I've tried to plot your route on my Map Source but cant.
Do you have the route on GPS?
Do you have the route on GPS?
Bikes, battles and passes – Take 2
- Thread starter DD650
- Start date
DD650
Race Dog
We eventually ended up on a nice winding canal road all along the Woodstock dam. Not far onto this road a farmer in a bakkie stopped us and told us that we were on private land and how did we get here and where did we find this road! :-\ He was quite surprised when I told him I found it on Mapsource. We profusely apologized but luckily he was just surprized to find us there. He then told us that we are quite welcome, but not the others. We were not sure if he meant the BMW’s were welcome but not KTM’s or if he meant we were welcome but not the locals on horses that just passed us. >
He was quite friendly and talkative and told us more about the canal and what they were doing with the big pipes we saw them working on. He even told us how many gates we can expect and that we should just close them again. The ride along the canal was just great with lots of twisties to play around and to top it off gorgeous views of the Drakensberg! :ricky:
We made a quick stop at the Kerkenberg site and Retiefklip, where the Voortrekker leader Piet Retief's followers camped while the leaders went to Zululand to negotiate with Dingaan for land. The site is named Kerkenberg, or church mountain, because the Voortrekker’s minister, Erasmus Smit, thought the cluster of rocks at its base was worthy of a church. The Voortrekkers reached this site in mid-October and stayed there until 13 November 1837. Piet Retief’s daughter Debora painted his name on a rock (Retiefklip) on 12 November 1837 to mark his 57th birthday.
Hulle sou die kakies lekker ver sien aankom! :biggrin:
We took the lekker tweespoor road back again towards Drakensberg Mountain Retreat, our stop for the night.
The “Kaalvoet Vrou Monument” was very close to our stop for the night and this has been on our to-do list for a long time. The group at Kerkenberg regularly send out parties to find ways down the escarpment. Piet Retief’s party of Voortrekkers decided they didn’t want to go to what was to become the Transvaal Republic with the rest of the Voortrekkers. They rather wanted to go to Natal. Piet Retief’s group started to descend the mountains along the steep Retief Pass into Kwazulu-Natal on 14 November 1837. At the beginning of Voortrekker or Piet Retief Pass is a full sized metal statue of a barefoot Voortrekker woman, the “Kaalvoet Vrou Monument”, walking away from Natal. There were a number of trekkers who, in 1847 after the annexation of Natal by the British in 1842, wanted to return to the Free State. This monument is in memory of Susanna Smit, the wife of the Voortrekker minister, Erasmus Smit and sister of Gert Maritz, who declared that she would rather trek barefoot back over the Drakensberg than live in Natal under British rule.
It was really cold and windy on top of the escarpment! I am not sure if she was wrapped because she was also cold or to protect her from damage.
I had to hold on to her not to be blown away!
We were thrilled to see the fires burning at the Drakensberg Mountain Retreat as it was now getting very cold. Another fantastic day on the bikes! :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:
He was quite friendly and talkative and told us more about the canal and what they were doing with the big pipes we saw them working on. He even told us how many gates we can expect and that we should just close them again. The ride along the canal was just great with lots of twisties to play around and to top it off gorgeous views of the Drakensberg! :ricky:
We made a quick stop at the Kerkenberg site and Retiefklip, where the Voortrekker leader Piet Retief's followers camped while the leaders went to Zululand to negotiate with Dingaan for land. The site is named Kerkenberg, or church mountain, because the Voortrekker’s minister, Erasmus Smit, thought the cluster of rocks at its base was worthy of a church. The Voortrekkers reached this site in mid-October and stayed there until 13 November 1837. Piet Retief’s daughter Debora painted his name on a rock (Retiefklip) on 12 November 1837 to mark his 57th birthday.
Hulle sou die kakies lekker ver sien aankom! :biggrin:
We took the lekker tweespoor road back again towards Drakensberg Mountain Retreat, our stop for the night.
The “Kaalvoet Vrou Monument” was very close to our stop for the night and this has been on our to-do list for a long time. The group at Kerkenberg regularly send out parties to find ways down the escarpment. Piet Retief’s party of Voortrekkers decided they didn’t want to go to what was to become the Transvaal Republic with the rest of the Voortrekkers. They rather wanted to go to Natal. Piet Retief’s group started to descend the mountains along the steep Retief Pass into Kwazulu-Natal on 14 November 1837. At the beginning of Voortrekker or Piet Retief Pass is a full sized metal statue of a barefoot Voortrekker woman, the “Kaalvoet Vrou Monument”, walking away from Natal. There were a number of trekkers who, in 1847 after the annexation of Natal by the British in 1842, wanted to return to the Free State. This monument is in memory of Susanna Smit, the wife of the Voortrekker minister, Erasmus Smit and sister of Gert Maritz, who declared that she would rather trek barefoot back over the Drakensberg than live in Natal under British rule.
It was really cold and windy on top of the escarpment! I am not sure if she was wrapped because she was also cold or to protect her from damage.
I had to hold on to her not to be blown away!
We were thrilled to see the fires burning at the Drakensberg Mountain Retreat as it was now getting very cold. Another fantastic day on the bikes! :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:
DD650
Race Dog
Day 5
Unfortunately all good things come to an end and it was time to head home again. It was still very cold when we got up and we could see the cold clouds in the valley!
Our plan was to take back dirt roads as close to home as we could get. The first stretch of tar took us past the Sterkfontein Dam.
Lekker paaie in die Vrystaat! :ricky:
Crossing the Elands River.
Last dirt road for the trip.
Martin was complaining for the last few kilometres that his bike was not handling well and just wanted to do its own thing the whole time. The loose rocks in the road didn't help at all! Upon inspection he realized the front shock absorber seal has blown. That meant the end of our dirt roads and we tackled the boring tar road home.
Luckily there is still some beauty along the tar roads as well. :ricky: Lots of flamingos.
And beautiful autumn scenes in Frankfort.
We finally crossed the Vaal River and were back in Gauteng again.
I again realized just how privileged we are! To be able to travel our magnificent country on bikes and see all these beautiful places and learn more about our history. And to do it with your best friend! Another awesome trip! Thanks for reading. :ricky: :ricky:
Unfortunately all good things come to an end and it was time to head home again. It was still very cold when we got up and we could see the cold clouds in the valley!
Our plan was to take back dirt roads as close to home as we could get. The first stretch of tar took us past the Sterkfontein Dam.
Lekker paaie in die Vrystaat! :ricky:
Crossing the Elands River.
Last dirt road for the trip.
Martin was complaining for the last few kilometres that his bike was not handling well and just wanted to do its own thing the whole time. The loose rocks in the road didn't help at all! Upon inspection he realized the front shock absorber seal has blown. That meant the end of our dirt roads and we tackled the boring tar road home.
Luckily there is still some beauty along the tar roads as well. :ricky: Lots of flamingos.
And beautiful autumn scenes in Frankfort.
We finally crossed the Vaal River and were back in Gauteng again.
I again realized just how privileged we are! To be able to travel our magnificent country on bikes and see all these beautiful places and learn more about our history. And to do it with your best friend! Another awesome trip! Thanks for reading. :ricky: :ricky:
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2013
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Wraggies nou lekker gelees aan die geskiedenis en alles, dit lyk soos 'n avontuur om eendag te doen.
spoedvark
Grey Hound
Well done! Thanks for sharing!
Man from Nam
Race Dog
What a nice trip and beautiful photo's.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
