Day Fourteen - Elliot to Durban - Thursday 16th May 2013

After a huge breakfast we set off under clear blue skies. We went through Ugie, Maclear, Mount Fletcher and close to Maluti before we found ourselves back in Kwa-Zulu Natal and had  lunch in Kokstad.

The riding was tough going as it was mainly downhill on slow winding roads. We knew we had reached KZN as all the crazy drivers showed up. Outside Kokstad, a woman in a Nissan Qashqai (NT 55555) almost sandwiched us when she overtook us as we tried to pass a truck, and then we saw her cross a barrier line to overtake 3 cars on a blind rise. Give her a wide berth if you ever see her on the road!

We travelled through the beautiful Ngeli forest and on to Ixopo, an area I had never been to before, and apart from seeing the most accidents (3) and ambulances (8) of our trip, it was worthwhile going that way. After Ixopo, we went through Richmond and Baynesfield and then joined the N2 for the final stretch home. Strangley within 5 minutes of joining the freeway it clouded over and rain threatened, but we made it home without getting wet.

 Somewhere outside Maclear

 Eastern Cape's national flower - litter

 Foothills of the Drakensberg

 Rest stop after Uzimkhulu. (Can't escape the litter)

This is a Crowned Eagle, they like to sit on fence posts waiting for road kill

Near Richmond. We knew we were close to home when we spotted the sugar cane

Day Thirteen - Port Elizabeth to Elliot - Wednesday 15th May 2013

This was the third day in a row that we began the day saying goodbye to family, but the weather was kinder and we made an early start. Our first stop was for breakfast at the Nanaga Farm Stall. We went outside to see some men releasing homing pigeons, but unfortunately we were too late to take photos or ask where they were flying to.

After Grahamstown, we turned off the N2 and went to Fort Beaufort over the Nico Malan Pass, then on to Queenstown. We met the friendliest bikers of our trip at Fort Beaufort, riding 3 Harleys and a Harley trike. We passed each other a couple of times as we rested and took pictures in different places along the way. They happened to stop for lunch at the same place as we did, before they went off to Aliwal North and we went to Elliot for the night.

We had done 470kms on the bike and gratefully settled into Myburgh's B & B where we had dinner with the owner and 3 travelling sales reps. It was a good old-fashioned place in a tiny town.

 Where did they go?

View from the Ecca Pass outside Grahamstown

 The road through the Kat River valley around Fort Beaufort

 On the Nico Malan Pass

 Almost at the top of the Nico Malan Pass, the highest pass of our trip, at 1922 mtrs above sea level

Waterdown Dam on the way to Queenstown

 Down McKay's Nek Pass, towards Elliot

Day Twelve - George to Port Elizabeth - Tuesday 14th May 2013

Once again we started our day by saying goodbye, leaving George on a cloudy, still morning and going in the direction of Knysna, along the coastal road. We continued past Plettenberg Bay and then took the R102 through Nature's Valley and the Grootrivier Pass. What a wonderful ride, starting with fields of wild proteas, indigenous forest, and dropping right down to the beach, before climbing back up again through the other side of the valley. We passed a large troup of Baboons lounging about in the road. Not being sure if they were friendly or used to bikes, we kept moving. We headed straight over the freeway and into the Bloukrans Pass. The route has been closed to cars for years as it is in poor condition and there's a toll road to replace it, but they allow bikes to use it and it is spectacular.

From there it was a quick stop at the Storms River bridge and along the freeway past the famous surfing town of Jeffreys Bay to Port Elizabeth. 

 Misty grey morning on the Kaaimans Pass after leaving George

 Smoke on the water... caused by a bush fire near the lake at Sedgefield

 Proteas among the fynbos on the way to Nature's Valley

 Approaching the beach at the bottom of the valley

 Up the other side, looking back at the beach

 A shy baboon

 Damaged road in the Bloukrans Pass

J Bay seen from the N2

Day Eleven - Cape Town to George - Monday 13th May 2013

Today was the start of the homeward journey, and we sadly left Cape Town  and rode through some very chilly mist as we headed for Sir Lowry's Pass. It was the perfect day to see CapeTown from this route. We stopped for an early cup of coffe at Houwhoek and then visited Bruce's cousin, Robette, in Hermanus. She lives in a retirement complex and her neighbours were very excited to see the bike and came out to waves us off as we headed for Stanford deep in the Overberg.

On the way to Cape Town we had taken the mountain route. This time we stuck closer to the coast, passing through Mossel Bay again before arriving back at Paul's and Mien's around 5pm.

 Table Mountain from Sir Lowry's Pass

Hermanus

Day Ten - Cape Town - Sunday 12th May 2013

Today was a family day.

We went to visit Bruce's uncle David and his wife, Lynn, in the beautiful suburb of Constantia. We also saw their champion Cairn terriers.We sauntered around the shops, went to James's chuch, Common Ground Rondebosch, and had a mexican supper at the Fat Cactus.

 

Devil's Peak seen from James's front lawn

You can tell by the smiles, the food was deleecious

Day Nine - Cape Town - Saturday 11th May 2013

We woke to yet another sunny day. If we hadn't already been to see the top of Table Mountain, today would have been the perfect day for it. As is was, James and his girlfriend, Sharon, had a very full day planned for us.

We started with breakfast at Hello Sailor in Observatory, a favourite hangout of theirs which serves good food at even better prices. Then left the city and made for Fairview Wine and Cheese Estate. We took the lighter option of tasting only 6 wines (and as much cheese as we wanted) and since there were about 30 wines to choose from,  and we could each choose 6 different ones, we sampled quiet a lot! We then went to the estate next door and, ignoring the wines, we tasted chocolate, craft beers and biltong.

After all of that it was time for home and an afternoon nap, then another home-cooked meal at the house and an early night.

 

A smelly billy goat at Fairview

 An unusual tricycle made from old farming implements at Fairview

 Looking sensible at the start of the wine tasting

less sensible at the end of the beer tasting

Day Eight - George to Cape Town - Friday 10th May 2013

The sunshine was back for our trip to Cape Town and we left George around 9 am for the next exciting leg of the journey. We discovered the Tradouw Pass a few years ago and were very keen to take the bike on that route. We unfortunately took a wrong turn which meant a 10km dirt road stretch, but we were not dissapointed with the pass. While everyone reading my blog may be tired of all the passes, the bikers amongst you will know how great it is to whizz round tight corners with beautifull scenery all around you.

As we exited the pass we went on to Montague, a quaint and pretty village where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch of home-made pies, in the company of the owner's animals. From there more hills and valleys as we travelled through Robertson, Worcester and then the Huguenot Tunnel into Paarl and the N1 into Cape Town.

A few wronge turns and no opportunity to get off the freeway to call James led us to a dodgy area with what looked like drug deals happening, before we were rescued and taken home for a delicious meal made by one of his housemates, Vince, and a cosy evening watching TV and sipping red wine.

 

The dirt road stretch on the way to the Tradouw Pass

 

In the pass 

 

 Part of the menagerie

 The cat which the puppy kept bothering

 The parrot took no nonsense

  The adorable puppy