Getting lost in 46 degrees heat and other adventures

[MellowJo]

:happy1:......Great meeting you at the bash MJ :thumleft:

Likewise Brian, although we met at a previous 1150 bash at Koedoeskloof .... 

 

[JFE]

Ek ry saam


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[MellowJo]

Riding into George was strange as the sun was blanked out by the smoke and ash was falling from the sky like snow .....

We filled up, and luckily Montagu pass was still open when go got to the turnoff ......

Halfway up the pass we saw the fires first hand .....

The cool temperature also changed to an unbearable heat ..... it was like riding into an oven  :'(

 

[MellowJo]

We eventually got to the N9 towards Oudshoorn and took the first gravel road to the left to do our "old R62" route ....

Somewhere we missed a turnoff and ended up back on the N9 .....

.... not to worry, we just took the next gravel road to the left and ended up at the R328 from Mosselbay .... all well to this point ....

 

[Oom Foe-rie]

:sip:

 

[VaalBaas]

Ek ry ook saam.

Ons is maandag van Rietbron Prins Albert toe in die warmste. Vandaar oor Swartberg. Bo-op die berg was dit heerlik koel en het so wyle vertorf. Toe weer af en met Groenfonteinpad Calitzdorp toe deur n donderbui, vandaar in daai stormsterk wind van voor huis toe.

......., maar ons was in die kar en die Adv agterop n waentjie :biggrin: :lol8: Wou dit maar net deel en bysê dat ek op n stadium dankbaar was ons nie op die fiets was :thumleft:. Daai soort hitte put mens uit.

 

[MellowJo]

BUT HERE WE TURNED LEFT on the R328  (instead of right) and eventually right onto the next gravel road which took us south of the Gamkaberg Nature reserve .....

We thought that we were North of the Reserve on our way to Calitzdorp .....

And the temperature rose to an unbelievable 46 degrees  .....  I have never experienced such heat..... :dousing:

Luckily my son palmed a hydrapack onto me just before this trip and so for the first time ever I had this luxury to keep me hydrated ......

 

[MellowJo]

The road deteriorated to a mere 2 spoor with very little use and many gates to open and close in the heat ....

And eventually we arrived on the South side of the Rooiberg pass ....

 

[MellowJo]

We just put our heads down, tackled Rooiberg pass and then descended into Calitzdorp looking for the first open establishment for lunch and to escape to blazing heat .....

We ordered 2 cooldrinks each and some ice for our hydrapacks .....

 

[VaalBaas]

We just put our heads down, tackled Rooiberg pass and then descended into Van Wyksdorp looking for the first open establishment for lunch and to escape to blazing heat .....

We ordered 2 cooldrinks each and some ice for our hydrapacks .....

Jy ly nog steeds aan hitte uitputtings  :lol8:

 

[Poenabul]

Nice report on a awesome ride

 

[KLR DEE]

Lekker Johan !!

 

[Black_Hawk]

Paar baie mooie baie wat jy gery het, dankie vir die deel  :thumleft:

Subscribed  :sip:

 

[MellowJo]

We just put our heads down, tackled Rooiberg pass and then descended into Van Wyksdorp looking for the first open establishment for lunch and to escape to blazing heat .....

We ordered 2 cooldrinks each and some ice for our hydrapacks .....

Jy ly nog steeds aan hitte uitputtings  :lol8:

Nope, since we joined the Vanwyksdorp road South of Rooiberg pass, we crossed Rooiberg pass to the North and ended up in Calitzdorp (vs the planned Calitzdorp then Rooiberg pass to Vanwyksdorp) ....

 

[VaalBaas]

We just put our heads down, tackled Rooiberg pass and then descended into Van Wyksdorp looking for the first open establishment for lunch and to escape to blazing heat .....

We ordered 2 cooldrinks each and some ice for our hydrapacks .....

Jy ly nog steeds aan hitte uitputtings  :lol8:

Nope, since we joined the Vanwyksdorp road South of Rooiberg pass, we crossed Rooiberg pass to the North and ended up in Calitzdorp (vs the planned Calitzdorp then Rooiberg pass to Vanwyksdorp) ....

Sorry :biggrin: Het jou kaart nou bestudeer.

 

[MellowJo]

And so after being cooled down in Calitzdorp, we stuck to the R62 through the Huisriver pass, Ladismith and on to Warmwaterberg where we splashed into the (cold) swimming pool.

Also somewhere along this warm day my steed hit another landmark !!!!
For more stories about this incredible bike, Check this thread

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=98285.0

 

[MellowJo]

Day 4 would be a simple dash back to the Mother city, but it started off on the wrong foot.

The guards at Sanbona informed us that the escort would take 45mins to an hour to get to the gate where we wanted to cross to do the Oubergpass into Montagu .....

This forced us to go back onto the R62, but at least it forced us to stop at Diesel & Creme ......

So we spoiled ourselves with milkshakes at 9 in the morning after our breakfasts  :imaposer:

 

[MellowJo]

Finally made it back to Cape Town in one piece against the wind. Bike did not miss a beat despite all the abuse.

Thanks to Eisbein for pulling me through the heat on Sunday !!!!
It is great sharing the roads with you.

Over and out

 

[Eisbein]

I took almost no photos, but here are a couple:

The 1st one was on the last bridge on the 7 passes road, direction George
The 2nd is where the fire started creeping over the edge in Montagu pass. Here the wind was still quiet and we hoped it stayed that way. Unfortunately it didn't  :'(
The 3rd photo is at the spot at Montagu pass where you have to stop and take a photo (it's just how things work)
The 4th photo is between Barrydale and Montagu.
We were a bit 'miffed' that we couldn't do Ouberg Pass, but it didn't last long as the fact was that it was still a Monday morning and we weren't in the office.
(and a bad day on the bike still beats a good day at the office)
:biggrin:


Thanks for letting me in on this ride, MJ
It was a pleasure riding with you.

'Till next time
:thumleft:

 

[alwyn_gs]

Riding into George was strange as the sun was blanked out by the smoke and ash was falling from the sky like snow .....

We filled up, and luckily Montagu pass was still open when go got to the turnoff ......

Halfway up the pass we saw the fires first hand .....

The Old Tol house burned to the ground @ the Geroge side of the Montagu pass - very very sad!