n Lekker "rustige" 3 dag Amageza deur die Karoo...

[MildlyWild]

Die storie van Laumé se ongeluk het my nogal diep geruk en by gebly en God het dit erg op my hart gelê en ek het vir meeste van die dag baie met Hom gepraat oor dit, en tussen die trane deur bly bid oor haar. My ervaring was dat Hy nog groot planne met haar lewe het. By tye so in die ry het ek net God se lewende waters, genesing, asem oor haar gespreek, en daar op die pad tussen Hutchinson en Richmond het ek vir n ruk net oor en oor gesê "lewe, lewe, lewe".
Die volgende oomblik stop ek by die teerpad t-aansluiting, en reg oorkant my is die volgende...
Ek dien n LEWENDE, liefdevolle, getroue, Heilige God.
In die week het ek met Laumé se ouers kontak gemaak en dit met hulle gedeel, en haar ma het toe net vroeer die oggend n soortgelyke boodskap van lewe vanaf iemand anders gekry.

As jy nie glo nie is dit okay. Ek het ook nie al die antwoorde op die kritieke vrae wat sommige sal hê nie - as jy laasgenoemde kommentaar wil lewer pm my asseblief privaat.

 

[MildlyWild]

My original plan was to go via Richmond toe Nieu Bethesda and then onto Graaff Reinet, before riding at least part way to Beaufort West - the same day still. A totally ridiculous idea, but ja, thats how I roll
The previous day was a 12hr, 535km affair, and I was ready for more of the same, so I kept the speed up to the point just before I stop feeling relaxed.

And then on the gravel, even before I reached the main road to Richmond my fuel light came on. This baffled me a bit, since I had only done about 440km on that tank, so I slowed down to about 80km/h on the highway thinking that Richmond was still far off (i did not check). When I saw the 30km to go sign all was well again and I sped up, all worries gone. Still not sure why the light came on, because I only filled about 19L if I recall.

Anyhow, I had a lekker chat with (also Andre) the petrol attendant about the city guys and them wasting money on flashy cars and shoes, and his rugby and knee brace he needs to buy, so I tipped him R100 because he is a good person and I wish him an awesome life.

 

[MildlyWild]

Heading south out of Richmond towards Nieu Bethesda I somehow missed a turnoff (should really get my gps sorted - its a hassle to keep on taking my phone out of my pocket), but further on found another rd back to my route. I managed to outrun a bit of a thunder shower, and in the process missed another turnoff, so I was surprised to get to the Murraysburg- Graaff Reinet junction

Probably for the good - NB will have to wait for a next trip. I still wanted to pop up to the Valley of Desolation and at 18:15 dusk was approaching, with many miles remaining for the day.
Its about a 9km ride into the Camdeboo National Park, at 40km/h (ok, I did 45-50 ) so by the time I got there I opted to not do the +-8min hike to the actual valley, in my non-hiking friendly Gaerne boots, and instead just took a few pics of Spandaukop and Graaff Reinet below.
GR was my home town for 7 years up to Gr6 so I just quickly took a few pics, checked out our old house and Reinet Restaurant & Cafe my dad owned for a few years, which is now a Steers

Seems like they need to move some soil when the dam is dry again one day - full capacity has almost halved since 1925.
I see it took only 4 years to build from 1921, and it is still standing proud - cannot help but wonder how long it would take now, how many gazillions it would cost, and whether it would hold water 5 years later

 

[MildlyWild]

Kom ek maak die dag klaar, dit raak laat

Graaff Reinet was in 1786 gestig/begin/watookal en is die oudste dorp in die Oos Kaap, en seker ook die mooiste ook.
Die Grootte Kerk is binne 2 jaar, van 1885 tot 1887 gebou
Terloops, ek het in Std2 n potlood skets van die Reinet Huis, wat in 1812 gebou was gemaak en n heel paar R in n kuns kompetisie gewen - dis ook waar dit gestop het . Wetie of dit nou nog leef nie, maar tot onlangs was daar elk geval nog n wingerd plant agter wat in 1870 geplant was - dink dit was/is die oudste in die land.

Elk geval, so 19:15 staan en wonder ek wat ek moet maak - bly of ry. Ek moet die volgende middag 5pm my kinders in die Kaap optel, en dis 648km teerpad langs van GR af. Maar ek wil mos nie teerpad ry nie...
So ek kyk maar die kaart, en sleep so 99km teen 125-130km/h oor die teer, rigting Beaufort Wes, tot ek n grondpad afdraai kry wat so parallel BW toe loop.
So 2km in, weer met daai useless liggie in die donker (ek dink my kopliggie kan dalk helderder wees) kry ek n plekkie om my tent op te slaan.

Maar my maat, toe ek 20:15 afklim pak die muskiete my, maar wild!! Ek het nog nooit so iets beleef nie, en wil ook nie weer nie. Ek wetie of hulle die polsende blou liggie van my bluetooth comms as n mating call gesien het nie, maar hulle was lustig verby. Die naaste vergelyking wat ek kan tref is daai looting spree rondom Durban laas Soveel so dat ek alles behalwe my hemet en neckbrace aan gehou het, terwyl ek af pak en tent opslaan. Ek dink ek het die zip seker minder as n 30 sekondes oop gehad soos ek klein stukkie oop zip, goed ingooi, toe zip en weer en weer doen, en toe self induik, en 7 van die boggers vermoor. Ek het 1 gemis, maar die volgende oggend het hy sy dag as n bloedspatsel ingegaan.
Aandete het ek maar in die tent gemaak, 20:55 eers - 2 minute noodles met kaasworsies in, n rolletjie, energy bar en Coke - lekker genoeg as mens honger en moeg is.

Moet sê met daai 99km op die teer het ek vir Bliksem erg gemis - hy sou dit baaaaaie gemakliker en vinniger gedoen het. Maar gelukkig het my pa en ma tawwe kinders groot gemaak.
637km vir die dag, weer so net oor die 12 ure uit
En ja, ek laaik dit so

 

[AfriqueDS]

Nice trip and really cool report. Solo trips are just so good!
Do you take pics with your phone?

 

[2StrokeDan]

Ek het jou RR baie geniet, omdat dit ook my tipe trip is.

Jammer om infrastruktuur so te sien tot niet gaan, sos die stasies, maar dis dikwels onafwendbaar met veranderinge in handels metodes, roetes, ens.

Ek is nie godsdienstig, maar my allerbeste wense gaan met Laumé, vir n mooi herstel.

 

[MildlyWild]

Nice trip and really cool report. Solo trips are just so good!
Do you take pics with your phone?

Thanks DeeDub
Yeah, I really enjoy the occasional total solitude - and there's not many guys that will volunteer to do these distances with me
I use my phone yes - but have to lightly edit most pics on the phone before posting - its a cheap Hisense Infinity 50, that doesnt take brilliant stock photos, especially in scenes with strong contrast or low light

 

[MildlyWild]

Ek het jou RR baie geniet, omdat dit ook my tipe trip is.

Jammer om infrastruktuur so te sien tot niet gaan, sos die stasies, maar dis dikwels onafwendbaar met veranderinge in handels metodes, roetes, ens.

Ek is nie godsdienstig, maar my allerbeste wense gaan met Laumé, vir n mooi herstel.

Dankie Danie
Ja, die infrastruktuur ding is maar wat dit is - dit maak darem vir mooi fotos

Ek glo Laumé gaan goed herstel ja

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Jis, dankie vir die deel. Dit was diep mooi.
Ek bid saam met jou vir Laumé en haar liefmense.

 

[Vis Arend]

Dankie vir die lekker ritverslag, ek geniet dit baie.

Ek steel so paar "tips" van die paaie wat jy gery het, Ek en die ouvrou is die 5de Feb oppad na Calvinia met die twee klein 250's en soek nuwe paaie daai rigting toe en terug. Dit sal natuurlik ook agterpaaie wees en meeste grondpaaie, dit lyk my ons gaan ook so paar lang dae in die saal deurbring, maar soos jy sê, dis hoe ons daarvan hou.

Sien uit na jou laaste dag se verslag.

 

[MildlyWild]

I sleep well that night, despite my thin blow up mattress deflating slowly during the night to the point where my hip presses on the ground when I lie on my side. But I knew that even before I started the trip - should really see if I can sort the leak sometime.

At 5:20 Im awake, aware that Ive got a decent ride in front of me today - something like 640kms if I stick to my planned route.
I can hear many millions of mosquitoes outside my tent, so I get dressed and pack everything that I possibly can inside. As soon as I open the zip the 1st bloodthirsty buggers comes zinging in, and in the space of about 30 seconds there are 14 of them sitting against the back of the tent. I never stop moving, but in the roughly 5 seconds it takes to take a photo I have 3 of them sitting on my hands... The next 25 minutes is spent frantically tossing everything out of the tent, packing up the tent and stuffing everything into the side panniers and tail bag, while occasionally running to the middle of the road to escape the hordes momentarily, bar the ones that comes after me rapidly - probably the same persistant ones that bite me through my long sleeved riding top.
By the time Im ready to start Badger its only 6:32, but Im sweating like a pig already - not beacuse of the heat, but due the crazy packing and flapping dressed in riding gear, with a bandana over my head.

Its about 105km to Beaufort West, my birth town, and I set off on a pretty gravel road, and within 20 minutes I ride past a group of 11 kudu. While I had my early kudu detection radar engaged and on high alert in the dark last night, I am now relaxed and simply marvel at their effortless way of gliding and dancing over the veld.

Further along I pass a small herd of pretty cattle, with not a vestage of their wild counterparts' gracefulness to see.
Soetdoring trees are in full bloom and in some stretches I feel like Im riding down a golden highway

Even here there has been some flooding damage, but the remaining water is welcome

 

[MildlyWild]

Before 8am I am in Beaufort West, grab a snack and a coffee and fill up Badger, before riding around town a bit, revisiting many years of good memories hoarded while visiting my grand parents here.

Its sad to see the absolute decay of houses and gardens in the part of town where they lived only about 15 years ago - no more green lawns, fruit trees, neat houses - mostly barren ground, broken cars, peeling paint and a few roofless houses further down the street as the demographic changed over time.

I am reminded of our limited lifespans as I pass the cemetary - each of us will end up either there, or as a urn of ash some day, scattered somewhere that was special to you by your loved ones remaining behind if you're lucky, who knows when.
Well, the physical part of my body anyway - I have much to look forward to once I leave this blue and green orb I call home now

Do what is important now, dont sweat the small stuff, dont spend your life only working and worrying, build and cherish healthy relationships, listen, live and love...

 

[MildlyWild]

Van Beaufort Wes af het ek met die N1 uit Kaap se kant toe gery, en so 15km uit regs op n grondpad afgedraai - die loop al die pad Merweville toe, en kruis net die teerpad Fraserburg toe.
Die pad is in n baie goeie toestand, maar die veld in die area is maar droog, sleg droog.

Wetie of daai plaas se naam in geloof gegee was nie, maar dit lyk nie opsigtelik soos ek die paradys my voorstel nie.

So 10:30 ry ek weer Merweville in. My oorspronklike plan was om dáái toegesluite hekke pad oor Banksgate te ry na my neef se plaas, maar daars nie n kans dat dit by my skedule inpas nie.
So, ek stop eerder vir n koffie by my oom hulle op die dorp en vertoef vir n uur en n half, wat my 5pm in die Kaap tyd klaar onwaarskynlik maak. Maar nie onmoontlik nie
Terloops, daai is hoe n baby marrow op n karoo plaas groei
Elk geval, ek koffie en vetkoek en gesels tot ek op die ou end so net na 12 uit die dorp ry, oppad Rooihoogte oor Sutherland se kant toe.

Nog n mooi pad
So 10+km buite die dorp kry ek die 3 oppad in, ry verby, draai om en beduie ek wil gou gesels en n foto neem - darem in ruil vir n 1L Coke wat ek al van Beaufort af saam ry, maar nogsteeds effens koud in my rugsak is.

 

[MildlyWild]

By this time I know I am going to be late, at least a little bit, so I push on at a slightly less leisurely pace. Although not to the point where I have to concentrate too much and miss photo opportunities

The road from Merweville to Sutherland is a beaut, and once you hit Rooihoogte (as the locals call it - Allemanshoek according to the map) it really is incredible - that pass climbs skyward rapidly. As a matter of fact, it is steeper than pretty much any other I can think of - no wonder small parts of it is tarred.
In the 2nd pic you can see the pass going up right at the top of the mountain.

I'd forgotten how many gates there are once you're on the plateau, but let me tell you - there are a few. A few too many when you're in a hurry ..

 

[MildlyWild]

Looking over the poplar forest and the the start of the Dwyka Canyon I can see the the road I went up past my cousin's farm on Die Posroete, of Rantepad, almost 2 days ago - full circle.

No time for daydreaming though, although I stop and marvel at the stretch of water on the plateau, and the hundreds of birds that discovered it, calling it home - for a while at least until it dries up and they move on, like the karretjies mense.

As much as I'd love a quick beer or coffee in Sutherland I just dont have the time, so I just swing left onto the tar and cruise down Verlatekloof pass. Now that is another really marvelous one, and let me tell you, it is a lekker one to conquer coming up there on a bicycle after already having done 60km from Mathiesfontein side, many moons ago.

A while later I turn onto the gravel road leading to Ceres and I start twisting Badger's ear a bit harder, enjoying the thrill, but conscious that Ive got a way to go to Ceres after filling up in Beaufort West.

Parts of the road is quite rough and washed away after recent rains, and as I race down one of those sections I hit a small flattish rock with my front wheel, which flips it up nicely so that I hit it hard with the rear.
And about 20 seconds later the bike is snaking behind me.
Darn
I ám going to be late
A lot

 

[Oubones]

Dankie, ek ry lekker saam!

 

[petri oosthuizen]

Dankie, ek ry lekker saam!

Ek ook
STUNNING trip Man!!!
En LOVE jou bike

 

[MildlyWild]

But oh well, whatever, life is good, and Ive got a spare tube, crutch-thingy and I know how to use them.

So I park, start unpacking the stuff and send a silent thanks upwards that I just bought a small Desert Fox compressor a few weeks ago. I'm getting lazy - previously Ive always used a bicycle pump (which takes about 550 strokes to get an 18inch rear wheel from flat to 2bar . Been there, done that, a few times.
But mostly on Tiaan's bike - in more than 3 years Ive only had one other puncture when a 12cm section of steel dropper went in search of my rear tyre's innermost emotions.

Anyway, at 14:47 it's hot, but luckily not a 38deg day, and I get going - I feel veryly chuffed with myself when the new tube is in, and tyre fitted again in a short space of time - thanks Tiaan, it REALLY helps to have observed a pro changing tyres many times
That little Desert Fox is the bee's knees, but for some reason struggles to ge the tyre past 1bar
Until I figure out that at 1bar it is deflating as fast as the air is going in

Ok, no problem. Tyre off ( a Dunlop D606 mounts and removes quite easily), tube out - darn!!! Must've pinched it with the tyre iron when fitting the tyre
No problem - life is good, and I've got patches and solution, the crutch-thingy is not complaining about Badger's meagre weight (she is an athletic model after all, with some volume and lack thereof in all the right places ).

Lightly sand the area, clean it as best I can, new solution, wait, fit patch, press it hard with the tyre iron, wait a little - looks goooood.
Fit the tube and tyre, pump it
And it deflates with a sinister hissing sound... BUGGER!

It feels a bit hotter now, but I have around a liter of water in my camelbak left, an energy bar, 2 apples and some droewors, and a few other things.

Tyre off, tube out - looks like I somehow pinched it again!!!! And I was really careful.
Sand, clean, glue, patch, wait, fit tube, fit tyre, pump. It holds air. For a few seconds, and then it starts hissing at me again. I use some other words to describe my feelings.

Tyre off, tube out - the patch is pulling loose . I take it off, try and get the glue off, new glue, wait, new patch, press it hard for long, wait. Inflate only the tube and it is holding air.
Fit the tube, fit the tyre, inflate (usually with Badger running to not chow the battery) - it holds

So I fit the wheel, and top it up to 2 bar. And the bloody thing starts loosing air at about the same pace as Im losing my sense of humour!!!!

 

[MildlyWild]

Ok, say words, breathe deeply, eat an apple, drink some more water. Man! Am i missing that Coke I gave away a few hours earlier!
It's almost 5pm - I might again be home a little later than I thought, seeing that I am 223km from home, in the Tankwa, still with a flat tyre. And no cell reception.

Remove wheel and tube. The patch is pulling loose again.




Let's just fit the 21" front spare tube
BUT let's just inflate it a bit 1st to check that it is good. I do. It is not. It has a small thorn-type puncture...
I might have given Tiaan my front spare long ago when he punctured, and kept his, planning to still patch it
Anyway - sand, clean, glue, patch, wait, inflate, it holds air, wait, wait, fit the tube, fit the tyre, fit the wheel, pack up everything.
Happy days

Pss... Pss... Pss... Psssssssssssssssssssss
D A R N!!

It's 5:30pm on a Friday now.
I stand looking at Badger and take stock of the situation, say "Get behind me satan" out loud, get on Badger and start riding, standing up with my weight a bit forward.
Bizansgat comes and goes and then I think " Is Bike X not around here somewhere?"

 

[Ri]

Goeie. Genade. Gelukkig het ek dit nog nooit oorgekom nie!! O wag... Maar dit was in Citrusdal op 'n snikhete Saterdag.

En ja, daai R356 is nogal rof op plekke, ek het self paar keer geskrik vir die skerp klippe en slote.