The weekend trip took the bike over 1000km so I called to book the check up - 5th of Jan is the soonest we can see you hmm...
Check the fluids, all good, remove the airbox snorkel, change the front sprocket from the stock 14 to a 13 to shorten the gearing and head out again to find some more dirt roads.
The plan was to take a few days to tour back roads and clear the head - but in hindsight maybe heading towards the garden route the week before christmas wasn't the best choice.
Anyway left home and headed on familiar gravel roads towards Swellendam, the 13 sprocket definitely livens the bike up a bit where it counts and makes dirt road cruising a blast. On the tar I can easily maintain 115km/h (GPS) and can get to 130 if needs be.
After Swellendam, I took the Tradouw pass to Barrydale and a quick bite at Diesel and Creme.

Heading out of town towards Ladismith I took the back roads to Van Wyksdorp where I intended to camp for the night.
The campsite indicated on T4A looked deserted and it was still early, so I pushed on, over the amazing Rooiberg pass to Calizdorp.

Day 1: 385km with a consumption of 31.9km/l for the 169km from Barrydale to Calizdorp.
I got an early start the next morning and headed out of town on the Kruisrivierpoort pad, all I can say is the riding within a few km of Calizdorp is some of the best available.

Before I knew it I was halfway up the Swartberg pass


And in a blink of an eye was down the other side - I kept telling myself to stop more to take in the scenery and take more pictures, but that would break my rhythm on the bike and it was all flowing so effortlessly. A quick refuel in Prince Albert and I am crossing the Swartberg again via the tarred Meiringspoort.
Back to gravel again on the Kammanassie pad all the way to Uniondale

Even stopping to take selfies I find myself again too early at my planned stop over for the night so I pushed on over the Prince Alfred pass, passed Angies G-spot where in hindsight I should have stopped for the day but it was only 14:00 and I still was enjoying riding too much.


I turned down the Kom se Pad road with the intention of avoiding Knynsa, but ended up stopping at Oldies for a plate of well earned ribs.
While I ate I charged my phone and began calling around to find a camping spot for the night - nothing, nada, nix - well there was one, and they wanted R1000 for the night - phuck-em they were only missing the gun and the mask.
I scrap my plans to take the 7 passes road to George and find a hotel room at the bargain price of R1950 for the night, phuck that too - Mossel Bay (mist), Riversdale no answer at the B&B bugger lets just push for home, Heidelberg, Swellendam (rain), Riviersonderend (Coffee), Caledon, Somerset West, Cape Town - home at 23:00 on the dot 17 hours on the go - my ass hurts.

1107km in one day...
Total trip distance 1492km, best consumption 34.9km/l
Cons:
- saddle not the best for long distance
- side-stand too long
- grips too hard
- stock tyres still kak
Pros:
- easy riding
- LED lights bright and clear