SuperDave
Race Dog
Hi all,
Planning my first solo trip from Centurion to Sutherland via Kimberley, on to Cape Town and then back up the West coast, Upington and home.
Probably crazzzzy but I crave a loooong solo trip and I really love the vastness of the Karoo...have only been there in a cage and close to the N1 so I am really looking forward to have the true experience in a place I don’t know at all.
As for the West coast...travelling up there on a bike...having the sea breeze on you after the hotness of the Karoo...and an entirely different landscape that’s just as pretty!
Double whammy...!! :ricky:
When : December, from about the 14th till 28th.
Time : +/- 10 days...can stretch to about 14 days...
Why : Want to experience the Karoo and West coast.
Sleeping : Anywhere, tent or b/b but mostly tenting for obvious reasons!
Eating : If tenting, hopefully braaivleis and something in the evenings, blikkies
kos...etc. I’m not fussy.
Boney : BMW F650GS Dakar
Using : Maps...unfortunately no GPS....
The route I have checked out so far is the following :
Centurion to Kimberley, Douglas, Prieska - Sleep in Prieska...big strecth to get where I want to be...+/- 760 Km
Prieska, Van Wyksvlei(R357), Carnarvon(R361), Frasersburg(R361 and R356), Sutherland. - Sleep in Sutherland.
It looks like gravel all the way from Prieska...+/- 446 Km
Sutherland, Ouberg pas, Tankwa – Spend the day there and camp the night.
Total sleepovers in Karoo = +/- 3 nights, 4 days riding.
Tankwa, Ceres(R355), Wellington, Slaapstad – Sleep over and visit with some friends.
Not sure how many kilo’s.
Total sleepovers in between Karoo and West coast = 1 night
Slaapstad up to West coast with West coast road(R27)...from there I’m not sure.
Would love to stick as close as possible to the coast.
Definitely want to sleep over at Hondeklip baai!
Total sleepovers on the West Coast = +/- 3 nights, 4 days riding.
Then on to Springbok, Augrabies, Upington – Sleep there at family.
Upington onwards...will see if there is another night to sleep over, maybe Schweizer-Reneke??
Total sleepovers on the way home = 2 nights, 3 days riding.
:biggrin: ;D
So what I would like to know from the guys who knows the area:
- Am I missing something that I should visit on my route(or close)? I know there is a shitload to see but I really don’t have that much time!!
- Am I a bit too optimistic with my time frames? Maybe a day more in the Karoo?
- Alternative routes that are more scenic?
- Would this be ok for a solo trip? I have a fair amount of gravel experience, but nothing worth mentioning on sand!!!
Must also organize for a quick lesson in tyre repair...eish!
- As mentioned, I do have spare days, can stretch to 14 days but it depends on how much budget I have left over. I would really like to rough it mostly so the money should hold....!
- Should I try organize a GPS?
- Petrol availability...probably only a problem in the Karoo...?
- Sleeping spots?
- Some cash on you and cards for the rest?
- Any tips and advice!
I really do hope this trip becomes a reality...!
Got the bike, got the panniers...got the time!
Thanking you guys in advance..! :thumleft:
Planning my first solo trip from Centurion to Sutherland via Kimberley, on to Cape Town and then back up the West coast, Upington and home.
Probably crazzzzy but I crave a loooong solo trip and I really love the vastness of the Karoo...have only been there in a cage and close to the N1 so I am really looking forward to have the true experience in a place I don’t know at all.
As for the West coast...travelling up there on a bike...having the sea breeze on you after the hotness of the Karoo...and an entirely different landscape that’s just as pretty!
Double whammy...!! :ricky:
When : December, from about the 14th till 28th.
Time : +/- 10 days...can stretch to about 14 days...
Why : Want to experience the Karoo and West coast.
Sleeping : Anywhere, tent or b/b but mostly tenting for obvious reasons!
Eating : If tenting, hopefully braaivleis and something in the evenings, blikkies
kos...etc. I’m not fussy.
Boney : BMW F650GS Dakar
Using : Maps...unfortunately no GPS....
The route I have checked out so far is the following :
Centurion to Kimberley, Douglas, Prieska - Sleep in Prieska...big strecth to get where I want to be...+/- 760 Km
Prieska, Van Wyksvlei(R357), Carnarvon(R361), Frasersburg(R361 and R356), Sutherland. - Sleep in Sutherland.
It looks like gravel all the way from Prieska...+/- 446 Km
Sutherland, Ouberg pas, Tankwa – Spend the day there and camp the night.
Total sleepovers in Karoo = +/- 3 nights, 4 days riding.
Tankwa, Ceres(R355), Wellington, Slaapstad – Sleep over and visit with some friends.
Not sure how many kilo’s.
Total sleepovers in between Karoo and West coast = 1 night
Slaapstad up to West coast with West coast road(R27)...from there I’m not sure.
Would love to stick as close as possible to the coast.
Definitely want to sleep over at Hondeklip baai!
Total sleepovers on the West Coast = +/- 3 nights, 4 days riding.
Then on to Springbok, Augrabies, Upington – Sleep there at family.
Upington onwards...will see if there is another night to sleep over, maybe Schweizer-Reneke??
Total sleepovers on the way home = 2 nights, 3 days riding.
:biggrin: ;D
So what I would like to know from the guys who knows the area:
- Am I missing something that I should visit on my route(or close)? I know there is a shitload to see but I really don’t have that much time!!
- Am I a bit too optimistic with my time frames? Maybe a day more in the Karoo?
- Alternative routes that are more scenic?
- Would this be ok for a solo trip? I have a fair amount of gravel experience, but nothing worth mentioning on sand!!!
Must also organize for a quick lesson in tyre repair...eish!
- As mentioned, I do have spare days, can stretch to 14 days but it depends on how much budget I have left over. I would really like to rough it mostly so the money should hold....!
- Should I try organize a GPS?
- Petrol availability...probably only a problem in the Karoo...?
- Sleeping spots?
- Some cash on you and cards for the rest?
- Any tips and advice!
I really do hope this trip becomes a reality...!
Got the bike, got the panniers...got the time!
Thanking you guys in advance..! :thumleft:
