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.