FLATS, HEIGHTS AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN THE TANKWA

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JACOVV

JACOVV

Race Dog
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
4,613
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Location
East London
Bike
BMW R1200GS Adventure
After Ou Bees and I came back from our “honeymoon” trip in Cape Town, (https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=166664.0) I had to pack again as Ed and myself planned a trip to the Karoo / Tankwa Karoo (not sure what you call the area).  

Originally we would be about 5 bikes, but due to family and work related matters some friends had to withdraw.

Visarend gave me a route they did and I could still remember the e-mail that says: “Ry dit – jy kan my later bedank”.  Well – many thanks Vis.  It was a pleasant route.

We changed here and there from the planned route and if I look back into it, it was the best decision at that time.
 
DAY 1 – SATURDAY, 03 JAN 2015

Route:  East London, KWT, Adelaide, Somerset East, Graaf Reinet, Aberdeen & Beaufort West.

The plan was to do tar all the way as we want to save time.  I met Ed at the usual EL “get together” place, namely the Sasol Garage at Abbotsford as their coffee is the best garage coffee in East London.

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It is tradition that if I go on a trip and I pass KWT, I have to stop for a Wimpy breakfast 

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The church in Adelaide.

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A statue of the Voortrekker leader Piet Retief – Ed told me that his great great great grand father is Piet Retief. Ek ry rond saam met bekende mense  :peepwall:

The statue is in the school grounds of the now called Piet Retief High School.  Earlier years (the 70 & 80’s) Adelaide had an Academical High School, Technical School (Piet Retief) & a High School for girls.

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In Bedford we stopped for a compulsory coffee and met 3 guys on a trip for two days.  They were on pension and just enjoyed the time on their bikes and each other’s company.  Something to look forward one day.  :deal:

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Sunday’s lunch walking around for old times’ sake.

In Graaf Reinet we had to feed our horses and the town was full of Vaalies on their way back.

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Church in Aberdeen.

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While we are having a milkshake in the shade, our horses were waiting patiently.  Nothing seriously was discussed and longing for the gravel roads, I asked Ed if he knows where Rietbron is.  His answer was a sign that we had to go gravel!!  OK I said – let’s go and I started to look at the maps on Suzie.

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Rietbron??  Where is it??

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Let me have a look. 
 
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Nou ja – hier gaan ons.

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The only water we saw from Aberdeen to Rietbron and to Beaufort West.

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I had a Fanta in my one bag.  When we stopped in Rietbron, I asked Ed if he wants a sip while I was taking a sip.  It was hot as coffee!!  It was very very hot.  He mentioned that the clubhouse is open and we went there and have a few cool drinks with the farmers. 

They didn’t play tennis – was too hot.  

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Late afternoon 2 lazy, very lazy bikers left the clubhouse for Beaufort West. 

That night we slept at Appirklas which was about 50 metres from the main road between JHB & CT.  Before 2 that morning 876 trucks passed us on their way to CT and between 2 & 5, they all came back, fully loaded. 

Ou Bees couldn’t get us any accommodation for that evening, therefor Appirklas and they were very expensive.  :-[  :-\

At least we did gravel the first day – gravel E-Toll roads.
 
DAY 2 - SUNDAY, 04 JAN 2015

Route:  Beaufort West, Merweville, Sutherland and then off to Skurweberg 4x4 Guest Farm where we would spend the night (https://www.skurweberg.co.za/index.htm 023 571 2728 – Witjan & Elsa.  Nice people and very friendly.  Visit them when you are in the area)


Early morning we left the room to have a well-served breakfast we booked the previous night. It was a beautiful day to ride and I was looking forward to the day as I would see the church in Merweville and the town Sutherland.  As we left town, the tar road was very busy but soon we left the tar for gravel.

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Ed on his way.  

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On the other side of the fence is the Karoo National Park.  I once read that some WD members were riding with their bikes in the park??  Is it possible?  Just asking as a matter of interesting.

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Our first stop for the day.

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Ed entering Merweville.
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I am very disappointed in this kiekie, but we couldn’t get really closer as the people of Merweville was busy with the Sunday service and I thought of respecting them, not making a noise with the bike.

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Proof that we were there.

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We also met the future mayor and Union leader.

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What is a trip without a “Windpomp”?  

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Lovely roads to ride and we are on our way to the mountain in the distance.
 
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Time for a Sunday lunch – the only shade I could get at that time.

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After lunch we went up a pass – think it is called Rammelkop Pass.

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We had lunch at the bottom where the green trees are.

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Scenery from the top.
 
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Once on the plato, we were on our way again, little did we know   

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Lekker roads and around every corner, something else was waiting for me that was awesome….

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We opened gates, and we closed them again.  :deal:
 
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We also saw farm houses that were well maintained.
 
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We later on the trip heard that this was houses where people used to stay in – amazing.

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As said, we were on lovely roads.

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Until . . . . . . .
 
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As I came around the corner, I missed a second – maybe half a second in my life – but when I realized what was happening, I was next to my bike.  Bike switched off and I’m lying and waiting for Ed to come around the corner. 

No scratch, no pain, no nothing…..

Ed immediately stopped and insisted that he must take a kiekie or two 
 
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Even the Russians were in Sutherland.

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We saw some Greyhounds and a jackal on the road.

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My 1st time in Sutherland and I was not disappointed.

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As we entered Sutherland, we saw this grave yard.  I read a thread somewhere where Heimer asked the question about all the youngsters that died.
 
We left for the garage for petrol – I arranged in advance and the omie said he’ll open for us.  He was very surprised to see only 2 bikes as he expected 200 bikes…  ???

I saw Jupiter’s  B&B (Hooglander on the forum) and as I walked in, they had an advert that says: “Jelly & Custard – R20”  We ordered and had jelly & custard in the bar.  (Remember this…… for day 4).  By this time it was hot and we still had to travel another 45 km’s to our destination for the evening.

In the kitchen I saw rusks, and only having one coffee for the day so far, I immediately made some and went outside and sat under the tree in the shade, and just taking in the quietness and thankfulness of the day.  How grateful can a person be??

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We were invited by Witjan & Elsa for a braai and met their friends from Cape Town – Hennie & Mieki.  Hennie is known as Spider on the forum.

We ate like kings in Bananaland, but when they offered coffee, we had to call it a day.  We were TIRED, VERY TIRED  :deal:   :deal:

The following morning we had breakfast – no – not the left-overs!!!  It was cereals, eggs, sausage, juices and and and.

As we left, we each were given a sticker – good advertising!!

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The following morning I broke one of my own rules when I am on a trip……and I still regret it.  :mad:   :mad:   :mad:

Day 3 to follow soon.
 
Ek ry natuurlik saam. Hoop nie julle gee om nie.

:thumleft:
 
GREAT report and pics. Can't wait for the rest........... :drif:
 
Gewonner wanneer kom die ene.  :peepwall:

Mooi sover, kan net beter raak.  :thumleft:  Ek verlang skoon na daai bekende paaie.  :drif:  :drif:
 
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