ZEN, The Blues... and riding Slowhand Style - DONE

[Gérrard]

Ever wondered why Buddha has that serene expression and silly smile on his face... he's tuning The Blues in his head of course  

Koedoeskloof has now become my no 1 Serenity spot and what better place to go for a weekend of Blues music, good company... and a slow cruise on the bike. It would be my fourth visit this year.  

[Gérrard]

When I saw the Plan a Ride for the Blues Weekend at Koedoeskloof there was no question I'd be there. Its a bad time of the year for me to take off, but every now and again you gotta say to yourself "what the fuck !"

Plans were made and fell apart... and then came together again by default. I'll not bore you with all the detail, but on last Friday morning, the 11th, I was packed early and ready to go... riding alone. It all just fell in place and I knew exactly how I wanted to do this ride

[Gérrard]

I get on the N2 West, set the throttle, put my feet on the cruiser pegs and lean back against my topbag... you just know that feeling when you doing the right thing. I'm completely at peace with myself.

This poster is worth a thousand words

[Mr Zog]

Ek sit terug en ry rustig saam... 

[Footpeg se PA]

Lekker man, en DESEMBER DOEN ONS DIT WEER!!!!!!

[Gérrard]

Here's the plan... there's no rush. If I make Koedoeskloof tonight its Ok, if not Its also OK, because at first the idea had been to leave Friday afternoon only, sleep somewhere and get there Saturday during the day sometime.

When it became apparent on thursday evening that my friend Innis would not be joining me anymore, I decided to leave early and do Baviaans... slowly, so I could take some notes and pics to update my BAVIAANS CONDITIONS thread. After that I'd see how far I get for the day, because there were a few other turns I wanted to ride as well.

I've often done these roads, but there's always some roads along the way that I'm going to do one day. This weekend would be 'one day' and I would add a few roads to my " head map"

[Gérrard]

Lekker man, en DESEMBER DOEN ONS DIT WEER!!!!!!

Ek het 'n paar mooi paaie raakgery die naweek, wat jy meskien ken, en wat ons die Sondag met die 'dayride' gaan doen.

[Footpeg se PA]

Kan nie meer wag nie

[Gérrard]

It would also be one of those rides where I stop at some places where i usually just cruise by, but everytime wonder about.

I get to Hankey and pull in at the lookout point over the valley. The metropolis of Hankey and views towards the mountain.

[Gérrard]

Saartjie Baartman's grave. Always wondered about it... never been able to make up my mind what to make of it, but it is someones history and culture, so one should respect it.

[Gérrard]

I had timed it to be at Tolbos in Patensie at eight, when they open for brekfis, and then the ride would start, of which I'll tell you more tomorrow 

[stan1975]

Nice Jup, looking forward to the rest 

3 weeks from today and I'll be sleeping in the Baviaans.

Was chatting to my folks on the weekend and they tell me it's incredibly dry and windy...

[Gérrard]

Friday was a beautiful day to ride Baviaans. The Onderkloof is green as you will see, but the Bo-kloof is dry.

Its often asked how long it takes and how far it is from here to there. So this is what I did... I timed the ride and took measurements to main waypoints. I'll add it to the RR and post separately on my BAVIAANS  thread.

I rode real slow, took lots of pics and lost half an hour to do a fix. I did it in such a way that I could have taken a gravel Newby with me safely, or like a newby, pillioning on a big bike, would be able to do.

Total distance on gravel is about 175km and it took 5 1/2 hours (excluding the 1/2 hour). So you average about 30 - 35km/h. The road is good and safe for DS and the waterlevels low. I would classify it Blue route, with a bit of Orange here and there.

I'll tell you about it as we ride along.

[Gérrard]

I left my notebook at home, but feel like writing a bit, so I'll update some riding stats later.

After a scrumptous breakfast I leave Patensie just after nine and almost get taken out by a taxi on the way to get to gravel.

1. The first sign that I'm on my way to Baviaans

2. Going on to gravel at Heroncliff on the Grootrivier. As the river flows, this is just before Andrieskraal where the Kouga- and Grootrivier become the Gamtoos river. Also a Parks camp, although the facilities are not as great as Kondomo.

As always the first 20km of the kloof to Poorties is good gravel Highway.

3. Crossing the Grootrivier at Bruinjieskraal.

4. Kudu Kaya turn-off, although I've not been there, I believe its another good spot to stay.

[Casting from Turd]

Nice one Jup

[Gérrard]

1. I get to the Eastern gate at Poortjies and pay my dues. Still R20.00

2. Going through the Poort, and just before I get to Combrinks the first pass. Never take Baviaans for granted. Its dry, but most of the cement driffies have a bit of water on them. Just enough for a bit of snotglad moss to grow, so take it easy.

3. The views climbing up Combrinks is spectacular. Take your time and stop to look back. That's where the good pictures are.

4. Combrinks is an 8km climb with some narrow twisties. Overall the surface is good with some washed out rocks. There's no need really to 'pick' a line. Just ride and hold your line with a steady throttle. Our bikes will just climb over anything you may encounter. I would classify it orange route though.

In the middle of the pic, at the top, is where we are heading to cross the mountain and get on to Bergplaas.

[Hando]

subskraaib..

Gooi hom oom Jup.

Ek begin werk aan n plan om in Maart van hier af tot by my broer in Alexandria te ry en dan weer terug . So n 11 dae trippie.

En dit sal Baviaans insluit. Ek het nog nooit die hele Baviaans gedoen nie.

[Dwerg]

[Gérrard]

1. What has by now become my signature Baviaans pic at the top of Combrinks

2. Accross Bergplaas and the view on the other side. Its an easy gravel ride, but beware,... there are buck up there sometimes and when you appraoch, they heve to get to the other side of the road.

3. Starting down Holgat. Its cement spoor most of the way, broken up in places and gets a bit steep, with tight turns here and there. Again, no need to pick a line... where the path is broken you just hold your line, on whatever side you're comfortable with, and keep your momentum

4. Looking South West somewhere along Holgat.

[Wooly Bugger]

sub.