Rammelkoppas, Oubergpas, Tankwa, Gannagapas, Middelpos, Calvinia, Wuppertal, Eselbank, Sederberg Oasis, Katbakkiespas, Tankwa Padstal - by bakkie...

[XRRX]

This is a RR by bakkie, hopefully it can give some info to Adv bikers about the route. I had to attend a 2 day conference on "Climate change" in Vredendal - so decided to take Swambo along and make it a tour... also to visit brother in-law in Calvinia.
I'll leave the Calvinia to Vredendal and back portion out - that was just commuting by tar.
1st Pic shows distance travelled and fuel consumption.

 

[XRRX]

We departed around 10am last Sat morning from a "hectic" George...
Oudtshoorn, and then Swartbergpass. It was heaven to hit the gravel and finally leaving 2023 and "crowdedness" behind. Swartbergpass is in very good condition...
Prins Albert we just passed through - way too crowded nowadays!
Tar to Merveville - what an awesome little place!! After supporting the only shop, and having an interesting talk with the shop owner - on to Sutherland via Rammelkop pass.
First I have to quote these wise words from the shop lady: "Jy kan nie hier oorleef as jy nie gewoond is aan bietjie sukkel nie"...

Rammelkop treats you to some flood damages, as well as the rest of the route to Sutherland, but nothing major...
The views over Moordenaars Karoo is absolutely breath-taking!!!

 

[XRRX]

We were booked in at "Blesfontein", 27km from Sutherland on the way to Oubergpass.
On the way there, I noticed a substantial increase in flood damages, and one has to be wide awake behind the bars/wheel...
It was our first time at Blesfontein, but surely not the last!! Awesome farm accommodation in the middle of no-where, with spectacular views over Tankwa... Nicol and Marina vd Merwe is your friendly hosts, and such hospitality you will only experience in a desolate place... Alpacas is in abundance, as well as almost every other possible animal...

 

[XRRX]

Sunday morning was cold and foggy...
We left around 10am again. The sun came through by the time we hit Ouberg's top. The views down that pass is second to none!!! Must say one appreciates it more from behind a bakkie's wheel than on a bike...
The road leading up to Ouberg is quite damaged in places, and obviously maintanance by NC government is non existing!
Oubergpass itself was better than I expected - we were warned that it is close to impossible. Just take it easy...
The last section before you hit the valley bottom is the worst - with zillions of razor sharp rocks and washouts...

 

[XRRX]

Shortly after Ouberg you start realising the true magnitude of the Dec 2022 floods! That beautiful Tankwa roads where we once cruised at 120+, has now turned into a tweespoor/jeep track related affair in many places.
You seldom comes past 3rd gear. There are erosion gullies everywhere, and the real effect of climatic changes begins to make sense suddenly.
The magnitude of the erosion is actually breath taking!
Where you enter the Parks gate, it improves - there must have been some grading done...

 

[XRRX]

The section through Tankwa Nat Park is smooth going, with amazing old ruiens to see...
The final section leading to Gannagapass is a bit rough again. Here we met with an interesting group of Adv bikers coming down the pass, interesting because I think every possible brand was in attendance!
The pass itself is in much better shape than Ouberg!! A short course section here and there, but nothing serious.
We enjoyed a well deserved cold one at Gannaga Lodge, before continuing...

 

[XRRX]

The section between Gannaga Lodge and Middelpos has quite severe damage in places. Some 4 wheeled vehicles were definelately stuck there at some stage... We gave an interesting local couple a lift to Middelpos, although I suspect some misuse of cheap alcohol was present...
Then the road to Calvinia is a highway, albeit the last few kms to the Williston Tar T-junction...

 

[XRRX]

On Monday morning Swambo stayed behind in Calvinia, as I had to do the conference thing for 2 days in Vredendal. Only thing worth mentioning is the awesome view from Van Rynspass over the Knersvlakte...

 

[XRRX]

On Wednesday we left Calvinia, loaded with rocks, wood, bags of onions and garlic, meat and whatever produce Swambo has invested in...
Took the Clanwilliam gravel, heading for Wuppertal.
The road also exhibits some flood damages and 2 wrecks, one down Botterkloofpass and one near Moedverloor's turn-off...

 

[DaveT]

Lekker report. We've stayed on Nicol's farm many times before when the kids were smaller. Salt of the earth people.

 

[Grootseun]

Lekker, thanks for sharing.

 

[XRRX]

We stopped at the "Englishman's" grave, then we travelled up Pakhuispass to Leipoldt's grave. On the way back we stopped at Traveller's Rest Farm Stall for some local cold beer and other produce...
Then it was off to Wuppertal. The remnants of the terrible fire is still visible, but in general the place looks a lot better now!! Sadly the shoe factory was already closed by the time we arrived...
Then we were off to Sederberg Oasis via the 4x4 route past Eselbank. No need for 4x4 though, the route is probably better than Oubergpass and Tankwa in general... (Or maybe Swambo's Calvinia doomsday prepping load gave the neccesary traction in 2wd...)

 

[XRRX]

Some more images of Wuppertal, with a special boy at Eselbank who had a very bad experience with fire, and on to Cederberg Oasis...

 

[XRRX]

As always - Oasis was great, albeit the void left by Gerrit's passing...
It was very quiet before the long weekend... Us and one lonely biker on a 1200GS.

Slept in Alpha 1. Next morning we paid a visit to his grave before leaving - his spirit will live on...

 

[XRRX]

The Cederberg road out from Oasis is in excellent condition. We stopped at the farm stall next to the road about halfway out. If you appreciate good coffee and farm baking - this is a must stop!!!
At the start of the tar, we turned left to cross Katbakkiespass. The road is freshly graded.
After the pass when you get a view of the Ceres-Calvinia road, with the windfarm on the horizon, it was like watching a continues line of dust!
Damn it was busy! Tankwa Padstal was cooking with Africa Burn characters!!

 

[XRRX]

...
While we were sitting outside at Tankwa - enjoying a cold one as we watched the bee-hive of activity, a guy with his goose wanted to leave with a 1090R, but the moment he engages 1st, she dies.... obviously side stand switch!!
He tried everything to no avail...
Slowly some wannabee mechanics gathered around him.
He cut the wires trying to bridge the switch. Nothing worked. We all phoned some friends and Google, but no one had an answer. I offered him a lift with the bakkie, but that seemed too much for him...
We left, with the poor guy still struggling...

 

[cocky]

Awesome pictures, lekker RR

 

[Crankshaft]

Awesome thanks for the pics and RR.

How long ago was this?
Going up Ouberg next weekend, Sutherland and then Merweville.

 

[XRRX]

The drive out from Tankwa felt like we were on a gravel N1. Here and there is still some minor flood damages left to the road...
I turned left towards Sutherland on the Perdekraal Wind Farm road, heading for Matjiesfontein.
This road is also freshly graded up to the wind farm.
From the windfarm to the WC border, the road is quite bad, with lots of erosion gullies. We drove through a rather deeply washed out drift with fresh gravel been deposited in it.
Few km further we stopped at a farmer, trying to repair the worst spots with a Kubota TLB. I stopped to thank him.
He told us that earlier the day a guy from George pillioning his 15yr old son on a 1200GS ADV, came off in that same deepish drift I mentioned.
It seems as if the guy suffered some broken ribs, boy was ok.
The farmer took them and the bike to Ceres for hospital treatment.
On account of that incident he started to repair the road himself...

 

[XRRX]

Awesome thanks for the pics and RR.

How long ago was this?
Going up Ouberg next weekend, Sutherland and then Merweville.

Hi Crankshaft
It all happened the past few days - 22 to 27 April...