Cederburg Oasis in the rain

Andyman's picture

 Friday late afternoon, spontaneous decision.

Leave Dodge.

Fast

Escape for a break.

I called Danny, asking if he'll house sit for the weekend until Sunday noon.

Great, as always Daniel was cool.

He popped by to collect remote and keys and we loaded the gear onto the bikes from the gear shelves in the garage.

I set the radios and programmed our hut into the 660 and fed the dogs.

Then sent a quick message to the base letting  them know I was not around and same to some key staff and then ducked.

 

As a last minute, I had taken rain gear upon Annie's insistance.

As we were talking her radio went dead.

I tried the phone and she was busy rebooting bluetooth devices.

My moermeter was heading to the red, so I switched to music and shut the world out.

The roads were full of homebound people weary from a long work week.

Stellenbosch is the slowest town to work your way through as it was successfully designed to make traffic progress slow and frustrating.

Woooosaaaa...... breathe deeply,  WOOOOOOSSSaaaaa and listen to the msuic.

R44 out behind the winelands, through Klapmuts, Agter Paarl, Wellington and onto the Bainskloof pass.

Only us on the pass.

Unlock the gate, and head for the hut, the Witte river was no longer chuckling, but rushing by, full with its own busyness.

We put the pyjamas on the bikes and then the rain fell. Hard and attended by strong windWe put the pyjamas on the bikes and then the rain fell. Hard and attended by strong wind

Comforted by a warm fire we braaied, chatted and let the work week slip off our shoulders as we let the sounds of a wild winter night drum up all sorts of images from our primordial roots, grateful for a stout shelter and warm fire.

Relaxed start, in the rain, we started off for Mitchells Pass and the Ceres Wimpy.: Umberto looked after us well as usual and many people stopped to look over the bikesRelaxed start, in the rain, we started off for Mitchells Pass and the Ceres Wimpy.: Umberto looked after us well as usual and many people stopped to look over the bikes

 

Relaxed start, in the rain, we started off for Mitchells Pass and the ceres Wimpy.We watched a group head towards the R355. Did they know it was snotty as hell???!!.

Shortly after 09H30 we headed out past Prince Alfred Hamlet, up Gydo pass and on to Op Die Berg. at Times I could not see Annie, 300 meters ahead through the pelting rain. Right off the R303 and into the Koue Bokkeveld proper. Snow clad mountains all around us.

Understandably, very little traffic.

Tyres deflated during a brief respite at the gravel

The roads were actually very ridable. Ours were the only bike tracks for the day so far.The roads were actually very ridable. Ours were the only bike tracks for the day so far.

When you ride in muddy roads, you ride in the gully with the water, its the lowest and cleanest.: Rain squalls were always visible and often we rode through themWhen you ride in muddy roads, you ride in the gully with the water, its the lowest and cleanest.: Rain squalls were always visible and often we rode through them

 Most rivers were preceded by caution signs and flood damageMost rivers were preceded by caution signs and flood damage

This lonely croft was empty and forelornThis lonely croft was empty and forelorn

 

Annie was game to go on, so foroorwarts marsh and on we went.Annie was game to go on, so foorwarts marsh and on we went.

Rain was always around us, despite this the beauty was very real.Rain was always around us, despite this the beauty was very real.

We surprised the usual group of three Rheebok that live in this valley and they paid little notice to us.

There was a fantastically fresh smell of karoo herbs in the air all the wayThere was a fantastically fresh smell of karoo herbs in the air all the way

And then this atrociously huge sign in poor tatste wrecked the peace and vistas Form now on I boycott Mount Cedar until they remAnd then this atrociously huge sign in poor taste wrecked the peace and vistas From now on I boycott Mount Cedar until they remove this atrocity each side of the valley!!!!!

Suddenly the clouds bacame patchy and the last 18 kilos were on dry, excellent gravel.Suddenly the clouds became patchy and the last 18 kilos were on dry, excellent gravel.

We could ramp up the pace, lunging on to Cederburg Oasis.We could ramp up the pace, lunging on to Cederburg Oasis.

 Although the clouds were pregnant with rain, they held off. It occured to me that I was now totally at home on the new GSA, I had learnt its ways and the 1150's legendary gravel handling was obscured by a new sense of comfort on the 1200.

Gerhard and Chantal welcomed us warmly and we chatted while the kitchen rustled up a good lunch.

Gerhard was expecting a group for lunch.

So surprise was real when who should dismount Andyman style in the yard but Charley Boorman himself in all his usual good humour.

Well met, we chatted as his chicks came rambling in one after another.

Rain came and went over lunch and eventually his group of 23 or 25 or 27.. (noone seemed to know for sure) were all seated and eating. Charley was leading them off on a 16 day trip top Vic Falls.

This was day 2.

We took advantage of a dry patch to don our gear and rain suites and we took our departure.

Charley got up and came outside to say goodbye.

Back the way we had come.

Vogelberg plass, home of the Nieuwoutds, was beautful in winter clothes.Vogelberg plass, home of the Nieuwoudts, was beautful in winter clothes.

And now the rain was with us all the way back to the hut.: tyre tracks told their story of slipping and sliding vehicles

We stopped to read sign in the mud of a pretty awesome fall- there was an 800 on Charleys trailer..: Clearly, the mud monster had eaten this chap for lunch in big mouthfullsWe stopped to read sign in the mud of a pretty awesome fall- there was an 800 on Charleys trailer..: Clearly, the mud monster had eaten this chap for lunch in big mouthfulls

So warned we rode on into the rian washed bokkeveld, sticking to the rivulets.So warned we rode on into the rain washed bokkeveld, sticking to the rivulets.

A poser SUV came towards us with way too much way on and as he passed he went into a skid and slid down the road. Idiot, we did not slow or stop to see the end. He was master of his own stupid fate.

Rivulets in the road have washed the mud and so are harder, and lower so you have a safer passage = higher speed.

While it rained all the time, it was neither unpleasant nor too cold. and if you are dry under the rain suite you can go on foreWhile it rained all the time, it was neither unpleasant nor too cold. and if you are dry under the rain suite you can go on foreever

All too soon we were back on tarAll too soon we were back on tar

The heavy rain soon washed the bikes nice n clean.

Annie had a heart stopper coming round a corner on Gydo pass to find a bakkie in her lane, both got their dose of serious frieght!

The town of Ceres was quiet as we toured in at 15H15 to top up on stores.

While I guarded the bikes a local farmer came to shop, passed me with a huge grin and said "Luckly you have good weather to ride in" and walked on.

I was still grinining when Annie came out.

We headed back over Mitchells and on to Bainskloof..

Back at the hut, we unpacked the horses and put their pyjamas back on for the night.Back at the hut, we unpacked the horses and put their pyjamas back on for the night. 

a hot shower and warm clothes and a hot fire, a good book and an early night. Marvelling and appreciative of how spoiled we are here to have all this beauty and simple folk so close to home.

what a lekker day out.

Sunday morning most of the rain had parted and by 11H00 we were saddled and ready and making our way home. drizzle and light rain here and there.

Not even a tankfull away.

Refreshed and relaxed after a great ride to get in touch with what's really good about this wonderful country.

 

Comments

Geoff Russell's picture
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Joined: 2007/09/25

Great report, thanks Andy.

Committee: Ride Captain

Hayleyscomet's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/30

 

Super Ride report Andy

Thanks for taking the time to do it.

Am sure everyone enjoyed the read and photos.Cool

Can only imagine how slippery it must have been.

 

Wayne

 

Ride Like the Wind

Cool

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Joined: 2010/06/21

what an enjoyable read, felt as if i was with the two of u, am oh so envious.  well done to the two of you on your offroad skills

Andyman's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/22

Well done to Annie who soldiered on regardless of the rain.

She had a valid "abort-this-trip" card and never used it. I was half expecting it several times and even stopped now and then to try see if her 'moermeter' was in the red , but it stayed in the green all day!!!

Apart from Charlie's group on their 16-day trip to Vic Falls, their were no other DS bikes out on this road.

Although there was a group of BMW DS bikes that left Ceres and took the R355 route direction.

I was impressed with Annie, because while I love riding in the rain, she normally only takes it in smaller doses and normally not without a prescription.

When we dismaounted back at our hut in Bainskloof, it was as if she had come in from a normal ride, despite getting bogged in gooey mud crossing stream.

 

Andyman
Anyone can ride a bike fast....   But can you ride your bike real slow???

BobGoode's picture
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Joined: 2010/10/07

Nice one, Andy. Its great that you two can share time out in your hobby that you clearly both love. Respect for coping on the snotty roads.

Let it be.