of our trip.

 

[AB]

nice

 

[Oetie]

Nice, beautiful pic's you've posted :thumleft:

 

[dakardrix]

Stunning!  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[rooisand]

VERY nice pics!!! :thumleft:

 

[Tulie]

Dankie Big H great RR, dit is nice as jy saam is want jy neem die mooiste fotos.
Ons beplan om in Februarie 'n breek te vat en  die agterpaaie te vat na Stormsrivier.  Hou julle kalenders oop vir die eerste naweek in Maart waneer ons weer'n trip in die Oos Vrystaat aanbied. Die trip val saam met die antieke trekker fees, by Clocolan. Hou Woema se program op TV dop vir meer inligting.

 

[Big H]

Some more pics of the scenery we encountered along the way...

 

[Tulie]

Lekker RR! Waar kan ek Theunis Nel se kontakbesonderhede kry?

Gaan na Bike in jou taal website en stuur vir hom 'n boodskap