Ride through southern cape U turning in the Karoo

[XTJoe]

As we need to work through the december period  and have to much leave we took a few days to see paradise and some. If the weather went crappy the plan was to go up north to Calvinia/Williston through the Tankwa as the Cape summer weather  turned rainy a few days before the time. Got hold of Chris L for places to see roads to follow as my old style Shell map is pretty useless in that sense. As we have never been to Stillbay and i heard about a road along the coast who better to ask and he colours in the route so nice in his description. As the weather changed for the better we left on saturday for Stillbay via Napier/Bredasdorp/Malgas/Witsand and then planned over Vermaaklikheid to Stilbay. All went well until we were looking for directions out of Witsand when a farmer informed us that we would not be able to cross the river and headed back via N2 around Heidelberg?Riversdale to Stilbay. Had a nice tar run knyping the german a bit through the nice tar corners. Stilbay was quite a surprise, i could not believe the size expecting a little Witsand/Stanford type a place and running a combo of Strand & Gordonsbay but without the shops. Nice place and very clean. After a longish day had a nice steak at "on the rocks" (reasonble pricing and good portions-highly recomended) and a early evening having a stare off with a looney looking spider.
pics of Ricks contemp art in napier- makes swell stuff out of scrap metal/crossing Malgas/loony sider at Stilbay river lodge and stilbay

 

[Chrisl]

So where did the dog sit? ???

 

[XTJoe]

On sunday we left early cutting accross a nice dirt road coming out the N2 at Albertinia. (few pics as rider is also mik and druk operator and gps) As per ChrisL we drove into Albertinia -T junction right first left and that road will take you to Herbertsdale (no signs indicating any of these) nice and green and we found the sleepy Herbertsdale, nice place. T junction again turn left onto Vanwyksdorp rd- gravel and a few km out of town turn right on top of a hill(a bit daunting but trusting the directions). Beautifull valleys and a nice gravel road, after about 25 odd kms found a (omgedraaide Y junction-chrisis description- which is what it was) i stopped phoned just to confirm-all in order. Another 20km we popped out on the Mosselbay/Oudshoorn  road cutting through a nice mountains until we stopped in 35deg oudshoorn for fuel & quick lunch outside town on the  Kango rd. We crossed Swartberg pass which is always nice and camped the next 2 days in Prince Albert returning over Meiringspoort and then outside De Rust turning right on the "Oude Muragie" rd as per ChrisL. Absolute stunning ride crossing streams and little blackwattle forests. T junction again on Kango caves rd turning right to Swartberg and a few km on left on Groenrivier Calitzdorp, nice again. Stopping for Icecream and Coke lunch in Calitzdorp 30 some change heat

 

[XTJoe]

more pics

 

[COLES]

LOTS OF ENJOYMENT GREAT AREA GOOD PIC,S GLAD YOU POSTED THE RIDE

 

[XTJoe]

Leaving Calitzdorp we travelled over Rooiberg pass which was quite a temperature and landscape change. Found lots of tortoises crossing the roads . Stayed the night at Rooiberg lodge, quite a green oasis with more tortoises, kudu and nyala spotted. Next day we got back on R62 hitting a headwind from Barrydale spoiling the fun a bit. We took a coffee break at Bokveld and his looney dog WIT in Montague, always nice to listen his travels. As the wind did not let up we took a easy ride back to CT.

 

[XTJoe]

So where did the dog sit? ???

Praat jy van die duitser- :snorting:--- :thumleft:

 

[Chrisl]

So where did the dog sit? ???

Praat jy van die duitser- :snorting:--- :thumleft:

Weet nie wie die duitser is nie maar daai hond wat agter die bike sit en wag vir n lift
by die pond.
Ek sien jy het by die stasiedief van Montague aangegaan? Kyk hoe sit hy met sy rug
teen die evidence eepwall:

 

[Bokveld]

    Dit was nou sommer bakgat dat julle aangekom het.Ou Wit het sommer gaan le en sulk toe julle ry.Dis maar eensaam hier as my ou wederhelf weg is.Vir die wat Wit nie ken nie,dis hy.

 

[ALLEN I]

nice ride thanks for sharing

 

[Keith Barbier]

Nice pics :thumleft:

 

[Difflock]

Mooi xtj, dankie vir die post, kan altyd van daai roetes ry wanneer ek af Kaap toe ry.

 

[XTJoe]

So where did the dog sit? ???

Praat jy van die duitser- :snorting:--- :thumleft:

Weet nie wie die duitser is nie maar daai hond wat agter die bike sit en wag vir n lift
by die pond.
Ek sien jy het by die stasiedief van Montague aangegaan? Kyk hoe sit hy met sy rug
teen die evidence eepwall:

my kop was plat ???- maar is nou met jou.  Stasiedief huur nou ook trailers uit vir mense wat nagskof werk...klink baie suspect

 

[XTJoe]

    Dit was nou sommer bakgat dat julle aangekom het.Ou Wit het sommer gaan le en sulk toe julle ry.Dis maar eensaam hier as my ou wederhelf weg is.Vir die wat Wit nie ken nie,dis hy.

Bokveld, maak n klein video van WIT se dansery, hond dans al in die rondte en so happy met homself :lol8:

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Good photos, especially of the Puffy. Its a male i believe.

8)