A New Era Dawns

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And so it happened. Time for a new bike for Asterix - street legal this time!

He had no idea it was coming. He didn't even wait for it to be unloaded before he got on!



I remember his first ride well.



I blinked, and then this happened:



In almost a decade of riding together...



...things change and evolve. Now with the street legal bieks a whole new world opened up and we could ride everywhere together.



A shakedown ride was in order. And why not to Attakwas Kloof, a repeat of the ride that started it all. A rebirth of a new era.

As it happened I had the new BMW F800 GSA on test, so the ride also presented a perfect opportunity to put this bike through it's paces.



Like the first ride our route took us past the Botlierskop Game Farm. Some wildlife shots:







No great report attached to this ride, just lots of scenery pictures to tell the story.











Then:



And now:







And the ride through Attakwas Kloof. Always a favourite!





This route is famous for it's marbles, a special treat on an unfamiliar, tall and heavy bike clad with road tyres. But I managed. Just stand up, look up and open up!



These are real rural back roads. No other traffic. Just you, your bike and the African landscapes.







A quick picture next to one of the last ruins where the town Woeska used to be. Sadly these are not protected and in a worse state every time I pass here.



Some pics for the BMW fans:





And the rest of Attakwas Kloof:





The Kloof road joins the R327 just North of the Langeberg Mountain Range in the Klein Karoo. From here we turn South and ride over Cloetes Pass towards the ocean. Asterix disappeared around the corner already.



Looking back North into the Klein Karoo:



This old Fort used to guard the pass during the Anglo-Boer War.



Some greenery on the Southern side of the mountain:



And the ride home:







And with that the era of the little boy Asterix riding with his big dad Obelix ended. From here on in it will be the adventures of Trailrider and Gravelmad.


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After the Moon...

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Early the next morning (some of Dusty's pics):



We all got up one by one. All except LGF who slept like a log. Some pics:





The Breakfast of Kings.



There was no hurry. We made a fire, leisurely packed our stuff and still LGF slept.



When he eventually woke up we all had chirps about how it was almost afternoon already. He asked Dusty what the time was and she said 10:30! (It was nowhere near that). In an amazing coincidence LGF's watch stopped during the night and he fully believed what she said.

There were numerous comments about what the time was and when we had to leave, but the fire was going and no-one was in a hurry. The previous night we fiddled with my helmet cam's SD card in LGF's phone, and somehow the time on that was now wrong too. When he set the time again to the "right" time we told him about, the phone asked if he moved between time zones. He set it anyway, still blissfully unaware that we were lying.

Eventually we left at 12:15. (Actually it was just before 10!)

The ride out:







A portion of Oudekloof Pass:



LGF styling it:



And I got my pic!



Some more pics on the road:











Back in Prins Albert we stopped for refreshments. It was here LGF realized that something was amiss... Shame. After lots of laughter and taunting we put him out of his misery. And he set his time, again. He scored though. All of a sudden, his day had two extra hours! Bonus! Now he could be "Rustig" also.



I was keen to ride over Swartberg pass on the way back, but I was outvoted 4 to 1. So Meiringspoort it was.







And of course another stop at Herrie-se-plek in De Rust. It was HOT!

LGF just checking the time again...
(Check Smidty and Dusty in the background )



And the last section home - all gravel - including the part we missed out on yesterday. Some pics in Paarde Poort:







Another mirror shot:



Smidty approaching:



And finally Montagu Pass. It has become customary to end the ride here. Somehow it just seems right, and much better than at a garage or Wimpy or something. A last chat, a last laugh, a last time check.





We said our goodbyes and headed home.

Some pics on the way down:









And after the heat of the last two days the cool ocean air was a welcome sensation as I approached Glentana.



I sat reflecting on the ride afterward. This is such an awesome area with a myriad of routes to ride. But what makes it exceptional are the people you share it with. Thanks guys. One of those we'll remember.











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