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 💙

Tuesday

Since my last post it seems I am doing a little better. Not much but enough to say things are good and the trip is going well. The downtime is the hardest. No 🖥. Not always 📶. So it can be hard times. Thoughts are plentiful and not always ones that you want. Dealing with these is not always easy. 

Last nights sleep was grand. I was pretty much just waiting for the sun to go down. Once it was I was asleep within the hour. Only waking once around 4am for a 🚽 break. Up at 5.30. I wanted to be shifting at 6. There was a fair decent climb ahead and it needed to be done before the 🌞 was too hot. I was in luck. The short downhills to the climb were outstandingly refreshing and the air was still fresh and 🆒️ from the night. My usual stop at Mount Cedar was abandoned to get to my destination. Success. 

The climb ⛰🚲 was slow. It was starting to warm up. I have done this climb. 4 times according to my records. Now... with every hill/climb, straight, in fact any section I ride I always try to improve on my fastest time. Today, well that is a fail. At one point I nearly fell off of my bike. I was doing what I could to get to the 🔝 as quickly as possible but the energy levels were running on 🆘️. I was simply struggling like a headless 🐔. It must have been a good laugh if anyone was 👀 me. 

So be it. It is only life. I missed my time by 1️⃣ and a half minutes. 🚼🚫⚠️ Finally reaching the summit I was just relieved the suffering was over. Down the other side. Fast. Like a kid. Awesome. Cool air. 

A small uphill sees me here at Oasis. Washed. Clothes washed. Feeling better. Happy. Tomorrow is a big day. Into Wupperthal. Out of Wupperthal. It is a massive climb. I will be doing it in the heat of the day. 🤔🤐. I expect to expire on that enormous elevation which will extend my experience to all ends of eternity. It will actually. Roughly 35 here today. Good news for tomorrow 4️⃣0️⃣. That's in the shade. In the pool 😳😳🥵🥵. I can't wait said no man ever.

So if you don't hear from me again you know why. My expectations were just a little too high. Off to have my regular 🧀 ➕ 🍅 🥪 ➕🍟. Sort of a last meal I guess.

I hope you are all well. Keeping happy. Keeping busy. Being you.

Chat soon 

G 💙

Cederberg 😍

📯📢

Cederberg

Today finds me only 50 kilometers from my starting place. 👾

When I awoke this morning I opened my 🚪 to find a sunrise that I needed. I have been looking for confirmation of this trip and it was right there 🌝. Almost no traffic and a sight that I will hold with me. I need these little reassurances now and again to let me know my life is actually not that bad. 🈯️ I packed and got moving. A slow day all round. No rush. Absolute peace with every movement. 

Into town for breakfast 🍳🍳🥓🥓🍞🍅🍄 unfortunately the 🍄 were not magical. Pity as I was looking forward to a ride with some 🦄🦄 today. Not forgetting a ☕ to 👢❗ The hilary paid off to the spar. Now this spar let me down last time I was in it and guess what 🤔🤷‍♂️ nothing has changed. Anyway I got what I needed and fled. The mood was good but the thoughts and over thinking 🧠 process seems to be hanging around. You can easily 👀 how these things can consume peoples lives and become unmanageable. 

It was vaaaaaaaaaarum. Like lekka hot. It is going to get much hotter so a good test ride. 🐵⚠️🥵. Down the tar to where it meets the gravel. Waving at the odd farm hand. Some returning the gesture some not so much. The transition from tar to gravel is barely noticeable. 

Well I say that, but further down the 🛣🛤 it feels like you are going through a 🧀 grater. Now with the amount of weight I have today it is simply not aioba. In fact it is slightly to moderately scary. It feels as though everything on the 🚲 is going to rattle off. The going is generally very good. No real power or effort is required. After Yesterdays ride I am pleased with this 🛐. 

A few small ups, a lot of flat and a little descending here and there finds me at todays site 🏕. It quite literally looks that. Except my tent is green. There are much more trees too. And I am not that close to them. And my tent is smaller. Well not smaller than the one in the picture ⛺ but I guess in that ⚖. So not really a good emoticon I guess. 🦧🤪🥴😖🤦‍♂️. This camp spot is also one of my regulars. So I feel happy here. Sort of peaceful. However I do have the whole afternoon to do nothing. Yay more thinking ⌚😅. Might have a nap actually. 

Tomorrow will see me finish the🦵to oasis. Wash, clean. Wash again. Charge all my items. ⚡⚡☎️🔋🔌 and so on and so forth. I should be there early so that gives me the whole day to get it all done. The day after will see me off to Enjo nature farm. The day after to Calvinia. From there I need to decide how I will get to Uppington. If any of y'all have suggestions please be kind enough to share them with me.

Thanks peeps. Miss you. A lot. Keep safe. 

G 💙

R50... Great Success

Closing Time

As another day comes to an end I allow myself time to write here and put down my days takings. 

It was an outrageously good sleep until 🕑🅰️Ⓜ️. At this exact ⌚ the rain started. I awoke and went for a quick 🚾 then back to 🛏. My second awakening was to be around 7️⃣. The 🌧 was still going and I just lay listening to the greatness of it. It was spectacular on the ⛺ but it does still leak a wee tad so I need to watch the weather apps a bit more closely. 

It was a quarter after 9️⃣ when I found myself packing to go. The ⛺ was still wet but so be it. On the road and off. It was a short way until the ⬅️ turn to Villiersdorp. From there just 9kms to the town. A very brief 🏃‍♂️ in to the spar for a fancy 🍞 for breakfast. Up the small pass and then whizzing down the other side. Luck was on my side. A tailwind ➕ very cool conditions. The going was tremendous. 

About 20 or so odd kays down this road saw me pull over for a nyum nyums. Half the bread and a bottle of 💧. That should keep the legs going. I have done this section of road a few times so no real surprises. Into Worcester. No need to slow down. Turn up the gass. I had no plan today. Just a destination for tomorrow night. So anywhere between where I was and there would have to do. More tailwind. Great ride. Not the best scenery but a good warm up for the days to come. Michelle's pass. Not the steepest piece of tar. Over and into Ceres. Again not much I needed so into town and turn left to Op Die Berg. Through The Hamlet. Here is where the day took a turn. It had warmed up. Considerably. The clouds had f'd off. The tailwind more of a headwind now. All my favorites at once. Yay. 🦧🐒🤥🥵🥵.

I start up Gydo pass. Juss!! ⛰ Did someone make it steeper 🤬😱👻. Can like to be sore legs. I had already done 🤔1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ kilos for the day. Only one way to do this.. I pulled over and slapped myself. "Sit down and listen here man. Pull yourself together. Crying is for babies." After this I felt worse. I did what anyone would have done. Turned around and went and got a room in Ceres. 🙃😅 nia man. Don't be a does. I got back on the bike and carried on. It was slow going. Hard work. The headwind luckily did not let up. About an hour and fifteen minutes later I was still going. 

🤐😰😱🤬 the summit was reached shortly after. As quick as it had arrived the headwind took leave and the tailwind was keeping me company again. I was grateful. Very. 🙏🛐♋ Not much to do now. 25 kms to my abode. Here I am. The bush. A place I have slept before. An absolutely gorgeous spot. Tomorrow should hopefully see me only have about a 5️⃣🅾️ kilo ride to another bush sleep. Then all going well Oasis on Tuesday for the night. A lekka ding shower and 🧦🦺🩲👖👘 wash will be welcomed. 

It was an extremely tough day mentally. Lots of thoughts. Lots of sadness today for some reason. A few tears and some very difficult moments. I am where I need to be for tonight. There are going to be hard days. Mentally and physically. I fear the mentally ones as they work their way through me and I don't know how to control that. The bike keeps me going. I wish I had more understanding of myself. 

I wish you all good night. Tomorrow shall present itself and we can try to learn more. At least for me anyway. Sleep tight friends. 

Love

G.

Tonight's Spot

Ready Set Go

Being the first day of a tour is always a bit nerve wracking. Not sure who, where, what or how. Today was no different. But now that I have set up ⛺ for the 🌚 I am feeling slightly better.

It was up. Wash the boat race and clear all the 🕸. Tom arrived 10 minutes early and Richard was running 10 minutes late. It was actually a perfect song. 

We did the usual trails. Through Bergvliet. Then past the Bobby shop. Onto main road and off it again in minutes. Rondebosch common was also just a quick blur. Then over the N2 and through Pinelands. This is where my company left me to fend for myself. 

After our goodbyes I carried on feeling the usual loneliness and empty feeling that I get on day one. It was unpleasant. 

Once I had got to the Stellenbosch road I was calm again and doing much better. My choice was to not stop until Franschoek. I had no food with me to try and lighten the load. It worked. The speed was good and things were improving every minute. 

Franschoek arrived and I parked at the PNP. Not much was needed. Back to my incredibly healthy diet of 🍞🍏 and water. I also needed 💊🧻 and a few 🪒. The beard is getting itchy and I need to get rid of it.

The Hillary paid and the 👜👛 packed it was off. Now I must add here that I don't mind the 🌡 too much. You sweat, it cools you down and you carry on. But today 😳😬🥵🥵 jus it was lekka wuraaam. I get to Franschoek pass. Slowly but surely is the order of the day. 

Now I am not usually one to wish unwell on others but some 🤬🤬 poes came past me in a Ferrari at a ridiculous speed. And 🤬🤬 that car was loud. I pulled over and took a second to pray to my friend that this 🤬🤬 🐈 poes would go over the edge. Well no such luck. About 1️⃣0️⃣ minutes later he comes back past me on the way down. Some young poppie in the passenger seat smiling like a Cheshire 🐈. I hope they both get covid.

Anyway no too long after this I reached the summit. Stunning. Just stunning. You could see the heat rising from the earth. It was spectacular. 

Here I am now. My usual first/last night camp. In the forest. It's still waruum. As soon as the 🌞 goes down I hope it cools a bit.

Today was the first day. I have put myself up for a huge trip. Hakskeen is far away. It will be warm. Windy. Hot. Dry. Warm. But I am looking forward to it. I am getting excited for it. It will be grand.

I will do my best to keep you all up to date. 

Be safe. Be well. Be happy. I miss you all.

Chat soon.

G ☮

Tomorrow

So departure date is tomorrow. Nervous... I guess. More excited. It is a fair long way and a little warm but these are the conditions I love. I need to just thank all those again who have put me up and put up with me. It is very kind of you and I am eternally grateful. 

Not much news really just getting used to writing my blog again. Need to pull myself towards myself and be ready for the first big day tomorrow. The usual sleepover opposite the dam is my 🥅. So hopefully a safe days riding. The first day is always the hardest. Leaving town and trying my best to make the first stop without incident is my priority right now.

So chat soon and be good. Be good at it. No more babies please. 

Peace out

G

Hakskeen Pan

If life and the new lockdown conditions afford me to it will be a departure on Saturday morning. Hakskeen pan is the destination. I am excited. Nervous. Bloody excited. Scared! If it is successful it will be my longest trip to date. Distance wise. The bike is good. The legs are good(ish). It's a long way. Did it in the 🚗 during the lockdown. 

There are a few concerns. But overall just looking forward to it. I don't know why I swallowed the 🐝 well fly... I guess I'll die. Bloody hope not. But it is far. 

Okay well that's my update. First class seat for me on Saturday. You guys are all travelling coach. Will do my beat to keep you all posted on events and progress. Did I mention it is far 🦧🐒🤪😅.

Catch you soon good people. Keep it real. Keep it tight. But most of all send me money. 

Chat soon

G