ZEN, The Blues... and riding Slowhand Style - DONE

[Gerard]

Loving your RR  :thumleft:

It was the first time the four of us road together and I can't think of a better venue or event to have attended.  We had so much fun   ;D     Thank you Jupiter for your patience answering many newbie questions and helping with loading luggage etc........a true gentleman  :thumleft:
Watching LS and Kaboef laugh had me in stitches and I didn't even know what the joke was   :imaposer:

Your too kind, but its easy when the company one keeps brings out the best in you.  :3some:

 

[hando]

EK besef dis nou al n bietjie te laat in jou RR , maar hier is 'n paar ander pics wat by daai vreemde foto van jou in die kammanassie geneem is.

1. Daai bome wat in jou foto is.
2. Die plaas opstal wat daar staan. (Daskop)
3. As jy regs draai op daai paadjie in jou foto dan ry jy deur 'n mooi klofie tot jy by die bleddie hek kom. En dan moet jy maar omdraai.

 

[Gerard]

:thumleft: Al gewonder waar daai pad heen gaan en wou hom nog ry.

 

[Tiger8]

Mooi Jup, dankie dat ek die saamry in jou RR kan beleef  :thumleft: Ek sien jy is toe sowaar, vroeg en alleen weg  8)

 

[Gerard]

Its Sunday morning and we pack up. I'm sleeping over in George tonite, which is only about an hour and a half away if you sleep it, but I have to figure a way to take the whole day to get there.  :biggrin: Now how does such a happy coincidence come about ?

It may seem easy, but takes careful planning.  :deal: It started many years ago when I married a girl who only wanted to make me happy and let me ride my bike.  :biggrin: Read the line on my profile again.  :3some: I also have a job that just about allows me to ride whenever I please.

So this is how it then came together... Veltie has a Blues Bash at Koedoeskloof... I don't easily miss a chance to go to Koedoeskloof... Lyn is going to George on a work trip Thursday and Friday... the Little One is busy with matric farewell the whole weekend... we have no idea where my son is... there's no point in Lyn going home and being 'alone' the weekend... so she stays in George with Kirsty and goes to Cape Town with them for the weekend, returning to George late Sunday, sleeping over again and driving home Monday morning... my bike needs to get to George Yamaha for a service... Lyn is going to George again on next Monday, the 21st... So, I go to George, sleepover, drop the bike off and drive home with Lyn... next Monday I fetch the bike again.  :thumleft:

One happy, choatic and fortunate series of coincidences... and I get to do another trip  :biggrin:

 

[Gerard]

Mooi Jup, dankie dat ek die saamry in jou RR kan beleef  :thumleft: Ek sien jy is toe sowaar, vroeg en alleen weg  8)

Was daar ooit twyfel,... en so sien jy mos was plan B, C en D reeds uitgewerk.

 

[MURPHY]

Double Damn - i really wanted to do this one too but i am supposed to work every second weekend , and i really stretched things by taking the last 5 weekends off in a row . This would have pissed off a few staff and family members  properly , so unfortunately its next time . :xxbah:

 

[Tiger8]

Mooi Jup, dankie dat ek die saamry in jou RR kan beleef  :thumleft: Ek sien jy is toe sowaar, vroeg en alleen weg  8)

Was daar ooit twyfel,... en so sien jy mos was plan B, C en D reeds uitgewerk.

:thumleft:
Die middag toe ons koffie drink was die vermoede al daar, maar jy het daarem lekker gery.

Lyk my daar was so paar planne in die wind, en nou ry jy weer oor n week lekker ompad huis toe  :biggrin:

 

[Gerard]

Mooi Jup, dankie dat ek die saamry in jou RR kan beleef  :thumleft: Ek sien jy is toe sowaar, vroeg en alleen weg  8)

Was daar ooit twyfel,... en so sien jy mos was plan B, C en D reeds uitgewerk.

:thumleft:
Die middag toe ons koffie drink was die vermoede al daar, maar jy het daarem lekker gery.

Lyk my daar was so paar planne in die wind, en nou ry jy weer oor n week lekker ompad huis toe  :biggrin:

Ja-nee, die trip is nog nie klaar nie en my kop werk klaar aan 'n paar paaie oppad huistoe om my bike se nuwe voorsuspensie te toets.  :biggrin:

 

[Gerard]

I linger, while the rest leaves, to savour the place and continue my dream of retiring in one of those cottages  :biggrin: The plan had been to cross the mountain over Gysmanshoek and I ask Veltie to tell me some gravel roads to get there. He does so and I map them in my head.

I don't use a GPS and sometimes hardmap. Over many years of riding I have devolped a handy ability to map an explained route in my head. I do get lost often and then I just go left, right, left, right... until I find myself again. Makes for great rides. After all, how lost can you get... I'm always in SA and I know where Table Mountain is.

But Veltie explains well and I off.

1. Leaving Koedoeskloof I take a right at the t-junction on the old Laingsburg road. Short distance and its a left at Winkelplaas. At the next t-junction its a right to the R62/Laingsburg tar road.

2, 3 & 4. I cross the tar road and take the first left to get to Buffelsdrif nature reserve

 

[Gerard]

1. Its a nice windy road through the hills and very scenic. I assume this is the Buffelrivier I'm crossing, flowing strongly

2. Get to the R62 and I cross over to Baviaanskrans

3. Again a pleasant scenic ride, with some wide open spaces.

4 & 5. I stop to get the view behind

 

[Gerard]

1. I join the Riverdal road and turn right

2. 30km before Riversdal, just before garcias pass its right to brandrivier

3 & 4. And 14km further a left into the Kanetberg and to Gysmanshoek pass

 

[Gerard]

The road up the pass is good. It had rained the night before, but the surface is nice and firm

1. A view going up...

2. ... and down the other side

3 & 4. I get to the t-junction on the Heidelberg/riversdal road and go left

 

[Gerard]

From a previous ride I remember there is a road that turns off this one towards the N2. I've not done it before and the rules say take the right turn  :biggrin:

1 & 2. Its a nice scenic ride through the valleys. Up on the first hiil going into a plantation I see a nice view towards Kanetberg. I don't know why I took two pics, so you can pick the one you like  :biggrin:

3. I get to a t-junction and go... left  :imaposer: This is good fun. The road then eventually brings me here on the N2, where of course I knew I had to end up. All roads lead to Table Mountain, remember.

I enjoyed this little ride and another one for the map.

See, this is how I've always done it. Most of the exploring I do when solo. Then when Lyn and I go tour I know the nice safe roads to take her on, as I know where she likes to ride. I don't mind riding the same roads again, and I often do. Its always a different day and a different ride.

 

[Gerard]

There was at this time actually a small logistical complication. I'm not always in charge of my own destiny. I had a consultation the next morning, but a time had not been fixed. It was now 1200 and if I can't sort it out now, and move it to the afternoon, i'd have to hoink it home.

I've been battling the whole weekend to get hold of the guy without success. I fone Lyn and tell her the position. She's very disappointed that I might have to go home.

1. While talking to Lyn I notice a road accross the way going into the hills, south towards the see. WTF ? It looks good and I'm not going to miss a chance. I decide to wing it, and when I get hold of the guy, I'll sort it out. Lyn then sounds much happier and that's all that matters.  :biggrin:

2. It fits the plan as it is time for a right turn and then the left to a place called Ou Muragie

3. Its a scenic ride untill I get to Old Muragie and find its a farm house

4. There's an unmarked t-junction so right we go

 

[Gerard]

1. I'm cruising along happily under the impression that i am 'lost' when the road starts to look familiar and i recognise Vermaaklikheid in the distance. Dang ! I was just beginning to have fun.

2. Its a pretty place

3. I cruise along that gravel highway towards Stillbaai ( this was the plan all along... duh !  :imaposer: ). The WC goverment really knows how to take the fun out a ride by putting up signboards everywhere. Come ride in the EC.. you never know where you are going  :imaposer:

 

[Gerard]

Along the way to Stilbaai I see pretty flowers, have a smoke and take some pictures

 

[DRAZIL]

amazing that the Western Cape gravel roads are far better than the Eastern Capes tar roads  :lol8:

 

[Gerard]

amazing that the Western Cape gravel roads are far better than the Eastern Capes tar roads  :lol8:

That's why they call EC the adventure province... everywhere else its just a nice ride  :imaposer:

 

[DRAZIL]

amazing that the Western Cape gravel roads are far better than the Eastern Capes tar roads  :lol8:

That's why they call EC the adventure province... everywhere else its just a nice ride  :imaposer:

Yeessss indeed  :lol8: