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We had all the tools to fix the tyre but we were "poegaai" , and right by the side of a busy road was not the ideal place to do it. So we chickened out and called the insurance. It is finally 9:30 when we all arrive in Doringbaai. The guy that runs the place is very considerate and fires up...

Around 8PM, we were about 40km from our accommodation for the night. 0012 was riding in front because he is the most time-conscious and me directly behind. As we came around a right-hand corner, doing +-80km/h, 0012 got shot. Or so I thought for a second. He suddenly got swept to the...

Although we planned to stop in Niewoudtville the sun is setting and we rush to get to Van Rhyns pass and arrive with the last light of Monday.

The sun is getting low and we are tired. We take a quick pic at the massive post-box and continue West towards Nieuwoudtville.

From Middelpos we take the last stretch of dirt road to Calvinia. When we pull up in Calvinia I notice that my chain is not hanging straight anymore, but thinks its just because of all the dust. You can also see the ductape on the handguards.

Middelpos. At first glance Middelpos has got three buildings. A shop called "Die winkel" (the shop), a post office and a hotel. We walk up and down through the shop but there is no-one in sight. They sell Middelpos-rooibos tee, Middelpos-goatsmilk-cheese and all kinds of local produce. I like it.

From Gannaga pass we drive towards Middelpos. The area had a lot of rain and the roads were mud at some point. Someone with a big 4x4 then made some deep impressions in the mud which hardened into a  treacherous series of canals. Once you drove into  "canal" there is no driving out of it.

We continued through the Tankwa to Gannaga pass where we ascended back to the plateau. From the top of the pass we admire the view, 0012 takes a smoke and Theotherguy explains to me how his next shot will be set up to capture all of it.

:biggrin:Oeps... You are right! fixed..

Did I mention Springbok? They seem to graze in small herds and is easily frightened. When these very fast and nimble bucks are frightened they don't run straight away from whatever scare them, they seem to run wherever the one running in front is going, and that seems to always be across the...

The Tankwa is truly beautiful. We see a few Zebra's and Springbok and birds. Life is good! We are as always running behind schedule and since it is "Karoo-highways" 0012 picks up speed. He is by far the most experienced rider between us and since we are having such a good ride, I don't mind...

The road surface is superb and the bikes run well. The small ups and downs and long curves makes it any biker's dream dirt road. By now my dirt-confidence is boosted way up and myself and 0012 get so carried away that we leave Theotherguy waaaaaay behind. We stop at the intersection that...

Once we descend into the Tankwa Karoo the landscape change. Its a bit drier, more bushes and less grass. We see some friendly people, waving enthusiastically as we go by and even run into this flock of sheep:

Ouberg pass has an average gradient of 1:13, and in some places as steep as 1:5. That means for every 5 meters you drive, you drop one! Total drop is 820m into the Tankwa.

The dirt road continues until you come around a corner and the earth falls away: It is a spectacular view from the top of the plateau.

I do enjoy the occasional warm beverage, so every morning before we leave I would fill up a small flask with coffee and drink some along the way.  At Sutherland the “enjoying of warm beverage” is also a stall tactic to wait for the sun. The other two obviously have steel fingers or better...

I now realized an issue with my home-made windscreen bracket. It was not up for the gravel roads and had vibrated loose last night. Not good, since there's still about 260km gravel left for the day! The 3rd of the 4 bolts holding it onto the bike fell out just as we reached Sutherland. The...

I had a tough time on the way to Sutherland. Although the sun was up it was still bitterly cold, (-5.5C) and my gloves were not keeping my hand warm. When I we arrived at the Sutherland telescope I couldn’t feel my hands and couldn’t pull in the clutch or the front brake. I just hit the kill...

We need to fill up, but its 6:40 and the garage only operates from 7am to 7pm. It is afterall Monday morning. Time for a few pictures. Fraserburg at dawn:

Day 3: Fraserburg to Doringbaai via the Tankwa (533km) Today we have got 533km to do of which 350km is going to be dirt. There will be three passes, the Tankwa Karoo, and as a final prize after what will be a hard day of riding, the ocean! We get up early because Theotherguy wants to get a few...