Port St. Johns

[tifua]

GF and I want to do a ride down from Himeville to Port St Johns on the 23rd of October. Anybody recently ridden down to PSJ and can advise on roads, issues etc? Also we then will ride to Durban and considered going on dirt roads via New Hope Mission (instead of riding back up part of the way on same road we travelled down to PSJ) and again, anybody have insight on road conditions (2 up, 1200GSA, panniers). Worth the detour in terms of scenery? Safe or better to double back and then stick to main roads?

thanks in advance