Breakfast was served in my room at 07:45 and I got going just after 08:00. For the first 12 km to just past Prince Alfred Hamlet there is a tar cycle/footpath that keep me away from traffic. Then after another kilometer the old Waboom track starts. This was the original way up to Op Die Berg before Gydo Pass was built. It is about 2 km shorter than Gydo and quite a bit steeper, so a fair amount of "hike-a-bike" was at the order of the day. The first 12 km took me less than an hour. The next 7 km took me 1:40!
Once on top the road was fairly flat up to the turn off to the Cederberge. The first 63 km was all tar except for the pass, so I managed a good pace partly also due to very few hills. At this point there was a turn off to the right going to the Tankwa Padstal via Katbakkies Pass. This also was the end of the tar. The tar makes for easier ridding, but I really want to do some distances on gravel. The start of the gravel also ment the start of some hills. Not to steep, but whereas the tar was fairly flat, the undulations now took over with a couple of short sharp inclines.
With 19 km to go I saw a sign Aankoms Padstal! I thought this was joke. Who in his right mind would operate a farmstall on this remote road. As I crested the next hill, I was pleasantly surpised. In the dip was a farmstall. Very rustic with no power and only gas for cooking, but there it was. They also had a variety local products. Trading hours is a sensible Friday 09:00 to Sunday 16:00. It is well worth planning a trip to the Cederberge with this in mind. It is well worth the visit. The lady told me that there were two more hills before Mount Ceder where I arrived at 14:50 after 97 km. Tomorrow I start with 6 km hill climbing 500 meters. Nice way to warm up the leggs!
Geen opmerkings nie:
Plaas 'n opmerking