Teazers to Tonteldoos

[Nicobie]

Short 2day trip to Tonteldoos.
For those not knowing where this place is, its 20km north of Dullstroom, only accessible by gravel roads.
Only 3 buildings in the village, of which one is the bar, one is a beer brewery and the last is, well ? - you will see the photo.

this trip started actually with my planning of a trip for September down to Lesotho.
My friends said they wanted a shorter, sooner trip, and after reading "Blauth's" trip to Dullstroom in January, this was just the inspiration I needed.

I also had to proof a point to my dearest, who claims I am just a couch traveller.
she is not completely wrong, as I like to read all the RR's on the forum. I kind of feel quilty everytime I read an RR, and decided not to be a taker but also a giver this time. (giving a report to the forum).

The riders are:
3 from Krugersdorp - PietL - 1200 GSA, PietB - 800GS, Cois - Tenere 660.
2 From Hekpoort - Myself (Nico) - Dakar and Errol - 800GS
2 from Pretoria - Thys - 800GS and Johan 1200GSA. Will meet them in Bronkhorstspruit.

Route will start in Krugerdorp at Pinehaven Sasol filling stn, on N14 to Diepsloot turnoff via Midrand to Bapsfontein. Here we will find gravel for the rest.
Then onto gravel to Bronkhorstspruit for Breakfast at Roxy's.

Enough reading for now, lets get some photies.

Dakar packed and ready for gravel



Meet the guys at Pinehaven


First stop - No names mentioned, but someone had to renew a season ticket here - Just hope he comes back today.
Too early for coffee though



Ok, not sure whether this will come out as I hope.
AND hope that the trip is not hijacked here - he he hejavascript:replaceText(' :imaposer:', document.forms.postmodify.message);

 

[Raka]

:happy1: :happy1:

 

[Nicobie]

First Gravel section after Bapsfontein




And Breakfast at Roxy's


Then finding die treinspoor pad - alongside the railway line to Balmoral Station - 25km

 

[Nicobie]

Some more






Stop to remove inners and for smokers.

 

[Kawaki]

ot:

 

[Nicobie]

This section is the road from Balmoral via the R544 to Loskop. = about 95km.





Regroup just as we meet the R544.









PietB lost his topbox and we waited while he went back looking it. Found it, no damage, even to the little bottle of whisky.


Regroup and refresh after 250km travelling. This is at Loskop.



Taking a comfy rest at the local stoep in the driveway.
Well rested, can you see ? PietB, PietL and Cois
then the obligatory stop at the damwall and greeting by the stone hand.





On  the way from Loskop towards Stoffberg.
There was quite a rain storm ahead of us, but we managed to miss it, and it was now getting late also.
Dust forced us to leave big gaps between the riders.






Eventually arriving in Tondeldoos.




Remember the third dwelling I mentioned in the beginning - this is it !


What can one say - Bragging ??


It was quite cold by now, and we did not put the inners back again. So we had to visit the pub and instantly double the occupants of Tonteldoos. This is a nice friendly bunch of people that we met here, all watching the rugby, fire going and dop flowing, why can't we stay ?

Because we booked the Little Tinderbox Cottage - another 5km to go. Don't forget the ice.

 

[Nicobie]

The Little Tinderbox cottage only cost us R135pppn self catering, it sleeps 11 people if you share double beds, but we  used the 7 beds
not sharing a bed.

there is a nice fireplace, with wood supplied and fully equipped with even towels.
We had a braai of steaks and wors and garlick rolls.
Plenty of liquids as well, as the body tends to dry out on such trips, (must be the dust)


This bedroom is an extension of something and hangs over the kitchen. Maybe PietL choose this one so he can leave the stove on for the night in case it got cold


Next morning all misty but not too cold. Some slept a bit late, others gathered in front of the fireplace and discussed the trip and some farming stuff (Errol is a farmer in Hekpoort)






Breakfast at Dullstroom


5 of my fellow riders decided to take tar back home and only myself and PietB stayed on gravel back to Middelburg
Some of the roads and scenery between Dullstroom, Stoffberg and Middelburg.











In Middelburg we decided to turn the GPS to "offroad only" as we did not want to ride tar.
Sometimes this can lead to getting lost - which is exactly what happened to us. Not due to GPS error but I think more to blame on development and invading some space by the industrial world.

There used to be a road here, but that mine/powerstation is now in the way.



this caused us to turn around, facing the mealie fields again. Some fun as there are nice sandy patches in the field
Well, this was the end of our trip, and we headed home as time was again running out on us.
Enjoy.

 

[ican]

Lyk na 'n lekker trippie!  :ricky:
Dankie vir die "post"
Hoop ek sal dit volgende keer maak om saam te gaan...  :blob1:

 

[Sidpitt]

Lekker trip! Lekker RR. THANKS!
:thumleft:

 

[profiler]

Very pleasant, thanks

 

[Rodlau]

Enjoyed that. Want to do similar in not too far future.  What will the roads be like in wet weather?

 

[Nicobie]

Enjoyed that. Want to do similar in not too far future.  What will the roads be like in wet weather?

Rodlau, you can see on the photos that some roads must be hell when wet.
The railway line road wouldbe fine as is mostly covered with ash.
I know the road around tonteldoos is very slippery. I travelled it some time ago in a cage and that could not even stay on the road.
But most of the roads are well used by the locals  and only a few spots where you can see wet trouble.

 

[T Rex]

Thanks for the RR

 

[BLK]

thanks for the story and pics,enjoyed

bruce

 

[Ratt]

Good one  :thumleft:

 

[mischiefjay]

:thumleft:

 

[0012]

lekker rr

 

[LOTTA]

Thanks vir die share. Lyk of julle n moerse tyd gehad het.

 

[DRAZIL]

great :thumleft:

 

[spoedvark]

Thanks for sharing your VALLEY with us!