Die Hel

A trip with Chrissie and friends.  Read the attachment (1.6MB PDF)

Read about Mr. Stripes funny antics on the Swartberg pass introducing himself to strangers while pinned under his bike!

WARNING: Reader Discretion is advised.

Heidelberg, Riversdale, Ladysmith, Seweweekspoort, Floriskraal dam, Prince Albert, Die Hel, Oudtshoorn, De Rust, Uniondale, Avontuur, De Vlugt, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladysmith, Riversdale and back to Heidelberg... 4 days, 7 bikes, +- 1200km... Die hel Stay tuned, report coming soon...

===Day 1: Cape Town – Bonnievale=== We set out late Monday afternoon for Bonnievale at 17h00. The weather was good…..that is no pumping cape doctor, “anything else is good in my book”, but once we hit the R60 to Robertson the cape doctor gave us a woes snot klap making it difficult to maintain 140km/h. We were packed reasonably light, only the absolute essentials for a one night camp out, no rain gear, a cell phone to use for any major repairs, and a basic supper of noodles with tinned tuna. (The rest of our meals were to be had on route.) Our first night was with friends on their wine farm on the Breede River. After a really good braai and good wine it was off to bed before many dusty back roads to tomorrows destination….Die Hel!

A friend of mine asked me what I did this weekend. The answer was easy, I delivered the “Devils” newspaper in “Die hel” and on Sunday lunch I did some “pole dancing” in Laingsburg. Neadless to say, she was shocked. Saturday morning Daniel Nelson and I left Wellington and headed for Worchester via bainskloof (someone must show me a way out of the Cape that does not go over Bainskloof) we had some breakfast at the Shell petrol station and we headed on. Once outside Worchester we took the Nuy gravel road to Rodeberg and via Robertson, Ashton to Montague. What a beautiful morning it was.

While everyone was relaxing at Nelson's, I was one my way to Oudtshoorn - Mosselbay for the weekend, with one reason and one reason only - THE HELL. I filled up in Barrydale and thought if any GS's at Ronnies, I will stop and have a drink, but to no avail. However, just over the first hill I found a 1200GS standing next to the road with the rider. I stopped trying to find out if he is OK and started chatting. It seems he is from Belgium and is touring SA all on his own and wants to take a picture with his camera, but is trying to find help on the electronic documentation on his laptop. I tried to convince him to do "The Hell" with me but when I told him it is a gravel road he said he has done some gravel Road in Prince Alfred Hamlet area that day and does not feel up to another day on gravel so soon. Weird but nice chap.

This has taken some time to compile and another week has flashed past with still some wonderful memories lingering in our heads. Once again, fantastic routes and even more fantastic people. '''Friday, 26 October 2007 - Cape Town to Kleinplaas, an interesting way round''' Our trip started from the normal location Swartland Engen on the N7 with breakfast at 7am. At this point we were 11 bikes with 15 people. Swarland meeting point 3 bikes (4 people) from the Helderberg left the Lord Charles Hotel together at 7.30 pm to meet up with the others in Wellington at 8.30am. We saw some interesting sights on the way. Check out this early morning delivery!