Devils Pass - Vryheid - Hlobane area

[Mojoman]

I headed down to Natal to Hlobane to visit a friend this weekend. There was a topic on The Hub that mentioned a site showing all the mountain passes in SA and the Devils pass was included:(http://www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za/find-a-pass/kwazulu-natal/item/418-the-devil-s-pass-kzn.html ).

So I yook my bike along and rode it! Sadly the weather was pretty bad and misty but there was still some great riding to be had.
The first pic of the mountain is from Google earth, 4 days I was there and I never really saw it totally due to mist.

Its about 8km from the start to the finish and then you head back the same way.
The route is pretty easy going and although there is climbing the road is quite well maintained.
You start off through the wattle plantations near the old Hlobane mine.

And work your way gradually up and along the contour line.

It was pretty quiet up there and the mist made all the plants and trees look eerie.

But worth it eventually. Devils Pass is the rockslide you can see in the pics below, I didn't bother trying to climb it in my cycling shoes!

The views would have been awesome if the sun had played along...!

The only pic of the mountain pass with some sun (lasted a few minutes!)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hlobane


 

[Mojoman]

I spent a few years in Dundee-Dannhauser-Utrecht-Newcastle as my dad was an electrician on the mines in the late 80's and 90's and I wound up working in Utrecht for a short while so its pretty sad to see that Northern Natal area looking so rough, poor and negelected now the mines are pretty much done. Hlobane mine dates back a 100 years! Below are some pics of the old rec  club at Hlobane


Education is not high on the list of priorities! I did follow this sign for about 3km but the path went nowhere. Maybe the 'sign writer' meant Dead End?

Hlobane Dam is below

I also took a ride out on a dirt road that heads down to Bivane Dam, some lovely scenery in the area but again it was damp and misty and cold.
http://www.bivanedam.co.za/

 

[Stretch]

I did some survey work there about 15 years ago..and it was pretty old and neglected then