Our 2019 Ride; Somewhere New and Somewhere Old.

[Ian in Great Brak River]

There has been some excellent reports this year so my thanks to all those who have posted, it has been great to ride along.

I have been waiting for 18 months for October to arrived from where it has been hiding and I cannot wait to get going. As usual Allen joins me a few days into the ride and this year it's in Colesberg at Kuilfontein Stable Cottages ... but first ... XRRX (senior & junior) join in on their very capable 150's for the Montague Pass as we head to Uniondale. My destination for today is somewhere new, Oyster Bay Lodge just before Cape St. Francis.





As usual with Hannes, it's many new roads for me, Dankie Oom.





Oyster Bay Lodge is 50k's down a quiet road. It's a quiet spot too and one needs a weekend here not just a night.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Day 2: Somerset East's the destination. I turn left at Hankey on the R331 towards Patensie to do the 70km Elandsriver road that loops back towards Uitenhage. What a lekker road this is.









There are some lekker looking cottages for rent too.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

I stay at Gardiol Country House. A CT/SE couple have restored the family home into a perfect place to stay. I was the only one in it as they were officially closed for a few days.







The reason why everything is so green and lush here is that they get Orange River water to SE via a series of tunnels and canals.





Day 3: After a very quiet night I slab it down the R63 to Fort Beaufort, just out of town I turn left onto the R67 and do a 80km loop through the Mpofu Nature Reserve towards Tarkastad. My thanks to Dirt Junkie and the ruffian for their replies to my questions about this area, thanks Guys.







That is Katberg Pass about 30k's away.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

There were 9 frontier wars back in the early to mid 1800's, Post Retief was a fort that was practically constantly under siege.











It's a perfect quiet road.







In Colesburg Allen arrives 15 minutes after I do at Kuilfontein Stable Cottages. Amazingly windy that afternoon and the result is a spectacular sunset ... no camera does it justice.







Day 1 & 2 commentary and video;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqWdKKsMdXQ

 

[Kobus Myburgh]

Been waiting for this.  Nice one Ian, following with interest.  :ricky:

 

[big oil]

:happy1: :headbang:

 

[eberhard]

:thumleft: :thumleft: Very well taken pictures.  :thumleft:

 

[XRRX]

:happy1: :toothy1:
... btw: "Oom" se "moerrr"! 

 

[Chrisl]

Sub, waiting patiently for the rest. :thumleft:

 

[RobLH]

Sub, lekker start.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Thanks for the comments, appreciated.

This trip was in essence an attempt at a slow ride around the country, we were keen to see places we have not been to before and there are plenty of those around, so for Day 4; we are on our way to Prieska via De Aar.







From De Aar we make our way to Prieska ... where there is not one place that has accommodation available in town. Something about windmills and engineering plants being built nearby resulting in semi permanent residents in all the towns lodges. On our way in we saw a sign for Excelsior River Cottages ... and that is where we find a spot for tonight.



Al has speedometer drive issues and does some repairs. It's a lekker spot on the river with Onion fields behind the cottage.













The owner is busy setting up an Olde Town on the farm, lots of effort has gone into it's planning. It was not open yet but would be in the following two weeks.



















Here is the video of day's 1 - 5 with some footage of what's to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcsq5GEoCr4

 

[Wolzac]

[sub] :ricky:

 

[Pilchie]

:sip: :sip: love the old town

 

[eberhard]

Keep those pitchas coming!

 

[windswept]

:thumleft: Always enjoy your trips with the ou toppie. :biggrin:

 

[XRRX]

Great stuff!!  :thumleft:
I was waiting for the "Al is doing some repairs" ...  :biggrin:

 

[OomD]

Thisis so lekker, thanks for sharing! :thumleft:

 

[Noneking]

Nice Pics!!

 

[punisher]

O0 :thumleft:

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

Prieska - my wife is from there.....

:eek7:

Gooi Nog!!