R
Red Adventure
Guest
Every year in February the Christian Motorcyclist Association have their Freedom Road Rally. A few years ago a bunch of DS guys started a "tradition" if you want to call it that to ride to the rally via dirt roads.
So it is again time for the rally and another DS ride is planned to the rally in Stilbaai at the end of the month. 27 Feb,28 Feb and 1st of March.
The preferred route that will be taken on Friday morning the 27th of February is broken down in detail while an alternative Route follows:
The alternative route will be from Cape Town to Stellenbosch/Somerset West to Grabouw then via the Highlands road past Kleinmond to Hermanus and then on to Stanford. From Stanford take the Salmansdam road to over the Sondagskloof River to Napier. From Napier take the R316 to Bredasdorp and from there continue to Stillbaai, or as per broken down preferred route below:
Leave as early as possible (08H00) from Franschoek at the BP-Fuel station as you come into town on your left. Refill all the tanks and have a coffee and doughnut wile waiting for all. Last year it was quite misty before starting and added to the excitement!
Leave @ 08H00 over Franschoek Mountain towards Villiersdorp. Through Villiersdorp and take the little dirt road all along the Doring River, that will bring us to the Scherpuntheuwel road, all the way just before Robertson were we take the turn off towards McGregor (This is a distance of 135km from Franschoek.) A lovely breakfast was had there last year and agreed upon. Fill up for those fuel tanks that see the need, there is only one pump and it takes some time…
From McGregor we take another little dirt road, little in the true sense of the word past the Groot and Boesmans Rivers until we get to the R317 (33km from McGregor). A short distance (6km) down the R317(Tar), careful for the nasty “twisties”, until we reach the N2.
We now have two choices
- 1. Take the tar road, R317 all the way to Bredasdorp, 56Km from the turning off the N2, or
- 2. Take the little dirt roads to very close to Bredasdorp, 45km.
At Bredasdorp we fill up the tanks and have a drink and a snack. There might be one or two of the Bredasdorp dual purpose riders that could join us for the rest of the ride.
Now we will be heading in a Easterly direction, over the Kars River on the R319 (Tar) and after 8km we will turn off on a dirt road. This road will take you past the Potbergs River and eventually past the “De Hoop Nature Reserve” were we will turn off after 37km in a North Easterly direction, still on dirt. From there its 13km to the Malgas (MALAGAS) Ferry/Pont over the Breede River (and yes, it is back into operation!).
From Malgas (MALAGAS) its dirt roads to the R324 (Dirt) and then to Witsand (From Malgas (MALAGAS) to Witsand is 32km)
At Witsand we can have a bite to eat, Fish and Chips are always a good idea, and those that want to fill up can do so!
From Witsand we take the R322 (Tar) for 14km and turn in a Southerly direction towards Vermaaklikheid across the Duiwenhoks River, all dirt road. From the start of the dirt road to Vermaaklikheid is 24km. Pls be alert for the “twisties,” they can will catch you off guard!
From Vermaaklikheid we will take the Blombos Road for 33km until we reach the tar road that will lead us all the way (12km) to the Rally Site.
Total kilometers from Franschoek to the Stillbaai Freedom Rally Campsite = 406km
For more info on the rally go to: https://cmacapetown.org.za/frr09/entries/index.htm
So it is again time for the rally and another DS ride is planned to the rally in Stilbaai at the end of the month. 27 Feb,28 Feb and 1st of March.
The preferred route that will be taken on Friday morning the 27th of February is broken down in detail while an alternative Route follows:
The alternative route will be from Cape Town to Stellenbosch/Somerset West to Grabouw then via the Highlands road past Kleinmond to Hermanus and then on to Stanford. From Stanford take the Salmansdam road to over the Sondagskloof River to Napier. From Napier take the R316 to Bredasdorp and from there continue to Stillbaai, or as per broken down preferred route below:
Leave as early as possible (08H00) from Franschoek at the BP-Fuel station as you come into town on your left. Refill all the tanks and have a coffee and doughnut wile waiting for all. Last year it was quite misty before starting and added to the excitement!
Leave @ 08H00 over Franschoek Mountain towards Villiersdorp. Through Villiersdorp and take the little dirt road all along the Doring River, that will bring us to the Scherpuntheuwel road, all the way just before Robertson were we take the turn off towards McGregor (This is a distance of 135km from Franschoek.) A lovely breakfast was had there last year and agreed upon. Fill up for those fuel tanks that see the need, there is only one pump and it takes some time…
From McGregor we take another little dirt road, little in the true sense of the word past the Groot and Boesmans Rivers until we get to the R317 (33km from McGregor). A short distance (6km) down the R317(Tar), careful for the nasty “twisties”, until we reach the N2.
We now have two choices
- 1. Take the tar road, R317 all the way to Bredasdorp, 56Km from the turning off the N2, or
- 2. Take the little dirt roads to very close to Bredasdorp, 45km.
At Bredasdorp we fill up the tanks and have a drink and a snack. There might be one or two of the Bredasdorp dual purpose riders that could join us for the rest of the ride.
Now we will be heading in a Easterly direction, over the Kars River on the R319 (Tar) and after 8km we will turn off on a dirt road. This road will take you past the Potbergs River and eventually past the “De Hoop Nature Reserve” were we will turn off after 37km in a North Easterly direction, still on dirt. From there its 13km to the Malgas (MALAGAS) Ferry/Pont over the Breede River (and yes, it is back into operation!).
From Malgas (MALAGAS) its dirt roads to the R324 (Dirt) and then to Witsand (From Malgas (MALAGAS) to Witsand is 32km)
At Witsand we can have a bite to eat, Fish and Chips are always a good idea, and those that want to fill up can do so!
From Witsand we take the R322 (Tar) for 14km and turn in a Southerly direction towards Vermaaklikheid across the Duiwenhoks River, all dirt road. From the start of the dirt road to Vermaaklikheid is 24km. Pls be alert for the “twisties,” they can will catch you off guard!
From Vermaaklikheid we will take the Blombos Road for 33km until we reach the tar road that will lead us all the way (12km) to the Rally Site.
Total kilometers from Franschoek to the Stillbaai Freedom Rally Campsite = 406km
For more info on the rally go to: https://cmacapetown.org.za/frr09/entries/index.htm
