That should read Kuruman. All these for dorpies gave that overpopulated and rundown look. Kuruman to Vryburg is a dream ride. Before Vryburg I took a break from The heat at a nice stop called Komtiekie. I this avoided having to be depressed by a stop in bustling Vryburg. Is it just me or do we all just love the ride and view passing through crowded dorpies as an ordeal? My stop at Samnieshof offered welcomed relief at the close of to ride for the day
Sorry- Sannieshof. Stop at Pumba's B without the other B. From Pumba I rode to the Cradlestone Mall for breakfast only to discover that food joints in Malls only open at 10h00. From Cradlestone Mall in Krugersdorp I winged it to Bela Bela. I had purchased a day pass to avoid delays for toll payment - alas the toll pay points I passed through belonged to another authority and I had to fork out fees. Toll fees for bikers must fall!!!
The ride from Bela Bela through to Marble Hall and onto Ermelo is absolutely fabulous. I loved it. Even the cops who stopped me ( to check drivers license ) were polite
Piet Retief is another dorpie going to the dogs- this is the post-apartheid SA! There seems to be no town planning. Nothing has changed for the better( I mean the roads through the dorpie instead of around it)
I opted for the N2 from Piet Retief to Durban. The roads are great. Passing the endless trucks has its challenges. But the wind into Durban was hectic - probably had something to do with The All Blacks!!!!
The ride out of Durban was a breeze despite the heavy early morning traffic. I felt bad tho because I might have contributed to a pedestrian accident . We were all stationary at a 3 lane traffic light when this woman crossed the road without looking . When the lights turned green I started off. She saw me (or a fast bike) and panicked. She turned around but the car in the 1st lane knocked her over.
Approaching Mooi River I encountered a sudden drop in temperature. I froze. But rode until I reached a suitable filling station rest stop. I settled down for a hot breakfast and lo and behold I was joined by a fellow lone NC700X rider who was also freezing . I must add that from 3 Ict to 10 Oct the weather was great- warm and no rain. I invited by new friend to join the forum. He was on his way to JHB and we rode together until I parted at the turnoff to Bergville off the N3
Visited the museum in Winterton before riding to Monks Cowl. Biking and hiking don't mix. I'll do the hike some other time! Ambled back along the R600 and stopped for Chow mein at Lihong. Time was flying and soon I was too. The R74 through Oliviershoek pass and along the Sterkfontein Dam was great but slightly breezy. I stopped at the Golden Gate Hotel ( 22 kms outside Clarens).
Rouxville to Aliwal North is a great ride. Left a chilly Aliwal North and crawled along at 80-85km/hr. Fuel consumption was great - 42km/l. The road from Aliwal North through Moddelburg and down to Graaff Reinet is fantastic. Through all SA towns, ride with great care.