Southern Cape day ride including GysmanshoekPas and one Heat Seize

[Tony the Boney]

Come the end off the year, those of us hardened folk who decided to finish the year off in style, joined Chris Louw for his renowned Southern Cape 1 day ride.
Chris isn't someone who likes to ride on asphalt. If the shop is 1 kay away on tar, he will ride 10 kays on dirt to get there.
So we knew that it would be ruff stuff as usual but this time we would do Gysmanshoek as well.
The Gysmanshoek Pass follows an historical ox wagon route dating back to the mid 1700's. This is an old gravel pass through a natural cleft in the Langeberg Mountains between Heidelberg in the South and the Little Karoo/ Ladismith area in the North.

Seven of us met at SSB in Riversdal before Chris led us into the woestyn. The weather was scheduled to reach 33 desgrees and partly cloudy.
We never saw a cloud and it hit 38 by 1300.

 

[Tuareg]

Waiting in anticipation............ 

 

[Tony the Boney]

We even had the Jacques automatic weapon along for the ride..

 

[Tony the Boney]

Just outside Riversdal heading towards Garcia pass we branch of left and hit dirt on the road to nowhere...
Actually, it's a beautiful road toward the general direction of the Grootvadersbosch Nature reserve.
Beautiful scenery as can be seen in the pictures below.

 

[Tony the Boney]

Dee 1150 (Our Megaboer), ChrisL and Blikners

 

[Tony the Boney]

Chris showing Odd Dog (Brian) where to go up Gysmans and wait for us at the top and film us as we do the climb.
Its a 1:5 gradient so it isn't so bad. Bit marbley and rough in places and keeping momentum is essential.
In the pic below...Dewald (DEE1150), ChrisL, Brian (Odd Dog), Chris (Blikners) and Jacques (Tenereman)

 

[Tony the Boney]

On top of Gysmans looking Northwest across the Cannaland toward the Warmwaterberg.
Barrydale would be some distance away to the left.

 

[Tony the Boney]

On the way down toward Brandrivier with Brian first and then Josef (JJR) on his 990. Chris doing gate duty.

 

[Tony the Boney]

This photo isn't out of focus......heat haze, just bloody hot!!

 

[Odd Dog]

The basic route.

 

[Chrisl]

The basic route.

Jeez we did do a lot of bends did we not!! :eek7:
It was a good ride in good company. I will speak to the organizers about cooler weather next year!! :lol8: :deal:

 

[Tony the Boney]

Thanks Brian, will refer to your map.  :thumleft:
After hitting the valley we stopped at the famous partially renovated cottage before hitting the good dirt road to Muiskraal.
Tar road through Garcia Pass and a well deserved break on the other side.

 

[Tony the Boney]

After leaving Garcia we suddenly hit a wall of heat...hot air that took your breath away.
Refering to the map you will see the Riversdale loop that we tackled next.
At the top of the loop is where the grief started..........
I overheated!!
We stopped at a shady spot and the guys poured 2 litres of cold river water over my head to get me going again.
About 30 kays later on the Route to Jakklesvlei we stopped at a river for me to relax.
It revived me totallyafter lying down and rolling over for 20 minutes
 

 

[Tony the Boney]

The last 40 kays to Albertinia was pretty rough, similar in places to riding a bronco.
But we made it there to end the day to eat what ChrisL refers to as the best Roosterbrood in the country.
Josef Richter sat behind bars so that nobody would steal his brood.  :imaposer:

 

[Kobus Myburgh]

atch: This is what I missed! 

Enjoyed reading this Tony, you write well.  Next year I want to join you guys for sure.

Ek hoop jy doen dit volgende jaar weer Chris.  :thumleft:

 

[Odd Dog]

He does doesn't he, I think we should delegate our ride reports to Tony in future.  ;D

 

[Chrisl]

atch: This is what I missed! 

Enjoyed reading this Tony, you write well.  Next year I want to join you guys for sure.

Ek hoop jy doen dit volgende jaar weer Chris.  :thumleft:

Ek het gedog ons gaan uiteindelik  ontmoet en toe moes ek hoor jy het jou rug beseer toe jy te vinnig buk om n kamstige los veter vas te maak toe n klomp bikiniglad girls verby loop. eepwall: :lol8:

As ek nog ry en ek nie op vakansie gaan kan ons weer n plan maak. :thumleft:

 

[Kobus Myburgh]

atch: This is what I missed! 

Enjoyed reading this Tony, you write well.  Next year I want to join you guys for sure.

Ek hoop jy doen dit volgende jaar weer Chris.  :thumleft:

Ek het gedog ons gaan uiteindelik  ontmoet en toe moes ek hoor jy het jou rug beseer toe jy te vinnig buk om n kamstige los veter vas te maak toe n klomp bikiniglad girls verby loop. eepwall: :lol8:

As ek nog ry en ek nie op vakansie gaan kan ons weer n plan maak. :thumleft:

:lol8: Was dit maar die bikini girls se skuld, dan het ek dalk net 'n blou oog gehad!  Vakansie is darem nog nie oor nie, ek kom dalk sommer vinnig deur om te kom blad skud sodra die rug my krom chassis 'n kans gee.  :thumleft:

 

[Heimer]

Albertinia se roosterkoek.

Verseker die beste

 

[Tony the Boney]

Thanks Kobus and Brian!!
ChrisL, thanks for leading a great ride