Grond Paaie: Oct 2013 Middelpos Ride

3 Day Ride through Tankwa, After a long time of discussion Ant & Myself decided to ride to Middelpos via Clanwilliam and then from the North. From Middelpos we wanted to go South and do the Ouberg Pass, follow unridden roads (for us) to Tankwa Padstal. Then Katbakkies to Oasis for R&R. Last day explore some new sections again and approach Langebaan from the North. We had 3 days to do this and although we did make the ride open to others on Wild Dog Forum, we did not get any takers.

The plan turned out as follows:

Day 1 - Langebaan, Langebaanweg, Aurora, Clanwilliam - Have lunch at Clanwilliam, then Botterkloof Pass, Vaalputs, Ganna Ganna Pass to Middelpos. Rest for the night in Middelpos Hotel. ± 450km

Day 2 - Middelpos, Ouberg Pass, Tankwa Padstal - Have a break and then Katbakkies Pass to Oasis for some of Chantal’s famous grub & Gerrits banter. ± 360km

Day 3 - Oasis, South, New Road, Citrusdal - Have lunch then Piekenierskloof Pass, Railway line towards Redelinghuys, Aurora, Langebaanweg and arrived home in Langebaan. ± 370km

Day 1

Arriving at Ants house as planned 0745 sharp for a 0800 departure, this however was not to be. Some Moegoe decided that a Windsurfer board lying on the beach on Langebaan was his for the taking. Snuck it onto his bakkie and dashed out of town. The he got very clever and advertised it on Gumtree. The manne was quick and they arranged to meet him in order to have a look at the advertised board. Ant was very busy organizing all of this when I arrived at his house. I thought there goes Day 1, not to fear, he had it all under control. More on this later.

Ant soon got his crime busting team going and we were ready to leave, the time by now was after 0900 and I knew it was going to be a long day.

We left Langebaan and routed past Langebaanweg via Bergriver Station and "Oh Shit Road" (Funny how this piece of road never fails to give you that washing out front wheel feeling) to Aurora. Stopped on the Farm Roads just South of Aurora for some pictures

Bikes felt good and riding was easy with the roads quite firm after the recent rain.

Just after Aurora we turned East routing just North of Kapteinskop, crossing many little streams and muddy, slippery sections. Then we turned North via the Kapteinskloof Road past Sandveld 4x4 track.

Just as we turned onto the Redelinghuys Road Ant got a rear flat, I was just behind him and saw how quickly it went down, knew it meant wheel off and all.

We stopped next to the road with very little space to spare and Ant had the wheel of very quickly. In the mean while the @#$%%^ muggies was having a field day on me. Little did I realise how badly I was being bitten on my face. We found the nail inside the tyre and patched the tube. Wheel back on and it cost us just under an hours time, not good.

We went North along the R365 to Engelsman se berg and then turned towards Clanwilliam going through one of the most beautiful passes in the Sandveld.

Stopped at Velskoendraai Farmers Market for lunch. Oom Hennie sorted us out with some good food and nice coffee. When I washed my face it burned and I realised the #$%% muggies got me good.

Refuelled in Clanwilliam. I used 1liter of fuel more than Ant on the 200km. My average was 19km/l. I am running much lower gearing than Ant, currently 14 Front & 48 Rear. Ant is on 16 Front & 45 Rear. He was packed heavier than me but weighs half my weight.

Ran on the tar towards the East out of Clanwilliam. It is always an amazing pass to go over along the R364. We stopped just before Botterkloof Pass for a breather and Ant showed me the Moedverloor road, This road apparently has got some fantastic proteas.

Up Botterkloof Pass you could really see the dried out mud tracks, I would not like to ride up this pass after heavy rain, the drop off is immense and the road looks like it will be a slippery as snot.

Then we turned SouthEast on Soutpanpad, really tricky loose rock road through farms, lots of gates to open and close.

Turning South on the R355 for a short while we then took the Vaalputs Road, this is a lovely twin track through the flats with sharp little corners. Ant & myself took turns opening and closing gates. As I waited at a gate he did not show, So I waited a little longer and eventually turned back.

Found him fixing another flat. When I took my helmet off he was astounded at how swollen my face was. Luckily it did not hurt, just itched a bit.

Not waisting time we replaced the tube with a new one but still the process took 45min, we were now running quite late and our time of arrival at Middelpos moved on to after 1800.

We pushed on a bit and stopped inside Ganna Ganna Pass for quick picture or two

At the top of Ganna Ganna Pass you could see the deep ruts in the road from the rain. I am sure this will be quite difficult to ride in rain or just after rain.

Arriving at Middelpos after 1800, we relaxed on the stoep with a cold one. It was clear that the 2 flats made for a very long day. At the pace we were riding we would have to leave earlier if we are doing 450+km for the day.

We got treated to a lovely meal by Helene. Tummies full we crashed for the night. I looked through our medical bags and we did not have anything for my swollen face. Definitely need to put some antihistamine cream in my medical kit. I looked like I went 3 rounds with Mike Tyson.

Day 2

Up at about 0630 we packed and checked the bikes. It was now that we saw that the Pressure gauge on Ants pump overread quite a lot. It shows 2bar when there is actually only about 0.9bar in the wheel. I think that is why he got the 2nd flat, pressure was way to low and it pinched. We added some puncture slime in our wheels, pumped to about 1.8bar and lubed the chains. Now for breakfast and refuelling.

Same story on the fuel used. I used just under a liter more per 200km than Ant. Thinking I must change my front sprocket back to 15 teeth. We were on the road towards Sutherland and Ouberg Pass. This was the first time for me on this road. The air was fresh and the road in good condition.

Arriving at the top of Ouberg Pass is a magic feeling, the views are stunning. I can't help to think how this must have looked a 100 years ago. Guys that hauled a wagon with oxen up this??

There were contrails all over the sky.

I received a sms from Scenic Ride telling us that we must divert of the planned track to go and see Oudebaaskraal Dam. So we planned it that way. On our way we saw the Tankwa Guest Farm, turned in and had a look. Looks like a very nice place to come and stay. Hendrina, the caretaker, showed us inside.

We were gratefull for a bit of shade. Then we rode to the dam. The road was recently graded so the going was quite easy. I think when it is very dry this could become very loose sand. There are many tracks in this area that needs exploring.

We now took Rondavel Road towards Tankwa Padstal, absolutely must do road this, takes you in between hills and over streams. Fantastic stuff

Lots of gates to open & close, at one gate the fence ran right up the mountain. Straight as can be, what a task that must have been.

I was leading into Tankwa Padstal, arriving and again I waited for Ant. Got back on the bike and found him about 2km back. Disaster struck.

He went slowly around 2 donkeys and as he took power again the splines on the front sprocket and countershaft gave in. Stripped in its moer.

Now this was a show stopper, no way of fixing this.

We hooked the tow rope and I towed him to Tankwa Padstal. Luckily we could phone from Susan's house and he organised a trailer to come fetch him and the bike. After some discussion I decided to continue onto Oasis on my own as the desolate rides are now behind us. Katbakkies Pass was lovely as always.

Over the last hill down to Mount Cedar and over the next hill, there is home for tonight. Oasis

Got my room and had a hot shower, took some lekker pictures. Just relaxed.

Gerrit & Chantal joined me for supper and I don't think there is anywhere else where you can get ribs like this?

Day 3

After breakfast the next morning I took road South again, I was going to have a look at the unridden piece just before Op Die Berg.

Took some pictures at the river crossing at Mount Cedar

Turned off at the Heideveld Road, Nice track and fantastic views.

Stopped at the Heideveld Dam and saw these red little flags all over the place. Turns out it was the route Beserker had marked for this weekend.

From here I went to Citrusdal via the Middelberg Pass. I saw some roads along this piece of road that needs some exploring in the future.

I decided to have some lunch in different spot for a change, went up Piekenierskloof and stopped at Hebron Padstal, Excellent meal and really nice coffee. I will stop here again.

Decided that I need check out old route to Porterville and Dasklip Pass. This route will be quite sandy when it has dried out. The Dasklip Pass is tarred, lovely ride up the mountain. I can only imagine what this Pass must have been like before it was tarred. Wicked at least. Up at the top I took a ride down to the Olifants Hiking Trail. Unfortunately this is a dead end road. It is however worth the ride to go down the valley.

Back at the top of Dasklip Pass I stopped for the view at the Hanggliding launching spot. On a clear day you will see the coast from here. You must have Big Brass Ones to run down this ramp with some gliding equipment I think.

Down the Pass and towards Porterville, finding nice gravel roads towards Piketberg. At Piketberg I saw the railway road, decided to follow towards Koringberg. Not far from the start I came across some carnage, It is difficult to say how long these cars have been lying here, it must have been a spectacular crash.

Crossed Bergriver at Moravia and routed towards Morreesburg, then turned of into farm road that leads via big circle to Hopefield. Followed Railway road towards Bergriver Station. This can also be very tough to do if it rained recently with some serious clay sections.

Back towards Langebaanweg en then home stretch to Langebaan. The wind was blowing quite strong and it is in conditions like this that I miss some sort of a screen.

Turns out that Ant's posse found the criminal and they even had a cop with them. Off course the guy had lots of reasons why he took a windsurfer board from the beach and then had the audacity to advertise it on Gumtree.

This is a very reasonable ride and can be done by big bikes as well. It could have some soft sand patches in middle of summer.

Overall Ride