DJR Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Am now thinking start SSW over Ox wagon trail to Grabouw and Botriver. Then find route to McGregor and then Montagu. After that follow same routeWhen you get to Roux Pos , in stead of going to and across Gamka Poort Dam, you can also go down the Ladder into The Hel (Gamkaskloof) and to Prince Albert via the Swartberg Pass. That's real bravery stuff though with a lot more climbing and even hike-a-bike. Also some access issues in The Hell (see Freedom Challenge Access Issues thread). Magical country though. If you go that route, PM Johan Rissik for the best up to date info.
DJR Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Sorry, I'm just a Swartberg Pass junkie. Actually, I'm not really sorry.
slabs Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 When you get to Roux Pos , in stead of going to and across Gamka Poort Dam, you can also go down the Ladder into The Hel (Gamkaskloof) and to Prince Albert via the Swartberg Pass. That's real bravery stuff though with a lot more climbing and even hike-a-bike. Also some access issues in The Hell (see Freedom Challenge Access Issues thread). Magical country though. If you go that route, PM Johan Rissik for the best up to date info. Did not want to mention it because of the issues, but that is actually the plan.... just got to contact the right people - thanks!
straatvark Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 When you get to Roux Pos , in stead of going to and across Gamka Poort Dam, you can also go down the Ladder into The Hel (Gamkaskloof) and to Prince Albert via the Swartberg Pass. That's real bravery stuff though with a lot more climbing and even hike-a-bike. Also some access issues in The Hell (see Freedom Challenge Access Issues thread). Magical country though. If you go that route, PM Johan Rissik for the best up to date info. This was plan B for me as well, if Fox did not want to take us over the Gamka dam. (But had my doubts if it is possible to go down with a bike on the shoulder, so took the boat option when Fox agreed to it) It would have meant an extra night in the Hell as well. We then met 'Richard', a retired guy from Grahamstown in Anysberg on his way to go down the Ladder. He also did not knew if it was possible, but budgeted a full day to go up & down if required to take his bike & panniers in parts down. (If anyone have contact details for him I would appreciate it.) DJR, yes we go back quite regularly (by car & loaded MTB though) and I'm slowly working trough the area, but my brother in law's farm itself has so many jeep/single track itself (some of it used by the Bridge Pioneer race) that is hard to get far away I know you are interested in 'die aap' as well and mentioned before it is problematic. I heard that a section is washed away, is that true? We recced the easy bit from the bottom this time. Maybe I must just closed my eyes one day and take a lift to the top and give it a go with enough 'proviant' to survive a night if things go South.
Shebeen Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Did not want to mention it because of the issues, but that is actually the plan.... just got to contact the right people - thanks!What issues? On current evidence it's a public right of way. Until the devil's advocate can prove otherwise, the road to hell is open.
ibruegge Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Amazing trip. Reminds me of a guy I met at Matjiesfontein station on a rainy day in July - who'd cycled there from Upington, on gravel only, in 5 days. Trips like yours are fantastic, well done.
milky4130 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 StreetPig, do you realise you could be doing this as a living...if you wanted? Organised tours? This is how it all starts out. Nice tour diary & pics.
DJR Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 ..................I know you are interested in 'die aap' as well and mentioned before it is problematic. I heard that a section is washed away, is that true? We recced the easy bit from the bottom this time. Maybe I must just closed my eyes one day and take a lift to the top and give it a go with enough 'proviant' to survive a night if things go South. I have no recent 1st hand knowledge but would like to hear from anyone who knows how to arrange access through "Die Aap". I've been there many years ago, but have not cycled through there at all. I assume you've tried it from the Meiringspoort side. I have cycled from the other end the Swartberg Pass side, as far in as Gouekrans (I think that's the name).
straatvark Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 StreetPig, do you realise you could be doing this as a living...if you wanted? Organised tours? This is how it all starts out. Nice tour diary & pics. Thanks milky, don't get me started on the topic... I'm pretty sure I wont be able to pay my bills, but you wont get the daily smile off my face. If I only had the money to retire (winning the Lotto for example) and then to take small groups of kids on trips like this...
straatvark Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 I have no recent 1st hand knowledge but would like to hear from anyone who knows how to arrange access through "Die Aap". I've been there many years ago, but have not cycled through there at all. I assume you've tried it from the Meiringspoort side. I have cycled from the other end the Swartberg Pass side, as far in as Gouekrans (I think that's the name). There might be one problematic landowner on the Klaarstroom side that I heard of. I cant commit or promise anything, but might PM you some random time when the stars align with the moon. (Read somewhere between the next two weeks and 5 years ) Its on my bucket list...
clivem Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Anyone know if this is do-able without Garmin for us non-FC designed riders?
straatvark Posted September 18, 2013 Author Posted September 18, 2013 Anyone know if this is do-able without Garmin for us non-FC designed riders? If your question are if it is possible to do this without GPS navigation, then yes for sure. (We did not use one.) It is al district roads which is easy to navigate. Cape Nature for example give you a detailed map and turn by turn description to get to Anysberg. Almost impossible to get it wrong* *But I spend a lot of time as a child in the Robertson region and visited the Anysberg area before by motorbike.
ccc2 Posted September 26, 2013 Posted September 26, 2013 City CC did a 'gravel travel' from Sedgefield to Edgemead 3 years in a row , ±700 kms on 90% gravel, via bonniedale,herbertsdale,riversdale,WWberg Spa, sanbona game reserve to m'gue, rawsonville, wellington. the most tar was the m'gue/rawsonville/wellington stretch.long 100 k days made for sore bums but views were stunning. the 1st year we got lost between riversdale and WWberg spa as we missed the private road that take u over the mountain to barrydale. but it was fun. might revive it.
straatvark Posted September 26, 2013 Author Posted September 26, 2013 City CC did a 'gravel travel' from Sedgefield to Edgemead 3 years in a row , ±700 kms on 90% gravel, via bonniedale,herbertsdale,riversdale,WWberg Spa, sanbona game reserve to m'gue, rawsonville, wellington. the most tar was the m'gue/rawsonville/wellington stretch.long 100 k days made for sore bums but views were stunning. the 1st year we got lost between riversdale and WWberg spa as we missed the private road that take u over the mountain to barrydale. but it was fun. might revive it.Now that sounds like a brilliant route. And there start the dreaming....
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