fat b
Race Dog
I was in serious need of a ride ,my "cracked rib" situation was down from HOLY SHIT UNCOMFORTABLE PAIN !! to a minor irritation ! The first weekend that I was feeling well enough to do something physical again and to my long suffering wife's total disgust I desserted her and the dogs in favour of the allure of the gravel road less traveled !
My friend Brad was also in the final stages of withdrawel and if he didn't hit the gravel soon , he to would slide into the dark depths of depression !
A plan was soon hatched to meet at the Engen petrol station on the N2 just outside Mossel Bay . From there the short and exciting tar road to Herbertsdale wich in itself is always nice to ride as there is always something to see and the road has lots of nice twisties. Then the gravel would begin , over the Cloetes Pass to Van wyksdorp, then over the picturesque Rooiberg Pass and on to Calitsdorp .We would have lunch there and then head home our seperate ways Brad to Sedgfield via the Outeniqua pass , and me to Mossel Bay via Volmoed and the Robinson Pass.
Our first taste of gravel just outside of Herbertsdale,we stopped to admire the stunning scenery,have a smoke ,and deflate our tyres,then the real riding could start !
The scenery is awsome with ever changing vistas around every corner.
I love water crossings ,even small ones !
We climbed steadily to the platau end then made our way town to the bridge that crosses the Gourits River.
View from the top of the valley of the bridge that crosses the Gourits River .
On the bridge.
I love taking photos on this bridge.
Two great buddies , two great bikes ! That 750 Super Tenere' is schweet!
After the bridge there is a steep cement road that leads out of the river valley to the other side.
I told Brad to go ahead as he is the faster rider "a 80 year old on a bycycle is probably faster than me !" And to wait for me at the Van Wyksdorp Turnoff.Needless to say he just caried on past it and I gave chase ! I had to however stop to take a pic of this place.
when I did catch up I didnt quite know where we were , so I consulted my trusty GPS and this was the answer I got ! Talk about stating the obvious !
We backtracked to the van Wyksdorp turnoff .
While enjoying a "light zamalec cooler" we heard the familiar sound of BMW boxer motors ! Man I love that sound ! When we went outside to say hello I was amazed that my old AT can still pull a crowd of admirers ! My favorite "new" BMW was also there the HP2.
We said our goodbyes and were off .
The beggining of the Rooiberg Pass , riding this pass is always alot of fun ! Sometimes the road is lovely and the next time you come the road might be really kak ! I think it is pretty sensitive to rain .
This guy on a xt660 passed me so fast it made my head spin!! This guy was gooing mielies ! And he may !
I stopped to take photos and the beemer pack passed me .
I caught up when everybody stopped for another "refreshment" break .I stopped in front on purpose !LOL !
Leader of the pack !!LOL !!
My two favorite bikes in the same frame ...pure visual poetry :mwink:
More great views.
On our arrival in Calitsdorp we headed straight to "DIe Dorpshuis" Good food good Beer ! And man did it flow !
Good fun ,great guys!
After forcing ourselves to leave we hit the road again in high spirits ! We said our goodbyes on the highway and I took the volmoed turnoff. This little road that eventually leads to the Robinson pass really is a little gem and the hamlet of Volmoed has a old world charm about it that I find very appealing!
Smoke break at the intersection that leads to the Robinson Pass .
One of my favorite passes and often overlooked is the Robinson Pass , most people ride through it enjoy it , but never take photos . I was in a good mood so I decided to take a few pics of the old lady "pass"
The one time I stop to take a photo of the water fall and for the first time in the 20 years that I have been stopping there no f!@#$%g water!
More vistas
All in all a great day ,and home safely! Man this is the way to spend a sunday !
My friend Brad was also in the final stages of withdrawel and if he didn't hit the gravel soon , he to would slide into the dark depths of depression !
A plan was soon hatched to meet at the Engen petrol station on the N2 just outside Mossel Bay . From there the short and exciting tar road to Herbertsdale wich in itself is always nice to ride as there is always something to see and the road has lots of nice twisties. Then the gravel would begin , over the Cloetes Pass to Van wyksdorp, then over the picturesque Rooiberg Pass and on to Calitsdorp .We would have lunch there and then head home our seperate ways Brad to Sedgfield via the Outeniqua pass , and me to Mossel Bay via Volmoed and the Robinson Pass.
Our first taste of gravel just outside of Herbertsdale,we stopped to admire the stunning scenery,have a smoke ,and deflate our tyres,then the real riding could start !
The scenery is awsome with ever changing vistas around every corner.
I love water crossings ,even small ones !
We climbed steadily to the platau end then made our way town to the bridge that crosses the Gourits River.
View from the top of the valley of the bridge that crosses the Gourits River .
On the bridge.
I love taking photos on this bridge.
Two great buddies , two great bikes ! That 750 Super Tenere' is schweet!
After the bridge there is a steep cement road that leads out of the river valley to the other side.
I told Brad to go ahead as he is the faster rider "a 80 year old on a bycycle is probably faster than me !" And to wait for me at the Van Wyksdorp Turnoff.Needless to say he just caried on past it and I gave chase ! I had to however stop to take a pic of this place.
when I did catch up I didnt quite know where we were , so I consulted my trusty GPS and this was the answer I got ! Talk about stating the obvious !
We backtracked to the van Wyksdorp turnoff .
While enjoying a "light zamalec cooler" we heard the familiar sound of BMW boxer motors ! Man I love that sound ! When we went outside to say hello I was amazed that my old AT can still pull a crowd of admirers ! My favorite "new" BMW was also there the HP2.
We said our goodbyes and were off .
The beggining of the Rooiberg Pass , riding this pass is always alot of fun ! Sometimes the road is lovely and the next time you come the road might be really kak ! I think it is pretty sensitive to rain .
This guy on a xt660 passed me so fast it made my head spin!! This guy was gooing mielies ! And he may !
I stopped to take photos and the beemer pack passed me .
I caught up when everybody stopped for another "refreshment" break .I stopped in front on purpose !LOL !
Leader of the pack !!LOL !!
My two favorite bikes in the same frame ...pure visual poetry :mwink:
More great views.
On our arrival in Calitsdorp we headed straight to "DIe Dorpshuis" Good food good Beer ! And man did it flow !
Good fun ,great guys!
After forcing ourselves to leave we hit the road again in high spirits ! We said our goodbyes on the highway and I took the volmoed turnoff. This little road that eventually leads to the Robinson pass really is a little gem and the hamlet of Volmoed has a old world charm about it that I find very appealing!
Smoke break at the intersection that leads to the Robinson Pass .
One of my favorite passes and often overlooked is the Robinson Pass , most people ride through it enjoy it , but never take photos . I was in a good mood so I decided to take a few pics of the old lady "pass"
The one time I stop to take a photo of the water fall and for the first time in the 20 years that I have been stopping there no f!@#$%g water!
More vistas
All in all a great day ,and home safely! Man this is the way to spend a sunday !
eepwall:
