HotH Toer (Reverse) Dag 1

 

Almal is betyds reg en ons kom 05:48 weg. 

Die eerste bult begin sommer wanneer ons by die hek uit ry. 3.7 km met 385 meter se klim! Dit is rof. Gelukkig het Mike en Johan e-bikes, maar ek moet maar met my eie bene die bult uittrap! Dit neem my 50 minute om tot bo te kom. Anderkant af haal ek 65 kpu, maar na die afdraend van net meer as 3 km, wat binne 'n paar minute afgelê word, kom die volgende bult! 3.79 km maar die keer darem net 210 meter se klim. 

So 'n entjie verby die top kom Johan agter se selfoon is weg. Hy besluit net daar om om te draai en dit gaan soek. Ons ry stadig aan. Na so 'n paar km begin die volgende bult. 9 km met 479 meter se klim en dit eindig bo-op Gysmanshoekpas. Dit "grappie" neem 1:35! Net nadat ek bo is, kom Mike ook daar aan. Hy het 'n halfuur vir Johan gewag en toe moed opgegee en aan gery. 

Ons ry lekker saam en stop langs die pad om die oorskiet braaibroodjies van gister aand te eet. Daar is nog so 'n paar klimme oppad Muiskraal toe, maar niks so ernstig soos daardie eerste drie nie. Ons kom na 5 ure in die saal by Muiskraal aan. Afstand is net oor 45 km. Toe ons bo-oor Gysmanshoekpas is, was ons gemiddeld 7.2 kpu. So ons het darem ons gemiddelde spoed opgestoot na 9 kpu. 

Mike het intussen kontak gemaak met Johan en hy is op die regte roete maar so 'n uur agter ons. Mike verduidelik vir Johan hoe om te ry om by Dwarsrivier uit te kom. Ons kom na 15 minute weer aan die gang. Die roete tot by Cloetsepas, net voor Dwarsrivier, het geen ernstige klimme nie en ons handhaaf 'n goeie pas. Ons ry ook verby Klein Karoo Welgevonden waar ons sou gebly het op 78 km. Nou nog 33 km Dwarsrivier toe, met Cloetespas se klim net voor dit. Dit temperatuur draai op 42 grade Celsius. 

Die klim is 6.76 km lank waar tydens ons 274 meter styg. Dit neem 56 minute om bo te kom. 3 km na die top daai ons links af Dwarsrivier toe. Daar is 'n baie duidelike Toeriste Inligtings bordjie wat die afdraai aandui. 

Ons kom na 10:04 met 'n afsrand 111.58 km daar aan. Netto gemiddelde spoed is op na 11.04 kpu. Ons totale klim vir die dag is 2,386 meter. 

Ons klok in nadat ons guldelik deur Jenny en Martin ontvang is. Nou wag ons net vir Johan, maar hy daag nie op nie. Heelwat later kontak hy vir Mike om te sê dat hy die afdraai na Dwarsrivier gemis het en in 'n gaste huis is Herbersdale ingeboek het! 

So eindig 'n groot dag met heelwat "kinkels"! Die dag word afgesluit met 'n 5 ster maaltyd wat Jenny vir ons voor sit. Hulle eet saam met ons en ons gesels te lekker. Voorwaar 'n voorreg om op so 'n mooi plek by sulke vriendelike en gasvrye mens oor te bly. 

Everybody was ready on time and we left at 05:48.

We hit the first hill right the gate. 3.7 km with 385 meters of climbing! It's rough. Luckily Mike and Johan have e-bikes, but I have to pedal up the hill with my own legs! It took me 50 minutes to get to the top. Down the other side I reach 65 kpu, but after the descent of just over 3 km, which was covered in a few minutes, we arrived at the next hill! 3.79 km but this time only 210 meters of climbing.

A little past the top, Johan realised that his cellphone is gone. He decides to turn around right there and go look for it. Mike and myself decided to continue slowly. After a few km the next hill starts. 9 km with 479 meters of climbing and it ends at the top of Gysmanshoek Pass. This "joke" takes 1:35! Just after I'm reached the top, Mike also arrived. He waited for Johan for half an hour at the turn off. At that point he decided that it will be beter to continue.

We cycled along nicely and stoped along the road to eat the leftover braaibroodjies from yesterday evening. There are still a few climbs on the way to Muiskraal, but nothing as serious as those first three. We arrive at Muiskraal after 5 hours in the saddle. A distance of just over 45 km. When we got over Gysmanshoek Pass, our average speed was 7.2 kph. So we at least increased our average speed to 9 kph.

Mike has meanwhile made contact with Johan and we established that he was on the right route but about an hour behind us. Mike explained to Johan how to ride to get to Dwarsrivier. We got going again after 15 minutes. The route up to Cloetse Pass, just before Dwarsrivier, has no serious climbs and we maintain a good pace. At 78 km we rode past Klein Karoo Welgevonden turn off, where we would have stayed. Now we had another 33 km to go to Dwarsrivier, with the Cloetes Pass climb just before that. The temperature, breifly, went up to 42 degrees Celsius.

The climb is 6.76 km long during which we gained 274 meters. It took me 56 minutes to get to the top. 3 km passed the top we turned left to Dwarsrivier, where there is a very clear Tourist Information sign indicating the turnoff.

We arrived after 10:04 with a destance of 111.58 km. Net average speed was up to 11.04 kph. Total acsent for the day was 2,386 meters.

We clocked in after being warmly received by Jenny and Martin. Now we just had to wait for Johan, but he does not show up. Much later he contacts Mike to say that he missed the turnoff to Dwarsrivier and has booked into a guest house in Herbersdale, 13km down the road!

Thus ends a big day with many "twists"! It is "crowned" with a 5 star meal that Jenny served us. They eat with us and we have an enjoyable evening around the diner table. Truly a privilege to stay in such a beautiful place with such friendly and hospitable people

HotH Toer (Reverse) Aanloop

Nadat datums geko-ordineer is, is relings getref vir HotH Toer (Reverse) van 31/01 tot 02/02. Die plan was om Donderdag 30/01 House on the Hill toe te ry. Op Dag 1 sou ons dan van daar na Klein Karoo Welgevonden op die Vanwyksdorp/Herbertsdale pad roe te ry. Dag 2 van daar na Gouritsrivier Gasteplaas en dan Dag 3 vandaar terug na HotH toe. Maandag dan terug huis toe. 

Ek kon ongelukkig nie vir Klein Karoo Welgevonden oortuig om ons te help nie (hulle is net selfsorg en dit sou nie vir ons werk nie). Ek pas Dag 1 toe aan na Dwarsrivier, wat die dag 33 km langer maak en Dag 2 soort gelyk korter. 

Akkommodasie is die week voor die tyd bevestig en die groep sou bestaan uit myself, Mike Smit, Johan Schoeman en Alan Simpson, 'n vriend van Johan. Alan raak egter Maandag siek en onttrek Woensdag. Ek en Mike kom net na 13:00 in Blouberg weg. Ons tel vir Johan in Riviersonderend op en kom net na 17:00 by House on the Hill aan. 

Johan maak vir ons heerlike steaks gaar op die kolle en ons eet baie lekker. Ons verkas net na 21:00 kamers toe met die doel om 05:45 in die pad te val.

English version:

After dates were coordinated, arrangements were made for the HotH Tour (Reverse) from 31/01 to 02/02. The plan was to drive to House on the Hill on Thursday 30/01. On Day 1 we would then ride from there to Klein Karoo Welgevonden on the Vanwyksdorp/Herbertsdale road. Day 2 from there to Gouritsrivier Gasteplaas and then Day 3 from there back to HotH. Then back home on Monday.

Unfortunately I could not convince Klein Karoo Welgevonden to help us (they are only self-catering and that would not work for us). I adjusted Day 1 to Dwarsrivier, which makes the day 33 km longer and Day 2 the same distance shorter.

Accommodation was confirmed the week before and the group would consist of myself, Mike Smit, Johan Schoeman and Alan Simpson, a friend of Johan. However, Alan fell ill on Monday and withdrew on Wednesday. Mike and I left Blouberg just after 13:00. We pick Johan up in Riviersonderend and arrived at House on the Hill just after 17:00.

Johan "braaied" delicious steaks on a fire and we had a wonderful meal. We retired to our rooms just after 21:00 with the aim of hitting the road at 05:45.

Attakwas nommer 16

Ek het vroeg verlede jaar al ingeskryf vir die Attakwas op 18 Januarie 2025. Dit sou nommer 16 wees. Ek reël met my broer om saam te gaan sodat hy my motor van Oudtshoorn deur kan neem Grootbrakrivier toe.

Ek kry hom so net na 11:00 en ons kom 16:30 in Oudtshoorn aan. Registrasie verloop vlot en ons eet aandete by Die Smitswinkel.

Ek het weer besluit om sommer met die fiets die 10 km na die wespring by Chandelier af te lê. Ek val so net voor 05:45 in die pad en kom 06:15 daar aan. Na 'n koppie koffie, beweeg ek na my wegspring blok. Ek is vandag eerste daar!

Ek is in Groep C en ons begin 06:50. Die roete is so 'n bietjie aangepas by Waterpunt 2 wat die total afstand 3 km langer maak. Ek sien vir Stanley James (ons volg mekaar op Strava en hy ry ook in die Tygerberg omgewing) by die begin. Hy begin 5 minute voor my.

Ons begin op tyd en soos gewoonlik ry ek teen 'n gemaklike pas tot by Waterpunt 1. Die roete loop deur Chandelier en is goeie "jeep tracks" met so 'n stukkie op 'n distrikspad net voor die waterpunt. Hulle het gelukkig die lelike bultjie oppad daarheen, waar ek in die verlede 'n stukkie moes stoot, uitgehaal. Langs die pad kom ek vir Ricky, wat 'n gedeelte van die To Hell and Back saam met my gery het, tee. Ek kom na 1:27 by Waterpunt 1 aan. Na 'n glasie Coke, piesangbrood en 'n dadel bolletjie, val ek weer in die pad. 

Vanaf Waterpunt 1 tot by 2 ry ons oor die Klein Doringrivier en dan oor die Kandelaarsrivier, waarna daar 'n baie styl klim van 460 na 537 meter oor 'n afstand van 500 meter is. Ek kry dit reg om so driekwart uit te trap, maar dan raak die oppervlakte te rof en ek stoot die laaste entjie. Die grootse gros van die mense wat saam met my ry, stoot meer as helfte van die bult op!

Op 41 km kruis ons die Klein-moerasrivier en ry dan parrallel met hom tot net voor die R328 waar ons die Moerasrivier kruis. Waterpunt 2 is nou meer padaf en ons ry so 1 km langs die teerpad tot by die waterpunt. Ek kom na 1:36 hier aan. Na die gewoonlike glasie Coke, piesangbrood en dadel bolletjie, is ek weer oppad. Een waterbottel is vol water en die ander een vol ys!

Ons ry so 'n entjie langs die Safraanrivier, wat ons na 53 km kruis. Net na die kruising is daar 'n 300 meter lange stuk waar tydens ons 30 meter klim. Die eerste groot stoot van die dag, aangesien die pad oppervlakte ook so danig is dat dit baie moeilik is om momentum te behou. Hier loop is vir John Gale raak. Ons ry 'n entjie langs die Safraanrivier en dan begin die groot klim na die ingang van die Attakwaskloof. Hier loop ek vir Stanley James raak. Ons neem fotos by die ingang van die kloof. Daar word weereens 'n groot gedeelte gestoot as gevolg van die gradiënt en die pad oppervlakte. Ons klim van 656 meter tot by 844 meter oor 'n afstand van 1.8 km. Dit is dan ook die "King of the Mountain" en die hoogste punt van die dag. Anderkant af ry ons parrallel met die Kammarivier tot op ongeveer 65 km, wanneer ons hom weer kruis en dan aan sy regterkant ry tot by Bonniedale. Ons is hier redelik ver van die rivier af en kan hom nie sien nie. Net voor Bonniedale is daar 'n baie tegniese afdraend, wat ek, met groot versigtigheid reg kry om af te ry tot onder in die rivier en dan links op na Waterpunt 3. Hierdie 23 km neem my 2:19 en waar my gemiddelde spoed amper 15 kpu was na Waterpunt 2, het dit nou geval na 12.7. My mikpunt vir die dag is 10 uur en dus moet ek 'n gemiddelde spoed van 12.4 kpu handhaaf. Ek is dus nog binne my teiken. Na die gewoonlike verversings en 'n 5 minute stop, is ek weer oppad. Ek loop weer vir Stanley hier raak en ons pak die volgende skof saam aan.

                                             

Bonniedale lê op 349 meter en oor die volgende 5 km klim ons tot by 563 meter! Dit neem my 45 minute om die 5 km af te lê. My gemiddelde spoed is nou besig om gevaarlik naby aan my teken van 12.4 kpu te kom. Trouens, teen die tyd wat ek by Waterpunt 4 kom, is dit af na 12.3 kpu. Dryland het dit goed gedink om 'n ekstra waterpunt tussen Waterpunt 3 en die einde in te sit. Dit is gedoen as gevolg van die groot hitte die afgelope paar jaar en dit is dus verblywend om op 98 km te kan stop om water aan te vul. In die verlede was hierdie skof 22.5 km. Stanley het intussen onder my uit gery. Ons is nou op goeie distriks paaie en dit gaan lekker vinnig wanneer daar 'n afdraend kom! Ons ry verby die afdraai waar Waterpunt 4 altyd was. Ons het ook hierdie "ompad" by 'n vorige geleentheid, toe dit baie nat was, gery. Dit gaan dus ook vinniger was wat die stukkie deur die boorde in die verlede geneem het. Net na die aansluiting waar die "boorde pad" by die huidige roete aangesluit, is daar weer 'n groot klim. 1.5 km wat 15 minute neem om te "bemeester"! Hier sien ek heeltyd vir Stanley so 100 meter voor my. Ons was vandag baie gelukkig met die temperature wat so tussen 35 en 38 grade gewissel het. Op 92 km raak dit vir 'n oomblik vas op 40.8, maar val dan gou weer na 29! Baie beter as verlede jaar toe dit tussen 40 en 45 gewissel het. Die volgende waterpunt is by Ruiterbos, waar ons weer die R328 kruis. In die verlede was dit net 'n "spectator point". Hier stop ek vir 4 minute. My gemiddelde spoed het darem nou na 12.6 kpu geklim. Nog gevaarlik naby aan my 12.4 mikpunt! Ek het 'n gemiddelde van 14.7 kpu oor die afgelope 26.7 km gehandhaaf.

Nou begin die laaste skof. Ons trek nou op 97.5 km met nog 27 km om te gaan. Daar lê nog twee baie styl klimme voor, maar oor die algemeen hoort ek nou 'n beter gemiddelde spoed te kan handhaaf. Halfpad teen die eerste groot klim op loop ek weer vir Stanley raak. Hy het op een van die draaie stil gehou om 'n bietjie asem te skep! Bo-oor die tweede laaste groot klim en dan lekker vinnig af na die volgende klim en die laaste waterpunt op 111.5 km. Dinge begin nou vinniger verloop en my gemiddelde spoed is op na 12.8 kpu. Ek het 15.3 kpu oor die laaste 14 km gehandhaaf. 

Met 13 km oor voel ek goed. Ek het intussen vir Stanley agter gelaat en sien nou weer vir John Gale so 100 meter voor my, maar ek haal hom nie in nie! Op 119 km draai ons vir 800 meter regs op 'n teerpad an dan links op 'n grondpad vir die laaste 3 km. Twee ouens kom teen 'n redelike spoed by my verby. Ek "haak" by hulle vas en ons haal vir John in. Hulle pas raak egter 'n bietjie te vinnig en John val terug en ek saam met hom. Na 'n rukkie neem ek oor by hom en ry voor. Met 1 km oor merk ek op dat John nie meer op my agterwiel sit nie. Nou is dit net die laaste bult af. Moet maar versigtig deur die draaie. Wil nie nou val so die wedren eindig nie! Alles verloop verder goed en na 9:25:52 maak ek my 16de Attakwas klaar! Dit was voorwaar een van my lekkerste Attakwasse. Die weer was bykans perfek en ek het gevoe ek sukkel nie. Van die begin af teen 'n pas gery wat my pas en die wedren besonder baie geniet.

Wat 'n voorreg om nog gesond genoeg te wees om dit te kan doen. Ek wonder vir hoe lank nog. Die afsnypunt van 11:00 is besig om nader te kruip!

 

Moorreesburg - Bloubergstrand

We booked in at die Koeistal on the SW outskirts of Moorreesburg. It is part of the setup of Wilinda Hanekom, with whom I stayed during my visist to Carine at the beginning of August. Supper was at "smorgasbord" of mince and spinach with some cheese added as we had no spices! Riley brought an avo with and we also shared a bread roll. Pudding was a couple of pieces of chocolate!

I spent most of the afternoon updating my blog. After supper we both spent some time reading various articles on our phones and then went for walk to the pool. Sat there for a while cooling down my feet and doing some star gazing. I did manage to point out the evening star, three kings and southern cross, which is not visible in the northern hemisphere, to Riley. We retired to bed at 21:30 mand planned to get going at 06:30.

We rose at about 06:00 and Riley took quite awhile to pack his bike. He had some issues with his bag moving around so he decided to try it lengthwise today. In the end we only got going at 07:05. 

When we got to the main road through Moorreesburg, I told Riley he must go left while I go right! He was quick to point out that that was not what Komoot, on which he loaded today's route, recommend! I looked my map and immediately realised that he was right! The road I tried to send him down was the road to Hopefield! I therefore decided to ride with him until we are on the correct road out of Moorreesburg. That took me down a 2km detour, but it was well worth it. When Riley agreed that he was on the right road, we bit our good byes and I turned around to head back to Malmesbury. 

My route for the day was the same as the previous day, just in the opposite direction. The wind was howling all night and while Riley was going to have this wind on his back while I had to ride into it. The further I went, the higher to temperature rose! By 10:00 my Garmin indicated 44.7! The wind did tone down from earlier this morning and was actually a blessing as it cooled things down a little. 

After 21km the wind changed direction from SE to NE and suddenly I had the benefit of a wind on my back! This lasted up to Malmesbury. On the way I stopped at a pool of water and submergged by bandana to cool my head. In Malmesbury I bought a 1.5 liter bottle of water, drank half and filled my water bottle with the other half. The wind changed to SE again, but was not too strong. At Kalbaskraal I stopped at a Spaza shop and bought a bag of ice. I first filled my water bottle with ice, then threw some ice down the inside of my cycling jersey at the back and front and put some ice blocks in the big hole on top of my helmet. On the way to Philidelphia I kept on filling may water bottle with ice. I also stopped a a stream and cooled my head with a wet bandana. 

Just before I crossed the Philidelphia tar road, I realised that I have a rear flat! Stopped and pumped it! I very quickly realised that this flat was not going to seal itself. I did have a bottle of sealant with me and stopped to put this in and hope for the best. I do have a number of friends who would have been more than willing to come and fetch me, but I felt that phoning anybody at 13:30 on Christmas day while they are in the middle of their Christmas dinner, was asking a bit much. So with a quick prayer I pumped the tyre as hard as I could and hit the road. Wel, my prayers were answered, as the sealant did the trick!

In Melkbosstrand I stopped for some more water and treated myself to an ice cream. The temperature now came down to 36. What a blessing is it to be able to cycle next to the sea! I did managed to maintain a reasonable pace on the cycle path to Blouberg and arrived home just before 15:30. 

Total time 8:15; distance 109.49. Average speed 13.3 kph.

In the meantime Riley had his own issues. When he contacted me at 19:45 it was to inform me that he is back in Moorreesburg. He had 4 punctures and broke a spoke! The only option is to wait until Thursday, get a lift to Malmesbury and see if bike Addict can sort him out.  

Riley - Bloubergstrand to Moorreesburg

Riley was planning to ride up the West Coast road to Langebaan on the first leg of his tour. I "convinced" him to change by agreeing to ride with him on the first day if he was willing to take another route which I suggested. He agreed to my proposal, but first we had to take the new bike for a test ride!

So when we got home after collecting the bike, we doned our cycle gear and went for a lap of what I call our "lock dowb" route. This is circle route through Blouberg, West Beach, up the R27 to the Table Bay Mall traffic lights and back. On our way back we stopped for a "compulsory" photo of Riley with the bike and Table Mountain in the back ground. Back home Riley fitted all his luggage, with help of Henk, my son-in-law. We did weigh the bike with all the "assessories" and ot cane in at about 16kg. We did not weigh it after all the luggage was  added, but my guess is that the final product would push thescal past 39kg. We did weigh his bag and that was just short if 10kg. To that must be added two 1 liter water bottles, two 750ml water bottles, a tent and a sleeping bag sng mat!

The plan was to get moving at 06:30 this mirning, but we only got away at 06:54! The route started with our regular Botterberg route. At the left before the Oliphantkop hill, which  we skipped today I took a photo of Riley with Table Mountain in the back ground, for the last time! At the Old Malmesbury Road we turned left towards Malmesbury. For the next 30km we would be on tar, going through Kalbaskraal and past Abbotsdale. The "drag" up the hill through Malmesbury was quite an effort. We reach the new mall on th NE side of Malmesbury after 3:21. Seatle Coffee was our destination and the order was for two slices of banana nread and two coffees. If took us 25 minutes to get and consume this. 

Now there was 45km left to Moorreesburg and most of it on gravel. When we left Seatle my temprature gauge indicated high forties! That partly was due to the bike being in the sun and it did come diwn to tge high thirties, but between the two towns the temperature hovered between 37-42 and did go up to 45.7 for a while! Up the last hill it was between 42-45. That is hot! There was a little breeze, which did help in making it more barable! We did stop at a farm just after crossing the R311, but found nobody home, only some dogs, which was reasonably friendly after they saw that we were no threat. We did find a tap with some water, which was quite cool, at least cooler than our water bottles which have been in the sun!

On the the last hill Riley did fall behind a little and I had to wait for him before we crossed the N7. In town we stopped at Shoprite to get some cool drinks and something to make for supper. Our accommodation was right at tge SW corner of town and we arrived there at 13:50.

Total riding time 6:54:42; distance 106.49, meter acsent 1,117.

Riley from Canada

Riley contacted me towards the end of November via Warmshowers to hear if he could stay with me while he waited for his bike, which should have arrived during the first week of December. 

Couple of problems: He bought a frane made from "bamboo" from a manufacturer from Uganda, thus "Africa time" entered the equation. The grame finally arrived in Johannesburg on about 10 December and was promptly held up by Customs for inspection. This took a week of to and throwing with Customs duty gaving to be paid and was finally cleared on 17/12. It arrived in Cape Town on the morning of 18/12 and the courier company tried to deliver it to the Back Packers where Riley stayed before he "moved in" with me. He managed to get hold of the diver, who then told him he is only allowed to make deliveries in Green and Sea Point. I asked Riley to let me soeak to the guy, where upon he confirmed his area. I asked where his base is and via which route he gets there. The answer was the Airport via N2. I asked him to deliver the bike to Woodstock Cycleworks, in Searle Street. Initially he refysed as this was not on his route! After some persuation he realise that Searle Street is not too far off his route and agreed to deliver it there!

Riley did contact Nils of Woodstock Cycleworks during November and they agreed that Nils will add all the necessary components as soon as the frame arrives. On receput of the frame, Nils immediately got going on tecepit of the frame. Our first visit to the shop was on Thursday 19/12. By this time wheels, fork and seat have been fitted. Nils did mention that he had a problem with the fork, as the frame was a 60cm frame (Riley is quite rall), he did not have a rigid fork long enough to clear the head of the frame and that might have to fit a suspention fork. Nils, being the innovative guy that he is, then went ahead and extended a ridig fork to ensure that it is long enough. 

The frame was ment to be fitted with a 1x drive train, but after some consultation if was agreed that a 2x will provide a better range of gears and will be easier to work with in "Africa" should something go wrong. The next problem was the tread on the bottom bracket, which seems to be warn! Once again Nils' innovation came into play and he retreaded it. Riley also gave him the carrier which he bought and this was also fitted. Finally everything was completed by mid afternoon on 23/12. Woodstock Cycleworks was closing down at 17:00 on 23/12 for their Christmas brake! So, completion was in the nick of time.

Riley and myself were really impressed with Nils and the "extra mile" he was willing to walk to ensure that Riley leave with a proper working bike to tackle his trip from Cape Town to Kenia.