Wednesday, 31 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 13 - De Rust backroads

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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This set of pictures comes after having ridden through the small town of De Rust, and turning onto a dirt road that takes one parallel with the other side of the Swartberg mountain range (by-passing Outshoorn) and towards the Cango Caves area.

I have riden this road before and it was one of my favoroites in terms of the ride itself and the views you get on the ride. I was riding into the sun which made it a little more difficult (more in terms of photographing than riding) but check it out. It's a beautiful part of the world.

Turning off the main road.

The off road is pretty wide and hard at this point

I loved the smoke coming out of the little house's chimney (looked better in real life)

Though green fields


I guess this mountain must have some sort of interesting name!


Soooo Green and beautiful


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Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 12 - Meiringspoort Pass Gold

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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Having had my course altered and been put on a hundred and plenty km detour, the only thing that made it all worthwhile was knowing I was going to be going through the Meiringspoort Pass instead of the Swartberg Pass, which as an adventure biker has the thrill of the gravel roads and mountains with views from high up, whereas this Meingspoort pass was all on tar, and snakes through beautiful valleys without much elevation.

Having said all that Meiringspoort Pass is a breaktaking pass and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone. See for yourself in the pictures below. It has massive Golden rocks that you pass between. You can see the contours and the folding of the rock from when it was still soft lava.

It is a difficult pass to photograph, because of the bright light in dark gorges and also because you can never zoom out far enough to capture the 360 degree views you get. An awesome place!















More motorcycle adventure tours on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle adventure tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

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Monday, 29 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 11 - Ostriches & Swartberg Pass Closed

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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The route I'd chosen was specifically to ensure I went over the Swartberg pass once I'd been through Prince Albert, just for the sheer beauty of the pass and its heady heights, twists and turns. On arriving at the pass there was a big barrier in the way, saying pass closed. I did notice however a lot of tyre marks going between two bollards and it looked like it was in use. Being on my own and having just enough petrol to make the 120km detour, I thought Ok let me not try and go through here incase the road was really bad.

In making the detour it did mean I had to retrace my steps for about 40km along the road I'd just come along and it is amazing at just how different it looks going the other way! Also there was the prospeect of another excellent pass the Meiringspoort pass.

The other added bonus was that I got to see a whole lot of Ostriches.












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Saturday, 27 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 10 - Lazy Lizard Lunch & Locals

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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I got to this little Karoo town of Prince Albert at about 14:00, running a bit late to sit and spend too much time eating and drinking, but I was too hungry to move on so just had to chill out and relax while they made me a Karoo Curried Lamb. It was definitly well worth the wait I have to say. I sat in a little place I found on the high street in the centre of town (so tenth house on the right!) called the Lazy Lizard with all the locals. It was a Sunday so more busy than I would have expected for a town this size with people reading the Sunday papers, having sunday lunch, etc.

After that I went down the road looking for a garage to fill up the bike. I found one but I also found a young bunch of local bike admirers who made for some interesting pictures of the local kids.

Inside the Lazy Lizzard
Lots of Art work and local produce on sale
Reading the sunday papers
It was quite a cool day - too windy and too cold outside
Cape Architecture

Big brother bringing two little brothers to the shop

Happy to be in the pictures


They had to have their picture in front of the bike

More motorcycle adventure tours on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle adventure tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

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Friday, 26 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 9 - Rocks near Prince Albert

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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Just before riding into the little Karoo town of Prince Albert, on the right I noticed the rocks were a strange green colour. it was difficult to photograph the real appearance of these rocks as I saw it because it was into the afternoon sun and the rocks were in shadow. Cool pace to stop and chill through.










More motorcycle adventure tours on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle adventure tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

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Thursday, 25 August 2011

Day 24 - Leg 7 - Klaarstroom

This continues the series of my Motorcycle Adventure travels from Durban back to Cape Town which was the fourth goal, over what had now become quite a few weeks. Details of the "http://africa4adventure-motorbiketours.blogspot.com/2011/04/planning-lesotho-expidition.html" whole trip here.

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Clear blue skies, endless mountain ranges, Open, open, open - is what these pictures show. Hard to describe the feeling of chilling out and spending all day riding along these roads - simply freeing and so good for the soul.

Blue skies
Undulating mountain
Green patches and prickly patches
Suddenly a cattle gate & grid in the middle of the road! Surprise
More pics of the gate in the middle of the road

Then the little Poort-Pourri farm stall with its scarecrows

Sheep and Ostrich farm
Nice autumn / winter colours with the sheep surprisingly white


More motorcycle adventure tours on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle adventure tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

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