The Coastal Cross Cape route

[Stephan]

Last year I did the published Cross Cape route over seven days, starting from Franschoek ending in George. This year I would like to explore the coastal area, starting either in Grabouw or Gordons Bay, ending in Hartenbos just before Xmas.

I am not familiar with the entire area east of Stanford and south of the N2, so I used a combo of Strava heatmaps and Google maps to find roads and plan routes, but its impossible to know if there is a fence or gate somewhere that could result in a 50km detour, so I thought I would ask the Hub community for advice, comments, suggestions, etc. to make sure this route is possible. Or maybe I am missing a gem of a section or road somewhere and need to edit the route. Any tips welcome.   

@Skubarra I'm counting on you for the sections closer to Stilbaai. 🙂 

  

Day 1 Peregrine to Stanford  

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391745

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024953645903472210

Another option is to start in Gordons Bay and do the coastal route along Clarence Dr via Rooi-Els, Bettys, Kleinmond and sleep in Hermanus.

 

Day 2 Stanford to Elim

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391836

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024953791888405074

Mostly follows the Cape Cycle Routes Overberg Meander route.

 

Day 3 Elim to Bredasdorp via Cape Agulhas

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391939

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024953960581141430

 

Day 4 Bredasdorp to Witsand via Malgas

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391988

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024954109932288950

 

Day 5 Witsand to Stilbaai

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392024

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024954248133197394

 

Day 6 Stilbaai to Vleesbaai

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392063

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024954382169874376

 

Day 7 Vleesbaai to Hartenbos

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392095

https://www.strava.com/routes/3024954521418305462

[Stephan]

Day 1 Peregrine to Stanford  

 

Day 2 Stanford to Elim

 

Day 3 Elim to Bredasdorp via Cape Agulhas

 

Day 4 Bredasdorp to Witsand via Malgas

 

Day 5 Witsand to Stilbaai

 

Day 6 Stilbaai to Vleesbaai

 

Day 7 Vleesbaai to Hartenbos

 

[Skubarra]

Since you asked...

Day 5 - you are missing out on the best cycling section section near Stilbaai - the river road northwest of Stilbaai has the best scenery in the area. But it will add some climbing (steep rolling hills) to an already long day

Day 6 - Unless it changed recently or you arranged something with the owners you cannot go through the Gouriqua Nature reserve to Gouritz, the gate was always closed when I was there. You will have to stick to the main gravel road. Not my favourite road to cycle on as many cars use it as a shortcut between Gouritz and Stilbaai so its very rutted & relatively busy - also boring in my biased opinion. But unfortunately there are no real alternatives unless you head inlands to Albertinia and cut out Gouritz completely.

Also just be mentally ready for far more wind you had on your previous trip, great on the days it works in your favour, hellish on the days its not.

[Skubarra]

Also let me know when you are coming through the area - maybe I can join you for part of the day 😀

[117]

Following!

That'll be an epic ride Stephan

[MongooseMan]

I've done a bit around Stanford. I will say the opening 10k on day 2 are super sandy (was surfing around a bit when I did it). You may want to opt for the road (it's about 3k of tar). Or not, you do you

https://www.strava.com/activities/6522475674

https://www.strava.com/activities/6525475864

[Rob Mortimer]

Tar road between Struisbaai and Bredarsdorp is, in my opinion, dangerous. Narrow and everyone speeds along there. At times there are footpaths next to the road but very rough riding

[splat]

Is the road to Stanford rideable ?
Weren't there some major roadworks along that stretch recently?

Awesome looking ride. Keen to hear how it goes

 

[Stephan]

Thanks everyone for your help. 

@Skubarrare. the river road NW of Stilbaai, is it this one? 

 

I've now changed the Day 6 route to follow the main gravel road. I don't know the owners of the Gouriqua Nature reserve unfortunately, but I am not keen to head inland to Albertinia and cut out Gouritz completely.

About the wind, yes good point. I learned this lesson last year and am definitely better mentally prepared for this. 

As for dates, current plan is to do this between 17 and 23 Dec. 

Thanks @MongooseMan for the advice! 

[Stephan]

1 hour ago, Rob Mortimer said:

Tar road between Struisbaai and Bredarsdorp is, in my opinion, dangerous. Narrow and everyone speeds along there. At times there are footpaths next to the road but very rough riding

Hi @Rob Mortimer thanks for the info about the Struisbaai to Bredasdorp tar road. Looking on Google street view I see what you mean. Not keen to ride narrow tar roads with no shoulder. 

Do you know if this route from Elim to Agulhas is possible? Strava shows heatmaps along this road, but on Google Maps it looks very unused and very sandy. 

https://www.strava.com/routes/3025005267738765906

 

[Rob Mortimer]

I'm not sure on that whole route, to be honest.

I have done parts of it on a normal ride (between main gravel road, past dam and heading due east back to main gravel road) and possible some of it as part of a race one year (from Suiderstrand back over the dunes to the main gravel road). Was sandy but rideable ....... I can't remember walking at least

I will see if I can find the route we used on strava

[Rob Mortimer]

Here you go - looks like the race route was a little different to your planned route

Morning_Ride.gpx Afternoon_Ride.gpx

[Stephan]

Thanks Rob. That's very helpful. 

There is also a Strava segment there, called Old access road North and it is used relatively often. https://www.strava.com/segments/16567770

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, Stephan said:

Thanks everyone for your help. 

@Skubarrare. the river road NW of Stilbaai, is it this one? 

 

I've now changed the Day 6 route to follow the main gravel road. I don't know the owners of the Gouriqua Nature reserve unfortunately, but I am not keen to head inland to Albertinia and cut out Gouritz completely.

About the wind, yes good point. I learned this lesson last year and am definitely better mentally prepared for this. 

As for dates, current plan is to do this between 17 and 23 Dec. 

Thanks @MongooseMan for the advice! 

Yes exactly - easiest way to get there on day 5 is to turn north at Blombos (onto the Riversdal road) - the 1st 10km after the turn-off have some nasty climbs though.

Another option is to keep Day 5 as is, and then on Day 6 start-off on the river road, about 20km in there is a low water bridge crossing to Droevlakte and from there you can head east to Albertinia and then Gouritz. (I know that is not your first option but) the one benefit of that route is that you will have 2 coffee stops, one on the Stilbaai tar road crossing Droevlakte and another at Albertinia.

On your first option there are only corrugations and speeding cars throwing dust on you 

[ridearoundtheblock]

Hi Stephan. I suggest these changes for Day 5:

1. Don't try to go down to Puntjie Nature Reserve. It is a private reserve with restricted access. There are small shops at Vermaaklikheid (km 37) where you can restock if necessary.

2. The detour towards the end will include the section along the river that Skubarra proposed.

 

[Stephan]

Thanks everyone for the help. Very much appreciated! Herewith the latest route plan. 

 

Day 1 Peregrine to Stanford  (no changes, same as above)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391745

 

Day 2 Stanford to Elim (no changes, same as above) 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391836

Day 3 Elim to Bredasdorp via Cape Agulhas (big changes to avoid the tar road between Bredasdorp and Struisbaai. Route now follows a more direct path south through, what appears to be a rideable old access road, then a anti-clockwise route via Struisbaai to get back to gravel roads to cut out the tar back to Bredasdorp) 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391939

Day 4 Bredasdorp to Witsand via Malgas (no changes) 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41391988

Day 5 Witsand to Stilbaai

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392024

Day 6 Stilbaai to Gouritz (big changes thanks for comments above, the last bit along the coast is optional, but goes up to the point where there appears to be a fence on Google Maps)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392063

Day 7 Gouritz to Hartenbos (start point changed to Goutitz)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41392095