FC2026 Day 23 Sandrivier to Montagu

 FC2026 Day 23 Sandrivier to Montagu

It was going to be long day, so we decided to get going at 04:00. We rolled out of Sandrivier at 04:08. Once onto the district road, we quickly got to the top of "Horlosie Krans", a 15 km downhill! What a way to start a day and on a road with a surface which was just about perfect! I took it gently, but Tilla was like a "bat out of hell"! We only regrouped at the Rouxpos turnoff, 17 km down the road. We now had 7 km which was mostly uphill. This was followed by a downhill to Rouxpos, the old Support Station run by the Roux family, but they have retired and moved to Lainsburg. Not sure what happened to the farm. Probably rented out or sold. 

3.5 km past the farm, we turned left to Driefontein. We now had 20 km on farm jeep tracks, through some, normally dry river beds onto the Ladismith/Lainsburg road going past the Anysberg turnoff. The road to Driefontein is reasonable and the first river was about anckle deep. Once past the farm buildings, the road became a real "jeep track" but was mostly on the level and ridable. Our first river crossing was at 38 km and what used to be a dry stream was now a fast following river, about thigh deep and 50 meters wide. Crossing had to be "gentle" as the riverbed was filled with large rocks and the stream was strong. The next 4 km was next to the river up to the last crossing where the river was following down the "road". Not too deep but one or two places where the current was strong. This "river/road" continued for about 250 meters and then we started to gain some ground. Once again mostly ridable, but fairly rocky. We reached the district road after we had been going for 5:32. 

Now it was easy riding right into Montagu, but first we had a lunch stop at one of the chalets in Anysberg. Mark Barnes was manning it and had prepared some macaroni with bolognaise meat for us. The weather looked threatening and we put on our rain gear, just for "in case". After a 35 minute stop, we were on our way again. The road out of Anysberg is pretty good, but there is a lot of steady climbing, so our pace was not that good. In the meantime a NW wind started picking up, which further impacted our pace. We reached the Hoek van die Berg junction after 11:33. Now we had to "negotiate" a couple of "knobs" know as "Koppie se Nek" and "Tolletjie se Poort" followed by the downhill of the Ou Berg Pass. Once we hit the valley road, it was mostly steady riding into Montagu. I had some problems keeping up with Tilla due to not being able to use my smallest gear (the chain touched the frame if I tried using it) and I was not willing to "push" too hard on the flatter sections not to put too much strain on my "doggy" BB, which was "squealling" merrily. She waited for me as we approached Montagu and we arrived at De Bos at 18:40. After a quick shower, we were off to bed. Tomorrow would be long day again as we aim to push through to Trouthaven so that we can finish in 24.5 days.

Data for the daytime 14:32:47; distance 152.79 km; climbing 1,765 meters. 

FC2026 Dag 22 Gamkaskloof na Sandrivier

 FC2026 Dag 22 Gamkaskloof na Sandrivier

Die oorsponklike plan was om tot by Anysberg te ry maar ons besluit om net tot by Sandrivier te ry want Gamkaskloof is verspoel en Anysberg gaan net te ver wees. Ons beplan ook so dat ons teen daglig by die kruising van die Gamkasrivier uitkom sodat ons kan sien hoe hoog die water is en dit sal net veiliger wees om in daglig die rivier oor te steek.

Die wiele begin 06:04 rol. Andrew Purnell begin saam met ons. Die vordering is maar stadig want die pad het heeltemal verspoel en is baie klipperig. Daar is ook heelwat strome wat ons moet oorsteek. Ons bereik die Gamkasrivier net na dagbreek. Dit lyk redelik en ek begin loop. Dit was 'n groot fout! Ek moes my selfoon en handskoene bo in my rugsak gesit het voordat ek begin het. Andrew trek sy fietsry klere uit en stap deur met skoene en in gewone broek, wat blyk 'n baie wyse besluit te wees. Half deur die rivier styg die water tot by my middel en my selfoon, wat in 'n sakkie is wat veronderstel is om waterdig te wees, is nou onder die water. Ek stoei ook met my fiets teen die stroom, wat veroorsaak dat my handskoene nat word. Die stroom is redelik sterk en ek vind dat die fiets aan my regterkant, waar die stroom vandaan kom, is. Hy moet eintlik links wees. Die gevolg is dat ek moet omdraai en agteruit moet loop! Die stroom is te sterk om die fiets om te ruil. Vordering is baie stadig. Wanneer ek op 'n punt kom waar die stroom nie so sterk is nie, draai ek om en kry my fiets aan stroom af se kant. Ek haal die anderkant sonder enige verdere probleme, maar nou is ek halflyf nat en dit is redelik koud. Ek haal my selfoon uit sy sakkie en sien dat hy darem nie te nat is nie en sit hom bo in my rugsak. Dan begin ek onmiddellik ry om ligaams hitte te probeer genereer. Die werk nie eintlik nie en ek stop om droeë klere aan te trek. Dit neem 'n rukkie en wanneer ek klaar is, is die ander twee weg! Nou maar aansukkel op my eie. Die grootste gedeelte van die pad is totaal onrybaar. Daar waar die pad was, is nou net gate en/of groot klippe. Na wat soos 'n ewigheid voel kom ek by die laaste bult voordat die Leer begin. Die is so styl dat dit net gestoot kan word en dit neem lank. Anderkant af kan ek die eerste deel ry dan is die pad weer chaos! Dit neem my 'n hele rukkie om tot aan die voet van die Leer te kom. Hier tref ek 'n groot verligte Tilla aan. Sy is so bly om my te sien, sy gee my sommer 'n druk! Sy was bang dat ek dalk teespoed opgetel het. Sy het intussen die ingange na die Leer verken en ons begin die groot tog.

Oor die Oshoekhangsrivier en agter die twee popelier bome deur na die begin van die Leer. Die Leer is ongeveer 1.7 km, jy klim 383 meter en dit neem ons 2:29 om tot bo te kom. Dit is bykans onmoontlik om te beskryf hoe moeilik dit is! Die "pad" is klipperig en baie styl. Die enigste manier om jou fiets daar op te kry is om hom op jou rug te tel en so te dra. Hy lê dan op jou rugsak wat help met gewigs verspreiding. Die probleem is dat daar ook bosse/klein boompies is en so elke nou en dan hak 'n wiel daaraan vas. Dan moet jou hom óf los ruk óf dwars draai om verby te kom. Ons bestyg die Leer rus-rus. Die Scoulars steek ons halfpad verby. Van die bopunt van die Leer na die Bos Luyskloof pad is 9.76 km. Die pad is gedeeltelik rybaar, maar daar is nook groot stukke wat net te rof en te styl is. Ek is verby moeg en Tilla gaan vooruit. Op die laaste bult wag sy vir my. Dit het my 2:34 geneem om die 9.76 km af te lê. Ek stel voor Tilla gaan op haar eie aan en ek sal agterna kom. Die stuk af na die groot het ook 'n paar rowwe gedeeltes en op 'n kol kry ek dit reg om net betyds te stop voordat ek val. So 'n ent af in die pad is 'n groot hek wat gewoonlik oop is, maar vandag is dit gesluit. Daar is geen manier om oor of om die hek te kom nie, maar Tilla is nie daar nie, so sy moes deurgekom het. Ek druk knoppies vir Bos Luyskloof, maar niks gebeur nie. 'n Ruk later sien ek iemand het 1234 in die sand anderkant die hek geskryf. Ek probeer dit en "voila", die hak gaan oop. Tilla vertel my later dat sy net besluit het om 1234 te probeer en toe dit werk skryf sy dit vir my in die sand! Van hier is dit 'n rustige ry Sandrivier toe met een lang klim wat darem rybaar is.

So kom nog 'n avontuurlustige dag tot 'n einde.

Data vir die dag: tyd 11:03:35; Afstand 39.86 km; klim 1,377 meter.

FC2026 Day 21 Prince Albert to Gamkaskloof

 FC2026 Day 21 Prince Albert to Gamkaskloof

Two big climbing days coming up!  Today we have Swartberg Pass and the entry into Gamkaskloof. Tomorrow the Ladder out of Gamkaskloof. 

Arno Botha of Prince Albert Cycles pick my bike up at 07:40 to see what he can do. When returns at 08:45, the news is not good. He did not have the corredt BB in stock do the best he could do was to take the old one apart, service it and re- assemble. He also informs that there is ware on the crank. Hopefully it will last until Wellington! When I start cycling, the sounds coming from the BB is not encouraging! Will have to see!

I managed to get going at 08:55. A fee kilometers out of town I take the right turn to Swartberg Pass. This is a 13 km "slog". The first part is ridable, the middle part is very steep and "push country", the last part is ridable again. It takes me 3:07 to complete the 17 km to the Gamkaskloof turn off.

Shortly after I started on my journey into the kloof, it starts to rain. I stop to put on my raingear, the rain drops turns into pieces of ice and it is betterly cold. I do have enough layers on to stay warm, uit if this weather persists, it could bacome a case of survival. The rain is not to hard and lasts for about 15 minutes. I keep on looking up and after awhile my prayers are answered when I notice a break in the clouds. Not long afterwards I see lots of blue sky in the west from where the rain came. Within half an hour the sky is clear and the sun is shining. It still is betterly cold. 

I continue my journey into Gamkaskloof with lots of big climbs and equaly big downhills. The temperature do in crease and I stop to take my raingear off. The sounds coming from the BB on my bike varies from being quiet to a soft grainding noise. I consider my options. Need to look at the rules, but it may be worth my while to look for a volunteer who could fetch my spare bike from my home and bring it to me to continue with that. I will then incur a penalty, but it may be worth my while!

There were a lot of speculation about the condition of the road into Gamkaskloof after all the flooding, but up to the end of the last downhill into the kloof, it is the same as usual. From there up to our accommodation for the night, there are some very rough patches, but generaly it is in a good condition. There is obe section where the river actually runs down the road. Fortunately the flow of water is not strong and it is about anckle deep. I make my way to the Gamkaskloof Guesthouse where I arrive at 17:30. I am informed that we are staying at the Safari Bush Camp, 400 meters down the road. 

Data for the day: time 8:43:15; distance 58.78 km; climbing 1,645 meters. 

FC2026 Dag 18 Bucklands na Marlu

 FC2026 Dag 18 Bucklands na Marlu

As gevolg van die vol Grootrivier, is die roete uit Bucklands na die begin van die Perdeberg klim varander. Dié word in 'n beskrywing, wat op die yskas geplak is, verduidelik. Ons neem dus 'n foto daarvan om te sien hoe ons moet ry. Ek stap ook na die begin om seker te maak waar ons moet afdraai. Ons plan was om vroeg genoeg te begin sodat ons teen dagbreek aan die begin van die klim kan wees. 

Ons kom 05:58 weg. Die "nuwe" roete is 'n goed gebruikte pad. Die instruksies is ook baie duidelik. Ons kom egter op 'n punt waar daar 'n vurk in die pad is. Ons ry so 100 meter met regter vurk en besluit dan dit is verkeerd. Daar is geen verwysing na die vurk op die instruksies nie! Die linkerbeen lyk egter na die meer gebruikte een en die instruksies sê ons die "meer gebruikte" pad volg. So 'n entjie verder ry ons verby die "plukhok", waarna in die instruksies verwys word, dus is ons reg. 'n Rukkie later kom ons by die Trentyre teken waar die roete links draai. So 'n entjie verder is ons weer op die offisiële roete. 

Die pad na die Ghe-Ghe hut het 'n paar baie styl stukke en kwaai afdraends. 200 meter anderkant die hut begin die groot klim! Hierdie klim is bykans onmoontlik om vir iemand wat dit nie gedoen het nie, te beskryf. Die roete is ook 'n stap roete en is baie goed gemerk met wit bordtjies wat aan bome hang. Dele is ontsettend styl en ek dra meesal my fiets. Tilla stoot meesal want sy het nog nooit haar fiets gedra nie. 'n Rukkie later kry sy dit reg om haar fiets vir 'n ent te dra. Ons klim letter die berg uit met ons fietse! Dit neem my 2:47 om die 3.1 van die begin van die klim tot by die Bucklands heining af te lê! 

Van hier kan ons weer begin ry, maar die pad is redelik rof. Dit word al gaande beter totdat ons begin daal. Die afdraend is ontsettend klipperig en moeilik om te ry. Waar die klippe kleiner is, kry ek dit reg om te ry, maar daar word nog heelwat gestoot. Tilla is glad nie "be-indruk" met dié klim en die af nie. Wanneer ons onderkant kom is daar 'n redelike stroom wat gekruis moet word en dan is dit bult op na Hadley, waar ons 12:00 arriveer. 6 uur om 24 km af te lê!

'n Lekker middagete van heerlike sop en vars gebakte brood word deur Anine voor gesit. Ons is na 33 minute weer aan die gang. 

Van Hadley na Marlu is 88 km en ek skat dat ons so tussen 19:00-20:00 daar sal aankom. Ons ry 'n goeie pas en is om en by 16:30 in Steytlerville. Dan die lang klim uit die dorp gevolg deur 'n goeie pad met min helling. Daar is heelwat modder kolle wat ons moet trotseer. Net voor ons links draai na Marlu toe, is daar skielik 'n droeë spruit met klippe wat onrybaar is aan die kant van die pad waar ek ry en ek is verplig om te stop. Ek kan egter nie my regter voet los kry nie en val onsermonieël om! Geen skade nie. 

Die laaste 8 km Marlu toe het 'n paar styl ops en afs, wat ons sonder enige probleme agter die rug kry. Teen 19:30 trek ons by Marlu in waar ons guldelik deur Martin en Lucia ontvang word. Wasgoed word gedoen en aandete is heerlike sop gevolg deur rys en lekker bredie. Dan bed toe. Volgende dag is rustige dag en ons kom ooreen om 08:00 te begin.

Data vir die dag; tyd 13:45; afstand 112.4 km; klim 1,864 meter

FC2026 Dag 20 Willowmore na Prins Albert

 FC2026 Dag 20 Willowmore na Prins Albert

Die weervoorspelling wys ligte wind in die oggend, sterk oor die middag en lig laat middag. Ons besluit dus om 04:30 in die pad te val. 

Ons kom 04:33 weg. Die eerste 17 km uit Willowmore is reguit wes met 'n aanvanklike klim en 'n paar lekker afdraendes daarna. Dan draai ons regs deur Leeukloof gevolg deur 'n 20 km stuk oppad na Strydomsvlei. Hierdie deel is van die lekkerste op die hele FC roete. Redelik gelyk met 'n paar klein ops en afs en 'n pad oppervlakte wat vir min teerpaaie terug sal staan! Daar is ook geen wind nie. Dan links af Vondeling se rigting en na 7 km weer regs. Hier begin die wind liggies stoot maar nie te erg nie. Tilla kry 'n papwiel en "bom" hom toe die pomp nie die ding wil doen nie. Nog so 'n paar links en regs draaie en dan is ons op die Minnieskraal pad. Intussen raak die wind al sterker. 

Ons trek na 7:57 en 97.42 km by Rondavel in. Middag ete neem ons 27 minute en dan is ons weer oppad. 

Die wind "pomp" nou lekker en die 66 km Ptins Albert toe gaan nie maklik wees nie. Eers 4 km tot by die Visgat hek en dan 9 km tot by die kruising van die N12. Oppad moet ons 'n hele paar "moeilike" modder poele trotseer. Net nadat ons deur die hek oorkant die N12 is, merk ek op dat daar heelwat speling in my "bottom bracket" (BB) is. Dit voorspel niks goeds nie. Op die stadium is daar nie enige probleem nie en ek probeer daarvan "vergeet". So 'n ent verder merk Tilla op dat my ketting olie moet want dit klink "rof". Ongelukkig is dit nie die ketting nie maar die BB. Als werk nog goed, maar dit klink so 'n bietjie na 'n "maalmasjien". Ek gooi ketting olie op en hoop vir die beste. Behalwe vir die "klank" wat van die BB af kom, werk alles nog goed. Ek sal egter daarna moet laat kyk. Daar is 'n fiets "mechanic" op Prins Albert en ek sal hom moet kry om daarna te kyk. Ek kry hom in die hande en hy sê hy sal my fiets 08:00 môre oggend kom optel.

Intussen "beur" ons voort teen 'n weste wind wat nie wil bedaar nie. Ek ry voor en Tilla sit in my "slipstream". Na wat soos 'n ewigheid voel, kom ons by die hek wat ons na die Prins Albert pad neem, aan. Nou is daar nog 25 km oor en ek onthou van my April "recci" dat dit nie 'n maklike 25 km is nie! Aanvanklik is die sinkplaat baie sleg, maar al gaande verbeter die pad. Hierdie stuk voel ook asof dit nie 'n einde het nie. Ons moet ook 'n paar sterk vloeiende strome oorsteek. Ons kry dit darem reg om deur almal te ry. Na wat weer soos 'n ewigheid voel, bestyg ons die laaste bult en 2 km verder is ons op Prins Albert se teer strate. Nou nog 3 km na Yellow House wat aan die suide kant van die dorp lê. Ons word by die ingang deur Joubert Lots ingewag en Petro kom groet ook. Nou gou stort, lekker eet en dan in die bed!

Data vir die dag: tyd 14:42; afstand 164.8 km; klim 1,106 meters

FC2026 Day 19 Marlu to Willowmore

FC2026 Day 19 Marlu to Willowmore

All our dirty laundry got done last night and after a healthy breakfast, we were on our way at 08:15.

The 72 km to Willowmore is easy riding and we expected to arrive there at about 14:00. The road is in a good condition with a number of mud puddles to encounter. No serious climbs or decents, just general nice riding. The rock formation just past Fullarton is something to behold! We do stop for a break at 34 km. Nothing much to further report for the day. 

On arrival at the Willows in Willowmore at 14:00, we get an opportunity to hose down our bikes and get served with a burger and chips. Nice way to end day's riding! 

After lunch we go to "town"! I get a usb plug (mine stopped working) and then we have a "proper" coffee at a local coffee shop. Supper is at 18:30 and tomorrow we start at 04:30. It will be a long day with 161 km to Prince Albert. Fortunately there is very little climbing, but the wind may be a problem.

Data for the day: time 5:44; distance 72.3 km; meter climbed 586 

Lekker gery

FC2026 Day 17 Vrygebruik to Bucklands

 FC2026 Day 17 Vrygebruik to Bucklands

We again settle for an easy day. No major obsticals to overcome. The wheels start rolling at 06:00. It is a beautiful morning and some of the warm clothing is shed early. We are treated with a exquisite sonrise. After 14 km we catch up with the Scoulers, who left a few minutes before us, as they have a roadside rest. We also stop for a sojourn as they leave.

The riding is fairly easy on goodish Karoo roads. There are some corregations, but not as bad as in 2019. There are a number of very long and steady climbs until we reach Paardepoort. Where we used to race down the hill in the past, the pace is much slower through the poort this year due to some water damage. Nothing major, but just enough to ensure we take it easy.

On the otherside we take a small road which takes us through Kleinpoort. The hills become steeper, but shorter. At the Kleinpoort "padstal" we run into the Scoulers and Ron Rutland. Ron pulled out the day before due to health issues, which was under lying when he started and was on his way the Port Elizabeth to catch a plane back home. After a toasted sandwich and home made ginger beer, we were on our way again.

The road to Bucklands is mostly downhill and the kilometers tick off quickly. There is some thunder in the air and before long we have to stop to put some rain gear on. We ride the next couple of kilometers in a gentle rain and then finally get to the Bucklands turn off. We now have to cross a fast following Grootrivier. This is done by hanging onto a cable while wading our way through the water, which is just below waist high! We do get through without problems and make our way out the otherside though tick mud! When we get to Bucklands, we are notified that the Eskom power is down and we will have to find our way by candle light. The shower is a gas shower so we can at least have a hot shower.

We clean our bikes, heat our meals on gas stoves and get to bed early. We have a lot of wet and dirty gear, which we hope to get cleaned and dried at Marlu the next day. 

I must tell you about my "roasted" shoes! In Rhodes they offered to dry our shoes by putting it in the "warmer" of their Aga coal stove, with the warning not to forget about it! I duly put mine in and forgot about it! When I went to retreive them, someone just about "saved" them, but thry looked ruined. I did decided to take two pairs along on the FC so that I can always gave dry shoes, so I then used the other pair, which are boots which do not dry easliy. So when got to Hofmeyr, I decided to try and use the "roasted" shoes on the way to Groenfontein, where we would encounter some wet river crossings. I was pleasantly surprised that they "passed" the test and even made it through all the walking between Groenfontein and Pearston! I will post a photo on my WhstsApp groups.

Data for the day: time 9:00:52; distance 89.62; climbing 1,023 meters