MrBig
Grey Hound
On short notice (because Cape weather suck) we decided to take a long weekend and make a run to somewhere dry â?? ever wishful we were.
Not a lot of writing (it's Monday) but here some pics.
Thursday morning found us passing through Ceres and after a short stint on the R355 we turned off onto the R354 heading to Sutherland.
It was cold â?? I promise.
The famous R355 to Calvinia
Turned out that the R354 was less than impressive. The first bit was dotted with repairs after a lot of flood damage. Eventually the road deteriorated into dry mud with rutted tracks and some hidden surprises is the form of water formed ditches. Although there were lots of visible water there was no mud.
We arranged with the local tourism office to go show us around SALT even though the visitor center was closed.
An interesting fact about Sutherland is that is lies 20m higher than Johannesburg in altitude.
We also went inside to have a look at the scope â?? impressive indeed.
A giant sat idly watching the little ones scurry around.
The wind was unreal. I havenâ??t experienced anything like that in a long time.
Children and small animals had to be tethered down.
This church in Sutherland can seat 1200 people. Two thirds the current population of the town. They were massively optimistic on the growth of this town I guess. Or perhaps it was a hope of â??growing into itâ?.
Next morning we headed towards the Tankwa down Ouberg Pass. The weather look ominous to say the least. Temp read 7 ̊C
What an amazing pass â?? even with the weather it was something to behold. This is a MUST ride for DS riders.
The sun came out â?? and sortof stuck around.
The landscape changed to black slate. The foe of the DS tire but a spectacular sight.
It must be the moon rocks.
Exposure was crap but an interesting pic.
From here we turned into the Tankwa Karoo National Park and travelled the width of it (55kmâ??s)
Amazing flowers and views.
Itâ??s called Pramberg â?? I promise.
We havenâ??t seen a person for hours â?? the ranger told us that we were only the 2nd vehicle to go that direction the whole week. The wind was howling and we sheltered here for lunch. A truly amazing place.
Must have been a hard place to live. This was their farm and Ouboet was the last to survive.
The terrain kept on changing â?? suddenly a large pan.
Aah Calvinia â?? what a crappy place for a visitor.
The alien tried to communicate with an odd shaped earthling.
It rained when we left Calvinia and we were in for a wet day. The sun came out to give us a brief glimps of what could have been.
Go ride this road between Clanwilliam and Calvinia. You won't be sorry.
The shooter becomes the target.
Bad news ahead.
The rain came and it was hard going through the mud into Clanwilliam where thankfully the rain eased up.
Wasnâ??t thinking when I chose the Old Cape road to Citrusdal â?? mud everywhere and the bridge was almost too flooded to cross. We made it though and stayed over outside the town in Boschkloof.
The road home through Kouebokkeveld the next day was pleasant but the amount of mud once again surprised me.
And this is why you shouldnâ??t trim your front mudguard.
Thanks for reading.
Not a lot of writing (it's Monday) but here some pics.
Thursday morning found us passing through Ceres and after a short stint on the R355 we turned off onto the R354 heading to Sutherland.
It was cold â?? I promise.
The famous R355 to Calvinia
Turned out that the R354 was less than impressive. The first bit was dotted with repairs after a lot of flood damage. Eventually the road deteriorated into dry mud with rutted tracks and some hidden surprises is the form of water formed ditches. Although there were lots of visible water there was no mud.
We arranged with the local tourism office to go show us around SALT even though the visitor center was closed.
An interesting fact about Sutherland is that is lies 20m higher than Johannesburg in altitude.
We also went inside to have a look at the scope â?? impressive indeed.
A giant sat idly watching the little ones scurry around.
The wind was unreal. I havenâ??t experienced anything like that in a long time.
Children and small animals had to be tethered down.
This church in Sutherland can seat 1200 people. Two thirds the current population of the town. They were massively optimistic on the growth of this town I guess. Or perhaps it was a hope of â??growing into itâ?.
Next morning we headed towards the Tankwa down Ouberg Pass. The weather look ominous to say the least. Temp read 7 ̊C
What an amazing pass â?? even with the weather it was something to behold. This is a MUST ride for DS riders.
The sun came out â?? and sortof stuck around.
The landscape changed to black slate. The foe of the DS tire but a spectacular sight.
It must be the moon rocks.
Exposure was crap but an interesting pic.
From here we turned into the Tankwa Karoo National Park and travelled the width of it (55kmâ??s)
Amazing flowers and views.
Itâ??s called Pramberg â?? I promise.
We havenâ??t seen a person for hours â?? the ranger told us that we were only the 2nd vehicle to go that direction the whole week. The wind was howling and we sheltered here for lunch. A truly amazing place.
Must have been a hard place to live. This was their farm and Ouboet was the last to survive.
The terrain kept on changing â?? suddenly a large pan.
Aah Calvinia â?? what a crappy place for a visitor.
The alien tried to communicate with an odd shaped earthling.
It rained when we left Calvinia and we were in for a wet day. The sun came out to give us a brief glimps of what could have been.
Go ride this road between Clanwilliam and Calvinia. You won't be sorry.
The shooter becomes the target.
Bad news ahead.
The rain came and it was hard going through the mud into Clanwilliam where thankfully the rain eased up.
Wasnâ??t thinking when I chose the Old Cape road to Citrusdal â?? mud everywhere and the bridge was almost too flooded to cross. We made it though and stayed over outside the town in Boschkloof.
The road home through Kouebokkeveld the next day was pleasant but the amount of mud once again surprised me.
And this is why you shouldnâ??t trim your front mudguard.
Thanks for reading.
