Day 09 - Paarl to Gamkaskloof

Weather:

• Paarl: Clear Skies with clouds over the mountains and 12.5C

• Gamkaskloof: Clear skies and 14C

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Trip Summary:

This is the first time that my brother and I will be taking a bike trip together.  My brother rides a Honda TRANSALP 600V.  We have both been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time.

Terrific day with the following passes:

1) Du Toits Pass (Tar)

2) Hex River Pass (Tar)

3) Rooinek Pass (Gravel)

4) Witnekke Pass (Gravel)

5) Koueveld Pass (Gravel)

6) Seweweekspoort Pass (gravel)

7) Kruisrivierpoort Pass (Gravel)

8) Huis se Hoogte Pass (Gravel)

9) Doringkloof Pass (Gravel)

10) Swartberg Pass (Gravel)

11) Elands Pass (Gravel)

The route was fantastic and is was nice to see some rivers flowing after such a long draught (Not broken yet).

While travelling through Seweweekspoort Pass, we met a group of about 11 BMW side-car riders.  What a lovely site.

We stopped at the Rose of Karoo Restaurant for coffee.  The group of BMW Side-cars came through and the town seemed to stop as everyone looked at the amazing sight.

The gravel road from Carlitzdorp to the Swartberg Pass via the Kruisrivierpoort Pass takes you along a winding road through the farmlands and provides a nice shortcut to avoid going through Oudtshoorn.

The ride up Swartberg pass is on a good gravel road, however there was a lot of traffic including cyclists so one needs to take is slow.

The turnoff to Gamkaskloof warns drivers of the dangerous road.  It is bumpy, stoney, loose gravel and winds its way up and down through the mountains.  The greatest part was the water crossing.  The descent into Gamkaskloof via the Elands Pass is great (See video by Solo Africa).  The road is narrow with sharp hairpin bends.  The best time to decend the pass is in the afternoon as most of the traffic heading up does so in the morning.  Therefore heading up the pass should be done in the early morning to avoid oncoming traffic.

We stopped at the Restaurant and had cold beers before heading to the Camp Site.  The restaurant was very busy with people arriving and booking accommodation.

Stephen had arranged for us to sleep in a Caravan.  We ordered meat, salads & home made bread from the restaurant and purchased a bag of wood.  

When we got to the caravan, Stephen took a nap while I did a round of the camping site to see how busy it was.  I met Matias Hardy Aiger (www.motodestino.org) from Argentina who was commencing his motorbike ride up through Africa to Cairo.  His choice of transport is a Honda 250cc.  Matias is in a league of his own as he has travelled across other continents on different motorbikes.  I invited him over for dinner and we had a braai and shared stories and e-mail addresses.

Accommodation: Caravan

Gamkaskloof Camping site is in the bush with basic ablusions (Toilet, basin and shower with hot water but no electricity).  The camp sites have no electricity or water.

While the caravans are old, they are not well maintained and the mattress, pillows and linen need to be replaced.

There was no security at the camp sites, however there is no need for security as Gamkaskloof is very remote and the community is very small.