- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 11,455
- Reaction score
- 5,126
- Location
- Cape Town, deep in the lentils
- Bike
- KTM 990 Adventure
I had some work to do in Swellendam.
I go out there quite often, but this was the first time in a while that I went to stay at a camp on the Breede River.
Koosie from Buffelsjacht dam is a freind of mine and has been going on for a while about a pass called Gysmanshoek that gets you over the mountain and then it?s back roads to Barrydale.
Wednesday I set off and arrived at the camp pretty tired from the massive South Easter that battered me the whole way. I had just put a new front on and the chicken strips were only worn on the right hand side from constantly leaning into the wind.
A chap on a GS1200 kept me company from just after Caledon.
My pad for the night
Chilling
I left the camp just after lunch, work had finished.
Play had started. Getting directions from Koosie, I spied this above his bar.
Going through Suurbrak, they do things the old way still. I wonder for how long people will see this?
I putted through the place. Rushing through places seem to me to against the idea of why I bought the bike in the first place. There is so much to see, it would be sacrilege not to do it justice.
The road from Suurbrak soon becomes dirt. It is in very good condition and very pretty, great for exploring.
I have a thing for old rusted farm implements. I feel sorry for them.
I got lost a couple of times and had to back track or ask directions, that was half the experience.
It wouldn't be exploring if you knew the way all the time.
Regter egter Boere folk all the way. You can get to the pass via Heidleberg but from Suurbrak it is way more picturesque going the back roads of gravel.
The turn off for Gysmanspas can easily be missed. The road once you get onto it becomes just a double track but easily doable. It leads you through lush valleys and really is worth the meander.
Then unexpectedly you pop over the top of the pass and are greeted with the sprawling Karoo.
There are some of houses that could tell a tale I am sure, but long deserted and falling apart.
The road to Barrydale is typical Karoo gravel, really good fun.
Once in BarrydaleI had to stop for some road snacks.
Going through the Montague pass at sunset was beautiful.
The photo's though are taken on the move as getting home before dark was going to be tough.
Riding right into the sun created the 27584th use for duct tape
Once the sun was down it was majestic riding towards Worster and Dutoits Kloof
Chasing the sun called for some low flying. (edited for our sensitive viewers)
Through the tunnel and cruise home.
Close to 500k's for the day.
I go out there quite often, but this was the first time in a while that I went to stay at a camp on the Breede River.
Koosie from Buffelsjacht dam is a freind of mine and has been going on for a while about a pass called Gysmanshoek that gets you over the mountain and then it?s back roads to Barrydale.
Wednesday I set off and arrived at the camp pretty tired from the massive South Easter that battered me the whole way. I had just put a new front on and the chicken strips were only worn on the right hand side from constantly leaning into the wind.
A chap on a GS1200 kept me company from just after Caledon.
My pad for the night
Chilling
I left the camp just after lunch, work had finished.
Play had started. Getting directions from Koosie, I spied this above his bar.
Going through Suurbrak, they do things the old way still. I wonder for how long people will see this?
I putted through the place. Rushing through places seem to me to against the idea of why I bought the bike in the first place. There is so much to see, it would be sacrilege not to do it justice.
The road from Suurbrak soon becomes dirt. It is in very good condition and very pretty, great for exploring.
I have a thing for old rusted farm implements. I feel sorry for them.
I got lost a couple of times and had to back track or ask directions, that was half the experience.
It wouldn't be exploring if you knew the way all the time.
Regter egter Boere folk all the way. You can get to the pass via Heidleberg but from Suurbrak it is way more picturesque going the back roads of gravel.
The turn off for Gysmanspas can easily be missed. The road once you get onto it becomes just a double track but easily doable. It leads you through lush valleys and really is worth the meander.
Then unexpectedly you pop over the top of the pass and are greeted with the sprawling Karoo.
There are some of houses that could tell a tale I am sure, but long deserted and falling apart.
The road to Barrydale is typical Karoo gravel, really good fun.
Once in BarrydaleI had to stop for some road snacks.
Going through the Montague pass at sunset was beautiful.
The photo's though are taken on the move as getting home before dark was going to be tough.
Riding right into the sun created the 27584th use for duct tape
Once the sun was down it was majestic riding towards Worster and Dutoits Kloof
Chasing the sun called for some low flying. (edited for our sensitive viewers)
Through the tunnel and cruise home.
Close to 500k's for the day.
