TRIP PLANNER - Alexander Bay & Cape Augulhas

This post will be regularly updated in order for you to be able to see the latest news.

NEW DEPARTURE TIME: 05:30 for 6:00 SHARP
- Please make sure your bike is ready to roll and coffee has been finished by 06:00
- If you send me your e-mail address, I wil, forward you the GPS file we will be using.

SUMMARY
The Trip Map
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DAY 1 (12 June) - CENTURION to KURUMAN (539km)
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Day Schedule - 12 June 2010
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TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	BP Garage	Parys Wimpie	155km	155km	Breakfast & Petrol
	Parys Wimpy	Herzogville	253km	408km	Refreshments & Petrol
	Hertzogville	Kuruman	266km	674km	Sleepover & Petrol

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Sleepover: Riverfield Guest House @ R300 pppn, 053-712-0003
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Day 2 (13 June) - KURUMAN to SPRINGBOK via Ugrabies Waterfall (638km)
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Day Schedule - 13 June 2010
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TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	Kuruman	Olifantshoek	98km	98km	Break and Petrol
	Olifantshoek	Upington	165km	263km	Breakfast & Petrol
	Upington	Augrabies Falls	118km	381km	Rest & Petrol
	Augrabies Falls	Sukkel vir 'n Sent - Pofadder	137km	518km	Rest & Petrol
	Pofadder	Springbok	164km	682km	Rest & Petrol

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Sleepover: Springbok Lodge @ R225 pppn, sbklodge@intekom.co.za, 027-712-1321 Jopie
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Day 3 (14 June) - SPRINGBOK to BITTERFONTEIN via Alexander Bay (634km)
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Day Schedule - 14 June 2010
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TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	Springbok	Alexander Bay	228km	228km	Breakfast and Petrol
	Alexander Bay	Springbok	228km	456km	Break & Petrol
	Springbok	Bitterfontein	178km	634km	Sleep & Petrol

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Sleepover: Dawn Ridge Bitterforntein 082-268-5758
Backpackers @ R80 p.p. sharing
Self-catering @ R110 p.p. sharing
Dinner by arrangement from R60 p.p.
En suite rooms - 3 beds per room with air-con and all that - @ R300 per room
Camping Site - Sites available where you can park your caravan & plug into a power outlet - decent ablution facilities @ R50 p.p. children under 8 stay free
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Day 4 (15 June) - BITTERFONTEIN to SWELLENDAM via Cape Augulhas (664km)
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Day Schedule - 15 June 2010
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TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	Bitterfontein	Clanwilliam	164km	164km	Breakfast and Petrol
	Clanwilliam	Worcester	203km	367km	Break & Petrol
	Worcester	Cape Augulhas	188km	555km	Rest & Petrol
	Cape Augulhas	Swellendam	110km	665km	Sleep & Petrol

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Sleepover: Blue Mountain Inn @ R180 pppn, 072-453-0634 / 028-514-2199 Hans / Hella
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Day 5 (16 June) - SWELLENDAM to GARIEP DAM via Outeniqua Pass (808km).


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Day Schedule - 16 June 2010
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TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	Swellendam	Mossel Bay	177km	177km	Breakfast & Petrol
	Mossel Bay	Uniondale	145km	322km	Petrol
	Uniondale	Graaf Reinet	234km	556km	Lunch & Petrol
	Graaf Reinet	Colesberg	200km	756km	Rest & Petrol
	Colesberg	Gariep	52km	808km	Sleep & Petrol

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Sleepover: Lutas @ R 160pppn, 051-754-0272
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Day 6 (17 June) - GARIEP DAM to CENTURION (632km).

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Day Schedule - 17 June 2010

TIME	FROM	TO	DISTANCE	TOTAL	COMMENTS
6:00 for 6:30	Gariep Dam	Bloemfontein	190km	190km	Breakfast & Petrol
	Bloemfontein	Ventersburg	157km	347km	Rest & Petrol
	Ventersburg	Kroonvaal	125km	472km	Rest & Petrol
	Kroonvaal	Centurion	160km	632km	Home

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Johan & Ina Maartens
Albert Ponelis
Chris

There are some long rides so everybody will need a lot of rest during the trip
We can expect cold weather and rain

Remember the following:
1. Your emergency information in a holder (Blood type, nearest of kin, Medical Aid,...)
2. Make sure your tires are in a good condition
3. Flat tyre repair kit
4. Make sure your bike and you are visible at night
5. Raincoat
6. Warm Clothes

The first three posts have been updated

Accommodation is being updated

Wow - this epic trip is starting to take shape! Nice Johan!

Almal wat belangstel kan begin plek bespreek!

You will see that the first leg of this trip has been changed and 135km added thanks to the South African National Road Agency's effectiveness in keeping our roads in prestine condition.

This adds a lot of new roads to our trip that we have not travelled before - which is one of the reasons the awards have been introduced - not to see how far our members can ride ironbutt style, but rather to incentive our members to see our beautiful country.

Marnus wrote:Wow - this epic trip is starting to take shape! Nice Johan!

Thanks Marus! Care to join us on your 450?

JohanGT wrote:

Marnus wrote:Wow - this epic trip is starting to take shape! Nice Johan!

Thanks Marus! Care to join us on your 450?

It all depends on the condition of the roads

The roads as we have changed today looks very good with few roadworks and potholes. The Outeniqua Pass should provide some fun although we will not stay there very long due to the 800km we have to travel that day.

Ok, I’m in for the stretch to Alexander Bay, will come back after that because that is the only point I still need, for the sissy medal, if that is ok with you?
I have done the bookings at Springbok Lodge and Riverfield Guest House.
Can’t wait,

JohanGT wrote:The roads as we have changed today looks very good with few roadworks and potholes. The Outeniqua Pass should provide some fun although we will not stay there very long due to the 800km we have to travel that day.

Hehehe... sorry Johan - the road needs to be a LOT rougher to justify application of the 450

and much, much, much shorter!

Marnus wrote:

JohanGT wrote:The roads as we have changed today looks very good with few roadworks and potholes. The Outeniqua Pass should provide some fun although we will not stay there very long due to the 800km we have to travel that day.

Hehehe... sorry Johan - the road needs to be a LOT rougher to justify application of the 450

and much, much, much shorter!

That’s why you have a GSA ??? for all the roads. Come, join us!!

Chris wrote:Ok, I’m in for the stretch to Alexander Bay, will come back after that because that is the only point I still need, for the sissy medal, if that is ok with you?
I have done the bookings at Springbok Lodge and Riverfield Guest House.
Can’t wait,

Welcome Chris, this is going to be a great ride - sissy medal or not!

What do you guys think about a club fleece with the Africa 4 points on it?

Cannot do the trip without a club fleece with the Africa 4 points on it!

Departure time has been changed to 06:00

As far as the fleece is concerned, I am told that it is too difficult to align one print with another. This means that as soon as the certificate has been issued, we will hand in our fleeces and the map with the routes will be added - Silver for the Silver Award and gold for the Gold Award

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with me, since I am not coming along. Feel free to shoot this down, for whatever reason. I just think one must try and do the R62 between Montagu and Oudsthoorn, or even from Barrydale to Oudsthoorn. It is arguably the best road in the country, and revered by many a bike rider. We Valies seldom get a chance to drive in that area, and I think it is worth your while to do a little detour to get on that road.

Sorry if I upset an applecart here...

steyngert wrote: I just think one must try and do the R62 between Montagu and Oudsthoorn, or even from Barrydale to Oudsthoorn. It is arguably the best road in the country, and revered by many a bike rider. We Valies seldom get a chance to drive in that area, and I think it is worth your while to do a little detour to get on that road.

Sorry if I upset an applecart here...

Not to worry, no applecart was upset The R62 is one of the best roads.

I have not yet been able to load the latest map (the places we are going to stay remains the same). Our original route excluded the R62 so that we could have breakfast in Mossel Bay and then tackle the Outeniqua Pass. Mosselbay is one of the best locations in the world (comparable to Portofino) and the Outiniqua Pass is one of the best passes in the country for fast turns and scenary. Doing both the R62 and the Outeniqua Pass is a problem due to our time constraints (we are traveling more than 800km that day).

However, eventually our route changed and the R62 won, mainly because Ina will not be doing that leg and to be in Mosselbay without her is just not the same - then we rather do the biker's route.

Because Ina is getting off in the Stellenbosch area to visit our children, we now managed to add another biker's route - the R45 going through Franschhoek! This is a stunning pass with stunning views reminding one of the Stelvio Pass in Italy.

We have a beautiful country and it is a priviledge to be able to see it on a motorcycle. I do not think we always realize just how priviledged we are to stay in South Africa.

In any case, thanks for the feedback, there is always a new road to travel and advise like this can just make our future trips better - keep the comments coming!

KAN ONS NIE MAAR MORE RY NIE?

Good luck to all joining on this ride tomorrow! Ride safe and look forward to lots of pictures.

Won't be there to see you off as we will be on our way to Plett for a few days.

DaveS wrote:Good luck to all joining on this ride tomorrow! Ride safe and look forward to lots of pictures.

Won't be there to see you off as we will be on our way to Plett for a few days.

Ditto Dave! Enjoy the trip guys and travel safely!

Enjoy the trip! We are very jealous!

So am I right in saying that nobody is prepared to see us off at 6…. am

Chris wrote:So am I right in saying that nobody is prepared to see us off at 6…. am

Sorry - we will probably be in Bloemfontein by then....