Knysna Trip 1-3 May

JR's picture
Thursday 1 May Discussions the previous evening when luggage was dropped off, already earmarked fellow riders and labeled some as the “slow” group and others as the “fast” group. Bright and early we set off to the Winelands Engen 1 Stop. The “slow” group would hit the road 30 minutes earlier than the “faster” 1150 group consisting of Ian Steyn 1150 GSA, Johan Burger 1150 GS, Arra van Zyl 1150 GS and HD 1200 GS. Ralph Teulings R80 GS (Mildred), Charles Melck on a Trans Alp and Brendan on a 1150 GS decided to meet the group in Touwsriver.TouwsriverTouwsriver The “slow” group departed at 07h00 at a steady 120km/h. We were faced with very cold conditions at Over Hex with the temperature not climbing above 8.5 degrees. Departing times worked out well as both groups met up in Touwsriver at the same time. After completing disclaimer forms and a short rider/pillion briefing by JR, Johan Mocke was asked to do a prayer for the safety of the group. Excitement and nervousness was evident as the guys deflated their tyres, ready to start the Knysna trip.Entrance to Anysberg Nature ReserveEntrance to Anysberg Nature ReserveAnysberg coffee stopAnysberg coffee stop About 40 km later, we entered the Anysberg Nature reserve where Tanya served coffee/hot chocolate and savory mince sandwiches. We set off at a very slow pace of about 40 km/h through the reserve, a two spoor road with some rocky sections and the occasional drifts and sandy patches.Anysberg 2 spoorAnysberg 2 spoor Johan Mocke and Michael Saunders (with Vanessa as pillion) did extremely well for a first time. We stopped at the Anysberg Office to collect pamphlets and cracked a few jokes while waiting for the back-up vehicle.Anysberg officeAnysberg office Along the way we saw Gemsbok and many baboons. The 50 odd km’s through the reserve at slow speed, set us back a good half an hour. Just outside the reserve, we turned towards Seweweekspoort with lots of 4 x 4 bakkies along the way.Entrance to SeweweekspoortEntrance to Seweweekspoort We stopped for the usual braai where we heard that Johan Burger had a slight off on one of the corners but luckily only Steph was there to witness this. The newly built trailer with built-in braai was fired up and soon the hamburger patties were sizzling.New build in braaiNew build in braaiLunch in SeweweekspoortLunch in Seweweekspoort After washing down the 1 or 2 hamburgers with an ice cold cooldrink, we were back on track. A short section of tar followed and we had to stop due to construction on the Huisriver Pass. In Calitzdorp we stopped for fuel at the only garage in town which also robbed us of some valuable time. We were now running 90 minutes behind schedule. From Calitzdorp we took the road to Kruisrivier running alongside the Calitzdorp Dam. The road was tricky at times which resulted in slow and careful riding. We sent the bakkie to De Rust to make up for some lost time. The sun was setting rapidly as we stood at the foot of the Swartberg Pass. Decisions, decisions – a quick group omdaba followed as going over the pass would result in us getting to the camp site in darkness. Mike & Vanessa, Brendan and Arra decided to hit straight to De Rust where they met up with Nico and moved on to the camp site. The rest of us decided to conquer the Swartberg Pass before dark.Going up Swartberg PassGoing up Swartberg PassOn top of Swartberg PassOn top of Swartberg PassSwartberg PassSwartberg Pass The pass was awesome (a personal highlight for me) and we were all glad we took the time to do it. Ian Steyn and Johan Burger decided to explore Prins Albert (5 km’s away) while the rest of us crawled over the pass, amazed at the scenery, with regular stops for photos. Luckily it was tar over Kareedouw Pass as the sun set. It was dark when we got to Klaarstroom. Going through Meiringspoort in total darkness with all the twisties, was scary. After a long and hard day, we hit our camp site at 19h30. The back-up vehicle was already there and Nico had set up some spotlights. Elzaan and Luan spent their time wisely by pitching our 6 man tent in the meantime. Well trained by dad. After pitching tents, we sat down for ‘volstruis-potjie”, veggies and home baked bread with preserves.Drinks before supperDrinks before supperWaiting for supperWaiting for supperRalph enjoying the homemade breadRalph enjoying the homemade bread There was a very loud party vibe as we entered. The owner was expecting real “bikers”. To lessen their disappointment, we told them that the “bikers” were exhausted and we tucked in early. Sadly, our double inflatable mattress got a puncture and went flat during the night which did not make for comfortable sleeping. Friday 2 May One by one we crawled out to greet the new day where Tanya was ready with coffee and rusks.Early morning coffeeEarly morning coffeeSunrise at StompdrifdamSunrise at StompdrifdamStompdrifdam campStompdrifdam camp After packing up, we went down to the ‘bos-kombuis’ for a lovely breakfast.De Rust after refuelingDe Rust after refueling The next stop was De Rust for re-fuelling. We arranged for Danie Malan, Andy & Anne Connell to meet us at Avontuur at 11h00. Dirt road towards Dysselsdorp, turning left just before the town. A very pleasant scenic road as we drove alongside the river. Another coffee/rusks/biscuit stop at Avontuur where we waited 30 minutes for Danie, Andy and Anne.Having coffee while we waited for Danie, Andy and AnneHaving coffee while we waited for Danie, Andy and Anne Everyone wished Anne for her birthday the previous day and we set off to Knysna. Yet another awesome experience as we took the turns and bends of the Prins Alfred Pass before we stopped at De Vlug to catch up with the bakkie.Prince Alfred PassPrince Alfred Pass The pass was extremely busy on route with some close encounters along the way. Luckily everybody got through safely. The scenery painted it’s own picture as we entered the woods towards Knysna. A couple of bikes were inquisitive and went up Spitskop while the rest of us carried on. At the turn-off to Kom-se-pad, Tanya and I waited for everybody to catch up. After directing 6 or 7 bikes down the road, a bakkie from Nature Conservation stopped to tell us that no motorbikes are allowed on Kom-se-pad. Realising that it would be difficult to catch up with them, they gave up and allowed us to go through but warned us against the free roaming elephants. Traces of them could be seen along the way. At a very nice picnic spot, we again lit the braai for boerwors rolls and enjoyed a cooldrink. Only 40 minutes later, we were ready to continue the adventure when we realised that Danie went missing.De VlugDe VlugDanie before De VlugDanie before De VlugKom-se pad signKom-se pad signKom-se padKom-se padPicnic areaPicnic area We met up with him again in Knysna where we stopped for petrol. Just outside of Knysna we turned right in the 7 passes road with a mixture of dirt road and tar. Again very scenic and pleasurable up the mountains, down the valleys and over the rivers. We did Phantom Pass, Homtini Pass, Karatara Pass and Hoogekraal Pass. Sadly time was running out and we had to take the escape route and we headed straight to Wilderness . After inflating tyres, we traveled at a steady pace on the N2 towards Glentana, our second camp site. The GPS was also showing signs of fatigue as it took us off the N2 at an off-ramp and straight on the N2 again. Not a breath of wind. We made a fire and pitched our tents.Glentana campGlentana camp After the braai, we sat around the fire braaiing marshmallows and passing the time with a few jokes as we counted the last few minutes to wish Andy with a happy birthday song before we all went to bed. Saturday 3 May After a second flat mattress night, we got up at 6h30 where the coffee and rusks was ready. Tanya was busy preparing breakfast which consisted of eggs, toast and a real cowboy pot (tomato smoor with bully beef and baked beans). After breakfast everybody started packing up.Packing upPacking up We took a group photo whereafter I asked Johan Mocke to say a departing prayer as Steph and Michael & Vanessa decided to hit the road early. Majority of the group decided to take the N2 home. Everybody seemed to have had enough of dirt the past two days. Ralph and Charles decided to meet up with friends in the Breede River. Andy and Anne also took a different route and were planning their last overnight stay. We said our good-byes and at about 10h00 we hit the N2 at 140km/h. We stopped for coffee in Heidelberg where Danie, Brendan, Dirk Muller and Johan Mocke decided to change route and headed off to Barrydale. Myself, HD and the bakkie continued the easy road home. Ian Steyn, Johan Burger and Arra were on a mission to get home in time for the rugby game. My GPS confirmed that we did 1238km over the 3 days of which around 60% was gravel. No wonder we called ourselves – The Gravel Seekers! We cleared 13 passes and went through Meiringspoort and Seweweekspoort. Thankfully, no injuries or unexpected incidents. Many thanks to all who made this trip another unforgettable experience. Hats off to Johan Mocke and Michael & Vanessa (classified as beginners before the trip), you guys were excellent and will soon have the T-shirt to prove it (literally and figuratively). Well done to my pillion, Tanya, who made her entire first trip on the back of the bike without protest. Thanks to my father-in-law, Nico, for the time and energy he put into building the trailer in time for the trip and for always being willing to drive the back-up vehicle. Last but not least, a big thank you to Tanya for the catering over the 3 days. Watch the space for the next trip planned by The Gravel Seekers. Future trips will include a shorter trip for the whole family to experience the outdoor as we do. I’m also thinking of a Spooky - challenge to Uniondale over the next Easter Weekend.

Comments

Neil Terry's picture
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Joined: 2007/07/01
Thanks,well done, a really nice trip report too!
Annie's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/17
We really enjoyed meeting up with you all. A great ending to our longer trip. A lovely trip report JR!
Padlangs (not verified)
Johan/Tanya/Nico once again WELL DONE !!!
GeelKameel's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/21
Dankie Johann, vir 'n aangename toer en lekker report. Uitstekende keuse van roetes! The 30 minutes you guys waited at Avontuur was due to a slight mishap we had in the Langkloof.... We were perfectly on schedule and doing well until Andy suddenly slowed down and turned back. I stopped & waited, but eventually also turned back to see if there was a problem. Yes indeed a problem. Andy's cellphone fell off the bike somewhere. (why? He was downloading and reading Email in the ride!!!) Eventually I found it lying on the tar. Very very flat and busted to infinity. Fortunately the simcard with essential data was recovered. The Knysna saga.... well, eh yes... the price of stopping for pictures does have disadvantages! Unfortunately I missed the Hoek-se-pad roadsign and ended up in Knysna proper.
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Joined: 2008/04/16
I would just like to thank Johan and Tanya for a stunning first gravel road experience. Michael and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. To Tanya for all the catering and preparations thank you, the food was good and so was the company. To your father in law Nico thank you for lugging all our luggage and being there as a back up vehicle and to the lovely Elzaan and Luaan who never moaned or groaned once and were always pleasant and full of smiles. Meeting everyone else was a bonus. I am looking forward to my first t-shirt and many more. The scenery was magnificent but i must admit my bhind was nice and sore by the time we got home.
Mike Saunders's picture
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Joined: 2007/08/18
This was an awesome trip and one we won't forget in a hurry. The organising was faultless and we never felt pressed to exceed our limits in terms of skill or speed. Brendan, you performed the task of sweeper to perfection.
Arra's picture
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Joined: 2007/07/01
Very nice report. Dankie Johann, Tanya, Nico en al die Gravel Seekers vir 'n onvergeetlike trip. My hoogtepunt was die Prince Alfred Pass, dit is seker van die mooiste dele in ons land. Sit solank my naam op vir die volgende trip! Arra

Arra R1150GS

Steph (not verified)
JOhan, Tanya, Nico, Baie Danie, dit was my eerste trip saam met die BMW Motorcycle Club Cape. Dit was voorwaar ’n unieke en baie aangename ondervinding. Baie dankie vir al julle reelings en moeite om dit vir almal aangenaam te maak. Dit is nie altyd maklik om aan almal se smake te voldoen nie, maar julle het julle uitstekend van julle taak gekwyt. Well Done! I must however also stress the fact that I don't think we were problem children. Soos Tanya vir die ou by Stompdrif dam ge sê het dit is nie ’n klomp 20-jarige bikers nie. Baie dankie ook vir die geleentheid gisteraand by julle huis. Dit was baie lekker (Sorry dat ek nou nie saam met almal kon eet nie, volgende keer hoop ek alles is weer normaal) Baie dankie aan almal wat fotos geneem het, ek dink tot my antagonistiese weder-driekwart het begin dink sy sal gehou het om dit saam te kon beleef. Baie dankie se vriendelikheid en openhartigheid en die mooi manier waarop ek in die groep verwelkom is. Dit was baie nice. Steph - Grondpad
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Joined: 2008/04/16
Dear Johan and Tanya On behalf of Mike and myself Thank you for a lovely get together braai. We showed all the photos to family yesterday and they were in awe of our experience. Thanks to Tanya and Johan for your hospitality and Tanya you outdone yourself once again with the soup and salads. The food and the company was very good. Nice to meet and see the other ladies as well. The T-shirts were well worth the wait and looking forward to getting that trophy, except Mike and I are going to have to lock it up in a glass cabinet so that little Cameron does not get his little hands on it.
JohanM's picture
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Joined: 2007/08/31
Ha,ha - as a "beginner" I also found this trip report just now! bietjie dom, nog! Yes, I also enjoyed this a lot! The trip, your plannings around it, but also every person that joined this journey - strangers for starters, but friends in the end.