Day 5 and 6:
"Day5: Just hang around with friends and let the backsides rest
Day6: From Dordrecht on the R56 through Ingwe and Elliot. To 'Gatberg' and back to Elliot. Then over Barkley pass and the R393 via Moshesh's Ford To Rhodes. Back on the R396 through Barkly East, Clifford, Rossouw, Killians' pass and back to Dordrecht."
We decided from the beginning that we needed to build some 'resting' into our trip (this is after all holiday as well !)
Dordrecht was the right place for this as a) we have dear friends there that we do not see that often and b) it seemed like a good idea to take a rest before a very long day on the bike.
So again after a very healty/beeeg breakfast (I see a pattern here) our hosts took us around the dorp to check out the scenery/people/places.
After checking out the local dorp they took us into a 'kloof'. The entrance is about 3 blocks from their house and to be honest didn't look like much, but as soon as we were 300 meters in it was a different story:
There's lots of photos that was taken here, but I don't want to bore you with too many non-biking photos.
Vicky has a knack for capturing textures tho' :
Mooooooosley:
We don't have many photos of us together, so I couldn't resist:
Ok - altogether: aaaaaaaaaaaaaw !
Later the afternoon we headed to the church. They had there 150 year anniversary of the church this year!
Apparently the church have been built on plans from a church in Dordrecht in the Netherlands and has the 3rd highest tower for a 'N.G Kerk' in South Africa.
This was taken with the cellphone - I have a thing for steep angles:
Vicky spotted some cool corners at the door:
Some gothic looking candles:
Vicky's take on the steep angle:
If you go and lie on your back to take a better photo (like Vicky and I do sometimes), make sure there isn't a hyperactive brak called 'Fred' (no matter how cute) that's running around. You might end up with an unexpected 'art photo':
The photo without Fred:
The church was damaged in the 2nd world war - some evidence remains:
We also took a drive a little out of the town - look at these interesting erosion patterns just next to a bridge:
Sunset at Dordrecht:
Ok - back to what we all are here for - The trip !
We got up the morning (earlyish for a holiday) and after (you guessed it!) a hearty breakfast we were filling up at the station at about 9am. It was rather chill outside (the day before was something like -6 min and 2 max !
We put Vicky's jacket's inner in - apart from that she was dressed in a long sleeve shirt, a fleece top and the jacket.
She could almost not bend her arms !
Pretty much the same scenery going past Ingwe and on the way to Elliot.
On our way to Elliot:
Wavy road - very cool:
Going past Elliot:
About 25 k's after Elliot we took the turnoff towards Gatberg:
Gatberg itself:
We didn't go all the way in. The 'friendly-banter-dude' in Cathcart told us that there were guys flying their airplanes through that hole. I don't really know about that ...
Marking territory:
*Note to self - make sure wife doesn't have camera when marking territory*
Back at Elliot we filled up and continued onto the R393 that leads up Barkley pass.
This was without a doubt the most majestic scenery that we have encountered the whole trip. Just as you come 'round a corner and think to yourself 'It cannot get better than this" you go 'round the next one and it is...
Look at the textures at the back:
And these:
Not riding where I look:
Some more B&W:
We headed towards Mosjesh Ford and left tarmac behind for the rest of the day:
We encountered some amazing views on the way to a bit of a valley on top of the mountains:
This is where the farms start:
Vicky wanted a little close-up photo, so I obliged:
Some more farms: We encountered lots of local farmers and farmworkers and we can assure you these people are very friendly
Got to an intersection - we took the road that went higher up:
"I come in peace. Take me to your leader":
Da bike in da scenery:
Turned right over a bridge and started the last stretch towards Rhodes:
Beautiful as the scenery and mountains was I could not help but think that it would be cool to see these mountains either dressed up in green in green season or covered in a white blanket in high winter...
We encountered another offroad touring couple on a fully dressed (and heavily loaded) 1150GSA:
Another shot:
We went to the Rhodes Hotel and saw this:
My 1st reaction was to get off and have a chat to these guys to hear where they're from, where they're headed and to wonder if they enjoyed it etc.
I hope none of you know some of these GP guys. I am very sad to say that I was totally and utterly put off by their attitude towards me and Vicky. They stood there dressed in their shiny BMW gear and looked at us as if some cat just walked in there and crapped us out.
Tjekboekryers.
So we 'maar' headed to the Rubicon where we had a very cool steak, chips and egg each for VERY cheap.
Time is waiting for no one so we headed out - bumping into the couple on the 1150 GSA that we've followed in.
We spend a little time chatting to them. I am glad to say that they were as eager to hear our stories as what we were to hear theirs. Thank you mr and mrs 'jspiesfoto' !
Headed back out of Rhodes and towards Barkley East. We rode over a bump at the time that Vicky clicked off a photo, so she got a little more shoulder than what she bargained for:
Nice open high speed, low surprises roads:
With still very cool views thrown in to boot:
Open valleys:
And nice little passes:
Stretched out scenery:
And lowlevel flybys:
We were getting pushed for time and light was getting low so we didn't take too many other photos.
As weird as it sounds, I almost got to a point where I was like: "Yeah. Another mind-blowingly beautiful piece of scenery unfolding ahead of me. ok cool..."
I said almost.
We took on fuel at Barkley east, headed on a little stretch of tar road again and then headed into the gravel pass filled mountains again. By the way we bumped into a couple of BMW annuall gathering dudes at Barkley East and I am very pleased to say that these guys were again very true offroad motorcycle and outdoor enthusiasts. We had a lekker (albeit all to quick) chat.
At about 17:15 we pulled back into the driveway at Dordrecht. Very tired but very satisfied and, again, with much to relive/think about.
We had a wonderful supper at this little place:
Belongs to a local teacher. She can open this on arrangement as well. It was Sunday night and she opened especially for the 4 of us. Very cosy, very good food and friendly 'plattelandse' hospitality.
The day's offroad riding was mostly 3rd and 4th gear. At times there was pieces of 2nd gear rough terrain, but they don't jump on you unexpectedly. You see it coming way in advance so that you can ease off the throttle and take care of business in hand. It is also (even in some passes to an extent) a very 'rider scenery friendly' environment.
I think the road at some parts through the farm area on top of the mountain might become more interesting when it rains.
It is that pitch black, almost clay-like, tightly packed sand that you can just see will get the seepkoekie out when it gets wet.
About 440km for the day with about 130 km's on tar.
A very enjoyable route indeed !
That's me for day 5 and 6.
Tommorow the road to Graaf-Reinet...
Topic: Two-up adventure tour from WC to Rhodes and back: Complete ! (Read 8892 times)