House on the Hill Toer Dag 3

Die plan was om 07:00 ontbyt te eet en dan 07:30 in die pad te val. Ons kuier egter so lekker saam met Kosie en Ryna Sauerman, bygestaan deur Wells die kelner, dat ons eers 08:09 daar wegkom!

Die dag begin sommer weer met 'n klim! 2.62 km, 82 meter se klim met 'n maksimum gradiënt van 17.7%! Die gemiddeld is gelukkig 5.1%, dus is daar ook heelwat maklike gedeeltes. Na 6 km kruis ons die pad waarmee ons gister ingekom het en gaan reguit die bult op en deur twee hekke. Johan verloor sy balans by die eerste hek en val "saggies"! 

Die pad wat ons volg Riversdal toe is redelik op en af met mooi Suid Kaap natuur van golwende heuwels met canola stoppels. Ryna het reeds gesê ons moet hier kom ry wanneer die canola in blom is.

Ons maak 'n draai naby aan die stasie Renbaan wat mens verby ry op die N2 tussen die Stilbaai afdraai en Albertina. Vandaar is ons eers op 'n plato en dan daal ons af Riversdal toe, met so twee onverwagte skerp bultjies wat geluk nie baie lank is nie. Ons kom na 3:50 en 54.5 km in Riversdal aan. Op die hoek waar ons moet afdraai sien ons die Mosie koffiehuis en stop net daar vir, wat ons hoop, 'n vinnige middag versnapping sal wees. Ek kom baie vinning tot die gevolgtrekking dat dit nie gou sal gaan nie. Wanneer die kelnerin uiteindelik by ons uit kom maak sy onmiddelik verskoning aangesien hulle net twee is en daar nou drie groepe is. Ons bestel eers koffie en loer dan na die spyskaart. Nadat die koffie gekom het moet ons nog 'n rukkie wag voordat ons bestelling geneem word. Die diens is stadig, maar ons geniet die rus en ten spyte van die wag is ons heel tevrefe met alles. Ons kom eers na 'n uur weer aan die gang. 

Die laaste 35 km begin met 'n redelike gelyk stuk in 'n Noord Westelike rigting, met die laaste gedeelte geleidelik op tot op 72 km. Dan draai ons links op 'n "jeep track" wat lekker styl is. 4.75 km met 230 meter se klim en 'n maksimum van 19.5% en 'n gemiddelde van 4.8%. Dit neem my 41:26 om tot bo te kom. 

Bo draai ons links en verloor weer vinnig hoogte met so twee kort heuweltjies tot by 'n T-aansluiting waar ons regs draai. Nou die laaste klim en dan is dit oop ketel huis toe. Ek laat waai en geniet die laaste paar kilometer tot by die aansluiting waar ons regs moet draai om by House on the Hill uit te kom. Ek wag hier vir Mike en Johan. 

Wanneer Johan die laaste bult af ry draai hy links in plaas van regs! Mike roep hom terug. Nou is daar net 3 km oor huis toe. 

Ek kom na 91.29 km, 7:25 uur en 1,309 meter se klim weer by House on the Hill aan. Die weer was bykans perfek met 'n gemiddelde temperaruur van 25 grade Celsius. Redelik bewolk met 'n ligte briesie wat dit koel gehou het. So eindig Dag 3. Die aand eindig met 'n wonderlike sons ondergang.

Dit was voorwaar 'n heerlike drie dae se fiets ry!

Totale afstand: 263.83 km; 21:47 uur en 4,457 meter se klim. 

 

The plan was to have breakfast at 07:00 and then hit the road at 07:30. However, we are having such a good time chatting with Kosie and Ryna Sauerman, assisted by Wells the waiter, that we only get out of there at 08:09!

The day starts again with a climb! 2.62 km, 82 meters of acsent with a maximum gradient of 17.7%! The average is fortunately 5.1%, so there are also quite a few easy sections. After 6 km we cross the road we came in with yesterday and go straight up the hill and through two gates. Johan loses his balance at the first gate and falls over very "gently"!

The road we follow to Riversdale is quite up and down with the beautiful Southern Cape nature of rolling hills with canola stubble. Ryna did suggest that we should come here when the canola is in bloom, to appreciate the beauty.

Our route takes us past the Renbaan station, which one drives past on the N2 between the Stilbaai turnoff and Albertina. From there we are first on a plateau and then we descend to Riversdale, with two unexpected sharp bumps that fortunately are not very long. We arrive in Riversdale after 3:50 and 54.5 km. At the corner where we have to turn off we see the Mosie coffee shop and stop right there for what we hope will be a quick mid morning snack. I quickly come to the conclusion that it will not be "quick". When the waitress finally comes to us she immediately apologizes since there are only two of them and there are now three groups to be served. We first order coffee and then glance at the menu. After the coffee comes we have to wait a while before our order is taken. The service is slow, but we enjoy the peace and despite the wait we are quite satisfied with everything. We only get going again after an hour.

The last 35 km starts with a fairly flat section in a North Westerly direction, with the last section gradually rising to 72 km. Then we turn left onto a "jeep track" which is nice and steep. 4.75 km with 230 meters of climbing and a maximum of 19.5% and an average of 4.8%. It takes me 41:26 to get to the top.

At the top we turn left and then quickly lose altitude again with two short hills until a T-junction where we turn right. Now the last climb and then it's ears back to home. I go like the wind and enjoy the last few kilometers up to the junction where we have to turn right to get to House on the Hill. I wait here for Mike and Johan.

When Johan comes down the last hill he turns left instead of right! Mike calls him back. Now there are only 3 km left to go home.

I arrive back at House on the Hill after 91.29 km, 7:25 hours and 1,309 meters of climbing. The weather was almost perfect with an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Fairly cloudy with a light breeze that kept it cool. Thus ends Day 3. The evening ends with a wonderful sunset.

It was truly a wonderful three days of cycling!

Total distance: 263.83 km; 21:47 hours and 4,457 meters of climbing.