A short trip – the long way round.

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I've always wanted to just start riding and see where the road leads. My problem is that I get all exited about a trip and then start exploring maps (and Google earth of course) planning the trip in the minutest detail. Sunday I got a chance to just follow my nose.

We took the family camping in Hartenbos for the weekend. The kids enjoyed the “Waterwurm”, trampolines, pools, ice cream and beaches. Mommy also got treated with a show at the barnyard theater Saturday night.



With packing done on Sunday I decided to take the back roads back to George, and specifically any roads that I have not been on or that are closed – if I could find any.

On the Hartenbos – Oudtshoorn road I found a gravel turnoff and of course I took it. The first surprise was a Castle on a farm and around the next corner the river. The water was so clear that I could see the fish swimming. I’m not a fisherman so unfortunately the species is unknown. It could have been a “lesser spotted Southern Cape river fish”



Not far from there I passed the Botlierskop Game Farm.



These guys have huge land with some public roads crossing through. From the side I entered they had a “Road closed” sign up to discourage people from riding / driving there. The sign was put up months ago when the roads were damaged by the floods. They have been repaired since November 2006 – but the sign remains…



Riding in nature got me interested to learn more about the animals I see, so after each trip some research is done. This White Stork visits SA during summer, but it turns out that there is a small breeding colony of them in the Southern Cape. Who knew?



So I traveled in the general direction of the Outeniqua mountains. Once again I came across a small 4x4. I thought it to be a “baby”, but later read that this was a grown “Kaapse Padloper” tortoise. Because of their size tourists pick up the “babies” and take them home. Shame.



This little guy decided to make a pit stop in the shade next to my wheel. This gives you a good idea of the size – about two and a half knobblies…



The road went past another portion of Botliers Kop Game Farm…



…and turned into my most feared road condition – tar. I took another “plaaspad” a.s.a.p. and ended up in Great Brak River for a quick (healthy) snack.



From here I literally knew every single road, so I just enjoyed the scenery.





No trip is worth mentioning if it doesn’t involve a water crossing.



And past my dad’s farm en route to George.



This “follow your nose” type of riding is fun. I’ll do a much longer trip next time. If you don’t have a destination you seem to be much more relaxed and not worried about the time at all. Learning more about the birds, snakes and other wildlife also makes for an interesting ride.

I even saw a chameleon over the weekend. Didn’t need to read up about him though.








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A quickie with Mrs. Trailrider

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So I started work on Monday and needed a vacation by Monday evening. Luckily I spotted an opening in my diary – no appointments for Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. So the plan was set in motion. Mrs. Trailrider was going on her first sleepover trip.

The bags were packed by the time the working day began on Tuesday. I came from my last appointment at about 1 and we left by 2.

Mrs. Trailrider has been on a few outrides before, but nothing long distance or sleep over, so I decided to ease her into it with an easy route. First we tackled the Montagu Pass.



We had 4 hours to cover about 100km so we took it easy and took in all the scenery.



We traveled over the pass, through Herold and on to Paardepoort.



We traveled through the Klein Karoo, past the Kammanassie Dam and Dysselsdorp, to De Rust. When you travel with a woman you see things you don’t usually see – like the inside of the Groen Bliktrommel Curio shop.



After some refreshment we took the Oude Muragie road to the Kango Mountain Resort.



We arrived, unloaded and I decided to get some braai wood before the shop closed. Suddenly my bike had an “African” feel to it…



We found a very nice spot under a tree and started setting up camp.



It was the day before the Gauteng schools started and you could see the difference! We basically had the place to ourselves.



When there’s a woman on the ride you camp in style. Man, we had everything. Drink, mix, ice and enough of everything. There were even some left over the next morning. We had chips next to the fire, salad with the braai and even Milo and cookies before we turned in. This is the life. Even the beds were made!



We had chairs and even a stainless steel braai. The funniest thing is that we only had one bag more than I usually take, but more than double the stuff. Women know how to pack, and of course were to find the really nifty small stuff like small packets of shampoo, sugar, milo, soap, spices, braai salt, small everything!

The view from our front "door”.


After a wonderful night under the bright Southern Cross in the Klein Karoo skies, we packed and set out again on the Oude Muragie road.



And turned north towards the Rust & Vrede waterfall.



What a place. After doing ‘n bit of “kloofing” (nothing to hectic) we came up to the most wonderful scenes.







And eventually reached the waterfall



It’s approximately 60 – 70 meters high and falls into a pool of crystal clear refreshing water. This is Oudtshoorns’ source of drinking water. In the kloof you’re so close that you can’t fit the whole waterfall into one photo.







A magical place. What a privilege to be able to visit such a place. From here we rode back – Oude Muragie – Rietvallei – Paardepoort – Montgu Pass - George. Truly a great breakaway.

All of this happened between my 12 o’clock appointment on Tuesday and my 3 o’clock appointment on Wednesday. We will do this more often. If you make the time, and use it well, it is possible.

The total distance traveled was 221km.

Cost of fuel:

Honda NXR125 – R29-51 (43,3km/l)
Honda CTX200 – R 42-64 (29,8km/l)

Cost of the campsite – R95






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A short way to heaven

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After having been so busy that I missed the “holiday” in holiday season, I thought a quick 2 day trip might just be the thing to get away from it all. As if it was meant to be, I received my Wild Dogs Buff the day before we left! This would be my first trip in “the colors”.

So, early Thursday morning, my brother-in-law and I left from a moist George, direction: Montagu Pass.





I have been on this pass many times, but it remains special. I wanted to take a photo on top at Amanda’s grave also, but we literally had our heads in the clouds. We headed North through Paardepoort. After the first few twists and turns we happened upon a small rockslide and, of course, did our bit for society.



Never say we haven’t rolled a stone from your path!



Paardepoort spits you out in the Klein Karoo proper.



We followed the gravel road past Dysselsdorp and on to De Rust for fuel and refreshment. The Kamanassie Dam is on this road, but access is blocked with locked gates. Pity.





From De Rust we worked our way back on the N12 for a couple of km’s to the Oude Muragie road. This route is really beautiful. It passes by the Rust en Vrede waterfall and the Koos Raubenheimer dam. Here we saw a Fish Eagle from rather close. Quite an experience. And that call!



Me sporting my new Buff.



We saw lots of birds en route…



and passed a 4x4. The lack of speed & dust convinced us that this 4x4 was not from Gauteng... Keep left, pass right.



The Oude Muragie road connects into Schoemans Poort which of course leads to the Swartberg Pass. I was really surprised by the amount of traffic on this road. Great views though.





Well, everybody knows where the road up the Swartberg Pass leads… Paved with good intentions?



Good girls go to Heaven – DS Bikers go… everywhere!



There was a snake in the road...



and some water...



After passing a dozen or so bikes (GS’s, Dakars & 2 KTM’s) we eventually got to the pass leading into the “Kloof”.







What a place.





Does the moon bother you? Noooooooo…



The next day the road out of the "Kloof" and on to Prince Albert. A nice fellow on a Dakar recognized me from me and young Andre’s trip to Attakwas kloof. He was worried that my 200cc Honda might not get my frame out of the Kloof. He apparently battled to get out of 1st gear up the pass (with 2 up). The concern was not necessary though, as the Honda not only carried me and my luggage out, but did so in 2nd gear and even 3rd in some places. This bike continues to surprise me.





Honda gives you wings…





40 Degrees Celsius!





The bikes also took a dip.



Seems like it’s been a while since Prince Albert had a fire.



What a nice ride. Let’s do it again! And so the journey back begins.







There’s nothing like a good ride to clear the head!



This was my first visit to “Die Hel”. It’s almost a spiritual journey. The nature scenes are awesome and rightfully make you feel small. I was surprised by the good condition of the road (from my perspective as a trail rider). We even saw a Daewoo Matiz in the Kloof! Hardly a hard ride... Basically it’s a gravel road with steep turns and declines. Imagine driving a Land Rover from Gauteng to visit Gamkaskloof only to find a Cape Town guy also made it with his Matiz. Hehe. Quite funny really.

What would I change? Next time I’d go out of season. They got up to 104 cars per day and that’s not counting the bikes. Also I’ll go after it’s rained – I’d like more water crossings.

I like the mountain trails and as such my bike is the perfect choice for what I do. What I did not expect was to be recognized by so many fellow bikers on the more “commercial” routes. I see lots of Dakars & GS’s on these routes, but I guess they don’t see to many huge guys doing these routes on a 200cc.


Here’s the vital statistics:

George, Motagu Pass, Paardepoort, Dysselsdorp, De Rust – 77km

De Rust, Oude Muragie, Swartberg Pass, Gamkaskloof – 110km

Gamkaskloof to Prince Albert – 84km

Prince Albert, Oudtshoorn, Heimersrivier, Paardepoort, Montagu Pass, George – 142km

Accommodation – R150
Petrol - less than R100
Experience? Priceless!






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