Old Mill up and down, where no bike went before.

[chicco]

I did a lot of enquiry about this route and even downloaded it. It looked quite challenging from the couple of photos I looked at and we couldn't wait to get started. The first couple of kilo's we've done before but had to turn back at the farmhouse due to rain, this time we were ready...or so we thought....

I didn't bother to switch my new garmin GPS on until we've reached the farmhouse, when we got there and stopped for a couple of dapper drippels  shots (it was still early morning 3 deg) I realised the route never saved on my GPS. No problem, I thought, surely the route will be visible, and we had a general idea where we wanted to end up....

We carried on and the route was getting more and more difficult, things were going fine and after each little "challenge" we thought it could get worse but guess what, it did....Later there wasn't any more road, just a goat path, things got bad...but we kept on, each challenge taking every drop of energy out of us, at some places we had to help each other to get over the obstacles...mainly deep ruts and huge boulders....Funny I thought...this was never mentioned in any of the other reports.....

By this time the sun was moving in behind the mountains, and still, no path, road or route to connect to on the gps, We walked up the path for about 1k and by this time my 2 companions realised something I already knew, these bikes will never ever get over this mountain without help...help from a military helicopter......

We realised we were clearly on the wrong track and decided to turn back. By my calculation we would make it just in time to the bottom at the farmhouse before dark...now the fun really started....uphill was fun, the same route down a nightmare....we were out of dapper drippels, ideas and energy...at some places we only got through on prays...the bikes were dropped a couple of times and on the downdip it was impossible to pick it up by yourselves...but will we do it again..hell yes, hopefully this time on the right route...

I also forgot to take a camera, these pics were taken with my cellphone.....no pics on the way back, there were no time and no one was in the mood to pose.....

 

[chicco]

First picture the real old mill route, the second picture our moertoe in Lesotho adventure track.....

 

[Losper]

Yes it is easy to miss that turn-off. The route actually only start to become realy interesting after that turn-off to the left.
You ouks will just have to go back :thumleft:

 

[Ganjora]

when you missed the turn off,  did you go all the way to the top of the hill,
to the remains of the rondawel at the top?
i've done the route about 5 or 6 times,  each time it seems to have been worked on - rough spots concreted over etc.
nice ride though.

 

[chicco]

We def plan to go back and do the right route. We went all the way to the top of the mountain but decided to turn back because we were running out of time. Going all the way down skidding and sliding over the rocks was not fun.

 

[ROOI]

Yes it is easy to miss that turn-off. The route actually only start to become realy interesting after that turn-off to the left.
You ouks will just have to go back :thumleft:

+10

 

[DirtyTeNeReLess]

anyone have this track to share of the old mill route?

 

[Losper]

anyone have this track to share of the old mill route?

DirtyXT,  have a look on page 4:

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=125961.60

And here is the ride report:
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=128275.0

 

[DirtyTeNeReLess]

thanks mate!

 

[boss freddy]

Ive done that route a couple of times,on a wr ,africa twin cr450 a bmw 450 and a blaster 200 i also kissed my wife for the first time on top of the mountain its a magic route def. not for the fainthearted ,try it from the other side next time its n bit more user friendly.

 

[BJJ]

Ek en Billie het hom net na Losper gaan doen met my Dakar en Billie op sy XR 650. Daai is nie jou maat nie.

 

[chicco]

Ek en Billie het hom net na Losper gaan doen met my Dakar en Billie op sy XR 650. Daai is nie jou maat nie.

.

Dit was nogal prettig op die 990,s

 

[Casino]

I did a lot of enquiry about this route and even downloaded it. It looked quite challenging from the couple of photos I looked at and we couldn't wait to get started. The first couple of kilo's we've done before but had to turn back at the farmhouse due to rain, this time we were ready...or so we thought....

I didn't bother to switch my new garmin GPS on until we've reached the farmhouse, when we got there and stopped for a couple of dapper drippels  shots (it was still early morning 3 deg) I realised the route never saved on my GPS. No problem, I thought, surely the route will be visible, and we had a general idea where we wanted to end up....

We carried on and the route was getting more and more difficult, things were going fine and after each little "challenge" we thought it could get worse but guess what, it did....Later there wasn't any more road, just a goat path, things got bad...but we kept on, each challenge taking every drop of energy out of us, at some places we had to help each other to get over the obstacles...mainly deep ruts and huge boulders....Funny I thought...this was never mentioned in any of the other reports.....

By this time the sun was moving in behind the mountains, and still, no path, road or route to connect to on the gps, We walked up the path for about 1k and by this time my 2 companions realised something I already knew, these bikes will never ever get over this mountain without help...help from a military helicopter......

We realised we were clearly on the wrong track and decided to turn back. By my calculation we would make it just in time to the bottom at the farmhouse before dark...now the fun really started....uphill was fun, the same route down a nightmare....we were out of dapper drippels, ideas and energy...at some places we only got through on prays...the bikes were dropped a couple of times and on the downdip it was impossible to pick it up by yourselves...but will we do it again..hell yes, hopefully this time on the right route...

I also forgot to take a camera, these pics were taken with my cellphone.....no pics on the way back, there were no time and no one was in the mood to pose.....

:ricky:

 

[throttle jockey]

Greyhounds been there done that. Smallest bike a 690 the rest 800s 950se'S AND 1200's we worked but a lot of fun. I have details such as route if needed

 

[ROOI]

Greyhounds been there done that. Smallest bike a 690 the rest 800s 950se'S AND 1200's we worked but a lot of fun. I have details such as route if needed

Yip I really liked this route and would put it up there with Katberg as a must ride  :thumleft:

 

[Lynn]

Bucket List! One day when I'm big! :thumleft: