Trans Karoo, Going Postal and a Return Adventure

[Lars]

Great R&R! I have been in the Cederberg in April and did the Oasis to Clanwilliam route via Eselsbank and Wupperthal. There was a big fire in Wupperthal just before New Years. Eselsbank was not burned down. I hope they did not had a bad fire as well. Such a nice and remote place.

 

[Minxy]

Great R&R! I have been in the Cederberg in April and did the Oasis to Clanwilliam route via Eselsbank and Wupperthal. There was a big fire in Wupperthal just before New Years. Eselsbank was not burned down. I hope they did not had a bad fire as well. Such a nice and remote place.

Sorry, you are right, I got my names turned around. I am not very familiar with the area. All I remember from when we were there in 2013 is they had a nice little restaurant where we sat down to have something to bite. That was all gone now though.

 

[wilfwalk]

Super reading your report, thanks for the time and effort, much appreciated.

 

[weskus]

Ai lekr to read, was my backyard not to long ago and I have not done the postal in 3 years time. It is definately on my to-do list in the not so far future, thanks for reminding..groete vir HSK

 

[Minxy]

Day 6 - Cederberg Oasis to Stellenbosch

This would be our last day on the bikes :'(

We ride from Cederberg Oasis past Ceres and all along Bainskloof Pass. A tar road pass, but so beautiful I'd ride this any day on any bike.

Another beautiful tar road pass.

Breakfast at one of the most amazing restaurants in Stellenbosch, Th Green Goose. Their food is OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Our bikes get booked in to get a few basic things done, fresh oil change etc for our return trip.

And of course while we are here we do some of the touristy things, visit the family etc

Our trip down to the Cape comes to an end. We return back to Gauteng to get some work done.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

We are flying back to the Cape this coming Saturday to start with our return trip.

The route is not set in stone, but the plan is to go along the coast, stop for a pretty picture at L'Agullus. Make our way through the Baviaanskloof and the Antoniesberg/Grootrivier Poort. From there we'd like to pop in at Hogsback and then go towards the east coast.

If anyone can recommend something nice to do or see, any interesting roads to ride while we are in those areas, that would be awesome. I know there is some nice riding to be done around Hogsback, but we are not too familiar with the rest of the east coast. After Durban we'll probably head up to Memel before going back to Gauteng, doing Normandiens pass and some of the other dirtroads in that area as well.

But yes, open to suggestions The ride must go on :ricky:

 

[hondsekierie]

I must admit that I regularly get drawn into little 'bucket list items' like the Old Postal Route, quite unsuspecting, and then have to dig a bit deeper.... Thanks for putting in so much effort with the ride reports, I really appreciate it  :love4:

The specific route was quite testing (for me at least, not the crazy Pole  :biggrin with a fully loaded bike as the front end felt super skittish in the conditions.  I was running a Motoz Tractionator Adventure front and that thing had almost no grip.  Only read afterwards that lots of people don't like them for exactly the same reason.  I have the Motoz Rallz at the back and I'm quite chuffed with it's durability.  I guess when you're looking for longevity you always sacrifice in grip/handling department.

We cannot wait to continue our journey and will in future always try and split our trip in two parts - from past experience the trip was always over when you reached the turning point with a big rush to get home - I just love this arrangement and you also get to have your bikes serviced at the guru, Jules from Superbike Solutions - fantastic to deal with him.

 

[2StrokeDan]

Thanks for the visit!

:xxbah:

Nice photos. :thumleft:

 

[VaalBaas]

A few weeks ago me and Vaaknoi went over the Old Postal ....with the car.... Several time I told her to thank me we were not on HMS The Enterprise :biggrin: :lol8:  Althought we came from the other side that piece down Karretjie pass  and the rough rocky sections down to Trra tra rivier would be a gesukkel of ( eerder "off" dalk eepwall: :ricky note with 2 up. I went over a few time with the HP and just remembered the sandy stretches on top. This was the roughest I have seen it yet. Always wanted to go and show  Marloes the canyon view dowm Karretjie pass. That is one of the few pretty beautiful views of the Tankwa :thumleft:

Looking forward to the return trip

 

[hondsekierie]

Thanks for the visit!

:xxbah:

Nice photos. :thumleft:

Ons begin eers Maandag, sal jou lui gee - sal lekker wees om jou weer te kan sien  :thumleft: :biggrin:

 

[DirtRebell]

Lekker report!, was nice meeting the two of you outside at Oasis.

The Eselbank/Wupperthal route is truly a spectacular route, with some bad patches.
We did the entire loop back to Oasis via Clanwilliam and Algeria without incident, only for my brother to pick up a flat 200m before Oasis.

 

[hondsekierie]

Lekker report!, was nice meeting the two of you outside at Oasis.

The Eselbank/Wupperthal route is truly a spectacular route, with some bad patches.
We did the entire loop back to Oasis via Clanwilliam and Algeria without incident, only for my brother to pick up a flat 200m before Oasis.

Likewise.  Only realized who you were afterwards  :biggrin:

 

[woody1]

I see you two need to eat from time to time. :laughing4:
Try and work Barrydale into your route. Go to https://dieselandcreme.co.za/ and have some chips and a milkshake.
Then you go towards Ladismith but turn right and go over Gysmanshoek pass. It is nice and green after the rains.
You then follow the gravel road past Korintepoort Dam.
When you hit the Ladismith - Riversdale tar you turn left and go back over the mountain using Garcia Pass.
After Garcia pass you turn onto the dirt towards Van Wyksdorp.

Here you have the option to carry on straight towards Herbertsdale or via Van Wyskdorp towards Rooiberg Pass and Calitzdorp to maybe go over Swartberg Pass.

 

[woody1]

Of as julle moeg is het ons 'n kamer in Riversdal... met lekker koffie  :sip:

 

[Minxy]

Of as julle moeg is het ons 'n kamer in Riversdal... met lekker koffie  :sip:

Thanks, we are really winging the route so will see how everything works out

 

[2StrokeDan]

Of as julle moeg is het ons 'n kamer in Riversdal... met lekker koffie  :sip:

Thanks, we are really winging the route so will see how everything works out

The best way is the unplanned way.

 

[OomD]

Awesome RR, awesome trip :thumleft:

Thanks for sharing, and the awesome pics.

 

[OomD]

Day 3 - Kenhardt via Verneukpan to Loeriesfontein

Beauty and the Beast? >

Yes, that really is a beautiful bike.

Oh wait...  ot:

 

[HB 9]

Awesome RR!! Safe travels and I'm looking forward for the return trip!

 

[Minxy]

We have just gotten back from the second half of our trip. Nearly 5000km done in total, some more epic trails ridden. No punctures, no off's, no mechanical breakdowns, just pure awesomeness! Will be updating this soon

 

[VaalBaas]

We have just gotten back from the second half of our trip. Nearly 5000km done in total, some more epic trails ridden. No punctures, no off's, no mechanical breakdowns, just pure awesomeness! Will be updating this soon

Groot job wat voorlê, maar ons is geduldig. Gaan lekker saam opry :thumleft: