eikeboom
Race Dog
It was short notice...
On Friday morning Alec sms'd "we have been invited to a farm somewhere between Barrydale and Ladysmith, friend Brian is there to take care of the place while the owners are on holliday overseas". His message was a lot shorter of course, having been taught by his 2 teenage kids.
The plan was that his son would take dad's steed, as Camryn's old XT250 is still in the process of being built up. Alec and the missus would go by cage late Sat afternoon, meeting us there.
The two of us were ready to go by Sat morning 11:00, from my house:
It was Camryn's very first adventure trip, hence the formalities... Dad was jealous of course, having to travel in a cage. I knew it was going to be far and strenious for him, but I said nothing, not wanting to put anyone off. :mwink: He's been looking forward to something like this for a loooooong time.
At the Theewaterskloof dam we saw the first snow of the season on the Boland mountains:
On the way to Robertson we took the Koppies gravel road through the farms of course, gently introducing the young chap to this type of riding and the environment (he liked it of course). We took it easy, stopping often to drink in the crisp scenery and enjoying the moment. ;D
Some more snow near Villiersdorp:
The going was good, and soon we went onto the Skerpenheuwel road through the farms (in good condition - damp and hard packed).
Still on the way to Robertson:
I immediately noticed the steep track up the mountain in the upper left corner of the photo above, and I was suddenly very interested... :mwink: A little further on it was clear that it was a private road - we passed a helluva high fence with a big gate, clearly some game farm.
In the Kogmans Kloof at Montague:
The geologic forces went wild here, possibly some 500 million years ago (can't remember well), causing the Cape Fold Belt to form. Subsequent erosion exposed this beauty for us.
At Montague we refilled and bought pies (the packet of Rennies was thrown in for free). We asked around about the back roads to Barrydale and Ladysmith, as I knew only the R62. At the SAPS the friendly policemen showed us their new map of the district - having a better idea of where to go, we were off.
Of course I was unsure of whether we should take the chance to go by gravel road - I had only an idea where the farm was, not sure on which turnoff from Route 62 after Barrydale, it was getting late and I was responsible for another man's son, who was incidentally an inexperienced rider with only the morning's gravel roads up his sleeve. I did not know the area and had no idea what the condition of the road would be like. All I knew was that it had rained in the area till about 2 days ago! I have no GPS and my travel atlas has the fold right here.
But what the hell it was weekend, the Boks are playing right now, an adventure in itself (I only watched the game on Monday night) and I was NOT lus for a tar road full of mad Capetonians. So...
By this time it was already 2.30 or 3 pm and we moved on.
More to follow...
On Friday morning Alec sms'd "we have been invited to a farm somewhere between Barrydale and Ladysmith, friend Brian is there to take care of the place while the owners are on holliday overseas". His message was a lot shorter of course, having been taught by his 2 teenage kids.
The plan was that his son would take dad's steed, as Camryn's old XT250 is still in the process of being built up. Alec and the missus would go by cage late Sat afternoon, meeting us there.
The two of us were ready to go by Sat morning 11:00, from my house:
It was Camryn's very first adventure trip, hence the formalities... Dad was jealous of course, having to travel in a cage. I knew it was going to be far and strenious for him, but I said nothing, not wanting to put anyone off. :mwink: He's been looking forward to something like this for a loooooong time.
At the Theewaterskloof dam we saw the first snow of the season on the Boland mountains:
On the way to Robertson we took the Koppies gravel road through the farms of course, gently introducing the young chap to this type of riding and the environment (he liked it of course). We took it easy, stopping often to drink in the crisp scenery and enjoying the moment. ;D
Some more snow near Villiersdorp:
The going was good, and soon we went onto the Skerpenheuwel road through the farms (in good condition - damp and hard packed).
Still on the way to Robertson:
I immediately noticed the steep track up the mountain in the upper left corner of the photo above, and I was suddenly very interested... :mwink: A little further on it was clear that it was a private road - we passed a helluva high fence with a big gate, clearly some game farm.
In the Kogmans Kloof at Montague:
The geologic forces went wild here, possibly some 500 million years ago (can't remember well), causing the Cape Fold Belt to form. Subsequent erosion exposed this beauty for us.
At Montague we refilled and bought pies (the packet of Rennies was thrown in for free). We asked around about the back roads to Barrydale and Ladysmith, as I knew only the R62. At the SAPS the friendly policemen showed us their new map of the district - having a better idea of where to go, we were off.
Of course I was unsure of whether we should take the chance to go by gravel road - I had only an idea where the farm was, not sure on which turnoff from Route 62 after Barrydale, it was getting late and I was responsible for another man's son, who was incidentally an inexperienced rider with only the morning's gravel roads up his sleeve. I did not know the area and had no idea what the condition of the road would be like. All I knew was that it had rained in the area till about 2 days ago! I have no GPS and my travel atlas has the fold right here.
But what the hell it was weekend, the Boks are playing right now, an adventure in itself (I only watched the game on Monday night) and I was NOT lus for a tar road full of mad Capetonians. So...
By this time it was already 2.30 or 3 pm and we moved on.
More to follow...
