Doringboom
Race Dog
To Ama Ride Ride (the one who went searching in the archives and who found one of my old [Nov 2006] Ride Reports, of which the pictures have gone on awol in the meantime) and some other recently disappointed Forum members:
Herewith a relaunch of my Green Desert Roundabout Reports - Parts 1 and 2 now combined and with some extra pictures. Ama, I hope this will be of great help in the planning of your freetime (riding your bike of cause!) when you are soon on a visit to Upington!
__________
Hello everybody,
I recently spent a few days of leave with family in Upington in the Northern Cape. The journey from Pretoria to Upington via the N14 and back (2 x 810km) was, as always, a rather boring tar road affair. Therefore no story or pictures about this.
What I do want to share with you are my (short) story and plenty of pictures about a very scenic day-trip the Tiger and I made (Tuesday, 7 Nov) from Upington via Keimoes to Kakamas on predominantly gravel roads all along the southern bank of the Orange River. This is opposed to the N14 tar road that runs along the northern bank and which I took for the return leg back to Upington.
The theme of my story and pictures focuses on the diverse character of this beautiful region. On the one hand you have the Orange River and its life-giving water and on the other hand you have a harsh, barren landscape where only the toughest of species can survive.
Enough said. Its time for pictures!
Firstly a map of SA to orientate all the Forumers living in far-away countries.
Here are the bridges over the Orange River in Upington.
And here is one of Upington's famous landmarks: The palm tree-lined avenue that leads to the Eiland Holiday Resort, across the river directly opposite the downtown area.
Immediately south of the river I took the Jooste-eiland road. It is the access road to numerous irrigation farms and small holdings. After a kilometre or two it becomes a gravel road. I stopped to deflate the tyres somewhat.
The principal business in this part of the world is grape cultivation. Everywhere the vineyards are in full bloom.
I took the narrow road next to the channel just to get on top of this small hill. To continue with this road could also make for an interesting ride, but a smaller and lighter bike would be more appropriate I guess.
An irrigation channel runs parallel to the river. Here's some magic: The channel and water disappear into nothing all of a sudden, but fifty or so metres onward everything reappears out of nothing again!
Vineyards are everywhere. The buildings of Upington are visible in the distance.
I continued pass Louisvale towards Kanoneiland. The road has become a tar road again. Where there is water, there is life! These vineyards are where there earlier had been only barren veld, far away from the river flood plain.
Oranjerivier Wine Cellars' grape juice plant.
A narrow bridge leads to Kanoneiland from the southern side of the river. Kanoneiland ("Cannon Island") is the largest island in the flow of the Orange River.
Some local beauties on a gentle stroll across the bridge.
"liquor store"
I continued towards Keimoes. The road has turned to a gravel road again. Here is an example of the more rural / traditional homesteads of the Eksteenskuil settlement.
While I stopped to take pictures, I was spotted by some of the local two-wheel enthusiasts. They immediately jumped into their saddles to come and say hello.
The road further winds through a hilly, rocky and succulent covered landscape towards Keimoes. The river drops out of view for a few kilometres.
On reaching the Kenhardt - Keimoes tar road, I turned right to enter the town of Keimoes across a succession of narrow bridges. Tierberg ("Tiger Mountain") stands guard over the town and the vineyards.
After having a cooldrink at a garage, I followed the cement road through the Tierberg Nature Reserve and up the slopes of Tierberg to the summit.
From here one gets amazing views in all directions - of the town, the river, the vineyards, etc. Keimoes is often referred to as a little piece of Boland in the Northern Cape.
I returned the way I came and across the river from Keimoes, at Neilersdrif, I hit the gravel road due west to Kakamas.
After the road initially passes some access roads to irrigation farms and small holdings, it later leads to a more desolate landscape further away from the river. All the succulents and rocky ridges make for interesting stops along the way.
A quiver tree.
Further on the road makes a gradual ascend across the face of a ridge next to the river. It allows for an amazing view over the whole river basin.
A vineyard on the outskirts of Kakamas. The razor mesh fence is to prevent theft and trespassing. (It is SA after all!)
On entering Kakamas the presence of water wheels on the irrigation channel soon catches one's eye. It always is an amusing experience to stand and watch one while turning.
And some more vineyards!
After having another cooldrink and inflating the tyres again, it was time to return to Upington. By then I was boiling in my clothes and I was in need of speed to cool down somewhat. 36 Degrees Celsius was forecasted for the day, which is still far off the 40+ degrees that is often reached in this part of SA during peak summer.
Total distance for the day: 205km.
Groete
Doringboom
Herewith a relaunch of my Green Desert Roundabout Reports - Parts 1 and 2 now combined and with some extra pictures. Ama, I hope this will be of great help in the planning of your freetime (riding your bike of cause!) when you are soon on a visit to Upington!
__________
Hello everybody,
I recently spent a few days of leave with family in Upington in the Northern Cape. The journey from Pretoria to Upington via the N14 and back (2 x 810km) was, as always, a rather boring tar road affair. Therefore no story or pictures about this.
What I do want to share with you are my (short) story and plenty of pictures about a very scenic day-trip the Tiger and I made (Tuesday, 7 Nov) from Upington via Keimoes to Kakamas on predominantly gravel roads all along the southern bank of the Orange River. This is opposed to the N14 tar road that runs along the northern bank and which I took for the return leg back to Upington.
The theme of my story and pictures focuses on the diverse character of this beautiful region. On the one hand you have the Orange River and its life-giving water and on the other hand you have a harsh, barren landscape where only the toughest of species can survive.
Enough said. Its time for pictures!
Firstly a map of SA to orientate all the Forumers living in far-away countries.
Here are the bridges over the Orange River in Upington.
And here is one of Upington's famous landmarks: The palm tree-lined avenue that leads to the Eiland Holiday Resort, across the river directly opposite the downtown area.
Immediately south of the river I took the Jooste-eiland road. It is the access road to numerous irrigation farms and small holdings. After a kilometre or two it becomes a gravel road. I stopped to deflate the tyres somewhat.
The principal business in this part of the world is grape cultivation. Everywhere the vineyards are in full bloom.
I took the narrow road next to the channel just to get on top of this small hill. To continue with this road could also make for an interesting ride, but a smaller and lighter bike would be more appropriate I guess.
An irrigation channel runs parallel to the river. Here's some magic: The channel and water disappear into nothing all of a sudden, but fifty or so metres onward everything reappears out of nothing again!
Vineyards are everywhere. The buildings of Upington are visible in the distance.
I continued pass Louisvale towards Kanoneiland. The road has become a tar road again. Where there is water, there is life! These vineyards are where there earlier had been only barren veld, far away from the river flood plain.
Oranjerivier Wine Cellars' grape juice plant.
A narrow bridge leads to Kanoneiland from the southern side of the river. Kanoneiland ("Cannon Island") is the largest island in the flow of the Orange River.
Some local beauties on a gentle stroll across the bridge.
"liquor store"
I continued towards Keimoes. The road has turned to a gravel road again. Here is an example of the more rural / traditional homesteads of the Eksteenskuil settlement.
While I stopped to take pictures, I was spotted by some of the local two-wheel enthusiasts. They immediately jumped into their saddles to come and say hello.
The road further winds through a hilly, rocky and succulent covered landscape towards Keimoes. The river drops out of view for a few kilometres.
On reaching the Kenhardt - Keimoes tar road, I turned right to enter the town of Keimoes across a succession of narrow bridges. Tierberg ("Tiger Mountain") stands guard over the town and the vineyards.
After having a cooldrink at a garage, I followed the cement road through the Tierberg Nature Reserve and up the slopes of Tierberg to the summit.
From here one gets amazing views in all directions - of the town, the river, the vineyards, etc. Keimoes is often referred to as a little piece of Boland in the Northern Cape.
I returned the way I came and across the river from Keimoes, at Neilersdrif, I hit the gravel road due west to Kakamas.
After the road initially passes some access roads to irrigation farms and small holdings, it later leads to a more desolate landscape further away from the river. All the succulents and rocky ridges make for interesting stops along the way.
A quiver tree.
Further on the road makes a gradual ascend across the face of a ridge next to the river. It allows for an amazing view over the whole river basin.
A vineyard on the outskirts of Kakamas. The razor mesh fence is to prevent theft and trespassing. (It is SA after all!)
On entering Kakamas the presence of water wheels on the irrigation channel soon catches one's eye. It always is an amusing experience to stand and watch one while turning.
And some more vineyards!
After having another cooldrink and inflating the tyres again, it was time to return to Upington. By then I was boiling in my clothes and I was in need of speed to cool down somewhat. 36 Degrees Celsius was forecasted for the day, which is still far off the 40+ degrees that is often reached in this part of SA during peak summer.
Total distance for the day: 205km.
Groete
Doringboom
