Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

I'm currently on gardening leave between jobs and decided to kill a whole lot of birds with a few stones - clear the ever present cobwebs, learn a little BaseCamp / Zumo navigation skills, grab a bite to eat and go for a leisurely solo ride.

So yesterday morning I quickly selected a route from my trip library, checked it out on the recently upgraded BaseCamp v4.02 before loading it onto the Zumo 660. After checking that the route transferred ok I set off towards Vrede and Lust (near Simondium) for coffee and eggs benedict. Suitably fueled I was soon through Franschhoek and over the pass heading towards Villiersdorp.

Enroute to the T-junction at the Theewaterskloof dam the GPS gremlin struck. My carefully uploaded route had gone somewhat haywire and was suggesting I travel straight across the dam to the next waypoint. This necessitated a shutdown/reboot stop at the Draaiberg gravel turnoff (just across the dam wall). More strange messages followed about "not enough memory for route". So I deleted the route and imported it again from my SD card. Eureka! all working again. (PS I'm still trying to figure out what the @&%^ went wrong).

A left turn at the T-junction at the end of the Draaiberg road, travelling through the wonderfully green and quiet countryside until I reached the R43.

Left and right again after 9.5km heading towards Helderstroom along the Riversonderend.

Crossing at Helderstroom

Guess there's been some rain in the area lately. I turned right before the crossing (above) and happily continued following the river.

Riversonderend

Until suddenly ...

Whoops

err, slow down and take it easy for the next 100m or so. No sooner had I navigated (get it? ) the "river in the road" when I was forced to stop again due to the mid-morning traffic jam.

Traffic jam

A right turn at the T-junction and I headed towards Genadendaal and Greyton on the R406. I stopped for a cooldrink and chocolate at the Engen garage before continuing on the R406 out of Greyton, past the Old Oaks Estate (one of Andy's lunch spots on newby rides).

I wandered onto some private property (ok, I saw the sign and decided to ignore it and follow the GPS route, inspite of the previous gremlins) and unfortunately soon found myself at a locked gate. A quick u-turn and I was soon safely on public roads again. The R406 runs into the N2 near the town of Riversonderend and after a left onto the N2 and a right (1.7km later) onto gravel I was heading towards Soutkuil.

near Soutkuil

From Soutkuil I zig-zagged my way past Halfaampieskraal (on some brilliant tweespoor) through the farms into Napier (on West Street). Exiting Napier on Volhou Street I picked up speed on a perfect gravel highway towards Baardskeerdersbos.

Just before (about 2.5km) the turnoff to Elim I turned right onto a sandy, sometimes muddy tweespoor leading to Sandy's Glen. The first little water crossing was a clue. The three sections of badly damaged, semi collapsed road surface should definitely have been a warning. But my trusty GPS indicated that this leg was only 7.5km and I'd already covered 5km. So onward towards the next waypoint I continued. Surely the worst was behind me. Fortunately I was riding slowly .... when strike 3!!! ....

Where's the road

a small section of road crossing the Kraalrivier was completely washed away. I really was'nt keen to turn back and retrace the previous 5km, so proceeded to consider whether crossing this little stream would be possible. Mmmm, let's see - fast flowing water about 1.5m wide and 60cm deep, steep entry and very steep exit, 250kg GSA and just little 'ol me, all alone in the middle of nowhere. OK, think I'll turn around (I've heard too many stories about other club members, who shall remain nameless, and water crossings ).

Back down to the Baardskeerdersbos road. It's now after 15h00 and time to start heading home. After 11.5km I turn right towards Papiesvlei. Yet another beautiful gravel road through the farmlands. Right again onto the R326 heading away from Stanford. Left onto gravel about 2.4km before the R326/R316 intersection. The last 20km of countryside fly past before turning on the R320 into Caledon (16h00). A quick stop for some water (and chocolate) before taking the N2 over Sir Lowry's home.

All in all a most enjoyable and educational day.

till next time ...