Without fail, getting a call from Hardi is a catalyst for something “bike” related to happen, and Wednesday morning 3 weeks ago when "HardiDa" flashed across my cell phone, was no exception.
Starting the conversation with “Ou Kloof” had me committed, and I was ready with “I do” before he finished – so quick was my “I do”, I had to phone him back afterward for the dates – suffice to say I was game.
Ever since the first ride reports on Ou Kloof appeared (I think it was
@superfoxi ) Ou kloof was on my bucket list. Later pics by
@Hardy de Kock and
@hartebees only reinforced the notion, it was a matter of when.
The call galvanised me into action, having just moved house, it was a matter of unpacking riding kit and getting everything ready – in my case, it also involved me re-assembling the Green Mamba, the KDX, that has been living in boxes for the past 3 years – the intention was a nut and bolt restoration, but I made do with a fresh top end, new rubber, sprockets and chain, and also servicing the front shock.
View attachment 865939
Made arrangements with
@hartebees to share travelling , the arrangement was that he will leave his place at 6:00, be with me at 6:30 to load – true to form, he pinged me at 6:00 to tell me he is on his way, and stopped at the farm gate 6:30 sharp – the guy is serious.
Being a Thursday morning, not having to work, made the whole exercise extra worth while. Loading the KDX, and throwing my kit and jerry cans in the back of the bakke, we were ready to rock in minutes
View attachment 865940
Heading NE on the N1 towards Leeu Gamka, we were on a collusion course with the Looney Bro's heading SW from Bloemfontein, a small town in the Free State right next to the Bike Riding Kingdom of Lesotho. With not much going on in the town, they visit the Bike Riding Kingdom of Lesotho ALL THE TIME - making them really good riders.
View attachment 865941
I also had the fortune of shacking up with them for the weekend - 100's of bike stories and seriously good humor. They are KTM mad,
@Losper even has a KTM radio - credit where credit is due, that radio belted out some good tunes.
The icing on the cake was that everyone that went was
Quest riders, an event run by Hardi's
Specialized Adventure company.
Riders from 2017 (
@twister) to 2021 (me, the junior of the bunch) was represented - I was looking forward to a weekend with like minded souls.
For riding I teamed up with this serious guy..
View attachment 865951
... Martin, he who was one of my Instructors on Quest 2021: Good humour, razor sharp wit and a most positive energy you can imagine.
To put you in the picture, Ou Kloof is a gravel pass that straddles the Nuweberg section of the
Great Escarpment, criss-crossing various tributaries of the Koekemoersrivier. The pass takes you from the lower Karoo 960m up to the escarpment, crossing the border between Western Cape and Northen Cape en route.
View attachment 865937
The terrain is varied, in the lower Karoo it is Roggeveld to something that is almost Bushveld-like with Camel thorn trees, and it support quite a bit of game, Blouwildebees. Hartebees etc (lots of Kudu as well), adding to that "riding in Africa" feeling.
Making your way up the pass, you can it as sweaty as you want, with lots of dry riverbeds to hone your rock riding skills
View attachment 865946
If "rocky" is not your thing at the end of a long day, there is also the option of leisurely tracks to various look out points.
View attachment 865947
The views from the escarpment are spectacular, wide open vistas framed by hardwearing Dolomite cliffs.
View attachment 865949
From the top of the escarpment (you will notice from pics to come), the lower Karoo has this almost Namibian look.
If you are drawn to the arid areas like me, Oukloof will not disappoint.
Enough geography,
what about the riding you ask - unfortunately I still can't find my camera's proprietary USB cable, what I will do is pilfer a few pics by fellow riders, and add context to them.
But first, smoke break.
