SA/Namibia 2011 - Day 10. Springbok to Calvinia.

View 10th Sept: Springbok to Calvinia in a larger map

Day 10 was a very early start - dawn wake up in fact. Two South African guys called Andre and Piet kind of teamed up with us.

 Piet on the left. Andre on the right. 'Why don't you team up with us for a while?'

Piet: 'Man I just go with the flow.' Andre: 'Ja, that would be nice!'

We had met them in a bar the night before. Two 'characters' for sure. Andre was full of zip and pizzazz. Piet looked like Noah - flowing blonde hair and Buffalo Bill beard. They hale from Randfontein just west of Johannesburg. 

Andre

Andre in foreground behind my Tenere with his BMW1200GSA. Piet on right chatting with Andrew and Graeme.

Piet and John M.

The idea was to ride to Garies 116 km south of Springbok and stop there for breakfast. Getting up early and putting 100 km or so behind you really gets the job done.

Garies - ToeristeStal

So we pulled in to this delightful cafe/shop and ordered 8 breakfasts. We sat inside for the egg and bacon, but then moved out onto the stoep for some extra coffees before firing up and moving on. By now the sun had some warmth to it and we just enjoyed basking for a little while.

Enjoying the morning sun.

A SARTours coach pulled in and a lot of old people got off. Shame. Most of them were nearly as old as US!

Graeme fired up first, in fact, and went down the hill to the petrol station. He demonstrated an impressive wheelie on his way back up the hill to join our formation, but in doing so, we soon discovered, ripped his valve askew (the wheel's that is) which meant some emergency improvisation - in the form of tyre mousse - and high pressure inflation. Andre had spotted the 'flat' tyre as Graeme was joining the N7. The 'repair' was effected after a return to the garage. Well spotted Andre. Graeme was now riding on about 50 psi - but it didn't seem to phase him. The tyre gave no more trouble, but a few days later in heavy rain on Franschhoek Pass, Graeme found keeping grip on the tarmac, with the added complication of a Toyota Fortuna up his  exhaust pipe, somewhat tricky - but he came through!

We were heading for Vanrhynsdorp (refuel and koeksusters) from where we would be departing our re-traced northbound track and taking the R27 northeast to Nieuwoudtville and then east to Calvinia.

N Khoisan Project

How could I not stop to photograph this unusual structure? Isn't it beautiful? As I have said before, the N7 is my favourite road. I think that it is one of South Africa's best kept secrets. Note the flowers too. We are some way south, and the flowers are still adorning the veld en masse. But we hadn't seen the best yet!

A tortoise humouring Andrew!

N7 approaching Vanrhynsdorp. 

....... 'Brights' is good!

Just about to turn off to Vanrhynsdorp.

...... 'Brights' mean people (cars, trucks, other motorbikes and tortoises) can usually see you coming!

After Vanrhynsdorp ........ a great little town - and where we stayed with Heila Brand northbound at Aan't Dorpseind. S 31 36 32 E 018 45 02. Remember? ..........

Aan't Dorpseind

....... we turned onto the R27 for the 122 km run to Calvinia our destination for today. I had previously ridden up Vanrhyns Pass (Ride Report: February 2010) and I wanted Tony, Mike, John, Andy and Graeme to experience this magnificent ascent. Andre and Piet decided that Cape Town and not Calvinia and beyond was to be their aiming point.  We would miss them.

The sun was shining and we could see the mountain range ahead. I think that it is called the Bokkeveldberge.  

Beauty ..... everywhere.

I love this land. I was kind of bonding with the motorbike too. It never missed a beat in all 7 494 km.

 Our position is confirmed.

 The scenery is wonderful.

We rode up here.

Vanrhynsdorp is back there ..............

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 6. All present and correct half way up the pass. 10-sec timer worked more or less.

 Mike F - nearing the top.

 The penultimate bend before the top and the plateau to Calvinia.

Pretty much the top of Vanrhyns Pass.

Now riding more or less due east to Calvinia. The camera is unable to do this array of colour justice. But it was lovely.

 Tony E thought so too - maybe his picture will be better.

 The flowers and the colours between Nieuwoudtville and Calvinia were absolutely brilliant.

 Sheep in the flowers.

 What's not to like about this?

  I am a tough biker - really!

Graeme W taking a photograph from the saddle of his blue Tenere. Tony's BMW 650 parked behind.

 More riding .........

 ........ more stopping.

 This is not a five-bar gate, but it has a charm of its own.

 These flowers were just beyond the gate.

 We got to Calvinia in the Hantamberg at about 16h30.

The place that I had booked accommodation was Steenkamp's Gastewoonstel.

We pulled up outside.

Steenkamp's Gastewoonstel is pink ..... and green. Nice!

Self catering accommodation.

 We parked at the back ......
(I have cheated - this pic was taken last year!)

....... which was charming.

 The view from the front was good.

 The view of the front was good.

 The view of the stoep was good.


There are two apartments. This is Mike at No. 2.

Myl 250 Restaurant

Across the road stands the Myl 250. We went there for a few drinks and dinner. We met some lovely local people and we had a very pleasant evening. 

 Karen - from Namibia originally. Her husband was not far away - surprisingly! 

 John K took this very artistic picture........

......... and this one.

It was time to hit the hay. We like Calvinia --- a lot.

Distance Today: 392 km. 244 miles.

Trip Total: 2 702 km. 1 679 miles.

SA/Namibia 2011 - Day 9. Grunau to Springbok.

View 9th Sept: Grunau to Springbok in a larger map

I woke quite early. The early morning sunshine in Southern Africa makes it very easy to get up and get out. Also I had to turn over my clothes and stuff on the water pylon. By the time breakfast was over my clothes would be dry. That was the plan - and also to take my mates a cup of tea. I'm like that. Tea at dawn whether you want it or not!

Dawn - for sure.

We packed our stuff - it didn't take long! I found this scoundrel trying to make off with my bike.......

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, but we settled the ownership quickly. He is R5 better off and I have a motorbike to ride.

We headed for the security gate. Nestor the guard (17 years old and speaks five languages) saluted us. Just one thing Nestor .......... the gate!

Any excuse to stop at a stopping pace and to enjoy a brief chat in the sunshine. Mike F is checking his oil level. The bikes never missed a beat. I'll put some stats at the end re fuel consumption - which was excellent.

Mike F, Tony E, Graeme W, Andy M and John K. John M taking the picture! These stopping places are brilliant. Nowhere else in the world have I seen such excellent roadside rest facilities. South Africa and Namibia, I congratulate you.

It looks like I am travelling excessively light. Actually I also had a backpack - a Kriega R25 and a Kriega US-10 - the US -10 is on the bike. When we got to Cape Town I sent some stuff back with Andy which had proved to be excess baggage on the trip. Besides my motorbike kit - helmet, jacket, pants, boots and gloves, I ended up with three shirts, three u/pants, one jeans, three socks, one fleece, one shoes and one Crocs. The Crocs were specifically for walking on the beach at Durban!!

We reached the Orange River after 138 km, and once again entered beautiful South Africa. Namibia had been brilliant and we are kind of sad to be leaving such a wonderful country behind. I am sure that we will be back. As I said at Luderitz, maybe we can ship our own motorcycles into Walvis Bay next time and start the journey from there. Zambia (?) Zimbabwe (??) Botswana (???). I will start saving my pension for the NEXT Southern African Adventure. Anyone else want to come with?

I have seen the Vaal, the Limpopo, the Zambesi, and recently the Fish rivers, but my favourite river remains the Orange.

This view is looking east.

It had been our intention to photograph this impressive koppie of rocks northbound. We did not miss the opportunity this time. Aren't these rocks just amazing?

We are through the hills lining the Orange River now and, having climbed several hundred metres, we are now shooting straight for Springbok 121 km from the border.

Springbok ahead .......

....... just beyond those hills is Steinkopf and then only 52 km to go!

The vegetation (and wild life) is increasing by the mile.

The flowers are starting to appear again.

The colours are brighter.

We can't resist stopping for a closer look.

I could spend weeks here.

Finally we ride into Springbok. We have booked ahead (from Luderitz) for three rooms at the Springbok Lodge where we stayed before. Mr Jopie Kotze (Receptionist of the Year 19??) was obviously just as pleased to see us this time as he was the first time we rolled up at his establishment and requested rooms 'in the middle of the flower season!' 

Jopie is owner, manager, receptionist and most importantly cashier. He always has a ready smile for his favourite guests!

We were assigned three rooms in Die Stoor 75 m up the road. Same as before. It was good to be back in Springbok. Tomorrow we would be riding south and then east to Calvinia, but tonight it was time for some Klippies and some Kingklip or Kudu followed by a few Witblitzes from Jopie Kotze.

Distance Today: 259 km. 161 miles.

Total Trip: 2 310 km. 1 435 miles.