Gromit
Pack Dog
We clocked up some serious millage over the weekend. We had plans to visit a few friends in Plett and decided to take the scenic route there.
This was the route we did to Plett:
It was long but had some very nice views that made the time in the saddle all the more worth it.
Our first stop after hitting the R329 to Steytlerville. Its a very fast dust road that enabled us to do 110km/h, thereby making up time for the more technical areas that would follow later in the day.
A pedestrian common in these dry arid areas
A pit stop in Steytlerville. It was very dry on the road to Steytlerville even the Groot River was bone dry, not a drop to be seen (unfortunatly I did not stop to take a pic of the dried and cracked river bed)
After hitting the tar then branching off towards Uniondale you get to another fast dirt road with some quaint abandoned farm houses
We eventually found ourselves in a area with a little more bush. Unfortunately along with this comes some wildlife including some Kudu. We were doing about 80km/h when 2 kudu appeared out the bush on the right side of me, ran next to the bike, then trying to make an escape jumped over me. I wish there was another word to discribe it other than I KAKED MYSELF!! Here I am waiting for my heart rate to settle
We then hit some nice fast roads, but could not find myself doing more than 60km/h as the scenery is something special.
We then branched off of the R332 and headed towards Uniondale. What a great dirt road with some very nice farm land.
We notied some clouds coming in from the south, remembering that the weather had forecasted clear and hot we were not too worried
We eventually hit tar at Uniondale and raced towards George as we wanted to do Montague Pass. The tar part bugged me but what awaited us made it all worth the numbness in the nether region.
Amanda's grave at the top of the pass
We now started to doubt the weather forecast
We eventually made it to George and then through to Plett (albeit through some rain). The next morning we decided to have a decent breakfast at the Farmer's Market between Plett and Knysna after which we had this awaiting us:
We did not take to may pics as we had all done the route before
This is on the top of the R340 just about to turn back towards Knysna
Kom-se-pad
Almost home
We then decided on a relaxing evening at Enrico's at Keurbooms. What a fantastic spot, with some of the best Italian food I have had in a while. The best thing was being able to watch the sun go down over Plett.
The reluctant trip home was comprised of this:
The first part of the trip we had already done on the Friday so did it pretty fast, not really stopping for pics
Another abandoned farm house
At the T-junction. Guess who has been here...
Me on a bike kind of categorizes me as a heavy vehicle
Now I know why its called Baviaans
One of the VERY few springs still running, its seriously dry in the Baviaans at the moment. Even Smitskraal was bone dry
Another few encounters with Kudu ensued, one I managed to grab a pic of
On top of the kloof you feel on top of the world
My last pic before we hit the seriously kak road on the way home
All in all it was a great trip with no problems what so ever, well besides the head light falling off the 800GS (thanks to the nana that fitted the poo ugly high screen). Doing soo many K's on the dirt road made me pretty confident and I was even managing a powerslide or two around some of the corners. Although the Baviaans is dry and the road has deteriorated considerably I cant seem to stop thinking about going back there. Its a strange feeling, not for a momment while riding did I think about work or any other anxieties that have crept into my life over the past few years.
All I can say is if life is getting you down get on wheels!!
This was the route we did to Plett:
It was long but had some very nice views that made the time in the saddle all the more worth it.
Our first stop after hitting the R329 to Steytlerville. Its a very fast dust road that enabled us to do 110km/h, thereby making up time for the more technical areas that would follow later in the day.
A pedestrian common in these dry arid areas
A pit stop in Steytlerville. It was very dry on the road to Steytlerville even the Groot River was bone dry, not a drop to be seen (unfortunatly I did not stop to take a pic of the dried and cracked river bed)
After hitting the tar then branching off towards Uniondale you get to another fast dirt road with some quaint abandoned farm houses
We eventually found ourselves in a area with a little more bush. Unfortunately along with this comes some wildlife including some Kudu. We were doing about 80km/h when 2 kudu appeared out the bush on the right side of me, ran next to the bike, then trying to make an escape jumped over me. I wish there was another word to discribe it other than I KAKED MYSELF!! Here I am waiting for my heart rate to settle
We then hit some nice fast roads, but could not find myself doing more than 60km/h as the scenery is something special.
We then branched off of the R332 and headed towards Uniondale. What a great dirt road with some very nice farm land.
We notied some clouds coming in from the south, remembering that the weather had forecasted clear and hot we were not too worried
We eventually hit tar at Uniondale and raced towards George as we wanted to do Montague Pass. The tar part bugged me but what awaited us made it all worth the numbness in the nether region.
Amanda's grave at the top of the pass
We now started to doubt the weather forecast
We eventually made it to George and then through to Plett (albeit through some rain). The next morning we decided to have a decent breakfast at the Farmer's Market between Plett and Knysna after which we had this awaiting us:
We did not take to may pics as we had all done the route before
This is on the top of the R340 just about to turn back towards Knysna
Kom-se-pad
Almost home
We then decided on a relaxing evening at Enrico's at Keurbooms. What a fantastic spot, with some of the best Italian food I have had in a while. The best thing was being able to watch the sun go down over Plett.
The reluctant trip home was comprised of this:
The first part of the trip we had already done on the Friday so did it pretty fast, not really stopping for pics
Another abandoned farm house
At the T-junction. Guess who has been here...
Me on a bike kind of categorizes me as a heavy vehicle
Now I know why its called Baviaans
One of the VERY few springs still running, its seriously dry in the Baviaans at the moment. Even Smitskraal was bone dry
Another few encounters with Kudu ensued, one I managed to grab a pic of
On top of the kloof you feel on top of the world
My last pic before we hit the seriously kak road on the way home
All in all it was a great trip with no problems what so ever, well besides the head light falling off the 800GS (thanks to the nana that fitted the poo ugly high screen). Doing soo many K's on the dirt road made me pretty confident and I was even managing a powerslide or two around some of the corners. Although the Baviaans is dry and the road has deteriorated considerably I cant seem to stop thinking about going back there. Its a strange feeling, not for a momment while riding did I think about work or any other anxieties that have crept into my life over the past few years.
All I can say is if life is getting you down get on wheels!!
