The Cederberg at a Snails Pace

Was going to have a ride all by my lonesome but during the organizing of the Baviaans tour this coming Easter weekend Mandi indicates she’s not going to go along, she hasn’t got the skill, she will keep people up, bla bla bla! She’s done the introduction course and I say, but practice! Ja maar oom, mense het nie die geduld om saam met my te ry, vir my te wag of the wys hoe nie! :-( Friday at four in the afternoon I pick up my student for the weekend at the Klapmuts intersection, has to be back in Stellenbosh at Sunday lunch for a birthday party! Onto the N1, over Du Toit’s kloof and through Slanghoek to Ceres over the Gydo pass into the direction of the Cederberg Oasis. Mandi takes the tar sections in her stride and we end up at the spot where the black stuff turns into gravel! Early daysEarly days Here comes the first obstacle, trying to figure out the brand new pressure gauge was just one to many for me, even with the five page manual. Got out the old simple dingetjie of mine and explained the pressure should be about 1.6 bar when the tires are cold but having done a speedy hundred kilometers on tar 1.8 should do and we will check in the morning. That out the way we mounted the bikes and immediately I thought we would have to abandon the trip and get “BMW on call” to get her bike out of there. Surely something was wrong with the idling of this 650 GS, the girl was shaking like a leaf! Turned out this is her maiden voyage onto the dust covered roads of our country! Along the damAlong the dam Slowly does it and seated we tackle the first kilometers, getting to a short piece of tar I stop, she tells me she’s fine. I tell her, well now you know how it’s not done, from now on we stand! We made the Oasis just before dark and if it was not for Gerrit the owner helping my student to a chair who knows what may have happened! Mandi 1 - Gravel 0 As always the Oasis was abuss with motorcyclists and some other more subdued people and once we enjoyed Chantel’s steaks and other hospitalities we retired to the tents. Early night, someone had to recharge her batteries. Evil as I was I had chosen this place because once there, there is only on way out, gravel way! Uitkyk passUitkyk pass The plan was to ride to Algeria over the Uitkyk pass, take a right there and end up in Clanwilliam, the route back would be along the dam and over the Nieuwhout pass back to Algeria, Uitkyk pass again and back to the Oasis. As they say the early bird catches the worm and at eight we got going, at Matjiesrivier we take a left and the road turns into a pool of marbles that would send shivers over many “gesoute” riders. I check my mirrors constantly but the 650 follows, a few sandy patches and more marbles, this is way worse than yesterday, I am getting worried! At Dwarsrivier wine cellars I stop but after enquiring she’s “Ok” this despite the few wobbles I saw. I still think there something wrong with the 650’s idling though! NervesNerves The lectures of yesterday and this morning seem to have gotten through, stand, weight back, slow with the throttle, no sudden movements, weight on the outside and stay of that front brake! Had made her leave ABS on as speeds where low and this way a fistful of front brake would not send the bike into a slide! At the proverbial snails pace we continue, from the top of Uitkyk pass the burnt-out area of Algeria looks devastating, I think of all the wildlife that perished!:-( BurntBurnt Down in the valley a construction company is laying the road with pavers. Along the completed section lays a “twee spoor” we have to use, we hit a serious patch of sand twenty inches deep and a good seventy-five meters long! I may make it, but what about my novice? I didn’t have to check my mirrors even if I wanted to, I knew exactly where she was! Ten meters behind me and the tone of the Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa never changed. The two guys’ in the car behind her had the spectacle of a lifetime! Hours later my stomach and cheeks where still sore from laughter! Clanwilliam at ten thirty, did I mention snail pace? Replenishing all tanks, human and mechanical took us an hour! FoodFood Back along the dam has quite a bit of sand to conquer and despite it being a longer route to the Oasis we shaved a whole half hour of the time, was my student ready to graduate? I think next time! ;-) The marbles after Dwarsrivier went a lot better but Mandi was getting tired and I was glad we got to the end when we did, it’s at those tiring moments when the concentration fades that mishaps creep in! Mandi 2 – Gravel 0 Sunday morning! A corner on the way in on Friday afternoon gave her quit a fright, Mandi has had nightmares about it, hope this 650 holds out, men it’s shaking! Paying our honesty bill, saying our goodbye’s, greeting Gerrit and Chantal and dodging the dog “Dermpie” on the way out we make for home. At the Cederberg Lodge we stop to regroup, the dreaded corner was something of the past. Making good time and speed we ended where it all began Friday afternoon, but this time gravel into tar. Giving Mandi time to reflect on the past two days I see the 650’s idling is perfect.:-) :-) MandiMandi I upheld my promise “You are not going to fall” Phew!!!! Mandi 3 – Gravel 0 Graduating?Graduating? In hindsight Warm tires, give them about 0.2 bar more, ours where 1.6 bar Saturday morning. For novices ABS on may be an advantage if speeds stay low and down hills are moderate. Gerrit and Chantal do provide an Oasis. Some-one is still convinced there is no direct "road" between the Oasis and Wupperthal. I am available for training anytime, did enjoy seeing a rider grow, give me a call!;-) 082 825 3880

Comments

Die Malletjie (not verified)
Renette thanks, maar onthou jou beurt kom, jy is mos op die Baviaans trip, paid, hook, line and gravel! ;-) Do it today, maybe there is no tomorrow! Rony Desodt
rynet's picture
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Joined: 2008/03/17
Nice trip report Rony ! I enjoyed reading it. You are so descriptive in your writing , as if you were chatting next to the braai with a dop in your hand. I enjoyed the photographs of the Cederberg , bought back memories . Thanks for sharing . And as one of your past 'students' I know how good and patient you are as a teacher . At Matroosberg Rony gave up riding with the faster guys to look after me , a complete novice at the time. Well done in helping Mandi too ;) ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''
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Cloudgazer Steven's picture
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Joined: 2007/10/03
Nice. Nothing wrong with traveling at a snail's pace. You, at least, get to enjoy the scenery. Well done Mandi.
There are so many problems in this world. Luckily there's a wristband available for almost all of them.
TvN
TvN's picture
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Joined: 2007/07/05
Nice trip report and well done Mandi!!
GeelKameel's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/21
Lekker trip report, dankie Rony! lekker roete daai, maar daar is dele wat al mens se konsentrasie vra, soos wat julle gesien het! Veels geluk Mandi, met die prestasie! (ps Rony, you (or Webmaster)should move your report to Trip Reports...
Daniel Nelson's picture
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Joined: 2008/02/08
It seems I have lost my place. :( Well done Mandi and Happy b-day for today. May you have many more miles on your bike. Lets Ride!!!
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