Thursday, 31 May 2012

Karoo - Day6 Leg12 - Ostrich farm

Down the other side of the pass we head into Ostrich country. I've never ever seen one with it's head in the sand so not quite sure where that idea comes from?

This is the daily blog from Africa4Adventure.com. A short series on the Karoo Motorbike tour we took on during September 2011. See the plans for the trip blog here: Planning a 6 day 2500km route through the Karoo maximising dirt
More South and Southern African motor cycle tours and motorbike hire on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.







You upload a perfectly upright photo and this is what you get, with no option to rotate it!


Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Karoo - Day6 Leg11 - Down other side

Once out of the misty cloud covering over the top of the mountain ridge, the vista opened up into a view that we could see for miles, albeit a little murky and gray compared to the usual clear sunlight views we normally get on a clear day. This part of the trip is always amazing because of where we go next. There is a section of about 100km of back roads through green valleys and past a huge game reserve where you see animals and natural rural life before reaching a place called Calitzdorp.

This is the daily blog from Africa4Adventure.com. A short series on the Karoo Motorbike tour we took on during September 2011. See the plans for the trip blog here: Planning a 6 day 2500km route through the Karoo maximising dirt
More South and Southern African motor cycle tours and motorbike hire on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle 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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Last of the mist

View over the valley we were to ride next

Lots of yellow flowers out



Taking one of the hairpin bends below


Another pair of Klipspringers

Pretty easy going gravel road down this side of the pass


Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Karoo - Day6 Leg10 - Misty section

We had wondered how bad the visibility was going to be in the mist, made up of cloud coming over the peak of the mountain, but when we got there it was nothing like as bad as we had expected it might be. Not cold nor wet. The sun even came out in gaps in the cloud every now and again. We stopped off at "The Top" took some pictures and then set off down the mountain. Saw and even managed to get a picture of a Klipspringer on the side of the mountain next to the road.

This is the daily blog from Africa4Adventure.com. A short series on the Karoo Motorbike tour we took on during September 2011. See the plans for the trip blog here: Planning a 6 day 2500km route through the Karoo maximising dirt
More South and Southern African motor cycle tours and motorbike hire on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

Riding into the mist at the top of the pass


"Die Top" = The Top - can't see the sign for all the tour company stickers
Parked up at the top
The Mist wasn't nearly as bad as we had thought it might be. Not too wet or cold.
 
Moments of sun came though the clouds lightening up the area


Klipspringer just before darting behind a rock
Looking out over the green valley below - not much to see


As we dropped out of the bottom of the cloud it was fine again




Monday, 28 May 2012

Karoo - Day6 Leg9 - Coffee Anyone

Just near the top after passing the turn off to "Die Hel" (translated to "The Hell" in English), we happened upon a little green roofed forestry house that had been converted into a coffee shop. We couldn't resist pulling in because it was in such an amazing place, with views forever. the guys who run it managed to get a concession from the forestry department to open it and they do hiking and walks from here into the mountains as well.

We had our coffee and headed off toward the highest point of the pass.

This is the daily blog from Africa4Adventure.com. A short series on the Karoo Motorbike tour we took on during September 2011. See the plans for the trip blog here: Planning a 6 day 2500km route through the Karoo maximising dirt
More South and Southern African motor cycle tours and motorbike hire on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.














View from the coffee shop








Friday, 25 May 2012

Karoo - Day6 Leg8 - Swartberg pass view point

Once on the top section after it has flattened out for a few kilometers, you arrive at the viewpoint which is a parking spot with a small cement table and some chairs. It is at the end of a point on a bit of a hairpin bend, and you have panoramic 360 degree views over all the mountain tops around you. We stopped and took some pictures. We also noticed that the cloud in the distance over the final ridge we had to go over was thinning a little, which was good.

This is the daily blog from Africa4Adventure.com. A short series on the Karoo Motorbike tour we took on during September 2011. See the plans for the trip blog here: Planning a 6 day 2500km route through the Karoo maximising dirt
More South and Southern African motor cycle tours and motorbike hire on our list of tour route summaries are available, where we explore these sorts of motorcycle tour routes. Just choose one of our events and reserve yourself a place on one of the future motorcycle adventure safari events.

Parked up at the view point






The small table and chairs for a picnic