Tankwa here we come - oh no - it's washed away...

XRRX · Dec 23, 2022

Our old friend "Nommers" informed us rather late in Dec he is going to come down from Durbs - with his white AT on the back of his Ranger - Swambo as co-driver...
She was going to spend some time with lady friends on a boat at Knysna - and he MUST go ride with his old friends... He should meet-up with her again in Cape Town later...
Backed Beans quickly planned a route through Tankwa - including Bidou valley.
Meanwhile it started raining like mad!!! Everywhere were warnings - stay away!!!
So the route suddenly changed to this:

The TRANSPORTER · Dec 23, 2022

Jip daai roete hierbo n maand terug gedoen…na die 7de regs draai het ons verdwaal en toe weer net begin links draai…

XRRX · Dec 23, 2022

Anyway, inspite of all the warnings, Nommers insisted we MUST ride, and given the severe drought in my own adv-riding career, I happily - although a bit sceptically - obliged... On Friday I received a pic of his loaded bike, and on Saturday he arrived - with luggage for a month!!! While my son - who sadly couldn't join due to unreal work requirements - was doing new chain and sprockets on his 450, we prepped till late... route still a mystery!

TheBear · Dec 23, 2022

XRRX said:
Our old friend "Nommers" informed us rather late in Dec he is going to come down from Durbs - with his white AT on the back of his Ranger - Swambo as co-driver...
She was going to spend some time with lady friends on a boat at Knysna - and he MUST go ride with his old friends... He should meet-up with her again in Cape Town later...
Backed Beans quickly planned a route through Tankwa - including Bidou valley.
Meanwhile it started raining like mad!!! Everywhere were warnings - stay away!!!
So the route suddenly changed to this:

Best routes those. Straight forward without all sorts of complexities. Have fun!

XRRX · Dec 23, 2022

On Sunday morning Dave joined us from Mosselbay... We were packed to the brim - Dave with a half size Skip mounted on each side of his Twin... The pressure was on me to lead us out of George and into the unknown... I was pretty sure in my mind that we were all going to drown!!

Chrisl · Dec 23, 2022

Dave with a half size Skip mounted on each side of his Twin...

XRRX · Dec 23, 2022

After an exhaustive life threatening negotiation of George's holiday traffic

mixed with Go George kamakazi bus drivers, we hit the road towards Oudtshoorn. Took the first turn-off left - Klipdrift - to be finally and peacefully finding ourselves on gravel! After the blessed rains of the previous few days, the air was clean and the Sun was beating down really hard!! Some storm damage hear and there, with some puddles left and a minor river crossing or two, we were happily on our way nowhere...
Mount Hope -

Volmoed - and then Red Stone Hills to enter Calitzdorp via the Swartberg route... Life is good again!!

Oubones · Dec 24, 2022

XRRX said:
Our old friend "Nommers" informed us rather late in Dec he is going to come down from Durbs - with his white AT on the back of his Ranger - Swambo as co-driver...
She was going to spend some time with lady friends on a boat at Knysna - and he MUST go ride with his old friends... He should meet-up with her again in Cape Town later...
Backed Beans quickly planned a route through Tankwa - including Bidou valley.
Meanwhile it started raining like mad!!! Everywhere were warnings - stay away!!!
So the route suddenly changed to this:

That is my type off route planning, every crossing has a few choices and anyone is good!
Following and couch riding with.

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

This RR will take some time - I'm lazy and typing on a Samsung with a cracked screen, looking similar to our route plan...
While each enjoying a chocolate Steri Stumpie in the shade next to Calitzdorp Caltex, we decided to head for "Ons Karoo Plaas", between Seweweekspoort and Laingsburg - on the Rouxpos loop.
The Huysriver Pass is always a blast, with Dave doing his best through the corners with his limited lean angle due to the side Skips...

Seweweekspoort nice with limited dust thanks to the recent rains...

"Ons Karoo Plaas"

We arrived at "Ons Karoo Plaas" late afternoon, and was welcomed by Christo - excited for hearing the Honda whine of 3x Africa Twins! He rides a classic Rd07 himself!!
He gave us a great camping spot in the shade of a permanent caravan/roofed shelter. The honesty bar is stacked to the brim, and everything is ice cold!! We opted for sleeping in the open under a shade-net next to our bikes, the whole chebang next to a Karoo stream...

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

Having a great time at Karoo Plaas...

Karoo Rider · Dec 24, 2022

Great report so far - thanks. I love Ons Karoo Plaas and Christo & Ann are the best hosts.

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

Monday morning - aftèr some research - we decide to take the Witteberge route to Touwsriver. We were heading for Tankwa Padstal, not really knowing what to expect with all the contradictory reports ...
Nommers had to be at a Wifi spot at 14:00, for a quick Zoom meeting - bit difficult to calculate given conditions...
We barely turned off on the Witteberge road, when we got stopped by a friendly old farmer. He just wanted to warm us about washed away drifts which you do not see until you are on it!
There were quite a few - most directly after a blind turn - so we got to appreciate the warning.
I almost - really almost hit a sheep later on at more than 100kph - ABS needs to be appreciated more!

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

After a meal at a busy Touwsriver Steers, we headed out towards Tankwa Padstal. As we approaced the R355 T between Ceres and Calvinia, it became more and more evident that this area was hit by HUGE water!!! The Roads Dept already tried to do basic repairs here and there. It was strange to see the road so quiet - only the occasional 4x4 approaching...
Some parts were normal, others sandy, then long rock-strewn sections and even a deep muddy donga where my rear wheel apparently almost dissappeared under the muddy standing water.
Nommers had his Twin sideways trying a different but shalower line from mine...
We reached a quiet Padstal without any serious incident.
As usual the drinks were icy cold, with the Padstal spray-on Aircon doing wonders to our hot bodies...
Nommers had his Zoom meeting in time.

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

Ok, Tom just taught me how to properly insert pictures - Thx Tom!!
So I've altered the RR a bit luckily without mixing-up everything too much...

With the rest of it I'll try to improve...

TVB · Dec 24, 2022

Awesome, looking so much fw to the rest!!

XRRX · Dec 24, 2022

After the cool-down at Tankwa, we proceeded via Katbakkies Pass - destination Cederberg Oasis...

The view from the Top is magnificent - one can clearly see the evidence of major water that went through the valley at the bottom:

The road into Cederberg was interesting in some places, with lots of evidence of good rain. At the Oasis my first priority was too finally be able to say " cheers" to Gerrit!