Tuesday 16th

Yesterday was an absolute nightmare. Left Franschoek. So far so good. Over the pass. Still okay. Then while I am descending the other side the rain arrived. A lot. A hell of a lot. I made it to the T junction where it stopped briefly. I decided to continue. I very carefully laid my sunglasses next to me, thinking... don't forget them. 

I then departed. Okay for about 40 minutes. No rain. But then, it started. Pouring again. I started to cry. Whilst reaching for my glasses to take them off 😳😲😳😲 the fuck. I had left them next to the road. I immediately started heading back there at full gass. I was sure they would be gone. All sorts of thoughts. Why am I doing this trip. Why am I unemployed. Why do I keep making mistakes. The list is endless. I continued at full gass whilst crying. It was one of the worst moments I have had out here. Eventually after what seemed like hours I got to the exact spot I put them down. Holy 💩💩💩. They are still there. I was happy yet still extremely disappointed I had left them. My decision was to go to my spot in the forest and put up camp for the night. It was only 2pm but the rain was not going to stop and I was in a terrible head space. 

As I already knew my tent leaks. So luckily while I was sitting in it freezing I was also bailing water out of it. Quite a sight. I am happy yesterday is done.

Today was slightly better. A good ride in wet clothes. As I sit here the only item left to completely dry are my 🧦. Everything else dried on the ride. 

My bike has picked up an issue from riding in the rain. The BB is crunchy which means it is toast. So tomorrow it is back to Ceres to get that fixed. Today was hard. Mentally very very tough. Many questions and very few answers. I need to learn how to deal with this better. I get very frustrated and angry and I miss the reason for my trip. I am working on it. 

Apart from all that I am good. It was supposed to be up to Greyton and then beyond. But with the weather I decided on a drier route. So be it. Once my bike is sorted I will see what my next move is.

Sorry for the negative post but I am a bit down at the moment. Things will improve. This I am sure. Just a few bad days!

The world is what we make it. No one else does the work. Sometimes good, sometimes not so much. It is important to know that when times are tough you just keep moving forward. Going back or sideways is a waste. Today was better than yesterday. Tomorrow will be better than today. It simply has to be. 

I am very sad my bike is not working properly. I love it like a child. But tomorrow it will be fixed and the screaming will stop. (quite literally)

On these trips I take photos and try to capture what I see. They do no justice. Right now I am in my tent. Op die berg. Been here many times. It's a bush camp. The views are magnificent. This is why I do these trips. I am very very grateful that life allows me to. 

I hope you are all well. Happy. Life is good.

Chat soon.

G.

Been A While

My time in Cape Town was good. Spent with good people and friends with whom I cannot live without. Thank you very much to the Small's and Claire. You are more than friends and I am lucky to have you in my life. Lots of rides with Tom. I hope your bike is working soon.

I decided a short time ago that another tour would happen. Nieu-bethesda would be my destination this time. A small, quaint little town. I have been there previously which made my decision to want to go there again an easy one. Job searching did not go well and I wanted to get cycling again. 

This will be an amazing journey. 

I left CT around 8am. The traffic was quiet and the air was cool. Rain was predicted but it seems I was lucky enough to get here before I got drenched. It was a superb ride today. Easy going. The nerves as usual were all there along with the anxiety I have on the first few days. One would think I am used to it by now but not the case.

I have reached my destination for the night. My brother has kindly let me have a night at his farm. The Farmstead Franschoek. If you need accommodation near Franschoek this is the spot. It is first class. 

I hope everyone who has been part of my journey and has helped me along the way knows how grateful I am. It is all of us traveling together. I always feel as though I have forgotten to thank someone for their effort. So if you are reading this please know I am grateful even if we have just crossed paths. 

I don't know how much energy I will be putting into my blog. I am on Instagram now and trying to get a following for my cycling. Let's see how it all goes.

Anyway day one done. Happy. Tired. Anxious. Grateful. Blessed. 

Chat soon friends. 

G💙

More Uphill 😅

Riding

Always Friday

Yesterday's ride was absolutely grueling. Leave Montagu. So far 👍🏻. Through Ashton 👍🏻. By the way, they have built a 🌁 there that must have cost 💰💸💳. Next 🦵🏻 to Robertson 🆘️🅾️. Had a quick 🍪. Very nice. Then I depart Robertson. Back 🛣 to Villiersdorp. The 🥇 20kms windy. Then holy 💩🙈🙊. It was like dying in slow motion. If you weren't pedaling you were being 🌬 (and not the good one) backwards at a 💯 miles an ⌛. The language was appalling 🤬🤬. One of the reasons I ride alone. I think the worst wind I have ever, forever ever, yip ridden in. No matter what I did, 💸💶, 🤬🤬, 😭😭 or even promise to become religious, it just kept getting worse. I was truly broken. 

Anyway. In Villiersdorp. Spar! Few goodies for my effort. Few baddies too 🍔🍟🍦🍐🍏. I wasn't too sure about this day but after the conditions I had it was to be off to my spot near the dam. There I managed to pull myself together and have a great 🛌. I was just happy not to be in a headwind anymore. 

Today was 🆙️. Clean 🧼🧽 and over Franschoek pass. It was an enjoyable ride. Nothing much to do! Into town for a coffee. At the 🏕 for twee nights. Chilling out. Hopefully get to 👀 my brother and his family on Sunday. 

Otherwise not much to report. This trip is ending soon. It has been a blast. Can't believe how far I have gone and how much I have 👀. Met some fantastic people. Looking forward to seeing my mates in CT. Missed them.

Hope you are all well. Strong. Happy. 

Until then. 

🗜™️

Wednesday 17.

Another cold night. 🥶 not quite as bad as the night before but full winter 🛌bag. The 🛌 itself was one of the best in a long ⌚. Packed and ready to go it was off. A slight uphill to the boss ladies office. Pay the 🧾💳 and gazoom. Through the main 🚧. It's a ⬅️ turn. Joe obviously! Not long into my ride but what do I 👀👓... another 🚵🏼‍♀️. We chat. She lives in the area 🤔. She owns a company that does bike races. Business is 🤫. We depart ways. More joe. It is a splendid ride. Not too 🌡. Not too 🌬. Great riding conditions. As I am passing another farm I see another rider. Mmmmm. This one not sure. It is a 👳🏽‍♂️ fella. On an ⚡⚡🚲. With no ⛑. Flip flops. No 💧💧. I ask him if he is okay. He says this way to Montagu?? I said nope you are going the wrong way. He looks confused. I said follow me let's go. He turns around and we ride a bit. We are doing almost 0 kilometers per ⌛. I tell him I need to push on and 👋🏻 goodbye. I take an impressive lead 😉. After about 30 or so minutes guess who is back 😳🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️. He must have ramped up his electric ⚡⚡. I don't even see him pedaling up the hills. Just pushing a button. F this I said. We get to the top of a pass. Let's test your skills now mr durbanite. I take the hell off. If he beats me now I am walking the rest of this trip.

Here is a lesson 👨🏻‍🦱👨🏻‍🦳 I don't like being beaten. My skills are tested. ➡️↘️⬇️↗️➡️↘️↘️➡️↘️↘️⬇️➡️↗️➡️↘️⬇️↗️➡️ you get the idea. Needless to say I didn't see him again. I am not being a 🐈 here. The guy was lost. I offered him 💧. He declined. Then he was going at 🐌 pace. Then he is overtaking me. WTEFF. Anyway I hope he made it back safe.

Down the pass. It is a lot of fun. I get to the 🍵 junction. ➡️ turn. Next T junction. Right turn. A little over a kilometer and I am in town. 🍔🍟 for lunch and off to my usual 🛌 spot.

Clean and fresh I am resting up. Been quite a fun day. Looking forward to tomorrow. Beers soon compadres. Chin qui. 

Over and out for today.

🗜™️

⚠️

🌬

☣

☢

Catch 🆙️ℹ🆖️

Sleep was worthless. Got about a pennies worth. Not sure what is going on. Not to mention it was absolutely 🥶🥶🧊🧊 when I got 🆙️ I think an arctic wind. 

The 🚿 was long and hot. I was basically defrosting! Clean, dressed and ready for this 🌝 it was go ⌚. 🔙 the way I rode yesterday. It was easier today, downhill! Then ➡️ onto the tar. Luckily for Ⓜ️e my ol friend headwind was joining for the day. 🤨🤐. The first 5 or so kilometers were a gradual uphill. With.... a headwind 🕺🏻🕺🏻. Seems at the 🔝 things changed. Slight tailwind and much much better speeds. About 30 to go. It was nice riding. Probably a lot more moaning in my head than needed, but now I think about it, it was pretty good.

⬅️ onto the N1. About 9 to do here. 🚳⚠️⚰. Luckily I made it. I get to the garage and stop for a coke and some 🍳🥓🥓🍞🍟 yum. While I am there 6️⃣ 🚛 massive lorries pull up and park on the N1. But why 🤔🤷‍♂️. Hold on I am getting there. They are carrying blades. No not 🪒 but wind turbine blades. And what 👀 like the base towers. Really an impressive sight. Apparently about 70 meters long 😳😥. Off to Sutherland to a new wind farm. I inform them no need as I have been eating copious amounts of bread and I have plenty of 💨💨 I laugh, the driver laughs, the pedestrian walking past laughs. A rare occasion in 🇿🇦, a white, a black and a coloured laughing at the same terrible joke. I kick the dog!

We go our separate ways. I was on this road about 5 days ago, going the other way. I know what to expect. Through the bustling metropolis of Touws Rivier. 🚽 The joe arrives. I am 30kms from my destination 🥳🤠😎🕺🏽. I take it fairly easy. The wind is an ever so slight tailwind 😳🤨. I check to make sure I am going the right way 🤠✅☑✔. It is just magnificent. Beautiful surroundings. I feel grateful for my journey. 🙏🏻

I come to the intersection where I came from a few days ago. 2 farmer chaps have 👀 me and pulled over for a chat. After about 10 minutes we bid our farewells and get going in our respective directions. 

No sooner than I have gotten comfortable the sign to my destination. 🦎 rock. I am so happy to be here. I spot 2 massive gemsbok just through the 🚧. As soon as they see me they head up into the veldt. I greet the owner. She signs me in and I am on my way to my campsite. Only me here. It is just beautiful. 

🚿🧼🧽🚽🧻 I am sitting enjoying a glass of water and a few biscuits. I am happy. 

My return journey is in full swing. I will be back soonish. My mind is still abuzz with life. I need sponsors. So far none of you have come up with anything 😅🤣🤪.

See y'all soon. 🍻🍺🍷🍷 you are buying. My 🚲 has just been incredible. I think it wants a faster rider 😞😭. Hard to believe what has happened so far since I left. Closing in on 4000 kilometers. There will definitely be a story to be told at the end of this trip. It has been an experience I have loved. Lonely at times. Very lonely but this is life. I would not change a single thing. 

Thanks for reading. It's not over yet. 

💙

🗜™️

Catch 🆙️ 🆗️🆗️

It was a 🥶 🌚. The days may be waruum but the nights are winter sleeping bag cold. 🆙️ and go. It was a bush sleep so no 🚿. Oh dear 👃🏻🚫. Off to my favorite shop for 🍳🍳🥓🥓🥓🍞🍞🐷🐷. Yummy! I am satisfied now. 🤤. 

I go to the spar on my way out. Few items. Not much needed. Then onto the 🛣. About 18kms before it's a ⬅️. It's a grand day. Well it was at this point. Road turns into joe. Nothing to see here. Keep going. Round a corner and a slight ➡️. 🥴😵😳😱😖🤬. Yip you guessed it. Life turns to misery. I do what I can. It is extremely frustrating as I have probably mentioned a million times when you have a strong headwind. It just depletes your energy. Well energy depleted. Good on you.  I just try and keep myself together. It is really hard going. Because of this fact I don't 👂🏻 🚘🚙 come up from behind me. They don't get too close but I nearly jumped out of my 🧦 when they passed. I could then 👀 they were racing each other once they had passed. Damn crazy!

The road gets no easier. It feels like I am just 🧗🏻‍♂️ all day. 😓😅. Eventually I 👀 the sign I have been looking for. Yip... I saw the sign and it opened up my 👁👁 I saw the signnnnn. It was a 🍵 junction. I knew there was a ⬅️ here and then shortly a ➡️. It's down a pass. Fast. Losing altitude is not good at all. It just means I have to find it further down my journey. Just after the ➡️ it comes back 👀 for Ⓜ️💊. Yay 😶🤭🤐. 🚵🏻‍♂️🚵🏻‍♂️ seems all I have done today. After about 3️⃣2️⃣5️⃣6️⃣⌛ the road I have been aiming for. MATROOSBERG 🕺🏻.

It's really not far down and a little up. Sign in. Pay the lady. Off to campsite. 🏕🕺🏻. Great success. Very nice.

🧦🧥🧤🦺👘🩳🩲 all washed. Dinner time. 🍞😅🤣. It's a good night from me and good night from me!

🗜™️

Catch 🆙️ 🆗️

It was a ©️®️🅰️🅿️ sleep. I had put my ⛺ very poorly on a rock. Basically no matter what I did I was rolling into the side of the abode. I learnt my lesson. 🌝rise the next morning was just 🏆. You could 👀 pools of 💧 from the previous days ⛈🌧 it really was beautiful. No ⌚ to sit and watch. It was off. Not a hard stretch. Well it shouldn't have been. I get to the Cederberg roadg ➡️. I know this joe well. Nothing to speak of. It's fast and furious. I get to the last hill. Done this 1️⃣ a few times. New record today 🤷‍♂️. I get cracking. Good stuff. After about ⏸⏺ minutes I find myself 🚶🏻‍♂️ pushing the 🚲. Absolutely blown up. There is ⭕% of energy left. It is survival mode. If takes me close on double what it should have. I just had nothing to give.

At oasis! Food. 🥪🥪🍟🍟 ➕🍺🍺. I drink lots of 🧊💧 for the rest of the 🌞. Sleep was sufficient and ready for 🌞day.

I want to get going 🚵🏻‍♂️ early, so I am packed and settling the 🧾 sharpish. No plan 😳😲😅😅. I am going to take the long way round 🔙 2️⃣ op die berg. Short way 60kms. Long way 160kms 🦧😅🤣. To the same place? ✅☑✔🧐🙈. And off. Love the start. 30kms to uitkykpas. The descent is magnificently fast. Brakes smoking. Tyres screeching, some 🐈 on a 🏍 comes flying past ⚰⚱ the music is playing china 🎶🎵. 

I get to the bottom safely. No sign of street hawk. He must be home already!! Short flattish. Small very rideable climb. Another fast long descent. I am McDonald'sing this day. Another fun section into Citrusdal. 

😳😲😥😞 that town 👀 and 👃🏻 like a rubbish dump now. I am sorely disappointed. At the cafe for a supply or two. From here it is a 1000 meter climb to the top of the next pass. Not that steep. Well it has short sections, but what has 🎣 my 👁 is the ☁️🌧☁️🌧 moving in. I get cracking. Probably 30 minutes in I look to see what is what. The rain, not purple has arrived in the town. I push harder. Luckily it seems to be trying to wash the town clean 😳😅🤣. I keep an 👁 on it while I move. 🤞🏻🤞🏻.

Somehow I make the 🔝 without getting more than a few 💧💧💧 on me. Great success 🕺🏼. The descent on the other side is almost my last ride. I notice a 🚘 coming behind me. I move to the ➡️ so we should both be safe. As this happens another 🚘 coming up the ⛰ comes round the corner. Well. How on 🌍 this guy did not hit me is an absolute wonder. Entirely my fault. Understood. I thought I was doing the right thing. No 🚙🚘🚗🚐 for hours then one from both directions at the same ⌚. Que the music 🎼🎵🎶⚰⚱. No one stopped. I was sort of in the bush. It took a few minutes to compose myself.  😅🤣.

Back on it. I keep going. It is getting late. I look around for places to 🛌. Stopping here and there to see if it is safe. No luck. I end up at my spot on the other side of op die berg. The 🌝 has gone and I setup in the dark. Bedtime!!

🗜™️

☁️

🌧🌧

⛈

W A D

I need to find better places to 🏕. I really like Simonskloof but 2️⃣ yes ✌🏻 days in a row the bloody 🐓🐓🐓 I think I 👂🏻 about 3 of them start yakking away at 🕒am in the morning. THAT IS 3 AM IN THE MORNING❗ and they don't shut the f up until about 7. 🤨😬😫🥱😡🧯🧯🧯 bloody rodents. Time they filled a serving dish 🍗🍗🍗🍷 deelicious.

So anyway. I was up at 3am. In and out of 😴💤 until I decided to get 🆙️ at about 🕕. I went to 🚿, cold water only. Not too bad. Fresh as a 🥀. Packed I am ready to 🛫. It's a 200 meter climb over about 5 kilometers. Not too bad if your 🦵🏻🦵🏻 are warm. I get to the top. Downhill for 6 kilos. Into the shop. A quick coke and a small niknaks will do for now. From here it is 🆙️ lunch bar. Another pass. The one I descended yesterday on my race lap. It's not too bad. Few 🚛🚚 pass me coming the other way, obviously in a race of their own. Over the pass. Halfway down the other side it's a ➡️ turn. On to the joe. Doing nicely. Pass a spectacular campsite in the middle of nowhere. Got their name for my next trip. 🍵 junction. It's a left turn. Not too far down this road and I arrive at Touws Rivier. It's a town not a river. When I say town I mean 🚽. I 🛑 in at the... yip. Not a bad shop. The till driver 🛃 is an absolute 🧠 dead moron. Needless to say she pissed me off. I depart. 

I have a 10 km stretch to do on the N1 🛣. This really made me unhappy. Anyway halfway down the road I pull over as it looks ⛈🌧. I wait 20 minutes and continue. It's a ➡️ turn off the 🛣. I am pleased I survived. The evidence is clear it was a 🏆 choice. Water everywhere. They needed this so good times. At the end of this road another 🍵 junction. A motorist has pulled over. More of a van driver. I think quick. WTF. Is he going to 🔪🔪 me and steal my 🚲. Or throw me in with the bike and 🔪🔪 me later 🥺😭😭. Actually dadah he is a watermelon supplier. He has cut me one up into pieces and is waiting for me 🦧🐒😳😳😲 I 💩 you not. Wow but does it go down a treat. 

Weird that... I woke up 10 minutes later in the back of his 🚚 😅🤣🤣 just kidding. 

I thank him for the offering. It really was good. Especially in today's heat. It's a right turn and onto the joe. I know where I want to be tonight. But at that point I was nearly done. The ☁️ were building up. Massive massive electrical storm. ⚡🌩⛈🌧. I am just into the Tankwa and I need to send it  full power if I am going to miss this thing. It was absolutely draining but I managed. 🥵🥵 40kms of the Tankwa, up a pass and 5kms down that road. 

I look out over the Tankwa. I have 🛌😴 here before so hopefully all well. I am tired, but today has been a day I have absolutely loved riding. It had everything I needed to know I can ride a 🚲. 

It's bedtime. I am pooped. 

Sleep tight all. Check out the pictures. I promise they do it no justice. It was amazing to watch.

Chat soon.

🗜™️

☮

Race Is On

The reason for my ✌🏻 day stop here is simple. Worked it out yet? Oh dear. Let me explain. Last ⌚ I was here I was informed about a route around the dam, over another pass and then back here 🗺. All in about 38kms. Now I am on something called strava. It's an app that records your performance and 🚲 accomplishments. Some rodney sole had the winning ⌚. So my trip here was to 👀 if I could beat him. 

This morning I absolutely gunned it. I was fresh. Well fed. Full power. Bike in top condition. Rider in some condition. Down towards the dam. I have no suspension so it was probably a bit more careful than I would have liked. Then round the side. Still feeling good I gave it the gass. Then arrives a fairly respectable hill. Yusses but I thought by the time go to the top I had died of corona. I couldn't breathe. I could hardly keep pedaling. Luckily it was down a pass for long enough to catch my breath and regroup. Right on to the joe again. Giving it all the beans I had I gassed it to the Simonskloof turnoff. Another short climb, through the gate and back.

Well I have no 📶 here so I don't know what happened yet. I think 🤔 I did a 1.38 and he did a 1.43. So not sure. Need to update when I get 📶 again and 👀 what is what and who is who. 

I am resting now 🛌 as I have not ridden that tempo for ages and I feel shot. So once I have seen the results I will either tell you or not. Quite simple really 😅😅.

Okay off for a 🚿. Chat soon my friends. I look forward to 🍻🍻 soon. Probably under 2 weeks I will be back. This ⌚ more effort in to finding a 👨🏻‍🔧👨🏻‍💻 or maybe not. Let's see. 

Until then ☮

🗜™️

Oh Dear!

So my plan tomorrow was to move one up to Matroosberg. I have been informed by a camper who has just arrived that it is full. Apparently walentines weekend or something 😳😅💔 ka boom. So will just have to 👀 what happens tomorrow. 

Yesterday I 👈🏻 Montagu. Can't stay there for long. It's a town and not much fun. I had this placed booked down for ✌🏻 days anyway. Will get to that❕❗ So out of town. Not much crappening. It's a fairly 🆗️ road. A little busier than maybe I like. Once  about 2️⃣0️⃣ or so kilometers it gets much 🤫. Perfect. As I am settling in it arrives. ⛰. Burgerspas. Not lunch.. an actual pass called that. Absolutely no cuisine shops around. Please dear 🛐 tell me why it is called that 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️😅. With the 🌡 rising anyway who has got ⌚ to eat 🤷‍♂️. I pedal like a madman. I have done this pass 🅱️4️⃣. The summit is reached and a sigh of relief is exhaled. Quick 🛑 in at the shop for a coke and the rest of the journey is completed. It is a joe road with a few slight ↗️ and ↘️. Not much to see really. 

Once at the entrance 🚧 you can 👀 why I have returned. Absolute ☮ and serenity. I pay my dues at the reception and set up 🏕🏖. The rest of the day just blends in and I relax to the max. It's a very good 🌚🛌. 

Fetch 👉🏻 🙄

Sunrise

Beautiful House

The Continuation

I got 🆙️ to the most beautiful 🌞 rise this morning. Packing was fun. Still managing to find thorns a plenty. Once done it was back down to the 🍴 less the 🔪  that led me the wrong way. About 1️⃣8️⃣ I think to the 🛣. The ®️6️⃣2️⃣. Yip the road Ronnie's sex shop is on. It was ⬅️ turn. The wind had dwindled down and was allowing me to get somewhere. 🙏🛐. 

It was about another 1️⃣5️⃣ or so to Barrydale. Unpon arriving Barry or Dale were nowhere to be found. I did st🅾️🅿️ the garage for a coke. All done I continued my ride for the day. First to the onslaught was Tradouwpas. I mean how much luck can I have❓ Another 🤬 pass. Yay! It is dealt with painfully. All the aches from yesterday have resumed work. I feel grateful. Once at the summit a little bit of joy makes it's way out. 

From here on it is probably another 50 or so kilometers until my destination. Sort of a rolling road. Absolutely magical if you don't have any 🎒🛍. Another story if are carrying 15 kilograms of stuff 🧦🦺🩳🩲🧤🧢🛠⚒🔩⚙ etcetera. One thing that happened that blew my 🧦 off was a particular 🚛. 

In this country if you are descending a ⛰ in a truck then you must go into low range gears so that if the brakes break you don't go flying down the hill and kill everyone. Comprendè. Well until now I haven't 👀 this happen. As I am descending one of the moderate ⛰ this 🚛 is going rather slow. Much to the annoyance of about 5 🚘🚙🚗🚙🚘 behind it. I give absolute credit to this dude for driving correctly. Thank you Sir 🎩. 

Anyway. So here I am. Back in Montagu. Off to Simonskloof tomorrow. No 📶 up there. 2 days maybe 🤷‍♂️. 

Today was actually a really good day. 4 hours 45 minutes riding. 99.68 kilometers 😅😅. I feel great. Much better than a few days ago. So I am happy.

Sleep tight all. 🅱️💊 safe. 

Chat soon. 

🗜™️

💙

Montagu

Wow yesterday was a tough 🚲. The 🥇 part was fun. Down into Calitzdorp. A superb ride. Little ⛰ but nothing to destroy the 🦵🏻. 

Spar for some goodies 🍞🍔🍟🌭🥛🚰 lunch bar 🤦‍♂️. Having eaten some of the bounty it was full speed ahead.  A short meander to the bottom of Rooiberg Pass and this is probably where the joy left me 👋. It was getting into the triple digits 🌡 again. Probably around 1️⃣8️⃣ teeeeeee. Well it was warm. I barely managed the climb. I have done it before but last ⌚ it was refreshingly overcast ☁️⛅. No such luck yesterday! Anyway once at the top ⛰ the views were breathtaking. Yes I was still catching my breath. The descent. Well again... yay!!! I can't really descend that fast. I have luggage. One item being a 🖐, yes five liter bottle of 🈯️ h2ooooh! You 👀 I can never be 💯% sure on whether I need it or not. Rather too much than too little she 😭. 

Past Rooiberg Lodge. Not camping there this time. Noooooo. Much better idea it has. So I continue. Van Wyksdorp. Wow. 😲. What a 💩🕳. I am guided 👉🏻 to the shop. A coke. They have no water. No one in that town has money for water. It comes from the 🚰. And I concur. So off again. I don't really have a plan yet. Was going to go to Herbertsdale. I keep pushing. To my good fortune a respectable 🌬🦲 has arrived. It just keeps getting warmer. 🥳. I get to the turn off. Herbertsdale straight or Montagu ➡️. Without stopping I turned ➡️. I can't explain why. So now I am going down this road with the mountain on my left. I mean it is pretty. But why I did this I don't know 🤷‍♂️. Searching new areas this was supposed to be. 

I am doing what I can to keep moving. The 🦵🏻 are sore. My bum is burning and now 🤯🥳 my ✋🏻 has decided to be painful too 🕺🏼. I feel like used parts. The ⏳ keep rolling by. I suddenly get a little nervous that I have not found a 🛌 spot. I get a section of road that has a ⬅️ or a ➡️ turning with the same ending. I choose ⬅️. About 4kms down what the hell do I find 🤔🤷‍♂️ well I'll tell you. It's a 🔒🚧. I know right. If I unpack my bike it will be dark once I have gotten over and repacked it. There is absolutely no other way around this gate. So I turn around... every now and then I fall apart. Just kidding. About a kilometer I see a fairly decent place to sleep. Bit of grass etc. 

So there is where it was to be. Except was it 🦧🐒. Nooooooooo. I had managed to miss the thorn 🌳 that was growing right next to me. So guess what I was doing last night? Come on guess. Okay okay. I was removing thorns that had pierced the bottom of my ⛺ and injected me with 5000 neurons of pain. I think I found them all so no worries for the next person that 🛌 there.

TBC...

Always Seems Like Monday 🗓

What a relaxing day yesterday! Easy ride. Nothing to it. Today is Monday. The start of a grand week. Everything new. Everything fresh. An absolutely gorgeous day here. The 🐣🐔🦆🦅🕊🐧🐦🐥🐤 have woken me up at 🕠 to let me know 🤔🤷‍♂️ that I must get up I guess. So 🆙️ I am getting. Looking forward to the ride. Van Wyksdorp it shall be. That is the interim 🥅. Once there an assessment will be done on further proceedings. Need a bigger ride today to clear everything from the stiff 🦿 to rhe 🧠. It all needs a little adjustment. My stop here has been good. Kruisrivier. Super campsite. I was the only attendee last night. So quiet. So peaceful. There is much to be seen. Much to be ridden. I feel I have been looking at the coin from the wrong direction the last few days. 

Happy Monday everyone. I can say it will be a good week. Let's get through it together. Dusty roads today. A big climb, Rooiberg. I almost cannot wait wait. Off for the usual so I can get moving. 

🗜™️😉💙

🏕

Yesterday at the 🚲🧱 there was a tyre that we 👀 at maybe throwing on the rear of my 🚲. The current one is nearly toast. It was brand new when I started this tour. 📃 note to self... don't buy maxxis again! So I was there this 🅰️Ⓜ️ having a gander. Whilst waiting for the owner, a lightie arrives with a wheel. I ask him his story. He says he is riding from the most northern point to Cape Agulhas. The most southern point. 🤔🤨 for real china? He says yip. 🐈 is 19 years old. He left on the 5th of January. Unfortunately we didn't chat much. His 🧓🏻👴🏻 were there to have a day with him. He was putting a new tyre on the rear 🤔🤨. 

Anyway we depart our ways.

Today for me was to go up Swartberg Pass. 🛌 at the top and then down the other side and 🛌 @ Kruisrivier tomorrow. While I need the shorter days and a bit of rest the downtime can be interesting. 

So I might see this youth tomorrow. He will be coming 🆙️ the ⛰ I have just done 😁😅. I would be interested to see his setup. Very different to mine. See if I can get a 🖼 of it tomorrow. Whilst his journey us point to point, mine has turned into a sight seeing trip 🔭. He seems reasonable and must be a fairly good 🚲.

It is bloody 🌬🌬 up here. My ⛺ has moved locations about 🔟 times. With me in it 🦧😳😲🐒🐵. It normally calms down after 🌝 set so 🤞🏻. 

I am starting to 🧠 about my return. I guess that's why I am a little gloomy. Not sure as usual if I will stay in ©️™️ or another trip. Not sure how long I can keep doing this. I am working on it.

That's it for this episode. Tune in again soon to see the outcome of...

🗜 😉

Feeee ry day

Strange dream night. After thinking about The Ghost Of Uniondale all day yesterday. I feel as though I know this woman. No... I did not have any 🍄🍄 last night.

So up and to it. The usual for a bush get up. All packed I am ready to roll. KA BOOM. Well more of a wheeeeeeee. It's downhill and my 🆓️body makes a 🆒️ whizzing sound. Got about 45 odd kilos to shed through before I can rest up for the rest of the rest day. 🆙️ a bit. 🆙️ a bit more. 🆙️ even more 🤬. Anyway it was very well rewarded at the top. A pass. Lunch bar! Looking over Prince Albert Valley. Beautiful. A little green island in the valley of brown. 

I descend. It's not long. Nor fast. Just enough to bring a satisfied grin to my old mug. The air is 🆒️. It makes me shiver. But I thoroughly enjoy it. The climb had made me work more than I wanted to for a fry yay. The valley is dealt with in reasonable time. No records here.One last little 🆙️ and then a relaxing ride into the town. Feels like home this gaff. I enjoy it here.

At the hotel enjoying a ☕ when a friend stops in to join me. How cool. This is what bike touring is about. Meeting like minded humans who enjoy chatting about what we do. It was grand. Once done it was down to the 🏕 hotel for an erection. Once completed the 🚿 gave me final relief that I was clean and sparkly. No bush camp tonight you dirty sod!

I am at the campsite watching Jerry Springer's sons mow the lawn. You cannot make this shit up. It is one of the funniest comedies I have ever watched. 

With the day to relax I sit here thinking about this trip. I can almost not adam and eve it that this is still the same trip where a few weeks ago I was looking at Hakskeen. Loving its heat and vastness. The absolute feeling of being alone. No one to share. No one to admire with. No one to talk to. It comes at a price. These trips drive me further and further out of society and into solitary. I am not a town person. I don't like the concept of money. It drives wedges between people. It takes control. It causes chaos. 

Enough rambling. I am still looking for sponsors for my riding. Or free gifts I can sell. Or free gifts I can use. Or actually just free booze and bike parts. 

It's Friday my lovelies. I hope you are all well. Happy. Content. Satisfied. So what if they mean the same thing. This is my blog 😉😘.

Tomorrow sees me going into the Swartberg for the night. It's just over 40 here in the pm. I will probably leave around 2. It's a sweat it out day. Then a sleep with the stars night. #excited

Be safe. Enjoy. Until we meet again. 

I miss you all.

G

Cool Shop

Sunset

Sunset

Lost 🧠

Yesterday was a hard day in the drivers 🪑. Luckily🤞🏻for me I ignored the captains advice and went straight 🔙🆙️ the way I had arrived. I know I missed a lot of 🆒️ trails in Plett but I will probably be 🔙 there some⌚. So anyhoo. Slog it back up to the turning 👉🏻. Yip a ➡️ this time. Quite a bit of unmemorable stuff. ➡️↘️↗️➡️↘️↘️➡️↗️⬆️🔄➡️↘️↗️➡️ comprendè? Eventually I get to the spot. Angie's G Spot. We found hers what about the rest of you 💃🏻🚶🏼‍♀️🤔🤷‍♂️🤯. I pull in. No one around. I leave. Usual bloody story I guess. Next is Prins Alfredpas. A 🆕️1️⃣ for me. I am cautioned 🛂 by the 🚺 at the padstal at the bottom that it is tough. I threw her with "I am tuffer" 😉🙃. She laughed, I laughed, her daughter laughed. I left. 

I took it pretty easy. Nothing steep. Just long. You go around every corner looking for some kind of summit ⛰. Nada. Nix. Nia. Fook all! Not much to do but keep going. It is pretty. Nice views, yeah I am going that slow 🐢🐛. A mistake I made was I should have found a place to 😴🛌 up there. But as usual I kept going. Finally after about 1️⃣ ➕ 3️⃣/4️⃣ ⏳ I reach the ⛰. It is quite spectacular. With no ⌚ for pleasantries I shift off. Into some disrespectful little town. A coke and chips please shop keep. 🥩🥩 I am in a hurry. The bounty is packed away.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr out of there. Ariva dache mofos. Off to Uniondale. It's been a long 🌞 by now. Quite a 🆒️ bit of road from there. Going like a 🐇. Into Uniondale. 🐒👀. This place. Yusses. I go to a few places. All rather expensive to sleep in a town that is quite frankly 💩. Eventually I find a gaff 🏯 which is about alff the others. Sold I 😭. Not too bad. Think the place was made pre jesus and they haven't quite updated it yet. But it had what I need 🛏🛋🚽🚿🪒🖥📶. So it served me well.

Today, boom bastic. Quick look in the shop before I 🍂. They have rewritable cd's yip. That's what they sell. I left sharply. 

It was a grand ride out. Nice views. Fun riding. Good 🛣. Just very pleasant. 

I had no real 🥅 today. Just ride. So I did. Long roads. Little 🚗🚘🚙🚚🚛🚐 I don't mean as in midgets cars I mean very few. Somewhere along the way I had to go to the 🚽 by the side of the road. This is a tricky 1️⃣. Get it right and 🏆 get it wrong and well all sorts of bad things can happen. Luckily today was 🏆👏🏻👏🏻. 

Into De Rust. What a little 💎 of a place. Clean 🧹 and neat. I like! What do you think... 🧠

Yes yes yes lunch bar. 🍔🍟. Good food too. Dee licous. Yum. Some young over enthusiastic waiter. Chill bra. 🧊🚶🏿‍♂️. No rush in Greg's 🌍. Lunch done. 🚀🚲. G O. 

It finds me here for the 🌚. I think about 50 from Prince Albert. I want to go and 😴🛌 on the 🔝 of the Swartberg Pass again. I did 2 trips ago and it was Fan Tastic. So tomorrow 🛌 Prince then up the ⛰. #excitedIam

That's all for now I guess. If you 👀 for rewritable 💽 then I can assist. 

Peace out people. 

Love. Peace. Kindness. Hope. 

G💙

W T F

600 Years Old 😳

Brrrrrm Brrrrrm

Tooosday

I was 🆙️ relatively early 🕡ish or so. 🚿🧼🧽🧻🦷💄 and so on and so forth. Ready for the 🌞 I have a quick ☕ with the boss. Then it's go ⌚. A quick 🔙 into town for a supply or 2️⃣. All done. I head out of town towards Plettenburgies Bay. Quite a steep climb up the drag. Then make a ⬅️ turn. About a kilometer down this road this absolute piece of 🐶💩 grabs my arm. Now I have never felt scared or threatened on any of my trips. The language I used, was probably not english. I was angry. Very very angry. I pulled my arm away quickly and kept swearing at this piece of shit until I was a distance away. I still find myself angry right now. I kept thinking if I had a 🔫 a real one I definitely would have pulled it on this brain dead dog turd. So probably a good idea I don't have one.

A couple of kilometers down the 🛣 the township ends and I find myself entering a forest of sorts. 🌲🌳🌴 everywhere. It is quite pretty. 🆙️ and more 🆙️ and just keep going up. I don't mind terribly. It's cooling and rather beautiful. The odd mud patch but mostly great riding. Describing this road would be easy. A road through a forest. Da daah! Less traffic. Less bloody everything. I enjoy it. Suddenly a ➡️ turn and I see a whole bunch of 🐒🐵 well baboons scatter off the road. Quite a laugh. 

The climbing continues 🚵🏻‍♂️. It's a sort of easy going ride. I pass a picnic spot. Then another. The third one is where I stop for... 🍞 and biscuits. Yummmmmmy. The journey gets going again.  🔜 after this I reach the turning 👉 for the day. A right turn. Down, well I thought it was down, into Pee let in burg bay. 

It was simply just not down. It started off nicely but quickly became an 🆙️. I didn't mind. It was a gorgeous day and I had plenty of 🚰. Views no end. Beautiful. Pretty. Well impressive. Booya! Finally the road to the bay. It's a ➡️ turn. I turned. Right. I haven't made town yet. I found me a healthy food gaff and what is next 🚪? Guess... come on guess. Okay okay it are is a 🏕🏖🏝⛺🚐 caravan park. And tents 🐒😉. 

Chat with the bossman. No discount 🐈😶 but he is a cyclist too. Well so he tells me. He is gonna show me a good route outta here tomorrow 🅰️Ⓜ️. So good news there.

After today's incident I need to be slightly more careful. Less nice. I am in this for me. I have to be safe. I will be more careful and more protected from now. 

Otherwise life is absolutely grand. I hope you are all doing well too. Miss you. You probably all drunk. Well enjoy it.

Chat soon.

G.

More Kak

So I am off to Hoekwil. To meet a new friend. Wayne. He has offered to put me up for the night. 🍜🍝🛌🛀 the absolute works. I mean five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I 💩 you not. So off I go to Hoekwil. Again new area for me. Not sure what to expect. The road is called the 7️⃣ passes. It is super. Magnifique. ➡️↗️↘️↘️➡️↗️↗️➡️↘️↗️➡️↘️↗️➡️↗️↘️ not to mention I am feeling particularly strong. It is dealt with accordingly. Boom. I find the house. Wayne is on his way home. He went for an out and back ride the day prior. On his way home. He arrives in good time and the afternoon is spent talking about... bikes obviously. He too has a Lynskey. Now quickly. If you own a bike you are a cool person. If you own a Lynskey you are like me. A legend. 

The chat is good. The food delicious. The sleep brilliant. What a break from it all. It was grand. The people I have met. The fortune that has bestowed me. Truly grateful. 

Breakfast this morning. Sandwiches for the trip to boot. Man. This is good.

The weather was not on its best behavior. Overcast. Out of luck as I ride the rain seems to stop. Slightly muddy but not too bad. Today saw the 🦵🦵 absolutely struggle. I could not find pace or power. Everything was just hard work. Like a tap was just draining my energy. It felt a bit weird. I have not felt like this for absolutely ages. Anyway. My plan for today changed about 10 times. Nothing was going to be what it should. 

So I find myself here. Knysna. Second time here. It's okay. 

But is it.... 5 star place. No shit. I promise. She asked what I wanted to pay. I said 200. She said cool. Well what a human she is. We have just chatted for 2 hours. Interesting to say the least. Her boyfriend is doing the trail walk. She is Swedish. He is German. I cannot tell you how interesting she is. 

Well that's me for now. I need sleep. 

Chat soon my friends. 

G

Still Here

I sometimes get a bit lost and start with a post and then delete it because I feel it is not right. Today I am good. It has been something of a few days. Mostly just excellent and happy. 

So Saturday it was over the pass. I felt good. Really good. It's a decent climb 🚵‍♂️. Down the other side. Whizzing like a little shit. Fun. Bike in excellent shape. Man I was so happy. Into Oudtshoorn. 🍔🍟 standard by now. 🚰 lunch bar. Out of there. Wheeeeeee. Onto the Joe. ↗️➡️↘️↗️➡️↘️↘️⬇️☢➡️↗️➡️↗️➡️↗️↗️⬆️ you get my drift. 

Suddenly 👀👁. Can it be? I wipe my 👀👁. I clean my 👓🕶🥽. Aweh. Fo shizzle. It can like to be. It are. A microbrewery. I don't mean they serve midgets or tiny little glasses of beer. It is a small independent 🍺 maker. I go in. Sup homie. Beer please. Expecting to be laughed at. Within seconds there it is. Like amber nectar, a beer. A real life fucking beer 🍺. I cry. The barman cries. The dog cries. The other patron cries. I ask "alcoholic". He says fo sho. I cry. The barman cries. The dog gets a kick and the other patron kicks the dog too. 

One foul swoop the cup is empty. I look at it. The barman looks at it. The other patron shouts fill em up landlord. I insist of a half as the ride for the day is not over.

It was delicious. Lip smackingly good. Beer done I get going. Small tip here. Don't ever try and ride after a beer comma five. But today was an exception. There were no 💩💩 to be given. Weirdly this is where the ride got bloody tough. Not to mention the 🌬🦲 that had arrived. I struggled. It was rough. I should have gotten take aways. Lesson learnt.

From here on it was hard going. I reached my goal. Tired. Dazed. Confused. Drunk probably. Accommodation up ⛺ I settled down and slept like Greg. Yes, I slept just like I always do. Bloody poorly 🤣. 

Up the next morning. Down Montagu pass. Which is in George by the way 🤷‍♂️ sup with that! It was outstandingly good. Cold. It was early. Even early for me. Brisk, beautiful air. I was outrageously happy.

Into town. Straight to the bed shop. Well outdoor warehouse. My blow up doll, sorry I mean mattress was at the end of its days. I needed a new one. Deal done. Off to Hoekwil. 

T B C

Swartberg Pass

A Pub 🤫🤫

Yes A Beer 🍺

Lynskey Club

What A Difference

What a difference a day can make ⬜ or ⬛. I feel much better 2️⃣day. Had an incredibly good 💤 last 🌚. Only woke 🆙️ once to 🅿️. Great success. It was 🤫 and very peaceful. 

Ready to go by 🎰 the 🚲 was as light as a 🍁. No extra 💧🌊, no extra 🍞🍔🍟 just one bottle full and my kit. It was a 2️⃣🅾️ kilometer ⬇️ 🚵🏻‍♂️ to Prince Albert. Not the 💍 the town. I had barely gotten warmed up before I found myself in the ☕ shop ordering a slim/mocha/coconutmilk/sugarfree/double/glutenextra/natural coffee with a half canderel. Needless to say it will be my very last ⌚ there at 35 rands per ☕. Holy 🐂 bruv! Whilst enjoying my mug and being mugged I met the owner of the local 🚲 shop. 🔝class citizen. In fact we have a 🚲🚲 tomorrow at 🕕am. I know 😳😳😴😴.

So ☕ done ➕ 🏦 balance too, I depart the venue. My 🏕 spot is known. I have been here 🅱️🔢. It is great. Under the 🏝🌴🌲🌳. Quiet 🤫. Peaceful. 🏕 erected and 🧦🧤🩳🦺🕶 done off to the spar. I like this one so 👍. Trying to eat a bit better so less 🍬🥧🍩🍰🍫 and a bit more 🍌🍏🍎🍄. That last one is magical. 

Well it's Friday now! The ride was a blast. Some youth joined us. 🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️🙍🏿‍♂️ or so. Cool guys. Well they were until they whipped me. One guy in particular was quite fast. 🚵🏿‍♂️. It was an enjoyable ride. New 🛣 to me. All joe. About 4️⃣ 0️⃣ kilos. 

Being done with that Arno, the 🚲 shop chief treated me to ☕. We chatted about my route for ✌morrow. Swartberg Pass then all downhill I am assured 🤔😅😅. All in about 1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ for the 🌞. Should be lekka ding. The 🌞🌚🌪🌦🌧⛈⚡ well it's predicted to be 🔥 with more 🔥🔥 in the 🅿️Ⓜ️. Met eish. I might melt. 

With lunch just been devoured I might have myself some 😑👀. No, not chinese... some shut eye. A rest. Siesta. Nap. Old peoples time. Whatever you want to call it.

Be safe. Be good. Be like me. Don't be a 🐈. Okay sorry for that one.

Until then peace out.

G💙

Long Roads

Table Cloth

🚽

Cool Spot

Wednesday 27th

Yesterday was a good day. I was up at 5. I know right. WTF. Anyhoo. I get 🧦🥾🕶🦺🩳. Pack up the ⛺. Bid the 🐢🐢🐢 farewell and get moving. Should be 6️⃣0️⃣ odd to BW. Want to be early. Get a room for the night. Remember 3 days no 🚿 = 👃🥺🤢. It is just more magnificent rriding.The scenery is top class. This road is definitely to be returned to one day. Then the pass. Descent. Fast. Fun. I have been needing this. About 🔟 kms long. Half way down you  notice the fence on the right has extended upwards and is fully ⚡⚡. The Karoo national park. I see a few 🦓🦌 probably not reindeer. More our sort of buck. It is truly grand. 

Unfortunately a dead 🦎 too. Big one. About a meter long. This is to be the start of my dead animal sights❗😥. Then the N1. About 2kms and I am in town. 9ish o🕰. Excellentè. Breakfast at wimpy. Ooooooooo delicious. 🍳🍳🥓🥓🍞🍞🍟. It goes down well. Quick 🚲 around town and I am booked in for the night. 🦶🆙️ for the day. My body is getting sore. My ass is eina. Luckily no saddle sores but the sit 🦴 are getting painful. My 🤚 too. These long days are beginning to take their toll.

After a somewhat good rest, it is a long shower this morning before I get going. It is welcomed. If they didn't have a 💧💧 shortage before, they do now. Then the day gets started. A short cut to the N12. Joe road. Quiet. 1 🚗 that's it. Nice. Then the N12. Not too bad. 🚗🚘🚙🏎 ➕🚛🚚. I push on. 

Then 😓😭 a 🍞🐢. Shortly after another. Both been hit. This kind of thing makes me sad. I got thinking about it for hours after. I guess just an accident. Who knows.

The 🌬🦲 returns. It's not a good day. I am sore again. To add to the painful ass and hands my right under my armpit is sore too now. I didn't know you started to fall apart at this age. 😅😅. So be it. We can't control everything I guess. 

So here I am for the 🌚. In the bush. It's beautiful. A riverbed. It's fresh out ❄. The doors are closed but the roof is off. Full 🌚 tonight. Some days are a bit of a struggle. Today was one of them. But no matter how each day goes, at the end of it I am very grateful for this trip. My learnings. My peace. My time. My life. My bike. My decisions. I am grateful for all.

Sleep tight lovely people. 

Chat soon.

G💙

Yes I Will Live There

Yummy

Part Deaux

I get up this morning. I have a huge decision to make. I mean like nuke iran or not. Yeah big one.

I get going 🚴‍♂️🚲. Luckily 🤞 the 🌬🦲 is still a🔵. So what to do 🤷‍♂️. It us hard work. Really frustrating. Speeds of around 🔞 kilometers per ⌚. Probably even less. The 🦵 are sore. It's tough. With N⭕ 1️⃣ to complain to I just do what I 🛢 which is dismal really. Traffic is quiet. About 51 kilometers until I ➡️ to Britstown. I think 3 ⏲ of my life wasted riding into the wind. It was hard. The ➡️ comes. 🐒🤪🤯🥳🥳 tailwind. Boom. I stop in for a ☕🥓🍳🍳🍞. Delicious. Takes the tank to half full. Let's go. 

Next stop is Victoria West. I have to turn off here. 

2 options. 1 ride straight and go on the N1 and get run over. 2 go to Loxton and then Beaufort West. Adds on about 70kms.😬

This trip has never been about rushing. Doing things quickly. But I want to get to Oudtshoorn and chill a few days. So I am in the spar and there is one white dude. I tjoon him, hey boss. Loxton it far, joe road? Joe he says... sure joe, like joe dirt from the movie. Is it a dirt road 😳🤦‍♂️. He says whatever. Then he chirps, I am driving there now. Want a lift. Yes please 🙏. 2 minutes for groceries and I will be there. Sure he says.

I hope in the truck. No 🚿 3 days. Same clothes. 👃❌🚫 Sorry I say. What to do. He says don't worry. Be happy. He say, don't worry now. 

We chat. Lekka dude. Tom. He is the sheep 🐑🐏 man for the area. All sorts. Knows all the farmers and so on and so forth. Drops me in Loxton. Nice little town actually. 

I get going. The first 20 or so are 🦷 jarringly bad. Corururururururugated. It's bad. Then. Pristine joe road. Scenery is incredible. This road is in my top 3 fir riding. I will be back to do it.

About half way along. In 🛏. Quickly catching up. 3 big 🐢 outside my 🚪 eating. Noisy critters. Stunning place. Pictures to follow. Hope to be in Beaufort West early tomorrow. Clean. Then shower. Then clean again and lastly a shower. Wash the 🦺🩳🧤🧦. 

I am tired. Sleep tight everyone. Muss y'all.

G.

I'm Back!

Yes I am 🔙 in the 🚾. ⛺ is setup in a little pond area tonight. Beautiful ✅, good day ✅ but 🌚 I am exhausted. Left 🆙️🆖️✝️🅾️N a few days ago. Rode as much as I could. The first 5️⃣0️⃣ or so were pretty 🚽. I was finding my 🦵🦵 and not much scenery. Then after that just 🖼 perfect. Pretty places. Nice riding. The road follows the 🍊🏞 for a long way. The industries that survive off the river are immense. Farms a many. Many many. 

Once I had cleared my way through all that it was long open roads. Yes long. I mean LONG. 📏 about a gafillion of those. Then ❌ that number by a gafillion. Definitely a word jz could say. The riding on the road is not my favorite but I have been on the tar for the last probably thousand kilometers. Not my finest work. The riding was spectacular. Until ⛈🌧🌩. 💩 ➕ betal, I think it's called?! The storms are incredible. Not like Daniel at all. You can 👀 them building. The ⚡⚡ yusses bru. Not careful and that stuff will shave your beard off. So I had to take cover before I wanted to stop. Under a 🌁. I get everything ready. Nice. Why do you 🦧 the 🌁 is there? Mmmmm. Next thing 🅱️4️⃣ I can collect my stuff together my ⛺ is flooded. The 🌁 is there so the 💧🌊 can go from the high ground to the LOW ground. I managed to keep most things dry. I honestly don't think I have ever moved that fast. Luckily 🤞 there was another side to the 🌁 which was keeping itself dry. That would be my sleeping spot for the night.

Next day. Let's shift. 🚲🚀 Up, go. Move. Again I do what I 🛢 The first part of the day goes 🏊‍♂️ly. Stop in at Prieska for a top up of supplies. Get out of there. First hour or so 🤙👍 great success. Then 😳😲😱🥺😭 in that order. 🌬🦲. Now if you have ever 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚵🏻‍♂️🚵‍♀️ in a 🌬🦲 you will know what I mean.

1 riding in the rain. I don't mind it but it absolutely destroys your 🚲

2 riding with the wind 🏆🥇 I like.

3 riding into the wind 🖕 tsek. 

I push on for about 3 hours of this crap. Honestly think I covered about 40 kilometers in that ⌚. It broke me. NOT broke back mountain. Again it was an earlier ⛔ than I wanted. Under a 🌁. Feel safe and happy. 🥱😴

Friday

Yesterday was up. Ready to 🚀. Said 👋 to the other campers. The gentleman had given me one of his prized 🍺 the day 🅱️4️⃣. We had chatted like old friends. I have met and continue to meet some amazing people. I enjoy this aspect of my trips enormously. 

Off it was. I knew where I needed to be. 💯 ➕5️⃣⭕ kilometers down the 🛣. It was a famous start. Turn to the ⬅️ and see a bird in the tree. It is big. It is maaaaaaaaasive. It are a vulture. As I stopped to look, it took off from the 🌴. Well the size of this thing. I figured a wing span of at least the very least 3️⃣ meters. Never in my life. I just watched this thing get going. 

Time to move. Sort of a side/tail wind. Not much in it but at least not a 🌬🦲. The going was ✅. Just keep pushing Greg. The legs were keeping to the schedule. I count a few dead 🦇👂🦊 in the road. About 4 in total. 2 small ones and 2 larger ones. Not in the same spot. It was an awful 👀 every time❕❗😔.  Conditions for the most part still the same. I am going full gass. 

The 🚛🚚🚙 have all been just exceptional. Loads of space and a greeting from every driver. It was 🆒️. 6 ⌛ in and I am cooked 🍞. The legs feel intermittent. The body is taking strain. The 🍑 well 🤕🤕 eina.

I had ridden past incredible dunes. Some bare. Some covered in green. A couple of pans. One still mining 🧂. Big hills of white. Pablo will know what I mean. Trucks. Many many trucks. People going up to the Kgalagadi and several returning. For a road with this much traffic it was in great condition. 

Suddenly to the left of me ☁️⛈🌩 and to the ➡️ same stuff. The 🌬 has picked up dramatically. From all angles at the same time. I was in the 💩 less the 👀. I had to pick it up. Mustering what I could I dropped the 🔨 and all the other stuff I would not be needing. My 🥅 was within reach. Would I make it in ⌚? I gave it my all. 

Round the bend and there it is... my campsite for the 🌚. I get to the 🚧. 🛎🛎 hellooooo. A dry spot for the evening please. Paid and set up. I was at least there dry.

The evening was loaded with huge 🌬🌬🌪🌪. No 🌧🌧 but I moved abode about 8 times during the night. I definitely did not wake up where I put my ⛺.

The morning was a different 📜. Having survived the night I thought I was in the clear. 😅🤣😂. The 🌧🌩⛈🌬🌫☁️⛈ opened. My ⛺ NOT waterproof. 🤿 fitted my ⛺ was now a 🏝. 500 lengths was order of the day. Stuff dries. What you gonna do.

Eventually the heavens cleared and everything dry, I hightailed it for town. 🆙️ℹ🆖️t🅾️N. Safe and alive I am blessed. Gerhard has out done his previous work for keeping me alive. I am safe, sound and very comfortable. Again... I owe this man a debt of gratitude. 

Admin done. I am feet up for a few hours. 

Tomorrow sees me embark on the beningin begeening shit man... beginning of my return journey. Through Oudtshoorn. So for now that is my goal. Again as usual, no ⌚🖼. Just ride and enjoy. I am excited for it. Will keep this going. So stay tuned.

Peace

☮

G™️

Different angle

Sunrise

🏎🚔🚗🏍 beep beep

Tonight

There is a beautiful orange glow in the surrounds tonight. You can almost see the heat rising from the earth. It is very peaceful. Well apart from that twat who just drove past. 

I am lying on my bed. Sweating! I hope it cools down. Chatted with the other camping guests. Only one other couple here. They say they are here for a month. A week in so far. I think I would get bored. They are good people. Nice to chat with. As mentioned the loneliness works its way through me. It can be difficult. 

Tomorrow is 150kms. Doable! The weather app said "get in your fridge". When the weather app says 40🌡 you may as well just die. Anyway I bid you goodnight. I wish upon you happiness and peace. (the good fortune I am keeping for myself... sorry).

Be safe. Be kind and most of all be I  the fridge. 

Until then ☮

G💙

Upington Accommodation 🙏

Hakskeen

It was 🆙️ and off early today. On the 🛣 by 🕖ish I think. I knew today was going to be 🔥. I doubled up on the 🌞 cream. It was roughly 80kms to Askham and then 70kms to Hakskeen. I wasn't sure how this day was going to pan out. I go out the gates well. Doing a respectable speed. I know I want to get to Askham for lunch and hopefully 🤞 Hakskeen by the 🔚 of the day. All is in order. Askham in plenty of time for a quick food and a 🚾🆘️. Business done at both ends I light up the 🦵 again. The 🌡 is increasing all the while. It must be triple digits again. 🥵🥺.

I pass through the 2 little towns about 🔟 🅱️4️⃣ Hakskeen. I am excited. I never actually thought I would get here 😅🤣. You can see by the surroundings there has been much 🌧🌧. The earth is lush and green. Finally over the last ⛰ and there it is. Much as last time except for it being partly covered in 💧🌊 now. It really is just beautiful. I feel a slight sense of achievement. I have ridden over a ☝️✊✊✊ kilos to see this again. To be fair I also asked myself why. I actually packed out 😅🤣. It is far. 

I ride the road section through the pan. It is pretty. But wow it is hot. It is significantly warmer when you stop... 🔨⌚ 😅😅. When you ride you have air passing over you which seems to work well for me. When I stop 🥵🥵 it can like to be vaaaaarum. So there I was. At the pan. Seen it now. What to do. 🤔🤷‍♂️.

So I started riding back to Askham. I have had many chuckles since turning around. So no questions please. Today was fun. I enjoyed it. Not much 🤡ing around. Just good old ride your 🚲. This is strange! My trips are not supposed to be about 🔨ing down how much I can ride. They are supposed to be about 👀 the country and having fun. Granted around here not that much to do between towns. And the towns are far apart. 

So the return journey starts. Through Oudtshoorn. It will be slower and definitely much easier. I am actually quite shattered from riding here. Tomorrow is a short day to Askham. About 30 kilometers. Then back to Upington. After that slow it all down and get back to the enjoyment factor. 

Thanks to all of you. One way or another you have impacted my life. I am grateful to be doing this. I know I say it a lot but I mean it sincerely. If ever any of you need anything just shout. Or whattsapp might be easier. I will be on my bike to you. Whatever it is we will sort it. 

I am here safely in Askham. Rest of the day off. Chat tomorrow. Be safe my friends. Be awesome. Be you.

💙G

Or

It Is Rather Pretty 🤷‍♂️

Perfect 🥚

On My Way To The 🧂🍳

Today saw me leaving luxury 🛏🛋🚿🚽🖥. Again thank you kindly Gerhard Els. It was great to put a face to our chats. 🙏

After a full 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍳🥓🍞 I was ready to start today's episode of WHAT THE FFFF WILL GREG DO❓❔ I had a plan. Not a long winded one but a plan nonetheless. It was simply to leave Upington and see how far I could get. Over the 🍊🏞 and on the tar. It is a busy road. About 30 or so minutes in, a Mitsubishi is stationary on the roadside. Gerhard. We chat, it is short but a meeting I am grateful for. On top of everything he hands me a water and some drywors (spelling). He informs me of a lady cyclist coming towards us.

A further 20 or so minutes down the road I meet said cyclist. Her name will drop now.... that's it Penny. She is touring 🇿🇦. From Jhb. She had just come through the 🇳🇦 border post. Said it was absolutely 🌧🌧 there. We chat briefly and go our separate ways. This is the 🥇 other touring 🚲 I have 👀 on this trip. 

Into town. Not much happening. I get some coke, sorry... a coke and a 🚰. I tell you, I look forward to the 📅 when you see a price on the shelf and the item rings up the same as that. Anyways... I pass the bike shop (lunch bar). I go in. Chat to the owner/staff. Lekka bunch. Get a few tips on today's trickery. BOOM.

Out of town. It's a long road. It's extremely long. Longer than a piece of 🧶 incase you were wondering. To add to its longness it is also quite straight. When I say quite I mean I think the road maker found his destination on the map 🗺🧭 and just 🖋📐 a straight line there. The he gave the 🦺⛑👷‍♂️👷‍♀️ the ⛏🔨🪓 and said... "follow line. Build road" and low and behold that's exactly what they did. First time for everything. 

I move with precision and caution. 😅😅 I am all over the place. There are very few 🚗🚘🚙🚚🚛🏍🚐🚔. The first ⏲ is quite fun. Then it can like to be getting 🔥🥵 When I say hot I mean, if you don't ride fast enough your tyres start to melt. You sweat faster than you can drink 🚰 which by the way is so hot you could easily make a cup of ☕🍵 with it. You really do start to question if what you are doing is 1 safe, 2 a good idea or 3 a nice way to ⚰. In for a penny in for a 💷 I think the saying goes? Wonder how Penny is doing 🤔😅.

I keep going. Reach the first camping spot. Way too early. Like just after midday. Next spot. Still... too early. By now it is around 4ish and the 🌡 has luckily increased to triple digits. Yay 🥳. I keep pushing. In order to keep my sanity I have tied a 🧵 around my handlebars and I have taken to playing solitaire ♣️♦️♥️♠️ on my phone. While the views are magnificent I am on my way to Hakskeen and I will take the return trip to digest the scenery. 

Eventually I come across a 🛣. It is what I have been looking for. Goerapan Lodge 👌. Boom shakalakka. I eventually find the reception. The signage is 💩. In my spot for the night. 

I have 🥚🥚🥚 for dinner. They were raw when I left but in this heat I am sure they are perfect now. I like them at 8 ⏱ in a pot so 6 hours in this 🌞 should be grand.

Right my dinner time. Chat soon. Tomorrow looks warmer 🤩🥳🕺. Holy 💩. A word of advice. Don't 🚲 to Haaaaaaaaaaakskeeeeeeeeen in the middle of January. It is just a dumb idea.

My toast should be ready too. I put the bread out 20 minutes ago. Hopefully the 🐦🦆🦩🦢🦉 haven't eaten it.

Be good my friends. 

G.

Rain Man

Did You Kil It 🦟🦟🥴

What Happened To Yesterday ?

No post Saturday 📪. Apparently the staff were on strike 📵. So Yesterday's ride was good. I was 80kms from where I needed to be. The bush sleep was good and I was in a fantastic mood. ✅ So as with the day before the tailwind was on point. I was barely working and STILL managing an average speed of around 30kms/⏲. Honestly I don't know who was watching but thank you. I made it to my stop and got a drink before checking in.

Now I must stop here for a second to say something. I am on a cycling platform called "The Hub". There is a member who lives in Upington. I ask him for a safe place to stay over night there. WELL. What happens next is just beyond me. The gentleman Gerhard Els has arranged a place for me in Kenhardt. 🥩🥩🥦, 🛏 and 🥓🍳🥓🍳. The lady who I stayed with, Linda has apparently donated this to my trip 😳😲🙏. So between them I am extremely grateful. 

Now there is more to this. I am also booked in at Ikaia for the night too. I have never met Gerhard but he has done this for me. I honestly am speechless. I owe this man a debt of gratitude. He has also suggested routes along the way. Sir when you read this, please know you have changed my outlook on humanity. Thank you. 

So as for yesterday I booked in and felt very happy. Linda is a marvelous woman. Great character and a super soul. If ever any of you ever go to Kenhardt please go and visit her. Even just to meet her. You will not regret it.

Dinner was 🥩🥩🐑🐏🐑🐏 of course. We are in the Karoo. You can basically 🎣 for 🐑 outside your bedroom window. 🐐 not so much. They are probably not as tasty 🦧🤔🤷‍♂️. Never had 🐐. Keen to try though. 

One thing about the northern cape. The 🦟🦟🦟 here actually love peaceful sleep. It's like heroin 💉 for them. I currently have a black eye from hitting myself in the face trying to kill one 😅🤣😅🤣. 

So up this am. Another fantastic feast. 🥓🍳🍳🍞. It was grand. Todays ride... A copy of yesterday. Well sort of. About 80kms. Little climbing. Tremendous scenery. The rain over the last 📆 here has turned this place into a paradise. It took quite a 🌧🌧 or two to end the 7️⃣ year drought before this. I hear the dams are full and good times ahead. How this world can change so rapidly from one scenario to the next is just mind boggling. 

To add, there have been huge rains up North. Or wherever the 🍊🏞 starts. The river is at heights not seen for many years. Just watching it you can see the power of this beast. It feeds many industries and I am sure they are all pleased with its current status. 

I have been 🛒. Food for a few days. Grateful. Happy. Peaceful. Rested. 

A last quick thanks to those mentioned above. To all who send me messages of support too. Thank you. I hope you get some insight to my trip through these small posts. ✉📨. If not send an email to.... whocares.com.comdot. 

Happy Sunday all. Be safe. Be happy. Beeeee happy now. I said don't worry now! Here's a little 🎶🎵 👁 📝 going ✌ 🗣 it 🎵 🔢 🎼 .

That's all I got. 

Up to Hakskeen tomorrow. You may not 👂 from me for a few days. Depends on 📶.

💙➕☮

G.

Sunset

Friday 🔢

It was up this morning. Not the best 😴, even though I was in a 🛏. They are struggling for business so were very negotiable. Not like the other place I went to 🚫. I think that is how you sink or swim now. You either adapt or 👋. Well that is my thought. 

So I was up. 🚿🧼🧽🪒. Felt great. Breakfast was... yip 🍞. ⛽ and ready for the day it was off. Quick chat to the landlord on the way out. Tells me a cyclist was killed down the road the other day 😳😲😯😳😲😯 for FS bru. Not what I needed to hear. Through the town. See a few places I recognize. It is a tiny town but it has grown on me 🤷‍♂️👻😋. All the extra 🚰💧 I am carrying feels like an ⚓. Seems someone is on my side. After yesterday's shambles I am not surprised. The tailwind is glorious. Quick check 🥉🧿 kilometers per ⌛. It is blinding. 

I do my best to keep it 🆙️. The scenery again is simply gorgeous. Definitely not as hilly ⛰🗻🏔🌋 as the Western Cape. The Northern Cape holds its own beauty. I simply love it. Quite a few salt 🚛 trucks. Going both ways. I am in a world of my own here. I wave 👋 to every single vehicle going either way. I want drivers to know cyclists are humans too. It must be just 1️⃣  or 2️⃣ that don't return the gesture. 

The day was unfolding like a brand new pair of 🩲. I am not sure the script could have been any better if I wrote it myself 🦧🐒 📜. My plan was to get to Brandvlei for the night and camp there. Well... I got there. Ate lunch... yip 🍔🍟🥛. I had 🔨 through 145kms. By the time I had eaten, paid the 🧾 it was only 🕒. I wasn't tired. I wasn't too sore 🦓. So I get a  cool drink and have a quick think 🧠🔨⛏. Right off. Everything is still in my favor and I now have a full tank of gass.

This is where the 💩 hits the ☢. About 15 down the road a broken spoke. I think I know what happened❕. When I turned my 🚲 around at the restaurant I heard a ping. Well that's what I think. I ponder this while I keep going. Eventually I see a lay by. Tyres and brakes screeching I pull over. I have a spare spoke. I have the 🛠🔧⚒ but I have never done this before. 

Low and behold in about 20 ⏲ I have the entire wheel apart and am on the 🐕 ➕ 🦴 to uber. Please send one by 🚖 to collect me. 

Nah that's rubbish man! I managed to fit the new one and true it as best I could. It was better but not 💯 per cent. I get going. It is cooling magnificently and I know I need to find a place to ⛺. 

I find myself here. About 60kms from Brandvlei. 210 kms for the day. I feel tired but good. I pushed hard today. The voices in my head were around now and again. With no one to talk to it can become interesting. 

All in though I am happy for this day. It has been outstanding. I have some news which I will share in my next 📬. I am grateful today. Happy. Uncertain but okay with that. Grateful for all you people. My friends. My family. Thank you for being part of my journey. 

I am under a 🌁🌉 not quite as big as those! 🤪🤭. I love this spot. The middle of nowhere. Windy but not too bad. I hope I sleep better tonight. Curfew peoples. That means stay at 🏡🏠😅🤣. No driving around. 

Sleep tight. Be safe. Be happy. Be kind. Everyone is dealing with their own life. 

G💙

Biedouw Valley

Nearly Heard The Music Today 🎵🎶😅

It was a very warm night. I had to keep a 🧽 at hand for the 🥵😰. I felt like I was melting. When I woke there was no need for a 🚿 as my tent was like a 🛁. No I am just kidding. I did 🚿. 

On the road. It is joe for almost the entire day. I know this already. 20kms sees me arriving at the river crossing I did about 3 months ago. Except guess what 🦧🤔 the river, she is gone. Once across the river of no river the incline is gradual and not too bad. Considering I am only about 30kms into the day I am very pleased. At the summit a few biscuits to reward myself. Boom off.

The plateau is gorgeous. I love this place. But there really is a lot of                 . Yes a lot of nothing. I crack on. Flat, down, flat, down, take a right turn ➡️. Past the house in the middle of nowhere 🏠 and shifting nicely ✅. Then as expected I reach the ®️3️⃣5️⃣5️⃣. Can you guess 🤷‍♂️❔ Yip. Make a left turn ⬅️. The speed is nothing spectacular. It's warm. It's very warm. I am going through my 🚰💧 h2zero at a rate. In fact I am getting worried about it. 

The 🚲 is performing spectacularly 🏆. The rider not so much 👎. I can feel myself dehydrating. I am drinking as little 💧 as I can. It needs to last. 

The views are impressive. The Tankwa is doing its usual and showing me why I keep returning. I am so grateful for this opportunity to ride through it again. 

The dehydration is starting to take its toll. My body is not working as it should ⚠️🦺. I check my devices. 40kms to go. 😳😲😶. I am down to one 🍼 full and a 2 liter full bottle. I reach Bloukrans pass. Unfortunately I am at the bottom of it. 😬🥴. I get going. Well I get something. Going would have been fun. Walk, ride. Stop. Walk, ride, stop. It goes on like this for a while. Then my last fill of my bottles. Eat some bread, have a rest then start my process of moving forward. I don't know how long it takes me ⏲⏳ but it feels like an eternity. I get to the 🔝. I cry, the bike cries, the road cries, I kick myself and we all laugh together. I think I shed a tear.... don't 😭 for me 🇦🇷. 

Tears and jokes over I still have about 🥈0️⃣ kilometers to go. It's sort of flat. Well at least it is not another bloody hill. I get to Calvinia. Check in at the 🏣. Special still on. I need this today. I am sore 🤕 all over. Mainly my 🦓 (that's supposed to be an ass). It was a grueling day. I underestimated the heat. I messed up badly. I could be writing to you from my ⚰. I don't say this often but all in today is a day I am really not happy about. It hurt. I hallucinated. I saw 🦄. It was rough. At one stage I thought I was actually 🍞. I might still be 🤪😅.

Tomorrow is a new day. Well obviously!!!!! Stupid saying. Thanks all for reading. I appreciate it. 

It is another big day tomorrow. 145kms. But all road. Let's 👀 how it goes. 

Have a good evening. Be good. Be safe. Most importantly drink 🚰. 

Chat soon.

G

Remember This 😅😅

Stunning

You Like?

☠🥵

An early start was in order. But was it 🤔. Not really. I awoke at 🕔 and went back to 🛏. Second time around was a 6.20 awakening. Felt better this time. Got up. 💩 🚿 🪒  and 🧴🧼🧽. Felt like a rand.

Food was 🍞. I went all out and spoilt myself. 

Then it was off. Today was going to be hard. The weather certainly added to that. 4️⃣0️⃣🌡 in the shade. With no ⌚ and no one to complain to I left. Short up. Bit of flat. Then down to my destination... 😅😅 this is a true life story not fiction. 

Long corrugated road. All joe. Today would see little tar. An enjoyable climb lead to the jeep track that would take me to Wupperthal. Now I am an adventurous person. Try anything once 🤭🤔😛. I see a road that may be a short cut. A gentleman at said road tells me it is not. I say watch me. He says, see you just now. I say no way Jose A. He says name is Jose B. I say later 🐊. He says shortly crocodile. I laugh, he laughs, the dog laughs, I kick the stupid 🐕. We both laugh. The dog buggers off.

So off I go. Guess what... He was right. About 3 or 4 kilometers down the road I have to turn around. The road just fucking disappeared. Basically it just turned into bush and a cliff. I turn around. I get back to where the man was. He is laughing. I show him the bird 🖕 and press on. Not long after that the descent into Wupperthal. It is slow 🐢. Yip that slow. My bags are all over the shop. Brakes are breaking. It is very unpleasant. After longer than I wanted I reach the town. The shop has run out of cool drinks 😳🦧. Can you frickin adam and eve it. I swear in chinese at the owner 🎎🈯️🈲️🈳️. 

Now the climb out of here is what I was trying to avoid by my shortcut. It is long. 6️⃣kms. It is steep. Oh yes... it can be warm too 🎊🥳. I get to the job at hand. 👵 gear. This will be the gear used to get me to the top. It is slow going once again 🐌. I just do what I can and after about 3 hours nah just kidding. After about 50 minutes I crest the pass. It feels great. I actually did better than I thought. 

From here it is a nice gentle downhill to the right turn. This road, about 11 kms down it will see me for the nights stop. 80kms today. Over 5 hours of riding. No 🏆 I am afraid. But I am pleased to be here. Enjo nature farm. Been here 🅱️4️⃣. Lekka spot. Warm. But I am happy and still loving this trip. Only 🖐 days in but so far been very good. I can hear the 🌬 picking up. Hopefully it will stop before bed time. It only makes it hotter. 

So, happy and loving life. It is good. I hope you are too. Be safe. Be free. But most of all think of me. 

G 💙