I attended the launch of this book in Durban last week, and though it may be of interest to the WDs.
I have known the author, Patrick Coyne, for a few years. He is active in the Durban Writer's Circle, of which I was an active member. Patrick is a retired school headmaster, and taught English for many years. He has had many articles or motoring and travel published in Car and Getaway magazines. He is also the author of numerous stage and radio plays.
I see this book as a compilation of a number of "drive reports" of trips through passes and poorts in his 1960 Rover P4-100 in which he has travelled 192 000Km, and which is still going strong. His Rover has done each of the passes or poorts, with the exception of Sani.
With regard to each pass or poort the book covers :-
- How high is it?
- How steep is it>?
- How long is it?
- When was it built?
- Where did it get it's name?
- Who was the engineer?
- What mountain(s) does it cross?
- Why was it built?
The following passes are documented:-
- Bainskloof Pass
- Mitchell's Pass
- Gydo Pass
- Buffelshoek/Middelburg Passes
- Piekenierskloof Pass
- Anenous Pass
- du Toit's Kloof Pass
- Hex River Pass
- Rooihoogte Pass
- Burger's Pass
- Cogman's Kloof
- Sir Lowrey's Pass
- Houwhoek Pass
- Viljoen's Pass
- Franschhoek Pass
- Helshoogte Pass
- Tradouw Pass
- Garcia's Pass
- Robinson Pass
- Great Brak Pass
- Outeniqua Pass
- Montagu Pass
- The Passes Road
- Homtini Pass
- Phantom Pass
- Prince Alfred's Pass
- Grootrivier Pass
- Bloukrans Pass
- Huisrivier Pass
- Seven Weeks Poort
- Schoemanspoort
- Swartberg Pass
- Meiringspoort
- Ouberg Pass
- Ecca Pass
- New katberg/Devil's Bellows Nek Pass
- Buffalo Pass
- Pot River Pass / Naudesnek
- Sani Pass
- van Reenen Pass
- Oliviershoek Pass
- Witsieshoek Pass
- Long Tom Pass
- Kowyn's Pass
- Robber's Pass
- Abel Erasmus Pass
- Magoebaskloof Pass
Attraction and "things to do" in the vicinity of each pass are listed.
Is the book usefull for DS bikers? Yes. I think so. The book is well written and contains heaps of information to impress your friends with. I will have the book next to my "Geological Journeys" book to study areas I go riding.
My only complaint is the production. There are only four pages of colour prints, and these are not of great quality. All embedded photos are black and white and are quite grainy. The book has the look and feel of an on-demand laser-printed production - it may well be.
I suspect the book will not be available in the big bookstores, but may be purchased from Adam's books in Musgrave Centre, Durban
https://www.adamsbooks.co.za/books/
Or from the "micro" publishers
https://www.osborne-porter.com
Cost is R195
I have known the author, Patrick Coyne, for a few years. He is active in the Durban Writer's Circle, of which I was an active member. Patrick is a retired school headmaster, and taught English for many years. He has had many articles or motoring and travel published in Car and Getaway magazines. He is also the author of numerous stage and radio plays.
I see this book as a compilation of a number of "drive reports" of trips through passes and poorts in his 1960 Rover P4-100 in which he has travelled 192 000Km, and which is still going strong. His Rover has done each of the passes or poorts, with the exception of Sani.
With regard to each pass or poort the book covers :-
- How high is it?
- How steep is it>?
- How long is it?
- When was it built?
- Where did it get it's name?
- Who was the engineer?
- What mountain(s) does it cross?
- Why was it built?
The following passes are documented:-
- Bainskloof Pass
- Mitchell's Pass
- Gydo Pass
- Buffelshoek/Middelburg Passes
- Piekenierskloof Pass
- Anenous Pass
- du Toit's Kloof Pass
- Hex River Pass
- Rooihoogte Pass
- Burger's Pass
- Cogman's Kloof
- Sir Lowrey's Pass
- Houwhoek Pass
- Viljoen's Pass
- Franschhoek Pass
- Helshoogte Pass
- Tradouw Pass
- Garcia's Pass
- Robinson Pass
- Great Brak Pass
- Outeniqua Pass
- Montagu Pass
- The Passes Road
- Homtini Pass
- Phantom Pass
- Prince Alfred's Pass
- Grootrivier Pass
- Bloukrans Pass
- Huisrivier Pass
- Seven Weeks Poort
- Schoemanspoort
- Swartberg Pass
- Meiringspoort
- Ouberg Pass
- Ecca Pass
- New katberg/Devil's Bellows Nek Pass
- Buffalo Pass
- Pot River Pass / Naudesnek
- Sani Pass
- van Reenen Pass
- Oliviershoek Pass
- Witsieshoek Pass
- Long Tom Pass
- Kowyn's Pass
- Robber's Pass
- Abel Erasmus Pass
- Magoebaskloof Pass
Attraction and "things to do" in the vicinity of each pass are listed.
Is the book usefull for DS bikers? Yes. I think so. The book is well written and contains heaps of information to impress your friends with. I will have the book next to my "Geological Journeys" book to study areas I go riding.
My only complaint is the production. There are only four pages of colour prints, and these are not of great quality. All embedded photos are black and white and are quite grainy. The book has the look and feel of an on-demand laser-printed production - it may well be.
I suspect the book will not be available in the big bookstores, but may be purchased from Adam's books in Musgrave Centre, Durban
https://www.adamsbooks.co.za/books/
Or from the "micro" publishers
https://www.osborne-porter.com
Cost is R195
