Africa Archives - Page 10 of 12

Day 10 Biking Africa Montagu to Robertson

Posted on March 2, 2016

I left the luxury of 7 Church street after a hearty breakfast and with a cheery wave from Mike and May, it’s owners, with Mike mourning the fact that he wasn’t going on a long bike ride too. He was very inspired when I told him about Derek’s blog http://nohangingaround.com/ Derek cycled from Cape Town to Ireland.

I stocked up with 3 litres of water as part of my new desire not to get dehydrated. The ride through the Kogmanskloof pass was incredible both for being flat 🙂 and riding around stunning cliffs following the river. I loved how some graffiti artist had modified the o in fort onthe sign Old English Fort 1899.

After the pass it was very pleasant riding through Ashton and then dropping down to the river at the Viljoensdrift winery. Certainly very pleasant scene and such a big river. Pity they didn’t do cakes etc and the only coffee was from a machine 🙁

I progressed onto the Bon Courage winery where they did cake but alas only sold wine by the bottle! Staggering really, especially with it being in the countryside, there must be many folks leaving over the UK limit.

Robertson is a much bigger place than twee Montagu even having a little township on the outskirts. What puzzles me is that all the townships seem to have detached houses surely it would be more economic to build them as semi-detached?

Tonights place is Cedar Lodge very pleasant but a 30 minute walk from the restaurants in town. Its a 7am start tomorrow as it’s another 50+ day 🙁

Strava says I did all of 22.3mi with an incredible 641 feet of climbing 🙂

The pics are currently here

Day 9 Biking Africa Barrydale to Montagu

Posted on March 2, 2016

The Karoo Moon Motel with the adjacent Diesel and Creme restaurant didn’t open up till 8am so it made for a late start especially with their service times. The “healthy breakfast” was a trendy jug filled with fruit, granola and yogurt. Not enough for me so had the two eggs as well.

I filled up with water at the local petrol station where a group of youngsters on an African Adventure truck were tucking into ice creams for breakfast. The first part of cycling alongside the vineyards was OK and the R62 even was much wider with yellow lines with a light tail wind.

However, The Tradouw Pass soon loomed into view with it’s 1000 feet of climb, the couple who shared the Karoo Moon with me roared past on their shiny, but noisy, rented motorbikes to disappear leaving me pedalling. 1 hour 56min later I topped out (Looking at Strava now I see the record is just under 33mins! putting me at position 2233 of 2235 riders).

The Akkerboom Farm Stall just past the top was a huge disappointment the worse one yet so after a coke I pedalled on. On this side of the mountain there was a huge headwind 🙁 which was awful. I spotted some workers in a field picking apricots which they kindly gave me a handful, bit hard but delicious and a good diversion.

I crawled on with many smaller hills but overall the tendency was down 6 km out of Montagu I saw a sign for The Guano Caves, the most interesting bit being the restaurant symbol! I stopped and had a couple of coke floats amidst the building works.

I eventually made it to the upmarket 7 Church Street Guesthouse with its voluble Mancunian owner describing the route to Stellenbosch whilst showing me around my resplendent quarters in the amazing luxuriant garden. After drinking 3 pints of water I wandered around this very pleasant town, amazingly free of razor wire 🙂 I eventually had a pleasant 3 course dinner in Ye Old Tavern for 190 Rand! I had to dash back to get my wallet as I had gone out without it!

Strava says I did 40.2mi Distance and 2,684 feet of climbing all at temperatures in the mid 30’s No wonder I felt wrecked 🙁

A few pics here I’m now pretty sure all these photo links will break when the Do no Evil crowd discontinue Picasa. I’m trying to get Smugshot up and running.

Day 8 Biking Africa Ladismith to Barrydale

Posted on February 29, 2016

Alex the wonderful host of Ladismith Manor cooked me an excellent breakfast at 6.30 so I could put in some miles before the midday heat. It was deliciously cool as I bombed down the many downhills 🙂 After an hour I discovered The Hubb farm market and had a coffee and apple pie 🙂 The owner said it was downhill into Barrydale but kindly omitted to say about the uphills to come!

32 km later I came across the second stop of the day. The world famous Ronnie’s Sex Shop which has absolutely nothing to do with sex at all! (Apparently while he was away someone scrawled sex into the name) But boy does he pull in the customers! A very friendly bar man told me it was about to get very hilly 🙁 as well as the fact that places to stay in Namibia are well over 100km apart 🙁 and that at Easter places will be full 🙁 A cheery fellow 🙂 especially telling me how beautiful the West Coast is in spring.

By the time I left it was the full heat of the day with 15 miles to go and what turned out to be a steady 800 foot climb 🙁 Along the way a car towing an empty trail nearly had me, as the trailer was wobbling all over the place. Time to get a mirror I think as the R62 is very narrow.

Eventually the long promised descent into Barrydale came with the front brakes making a very high pitched screaming noise.

I stopped at Diesel & Cream to rehydrate and have the worlds slowest veggie burger but gorgeous smoothies. I’m staying at the equally quirky Karoo Moon Motel next door.

So another 49 miles and 2,504 feet of climbing done in extreme heat. The Strava is here and pics here

Day 7 Biking Africa Oudtshoorn to Ladismith

Posted on February 28, 2016

I now know my biking limit is 65.8mi Distance & 5,396ft of ascent with the temperature in the mid 30’s with my heavyweight bike and kit 🙁 I arrived wrecked and dehydrated 🙁

The day started with a very mediocre breakfast at The Queens Hotel principally I suspect because they had 30+ folks from the Titan party there.

I started pedalling at 7.30 and luckily found a shop that would top up my local SIM having used up all my 3GB in the past week 🙁 Mainly I suspect because the Air seems to love tethering to the phone.

It was a gorgeous day clear sky little wind so I made good progress, although a bit worried that I was totally surrounded my mountains 🙁 also the cars were coming by at 100mph 🙁 After just under 2 hours I spotted a cafe 🙂 So just had to stop! There were 6 local MTB’s there one of which was semi-pro. This country is certainly better suited for MTB’s rather than roadwork. I had a delicious Lemon Meringue pie and smoothie 🙂

At Calitzdorp, at the foot of the pass I stopped for a drink but started to get harassed by a beggar so left early – big mistake – there were no other cafes/shops/anything at all until Ladismith. The climbs are long and arduous especially in the heat, traffic & lugging all that kit. I certainly could have used some of Sally’s gels 🙂

After nearly getting pushed of the road by a succession of milk tankers I left the N62 onto The Hoeko Road, big, big mistake it was very hilly a lot further and worse very hilly on gravel roads 🙁 I ended up scrounging water of one of the houses 🙁 Interestingly the lady said that Sunday is the worst day for milk tankers.

I eventually made it to the Ladismith Manor. A great little place run by an ex Glaswegian. I managed to find a cafe open for yet more fish & chips.

The Strava stats are here and pics here