Trip Summary:

I decided to leave earlier than scheduled due to the transport union strikes planned across South Africa.  They expected most of the major routes to be blocked.

The temperature dropped from 15C to 10C as I headed South.  Luckily I packed my winter gloves so they came in handy on Day 01.  The first 200km included pockets of thick mist which slowed progress.

I stopped at the Engen petrol stop near Villiers and decided to take the back roads via Frankfort, Reitz, Sterkfontein Dam, Bergville and Winterton.  I stopped at a lookout point along the Sterkfontain dam to make coffee and enjoy a sandwich that Lynne had prepared for me.

While driving to Winterton, I noticed the gravel roads were dry so I decided to continue to Underberg along the gravel roads that hug the great Drakensberg Mountains.  This added another 140km and three hours on the travel time.  The gravel roads always provide more fun.  Besides the cattle along the road, I saw two snakes and some antelope while riding through the Kamberg Reserve.

I bumped into a group of 6 riders on the way to Underberg who had riden up from Coffee Bay and were on their way to Giants Castle for the night.

I took Tarryn & John to Munchner Haus German restaurant in Uvongo for dinner.  We all ordered pizzas and enjoyed catching up on news.