That old postal route

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

LanC

Pack Dog
Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Messages
324
Reaction score
11
Location
Cape Town
Bike
BMW F800GS
Saturday morning we gathered outside Goodwood firestation at 9AM and headed through Bainskloof straight for the Cederberg

20161015_090917_zpsghxhola4.jpg


Lunch stop at Oasis, the usual toasted cheese and ham.

20161015_140159_zpsarnrparr.jpg


We were quite delayed leaving as Gerhard lost his bike keys. Ended up finding in in his body armour chest plate.

20161015_141559_zpsidok3ory.jpg


Group shot outside Eselbank on the way to Wuppertal

20161015_154010_zpsqysind6u.jpg


Last time I saw sand this thick was on a little road called the D707

20161015_160110_zpsmsfetaaf.jpg


Milan gets extra points for trying

20161015_160530_zpshb8oumiu.jpg


Though everyone got a chance to go horizontal

20161015_160540_zpsi7lxkolt.jpg


Except Richards 660 with his slick tyres, we you can't really fall over when you paddle

20161015_160630_zpss2sgjx5r.jpg


Gerhard went back for a second try and just made it accross unscathed

20161015_161145_zpsdemg8dux.jpg


We arrived at Uitspankraal after 5 and started a fire

20161015_173347_zpsamigdgcj.jpg


After the little fire was finished we made a bigger one

20161015_210444_zpsj0cmutww.jpg


Three meter flames enough to keep you warm

20161015_210740_zpsd8svqvuu.jpg

20161015_210840_zpsrnsetbyk.jpg


Bonfire stories until 10PM then it was lights out for all.

20161015_211010_zpsrgyjcqog.jpg


The SAS Wildehond is currently out of action, some guys dragged it over the rocks last week so it no longer floats.

20161016_065908_zpsimak8byk.jpg


Waking up. Kyle is building this bush camp for bikers. It is going to be awesome in a few months time.

20161016_070826_zps8ejw8lub.jpg


The locals

20161016_072157_zpstfurrz3k.jpg


Ice has melted and beer has evaporated

20161016_081135_zpsmp0gafk6.jpg


Kyle the good host was cool enough to top us up with some fuel

20161016_084823_zpsmgmdsan6.jpg


View of the Biedouw Valley from the start of the Old Postal Route

20161016_101154_zpsgig2neul.jpg


The roads up where were sandy and Brian went exploring quite often

20161016_105742_zpsyfxzlgf4.jpg


Pitstop on the top of the mountain

20161016_111742_zpsidsd7f61.jpg


With 30km of the 40km completed I was certain we'd taken a wrong route somewhere because this "Old Postal route" had been relatively easy until now and I was wondering what the big fuss about this route was.

20161016_120750_zpsjberkqrq.jpg


It started getting challenging from the Karretjies Pass, then I knew we were on the correct Postal Route.

20161016_121551_zpsuq4i6rfz.jpg


Looking back watching the other guys roll down the mountain

20161016_121557_zps7xrp93v3.jpg


Crossing the Tra-Tra river. The road is well positioned over some natural flat slabs.

20161016_131237_zpsvgnx8gdi.jpg


Milan took his eyes off the road for a second

20161016_131816_zps85mxpy6f.jpg


and then dug himself a grave trying to get back on the road

20161016_132106_zpswoab82gq.jpg


When we finally made it to the Doring river we'd all run out of water.

20161016_133600_zpswotvmyqd.jpg


Exhausted! It had taken 4 hours to do these 40km

20161016_133959_zpsuylvtyze.jpg


Everyone drank plenty of water.

20161016_134021_zps0ye95wru.jpg


Crossing the last bit of the Doring river

20161016_135520_zpslesubd4f.jpg


It takes four tired bikers to move a 1200 acroos a rocky river bed

20161016_135651_zps3jqc387y.jpg


Gerhard managed to ride across the deep part of the river before putting it down softly on the other side.

20161016_135951_zpsq4j8xmee.jpg


I gave it full throttle but my vision went blurred halfway through

20161016_140351_zpslbmvvp6v.jpg


I hit a boulder or three which threw me completely off course

20161016_140355.jpg_zpsujzzrnbk.jpg


and ended up with a bit of a high side

20161016_140359.jpg_zps00v1e3ax.jpg


Milan made it over no problem

20161016_140559.jpg_zpsv2x4j8am.jpg


We arrived at Tankwa Padstal sometime after 3PM and wolfed down some chicken burgers

20161016_154043_zpsymfdilc2.jpg


Ready for the last long stretch of R355 home.

20161016_154943_zpshfphbg6l.jpg


One last challenge for the day, Milan ran out of fuel 30km outside of Ceres.

20161016_171133_zpsewyvdo4r.jpg


Brand new E09 Dakar after 680km. Looks like I got the dud in the batch again.

20161017_081256_zpsuqlgmfcs.jpg
 
Top