Mr Legs

Hemel & Aarde on Sunday

The rehab of the Hermanus Trails in the Hemel and Aarde Valley to repair the damage caused by last year's Heritage Day floods are coming along nicely. Both the Blue and Red routes are a joy to ride.

Karwyderskraal single lane metal bridge over the Bot River.

No, the damage has been extensive. I do not know what happened to the upper section of the Black Route or the eastern side of the Red Route below Rotary Drive. In my opinion they will have to do a complete re-design of the trails, the Blue Route has taken a hammering, in more than one section hundreds of meters of the trail is simply gone, it will take many many months.

Hemel and Aarde

Cycling between Perdekloof and Langkloof in the Tankwa National Park.

Test ride for new frame.

We cycled from Swellendam to Riviersonderend in Feb. We stayed above the N2 except for the last few k's. The gravel was fine and did not present any issues. There are a few low bridges on that route that might have taking a beating in the recent storm. My Strava file will not be of much help, we got lost at one stage, doubled back, eventualy caught a lift with our support driver to another section of the route. You can download the file for this route from the Cross Cape website https://capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cross-cape-route , had we followed the route instructions we would have stayed on route.

Just a shoutout to Fred from Geko Cycles at Cape Gate who negotiated with Scott to get a new replacement frame for my two year old Scott Spark. The old frame started losing its paint on a few spots. Paint started flaking, it looked like corrosion or oxidation, I am no scientist, but it did not look good. Thank you Fred and obviously also to Scott who seems to look after their brand and their customers.

Sunday Morning, The Blue Route, no not the M3, the one in the Hemel and Aarde Valley.

Saturday Morning, slightly overgrown singletrack.

Grey day

Diemersdal

Hemel and Aarde valley, an after hours consultation with Dr Scott.

I have two Scott bicycles. When I slip away from work during the day for a cycle, I tell my staff that I am going to Dr Scott for a consultation.

Enjoy, it will be a great experience. Even at 100km per day.😂

You can download the files from the Cross Cape Cycle website. I also followed the Pilgrims Route series. I saw their red signboards a few times in the beginning of the trip. I have been fortunate to have been on a couple of trips with Erns: a hike in the Karoo, a hike along the Skeleton Coast of Namibia and last year a backpacking trip to Malawi.

We were up at 05h30 on Day 10 to pack and load the bikes on the car. Mario took us to the start of Draaiberg Road where we ended Day 9. Being real manne we were not emotional at all at the start of the last stage, just a fist pump and a photo to commerate the occasion. There is some construction on Draaiberg, it appears it will be tarred soon. We went over the bridge that dissects the narrow middle portion of the Theewaterskloof Dam. I saw that the river that feeds the dam is the Sonderend River. There was a little bit of a tail wind in the flat section leading to the start of the Franschhoek Pass. The road was quiet, being early Sunday morning, but there were the odd motorbike and a few high-powered sports cars. The Franschhoek Pass has a smooth good surface and not steep at all, one can keep up a good pace without too much effort. It does carry on and on, but after 10 days in the saddle we were used to hills and we reached to top feeling good. We felt even better when we tumbled down on the Franschhoek side. I did my usual trick of passing a few cars on the downhill and upon entering the town we certainly exceeded the speed limit of 60km/h. From Franschhoek to Boschendal was a breeze. A strongish breeze from behind. We did so well that I recorded my fastest 40km ever on my Garmin, despite the fact that Helshoogte Pass was also included in the 40km! We stopped our bike computers at my buddies’ house in Stellenbosch. We were greeted by our loving wives with kisses, hugs, cold beers, white wine, leg of lamb, chicken pie, oxtail, pumpkin fritters and salads. No wonder I had to take a short nap before I could load my car and drive home. Distance 68.3km. It was an incredible experience, I am grateful that I am healthy enough to do these kind of activities at an age were many others do not do any exercise at all. Then there was the route from Plett, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Vanwyksvlei, Riversdale, Riviersonderend, Greyton, Franschhoek to Stellenbosch. Every day was a highlight. Rivers, Mountains, Trees, Fields, Farms. Then it was a great privilege to do the trip with a good friend, thank you H. Thank you for waiting for me at the top of the climbs. As soon as we can teach you to go downhill without braking, you will be a good cyclist! The two of us will be going on another adventure in April, this time hiking Angola’s imfamous Death Acre. And I have another cycling route almost worked out.

We started Day 9 with a 05:00 wake up call, Mario took us back to Riversonderend and we cycled back to Greyton. On the way we met a big group of cyclists, we also saw them in the restaurant last night and I was surprised to see them on the road so early, I am just judging on the noise and chatter and laughter coming from their table the previous evening. We went through Greyton and on past Genadendal and Voorstekop / Voorstekraal. We wanted to get extra miles under the belt as the proposed route calls for a 107 km stage from Greyton to Stellenbosch on the last day. So every km we cycle west from Greyton today, will be cut from tomorrow, our last stage. We were on the Middelplaas Road and I thought we had a bit of a tailwind, so we made up good ground. The road or pass we were on goes under a number of different names: Rusty Gate Pass, Helderstroom Road and also passes the eponymous prison where we saw some of the inmates in their orange clothes working in the field next to the road. The two guards looked a bit old and rotund to me. I would have taken my chances to make a breakout had I been a prisoner there. We reached the R43, running between the N2 and Villiersdorp and decided to go over the top to the Theewaterskloof side, as one certainly do not want to start the last day with a steep hill and then we also took the downhill up to the Draaiberg Road where Mario was waiting with a Steri Stumpie. He took us back to Greyton for an afternoon rest. Then we went to 1854 for a very early dinner. T bone and chips. There was a band, The Fleas, doing a sound check for their evening set and we stayed a bit longer to hear them play. The Fleas were up to scratch and played great blues and we felt the occasion, being the last night of the trip, called for a brandy and, as we needed some sugar, we topped it with real Coke. Mario took me back to Die Wasbak, my buddy said he wanted to walk back, just to stretch his legs. I was in bed when he arrived and he dragged me out of bed for an ABF rum and coke, this being the last night of the trip and all. By 22h00 the house was quiet, Distance 74.1km.

The driver was contracted/employed by us, he followed us most of the route, there were two sections closed for vehicles where he took a different route. We had him in the background following most of the time. One condition was that we did not want to hear the car and then there were two tarred uphill sections where we thought that there was a risk of vehicles from behind, so we had him drive 30-40 m behind us to protect us from other vehicles. But we had a coolbag in the car so when ever we needed something he was there in minutes. We certainly did the luxury option, but we are old and sort of semi retired, accommodation was from R1350 to R 2500 per night and we did not scimp on food, steak 8 out of ten nights. Total cost without the drivers fee, but including his accommodation and food was about R 35 000 for the two of us. If you camp, skip the driver and eat hiking / camping type food you will be able to cut that amount by a very big margin. We did spend some money on preparing and maintaining the bikes.

We started Day 8 with a leisurely drive down Swellendam’s Main road. My buddy grew up in the town and he showed me a few places he remembered from primary school days, including the church. In the 1970’s his family was excommunicated by their Swellendam church for committing the grave sin of inviting a “coloured” family for dinner. Outside the town we travelled east on a gravel road, always keeping just north of the Breede River. We eventually crossed the Breede close to Klawervlei Stud Farm. You might be interested to know that Kommetdieding, one of only seven horses to do the Met / July double is now on Klawervlei, doing his thing with the mares. After Klawervlei we cycled along farms, until my mate decided that we were off course and that we had to backtrack. I had downloaded the route from the Cross Cape website, but the routing was a bit iffy. We went back and took another route, but after about 7 or 8 km we realized that shouldn’t have turned around, so we jumped in the car and Mario took us back to the correct route. We wasted about an hour. Then it was the climb up and down to Stormsvlei. We took a right just before Stormsvlei and took a rough gravel road through a farming area, there was a few farm gates to open and close. A headwind also added another challenge, but, looking back, we were still happy to be cycling. We crossed the N2 about 5 km outside Riviersonderend and cycled on the old and overgrown old road into the town. It might be better just to skip the section, if you have the luxury of a backup vehicle. We had a lunch, left overs at the dam next to the Caltex garage in Riviersondderend and then loaded the bikes and drove to Greyton where we will sleep for the next two nights. At Greyton we clocked in at Die Wasbak, a quaint cottage on a leafy erf. We had an early dinner at 1854, a very good T bone and chips. In 2014 the two of us had a “training camp” in Greyton to prepare for the Karoo to Coast and we also had dinner at 1854. As always we had an early night. Distance 70.3km.

On Day 7 we cycled from Riversdale on a gravel road, we crossed the upper reaches of the Duivenhoks River a few times. This river is well known to us, we have done a four day trip from Stellenbosch to Blombos/Still Bay a couple of times and on the last day on the stage from Malgas one crosses the Duivenhoks just before Vermaaklikheid. We made a small navigational error and landed up in a valley in a farmers' yard. The farmer, Mr Streicher, gave directions and soon we were on the correct route through a forest and a long downhill into a valley. There was a long and steep hill to climb out of the valley, but we got to the top. We then cycled just south of Grootvadersbosch and then after another challenging climb we reached Suurbraak, the missionary town well known to those of you familiar with the Double Century route. We stopped for a Coke at a Bangladeshi owned shop and then cycled to the N2. The suggested route for the last 8 or 10 km runs on the N2, but we had no desire to dice 18 wheelers and loaded the bikes on the car and Mario took us to Appelsbosch Guest Farm, a working dairy farm just east of Swellendam. Our cottage was on the side of a big green grassed hill, overlooking the Langeberg Mountains. Late afternoon the cows returned from the dairy and walked in long lines to the meadow where they spent the night. I had time to read and finished the last few pages of Mark Beaumont's Africa Solo, an account of his record breaking cycle from Cairo to Cape Town. Another steak braai with boerewors, potatoes and onions. Distance 81,93 km.

Day 6 saw us leaving Windmill Farm and cycle the fairly flat road from Vanwyksdorp to Muiskraal where we had to take the uphill to the Garcia Pass, it was a 5 or 6 km climb, but at this stage we were no longer fazed by any hill, we just took it in our stride. On the other side we were rewarded with a 10km high speed rollercoaster downhill tumble into Riversdale. We booked in at Fynbos Lodge and we had enough time to have an afternoon lie down. We usually got up at 05h00 and it took us about an hour to get ready to cycle. Coffee, rusks, talking rubbish, ablutions and packing the car. Our food during the rides was peanut butter and honey sarmies, baby potatoes and boiled egg, we had energy drinks, energy bars and the odd Gu we sometimes popped at the last hour of riding. After the ride we religiously downed a Steri Stumpie, drank lots of water and Game and ate leftovers of the previous evening. Then we had our main meal early evening, it was protein rich: Steak, chops and boerewors with salad, sousboontjies, baked potato and baked onion. In Riversdale we had a T bone and chips at the local Spur and I think I was asleep at 21h00. Distance 67,2km.

On Day 5 we cycled back to Calitzdorp then south through flattish farming areas. Then we climbed the 11km Rooiberg Pass. It is steep and there are no flat sections. The road surface was rough in some areas but all in all, the pass is very rideable. My new Ikons passed the test and the caramel sidewalls was quickly covered with dust. We did take a break or two on the way up. At one stage we were passed by a Free Sate registered car and the rosy cheeked Free State ladies were very impressed by our exploits. They did not look like the cycling type. We took another rest at the top of the pass and admired the view of the Little Karoo and the Swartberge. The downhill on the southern side was fun, and here the robust Icons worked hard on the sweeping turns. The road to Vanwyksdorp had a few good climbs. Our destination was Windmill Farm, just outside Vanwyksdorp. We were not prepared for the 1.5 km steep uphill from the `main` road to the farm, but every effort has its rewards, as Windmill is a little oasis. We stayed in a restored cottage overlooking a dam with geese and to the back of the house was a small hill with aloes and typical karoo plants. Go and stay at Windmill Farm next time you need a break and time to think. Mario did some washing of dirty sweaty cycling kit, we had a relaxing afternoon, drove by car to the Rooiberg Lodge for a Brandy and Coke on their stoep while the sun was setting and then we had another early evening braai. One glass of wine and lots of water. Distance 54.54km

We woke up to a breezy Day 4, the north westerly was pumping, two thirds of the day was into the wind. We took the Groenfontein / Kruisrivier road on the Southern flanks of the Swartberg. We could see the Swartberg Pass were I did the To Hell and Back a few times. The first time I did the two day trip into The Hell I was on my Gary Fisher Hoo Koo a Koo with thin smooth Continental Town and Country tyres. This brings me to our bikes. I am on a hardtail Scott Scale, I have a Spark as well, but, for me, the Spark is too heavy for long gravel roads. I added broad ergonomic handlebar grips and I fitted new Pulse 28 rims and Maxxis Rollers. The Rollers rolls (!) very easily on tar and good gravel roads, but as I found on Day 3 and again today, it is not wide enough for bombing down uneven or rocky downhills, as I again had a small puncture, fortunately the sealant did what it is supposed to do and I could finish the day without having to do repairs. My buddy had two bikes, a gravel bike and a Scott Spark. He did Day 1 on the gravel bike and found it was too bouncy and too light to safely descend and, with the exception of the last day, he rode the rest of the way on the Spark. We saw Kudu, Eland and springbok along the way, also some smaller animals such as caracal. At Kruisrivier the wind was pumping, at times it was an effort to stay upright. Somehow despite the conditions, we enjoyed the route. The last hour was with the wind sort of from the back and we flew into Calitzdorp. We had to stop just before the Calitzdorp Dam, as a tree was blown over and blocked the road. But the farmers were already busy with a chainsaw and cleared the road in no time. We booked in at Soeterus, just outside the town on the St Helena Road. Again on a farm and a stopover to recommend. We had a quick shower and then we drove back to Oudtshoorn where Cycle Addict fitted two new Maxxis Icons with sexy caramel sidewalls to my bike to replace the thin Rollers. I will now be slower on the straights and uphills but will be able to take the downhills with more confidence. Back at Soeterus Cajun chicken, steak and boerewors were on the menu and I was in bed by 21:00. Distance 64.4km.