DJR

If used correctly by someone who knows what he is doing, then yes, it is both effective and not harmful to the dog. If it will put your mind at ease, ask the trainer to first put the collar on you and give you the same your dog will get. (Not joking, not even though I know Duane)

The interesting part is that one can clearly see the influence of Thomas Bain in the construction of Bosluis Kloof, with the typical dry stone retaining walls so like that of his famous roadworks, but it was built by his brother in law. I think his name was Schmidt or Smit? Not that it matters, because beautiful will always be beautiful. (I wrote a history project on Thomas Bain when I was in Standard 5.........very long ago..........but it started a love for all those places that endured.)

I recall that they got an engineer to look at how to overcome the varying water level. There are 2 places where old roads are blocked by the dam. I think the plan was to use one closer to the dam wall where there would be more consistant water? Another alternative that was looked at was to construct a road further north and basically skirt the dam at its fullest. This got lots of headwind from Cape Nature. (B.t.w. Not that it matters, but the Gamkapoort Dam is partly built on my ancestral farm, so, old historical connections to that place. The dam blocks 2 rivers, the Gamka, on the Prince Albert side, where my grandfather farmed, and the Dwyka, on the Laingsburg side.)

It is currently only viable if you get the landowner on the Laingsburg side to ferry you across with a little boat. He usually then wants people to stay at his place for a night to make it worth his while. It can be arranged. To pack your own raft, I suppose, is possible, but if the dam is full it could be a bit of a tricky crossing because it is pretty wide where the road used to run. If the wind blows and there is chop, I would be hesitant to cross it with an inflatable raft loaded with a bike and gear. Also, if it is not full, you often have a wide very tricky muddy bit to get across. I'm talking about the kind of mud that get you stuck! If it is very dry and the dam has been near empty for a long time, you can walk across. But yes, it will be a proper adventure. Ask Prince Albert Cycles (Arno) for an opinion and advice also.

I'd love to know what the insurance company is going to say about this claim.........

The ferry idea across the Gamka Poort Dam was something that my father tried extremely hard to make a reality more than a decade ago. The idea was to make it a cycling, adventure, 4x4 route that could allow a circular or a figure of eight route including Meiringspoort, Swartberg Pass and Seweweekspoort. He felt that Prince Albert, De Rust, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladysmith and Laingsburg would all benefit from a scenic route like that and the extra tourism it could generate. The road is still a proclaimed public road. just cut off by the dam. Sadly, some unreasonable landowners intervened with legal threats because they did not want their own little hideaways disturbed. Sadly, because of a very few who don't like the sun to shine on others, all those little towns lost out. He would surely smile from above if someone revives the idea and get it done. All the planning, environmental impact studies, feasibility studies etc. were done. It must be somewhere in a dusty municipality or provincial drawer.

There is just one problem I find with all your possible routes..........it makes me bright green with envy...........and guilty because I'm not currently in the kind of shape to do that at the drop of a hat 🤪

The wife is going gaga over this guys' rendition of Bruce Springsteens' Dancing in the Dark. I must say I agree, he does it better than The Boss

Almost surreal place that, Hearst Castle. The whole distance from LA to SF reminded me of Chapmans Peak Drive. Parts around Big Sur excellent MTBiking.

I recently kakked out a truly idiotic driver in the street where I work, just to see him pull in at the emergency ward of the hospital around the corner, dropping off what looked like a 9.5 month pregnant passenger ........ I felt like a bit of a **** for not looking and thinking before talking ....... since it seems to be Confession Friday

You talk about wind...........but in your pictures False Bay is flat as a mirror...........you have to come back next time when there is a bit of a South Easterly breeze........just kidding.........I know it can blow Southwest sometimes and look like that.

Another possibility is to get a half-link chain. It works just like a regular chain, but can be lengthened or shortened by half a link in stead of a whole link, meaning you are more likely to get just the right length. Sometimes used by BMXers.

It's an oldie, I know, but I couldn't resist. The first Cape Town Cycle tour Team DJR did together. Three generations riding in support. DJR sr was in his 70s, the youngest D 11 yrs and riding stoker on a tandem with me. The older D 12 yrs and riding a roadbike borrowed from Chris Jooste (the winner of this years CTCT). Certainly a day I will cherish for ever, even though we did a good few times after that.

This brought back so many great memories, it (a little bit of dust?) gave me moist eyes for a minute or two. Enjoy! It is indeed priceless.

Even with a vertical dropout it is sometimes possible to get by without a tensioner. You can experiment with different size cogs and chainrings and if you are lucky you will find one that uses the exact right chain length and a gear ratio you can live with. The Look with Spinergy wheels and track bars make for a very good looking bike. Aesthetically I think a chain tensioner will detract from it.The whole point is elegant simplicity. And if you haven't done so yet, Google the Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian to see where Look got their trademark graphics from. Beautiful.

I decided a good few years ago to NOT live my life according to Discovery. My life improved. I suppose I'm just an dog who doesn't like jumping through flaming hoops.

Love the semi abstractness of the picture

And that Dura Ace 7400 is just the most perfect 8 speed made. Easy to set up and just keeps on working like clockwork.

Ugo De Rosa is the man who taught Eddy Merckx how to build bikes.

I hope that bunny wasn't as hot as a Durban one or the return ride could have been very dangerous......

You pictures make me want to go there right NOW

No, we were showing some visitors around and I didn't want to add 5 or 6 extra hours to an already very long day. My rule is to always sleep over and come back the next day, by car or by bike......right or wrong, but that's me? The last climb is a massive monster called Heartbreak Hill (but it isn't just sommer a hill) with multiple false summits. Just when you think you are at the top, the road turns upwards some more, and more, and again........... But what you get for it is the downhill into The Hell. This last bit is called the Elands Pass and it drops 500m in just 3,5km, it has 51 beds, 5 of which are full 270 degree hairpin bends. 180 degree hairpins are a dime a dozen. And then of course you have to ride up that again to get out.......

Lovely picture as always Dale

The Karoo flowers are something else this year. We were there a few weeks back, but not on the bike. I think that one can see this kind of flower explosion once a decade or so, but never as widespread as it is this year. The flowers are absolutely everywhere. even in The Hell.