Solo trip: Eastern, Northern and Western Cape

[Ant]

So, after 27 years of marriage, things kinda unravelled. Finding myself newly single again in early December, with quite a few things on my mind, I did what any other rational person would do... bought a 1200 GS LC and decided to head off on a solo trip to some places I'd always wanted to visit.

On boxing day I headed off on an eight day journey from PE, via Langkloof, Swartberg, Verneukpan, Tankwa Karoo, Cederberg, West coast, Stellenbosch, and back via Ladismith on the R62. As much gravel as possible, but taking it easy seeing that I was on my own. Total of 3500 kms.
Pics to follow....


   

 

[TCS]

its great to ride with friends but on the right time a solo trip is awesome!!!! also did one after my divorce......

 

[TWE-TWE]

Sterkte Ant......

Ek sien uit na jou RR..  :thumleft:

 

[Ant]

First bunch of pics
Packed and ready to go. The morning was a bit chilly, and preparing for the Karoo etc I had't exactly packed many warm things. So First stop was Jefferies Bay, where the Bilabong factory shop was open at 08h30 on the day after Christmas! Just as well cause I managed to buy a nice long sleeve Billabong top  
Then headed off into the Langkloof. Stopped at the Stone Hotel for a quick coffee. Nice place, worth a visit if you're in the area.
Soon thereafter entered the Western Cape. Note how that's where the lines on the road start!
Then on to Oudtshoorn, where 32 years after I cleared out of Infantry school, paid a quick visit to the base. Had an interesting chat to some current staflede, who were genuinely interested in hearing about the place from "the old days"

 

[Ant]

Through Oudtshoorn and on to the Swarberg. By now the weather was really cold (thanks Bilabong!) and the whole mountain range was hidden under thick clouds. At the base of the pass, met another lone biker - oldish guy, don't recall his name  (not a dog) on a trip down from Natal. Had a good chat. He was also going to have headed up to the Northern Cape as well, but said the heat in Prince Albert had made him change his mind.
At the top of the pass made a hot cup of tea. Went down very quickly. 
On the other side of the pass the clouds disappeared  and the weather stayed that way for the rest of the trip.
Anyone whose ridden the Swartberg pass will agree how beautiful it is. Back in the Army we did our Vasbyt up over the pass, down to Die Hel, and over the mountains again. Snowed the one night. Far prefer the current means of transport!
Arrived in Prince Albert for my first night's camp.

 

[subie]

Sorry to hear and strongs to you Ant .

 

[elandsrider]

Sorry about the shit ant, things look like they getting a helluva lot better with the naaice baike and trippie :thumleft:
Lekker rr so far
:sip:

 

[Ant]

Finding myself with not much to do in Prince Albert, decided to go and climb the koppie behind the town; nice aerial view from up there. After all that work found a nice cold Windhoek at "The Bush Pub". Take me home, country road was playing in the pub. Kinda felt right. Not much else going on there so I headed back to the campsite. Met a guy and his wife, currently based in Simonstown in the navy. They were on a road trip "anywhere away from the coast", and this was their first stop. Later that evening I saw the two of them dancing, ballroom style, under the bluegum trees, with only the wind as their music. They danced without a care,  like they were in some grand ballroom.  
The next day I headed off on the dirt towards Beaufort West. Tyres were deflated, but after about 15k's picked up my first puncture!  
No problem, plugged it without any issue, only to find my compressor wouldn't work. After some root cause analysis (just can't seem to get completely away from work   ), stripped the plug and connected it straight to the battery. Problem solved. But because the puncture happened so soon on the trip, I decided to rather inflate the tyres hard from then on. Bad mistake, but more of that later.

 

[brettp]

Great report...subscribed

 

[punisher]

more  more  more    :thumleft:

 

[Dorsland]

Sorry to hear about your divorce Ant, nice way to clear the cobwebs though.  You spent your part of the settlement on the right thing  ;D

 

[Chrisl]

Gooi nog Ant.  :drif:

 

[Kykdaar]

That statute in front of Infantry School points to the Inns a local watering hole when we were there, or shows how deep in the shit you generally are in that camp ;D

Lekke trip - sub.

 

[JACOVV]

Sorry to hear about the divorce.

Nice trip - seems to me we missed each other somewhere.

Nice RR so far. Subscribed  :deal:

 

[Knucklhead/knuckey]

Nice ant, shud pulled in for a coffee whilst in jbay, good luck and subscribed  :thumleft:

 

[Gerard]

All the selfies  atch: talk about finding yourself on a solo trip  :biggrin:

 

[nielvn]

Nice man, keep it comming  :thumleft:

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Nothing quite like a solo trip, all you need is bike and tent.

Gooi nog.

8)

 

[Jondu]

sub

 

[Laban]

..ry saam..