We Survived the Hell on motorbikes!!

[user 4656]

Then we decided to go have a look at the Knysna Heads. Knysna is one of those special places and we have learned at school about the lives of these early settlers and their lifestyle - the name of the book 'Kringe in die bos' deur Dalene Matthee.
Rich in history and my first change to see the Heads. I am not going into the historical facts but rather just report about our travels though!  :thumleft:

 

[user 4656]

Then we had to make a decision; I wanted to see Woody1 badly (been a long time) and the young men wanted to go to Stilbaai. The next day we would have backtracked to George to do the Montagu pass direction Oudtshoorn. I have done the Montagu pass years back and thought it would be a nice experience for them. I was also thinking of other places to visit when Santjie sent me a Whatsapp and said I should consider the 'Seweweeks poort'.....I had no clue where it was at the time  :lol8:

We went together to Stilbaai and they were good to camp next to the lagoon at R45 per person but Woody1 invited all of us to his house and offered us a good braai and accomodation for the night.
Stilbaai was rather hectic busy at the beach and we decided to head to Riversdale. I was pleasantly surprised, a very neat and well maintained town!
It was a great evening and so special to spent a bit more time with Kobus and Elize than planned. Later the night we heard some musical band outside and it was some sort of salvation army playing for donations - they worked their way through the streets and we also went out support their effort 

It was almost hard to say goodbye the next morning, but all good things come to an end and Kobus pointed us in the direction of the 'Seweweeks poort' which was actually not far from Riversdale!

We headed over the Garcias pass which was real fun, that is the pass between Riversdale and Ladismith 

 

[user 4656]

Now this is a 'poort', not a pass but breathtaking scenery and now picture will do it justice.  :3some:

 

[user 4656]

The young men played lekker with their bike and I tried my hand with a fuji colour but in all honesty; I did not take my photography at heart on the trip. I focused on time with Chris and Juda  8)

 

[user 4656]

 

[user 4656]

This poort was so lekker we did it twice!  :laughing4:

We also saw a lot of other bikers and they were friendly but did not stop to say hello 

 

[user 4656]

 

[user 4656]

8)

Then we decided to head back on Route 62 towards Barrydale to have lunch at 'Diesel and Cream'

I have never been on Route 62 and know it's popular but glad we did - yes it is a asphalt road but it was a very good Karoo experience - they must have had recent rains here because it's rather green

 

[user 4656]

Just a word on the bikes:

We gave Juda a bit of k@k on the KTM because it kept on braking the exhaust bracket and he had to weld it once, and then I repaired it twice with 'bloudraad en tang' but in all honesty, regardless of the engine management lamp that kept on 'warning' and sometimes a fart  eepwall: it performed very well - suspension in another class.

The XT660Z was working flawless and a true stunner!!

The NC.....well it is what it is - boring but it got the job done!!  :deal:

We dont get thumpers these days other than the 690 Which should be a lekker bike for a trip like this 

 

[user 4656]

Food and the atmosphere was awesome at Diesel and Cream!  :laughing4:
That is at Barrydale

 

[Noneking]

Baie mooi fotos Tom!

 

[user 4656]

After this we headed to Calitzdorp to do the Groenfontein road which is like a pass/poort but stunning and very lekker riding - some guys have told me it ranks high in their list of favorite rides

 

[OomD]

Wat 'n lekker RR, Tom, ek ry lekker saam! Julle gemis in Stilbaai, was self nogal daar rond toe die Salvation Army so speel.

 

[user 4656]

We missed the entrance which was not marked and a bit hidden (right in the centre of town)
The tar road between Ladismith and Calitzdorp was a lot of fun with fast sweepers and we got to get rid of the chicken strips!  :laughing4:

It was getting late and we were working the bikes on the last bit of gravel, it's been a while since I had so much fun on a bike and caught myself laughing loud at times!!  :3some:

Last picture of some 'redstone formation'

 

[user 4656]

We arrived in Oudtshoorn just before dark and had a very lekker braai. They are friends of my son and Juda and know each other from Brits (Mooinooi area where they used to live)
Also bikers, and Juda's dad was on his way with the Cruiser and trailer with an African twin and KLR to join in on the trip. I had one day left and that was the day of 'The Hell'!!
We went to be after 12 and were out at 6 getting ready for the trip!!

I did not have a clue which direction to go and Walter gave good instructions. We left with a lot of excitement and glad to say it never worn down on the day - the best day trip ever!!  :laughing4: :laughing4:

The Swartbergpass is the way to The Hell and wow, a must!!

 

[punisher]

O0 :thumleft:

 

[user 4656]

Just a few kilometers over the mountain top we reached the turn to The Hell - and nogal a warning!! 

The first couple of kilometers is a bit corrugated, rocky and albeit not technical at all rather rough - and then it starts to wow you and never stop doing just that!!  8) :laughing4: :deal:

 

[user 4656]

Those Enduristan monsoon bags on my son's Z is the best arrangement in soft panniers that I have seen by the way - I got them for me but he hijacked it  atch:

 

[user 4656]

:'( :'( Yes - The Hell burned down.....shit its sad, the forensics concluded it was started by a cigarette and dont ask me how they got to know that but the Jouberts faced possible court cases and huge fines because of Cape Nature's place that has burned down but in the end the were not find quilty. 

 

[user 4656]

Once again - If you have never done this Kloof it's time to start planning!!  :deal: