Having made only the sketchiest notes of hje's detailed route instructions, I turn off at the Scherpenheuvel sign and stop to check my notes for directions. A friendly GS'er stops to check up on me - he's on his way to Montagu for the GS Trophy. Instead of just following him, as I realise afterwards we were probably doing the same route, my independence kicks in and I wave him on.
Chilly morning mist lying on the mountains ahead.
I check my notes again, hit the start button and pull away. After the low water bridge, as instructed, I turn left towards Scherpenheuvel and the road becomes gravel. I barrel along merrily, passing many youths lolling next to the road who should probably be in school. A few kilometers further, hitting tar again, I habitually start to second guess myself, and turn around to continue on the road I had previously shunned. This road also quickly becomes a lovely sweeping gravel road but then worryingly starts to turn in the wrong direction. However when I see a board indicating that I'm on my way back to Villiersdorp, I stop and interrogate my sketchy notes and sketchier GPS app again, sigh, and turn around again.
Back on the original route again, waving at the indolent youths as I pass - yet again, feeling a little foolish, I find that I had turned around 5km shy of my next turn-off. Ah well, the turn added a beautiful 50kms to my ride for the day, and with a huge tank filled almost to the brim, even a thirsty Hooligan would be content.
The next turn-off was described in some detail, and I'm happy that I'm on the right track.
At
Bonniedale Bonnievale Cellars I turn right towards
Stormsrivier Stormsvlei, but it turns out that my sketchy note taking had deserted me. Apparently I should've turned left and taken some turns through
Bonniedale Bonnievale onto a road that ended up at the back of Swellendam. However, I only manage to reach
Stormsrivier Stormsvlei near the N2.
Time is no longer on my side, as I am further away from Vleesbaai than I expected to be. I let my family know that I'll arrive about an hour later, turn onto the N2 and open the Hooligan's throat to roar down the highway like a purple... well... hooligan, passing all obstacles and slow moving trucks in my way and praying that the speed cops are snoozing.
At
Riversonderend Buffeljagsfontein I turn off at the garage to fill up the thirsty Hooligan, as I can SEE the fuel level dropping in my high speed chase against time. There are quite a few Beemers about, presumably on their way to Montagu, and I park a little to the side and out of the way and head for the ablutions. When I walk back to the Hooligan, a GS is parked right behind it and I think to myself, "Bet he recognised the Hooligan from WD".
I walk up to my bike and start to kit up, when a GS pulls up next to me and the friendly rider enquires about my plans. He buzzes off with a few other GSs, but the GS behind me is still patiently kitting up. When the others are gone, he walks up and asks whether I'm on WD. I say yes and start to laugh, and ask him whether he recognised the bike from the forum. He laughs too and admits that yes, he's seen the bike, my avatar, on some threads. He's from Gauteng and on his way to Montagu, but he's relaxed and rides at his own pace, even though he is there with a group. They had been taking a slow ride down the coast, and would be riding back over a few days as well. It sounded fun. We greeted each other, and then we were each on our way again, me with a smile inside my helmet. I love being part of the Wilddog community!
Then the race against dusk is on again, and finally I pass Albertinia. I stop by the side of the road between the turn-off to Gouritzmond and Vleesbaai to confirm with the family that I'll be arriving soon, and the address I need to be at. I also check the Sygic app, because I have a feeling that instead of turning at the Vleesbaai turnoff, I can also take the more (hopefully) scenic road to Gouritzmond and hopefully score a bit of gravel.
Sygic gives my suggestion the thumbs-up, and I throw a semi-confident U-turn and take the Gouritzmond turn-off. It's a lovely long downhill, but I'm chased by a few huge and hasty SUVs. I make some space for them to pass me, and turn off in the direction of Vleesbaai. It turns out to be mostly tar road, but at least it isn't highway and it is beautiful. Then suddenly Sygic directs me to turn right onto a little gravel road, and my heartbeat accelerates. An unexpected little gravel backroad to Vleesbaai, perhaps? I eagerly turn off and follow Sygic's directions for a few hundred meters, only to confronted with an open gate with a big sign saying no vehicles are allowed, as this is an ostrich breeding area.
I sigh a little disappointedly, and paddle the Hooligan around. On the way back I run into a flock of sheep, and pull aside for them to pass.
Then I head down the tar road again and soon arrive in Vleesbaai, where I disturb the unnaturally quiet and serene mini-neighbourhoods with Hooligan's loud Bossun pipe, fed by his thirsty carb, as I trundle up and down unexpected dead-ends, having completely forgotten my directions again. By a stroke of inspiration I manage to find the right road, and soon pull in at the family for some great food and wine and excellent conversation deep into the night, catching up the missing years. Then it's off to bed for an early start, grateful for all the blessings heaped upon me
Topic: EC Bash 10 - 14 May 2018: Purple Hooligan Rides Again! (Read 7253 times)
