Maans, Gillian and I are ready to take of on our epic trip of 1906km’s. Gillian is driving my little NP200 bakkie as back up. This is her first long trip driving a vehicle by herself as well. In my opinion it was good training.
We take the Brandrivier gravel high way to Barrydale.
We stop to take pictures of this beautiful mountain range on the Brandrivier road. Little do we know that the scenery that lies ahead, waiting for us, will surpass this by far.
We decide on a route change. We want to take the Sanbona road up to the N1. At the Sanbona gate they turn us away. We can’t even enter as day visitors. They allow nobody without pre-arranged appointment. How they do business I don’t know or maybe they just don’t like bikes.
We decided to drive back towards Barrydale and take the turn-off there up to the N1. We don’t know what the road will be like though. We end up at the Botterkloof Nature Reserve where a gate greets us.
We have a quick meeting as to whether we should go further and decide if the gate is not locked, we will go further. The gate is not locked.
Marius is very happy so far but we decide to turn around. He rides ahead to scout out the road and reports it just gets worse and worse. We turn back and return to our original route to Montagu.
The back up driver, Gillian, keeping herself entertained while we discuss the route. She just goes where the wind takes her ;-)
We have lunch in Montagu at a restaurant famous for its home made pies. I recommend it strongly.
A stop along the way to Touwsrivier
At Touwsrivier we stop to clean our visors.
Going to Ceres will be a ride against the sun.
Gill and I in Touwsriver. I had thoughts here of staying over because of the setting sun, but my brother was expecting me in Piketberg, and Maans already booked a place at The Baths in Citrusdal.
Riding in the dark to Ceres. No photos for the rest of the trip to Piketberg because it was a nerve wrecking ride in the dark but a great experience. Maans escorted us safely to Piketberg, had a warm supper with us and left for Citrusdal in total darkness. We would meet up with him there in the morning.
Getting ready to leave Piketberg for Citrusdal
We stop at the beginning of the Piekenierspass.
We arrive at the baths and take a quick dip in the hot swimmingpool.
Our trio take the dirt road along the river to Clanwilliam. Here is Maans, still smiling after his long ride of the previous day.
On the top of the pass before you go down to Algeria, our back up driver prepares us some coffee.
Gillian on the edge of the precipice
Maans doing some minor repairs on my bike. From all the sinkplaat I lost a bolt, we take one of my frame’s bolts and use that as a substitute. Unfortunately that one loses as well and I ride standing to Clanwilliam.
The view from the top
First time at this sign, look at all those name.
Just a glimpse of what Algeria looks like
On our way to Clanwilliam
A glimpse of the Clanwilliam dam.
We repaired the bike at Clanwilliam agri, filled up and took the Pakhuis pass on our way to Calvinia.
We managed to take this picture with the camera’s self timer. The Trio: Carrol, Gillian, Maans.
We take this turn and you suddenly accost this view. Awesome!
The sun is setting and Calvinia is not getting any nearer.
For the umpteenth time I ask Maans how far we still have to go. He is a very patient person.
Arriving at Calvinia hotel we have to take coffee first. We are freezing.
We take the road to Loeriesfontein. The sun is not setting, but dropping. I guess where the road is and just trust the bike. Maans helps me by telling me to drive with my visor open in order to see better. I learn a lot from Maans on this trip. I think we were the last to arrive in Loeriesfontein, no, Rynet came later than us with her little car, I think.
The next morning on Loeriesfontein.
The Wild Dogs are all still sleeping in their little white kennels>
The Dogs awake and the bikes are prepped for the days ride.
The day will begin slowly. There’s a fog hanging over Loeriesfontein.
We all first have to fill up. There are just two pumps on Loeriesfontein. Luckily we were there first, but had to wait for the bakkie to be filled. We decide to do no detours and head for Brandvlei.
It is not everyday that you can take a picture of yourself at this specific sign post. At this stage my left forefinger was freezing off.
We pass this rock arrangement and dubs it Cobra Koppie. The rocks looks like a cobra ready to attack.
We are in two minds as to where to go. I give in and follow Maans. What do I know about direction? ;-)
Finally, the pan everybody has been talking about is just around the corner.
Maans rings the famous Verneukpan Bell. He informs us he has urgent business to attend to and will not be spending the night at Verneukpan, but has to leave. And there he goes.
Gill and I take a little ride with the bike. Just us and the empty space. I have to watch the fuel though.
I thought my pillion was holding on until I saw these pictures.
We set up camp at Verneukpan and scare of some people in 4x4’s.
The rest of the pack arrive at the pan.
The next morning at Verneukpan, the Sunday, we start packing up.
Some brave soul decides to spend another night, by himself, at the pan.
There’s some rusks and coffee for breakfast
My bike’s back wheel is flat. Weskus and Mapsource are kind enough to help and many others pitched in as well. Thank you so much for your help. Weskus, die Tannie hoop jou duim is oraait.
The repair-the-wheel Sunday morning entertainment.
Rynet on her way to attend to Weskus’s thumb. Weskus has undressed in the meantime.
The bike is fixed and we take the road out.
At the second or third gate I’m pulled off. The back wheel is flat again. Fenderbender gives me a new tube and Mapsource is so kind to change the wheel again. What a KNIGHT.
The official back up bakkie arrives and I get the hard working men some refreshments.
The good thing about this is that after it all, it is finished with a smile. There are no moans and groans.
On my way again to Williston.
A little pitstop on our way to Williston. On our way there the back up bakkie blew a tyre and Mapsource was so kind to change that as well.
We push on to reach Sutherland before dark. The last 10km’s is a horrendous sinkplaat road. It never ends. I meerkat into Sutherland.
Monday morning we are all ready to leave Sutherland. We stayed in the Wit Huis where everybody got much more ice than they bargained for. I also heard rumours of a female ghost frequenting the establishment but that might just be a rumour.
We part with our lovely escourt of Mapsource, Fenderbender and Louwtjie. You won’t find more decent guys (men) anywhere.
Gill and I decided to make the most of our time there and slipped in a visit to the star gazing telescope. We didn’t have time to do a tour but we have the pictures.
We hit the road for Matjiesfontein. There are no other cars on the tar road. Strange, but true. At Matjiesfontein we have coffee, apple tart and milk tart.
We arrive at the entrance to Seweweekspoort.
We have a little picnic in the poort
Net ‘n mooi foto van die poort.
The last photo before we turn home. What an awesome adventure. It was very nice meeting everybody. We spend money but friendships last a lifetime.
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