Mountain Passes for happiness

[sidetrack]

In Rouxville I stop for a cooldrink, 1869 it’s an old town. Plastic flies everywhere, why cant we keep our towns clean ! At the garage a dad and his son is taking a Mcormick on a ride to who knows where

Like many small towns Rouxville has a beautiful sandstone Church

An hour and a half to go to my camp site

 

[sidetrack]

As camping goes mother nature heard sidetrack was going to sleep in a tent so here comes the rain !

 

[sidetrack]

Wwlcome to the Eastern Cape. Last time I was in Aliwal North must have been mid 90’s with my parents at the warm water springs

 

[Grunder]

Welcome to the Eastern Cape. Last time I was in Aliwal North must have been mid 90’s with my parents at the warm water springs

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Hey, ek onthou daai brug met my return laas van my eie Ben10 trip.

Jy is nou lekker naby

 

[Dorsland]

The rain makes those trails even lekkerderder. Jy gaan lekker kamp en braai en ry. Jy maak ons jaloers man.

 

[sidetrack]

Late afternoon I arrive at camp, drops are falling and it looks omninous

It ends up raining for about the whole night luckily my tent stays dry, and when rain finally stops the wind howls through the valley you can hear it coming from a distance. Three couples are camping woth their offroad caravan setups and we have to share a grid as one can only braai under cover. My wors ends up tasting like their vatk tjops ag nee man. Bit dejected I head to my tent certainly not singing in the rain ! But there is always a silver lining and the morning is beautifull

There is no mud or dust, perfect riding weather. Lots of trout streams as I leave camp

 

[sidetrack]

First dirt roads and I’m already smiling

The rail line is the much written over one heading to Barkley West, it was by all accounts quite an engineering feet through the mountains and a dangerous journey

The track is making its way towarda the mountains, lekker easy riding

 

[sidetrack]

The scenery is just getting better and have not seen any other vehicle. Just the bike, me and some lekker roads

 

[sidetrack]

I will continue the post tomorrow, no reception at camp and I have some way to go still. So much to see on todays ride

 

[Vis Arend]

Baie opgewonde om te sien watter pad jy toe uiteindelik gekies het, maar ek vermoed jy ry reg.
Geniet dit en ry veilig.

 

[Chrisjgvn]

… baie mooi fotos … kamp jy by Karnmelkspruit ? … die spoorlyn storie waarna jy verwys is die een na Barkley Oos ?… wil bietjie meer lees oor dit … ongelooflik wat die oumense reg gekry het … lekker ry …

 

[Vis Arend]

… baie mooi fotos … kamp jy by Karnmelkspruit ? … die spoorlyn storie waarna jy verwys is die een na Barkley Oos ?… wil bietjie meer lees oor dit … ongelooflik wat die oumense reg gekry het … lekker ry …

Jy kan hier begin, baie interessant.

Ps. Sorry vir die hi-jack @sidetrack.

 

[Chrisjgvn]

wow … dankie Visarend … “ being lovely beyond any singing of it” … wyse woorde …

 

[sidetrack]

… baie mooi fotos … kamp jy by Karnmelkspruit ? … die spoorlyn storie waarna jy verwys is die een na Barkley Oos ?… wil bietjie meer lees oor dit … ongelooflik wat die oumense reg gekry het … lekker ry …

Barkley Oos ja, dit was Karnmelkspruit. Lekker rustig en naby Lady Grey

 

[sidetrack]

The road winds through the valley all in preperation to accend Lundeans. Many of the farms here have Scottish names and heritage it seems. The by enlarge tree less valleys and hills must remind one a not of Scotland I guess

 

[sidetrack]

I cross the Vlooikraalspruit

At the top of Brunbrae climb gives one a beautiful view of the valley below. I’m riding around 2200 meters but the carburetor has had no issues at all, years of Fi bikes and one starts thinking of those issues again

Camouflaged lots of sheep are chased down the mountain by a herder with two Border Collies right on his heels

Lundeans is now just ahead

 

[Vis Arend]

Ek het my nou amper boeglam geskrik, vir 'n oomblik dag ek jy ry op empty, en dit net voor Lundean's Nek, toe sien ek dis die heat gauge.

 

[sidetrack]

Ek het my nou amper boeglam geskrik, vir 'n oomblik dag ek jy ry op empty, en dit net voor Lundean's Nek, toe sien ek dis die heat gauge.

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Wel min wetend trek ek die oggend weg by kamp met die kraantjie op reserve en nie ON soos ek gedink het nie ! Baie gelukkig het dit nie drama veroorsaak nie, gelukkig besluit om in te gooi by a vulstasie toe kom ek dit agter.

 

[sidetrack]

Ek het my nou amper boeglam geskrik, vir 'n oomblik dag ek jy ry op empty, en dit net voor Lundean's Nek, toe sien ek dis die heat gauge.

View attachment 920865

Hy bly altyd daar, net as ek die steil passe stadig ry (Jouberts) gaan hy na half

 

[sidetrack]

Up and up we go, at the top I guess one has to take this picture as proof “I was there !”

Just as the decent begins I see this lookout, it time for elenvensies and I get out the old staatmaker Sardines that travels with me often

The engine braking is lekker and the descent is pretty steep but I just leave the bike in 2nd clutch out and very little braking needed