- Home
- Background
- The Rhythm of
Return
- Kumara
- Patagonia
- Hwyl Nofio
- Hymalaya
Suite
- Mercury
in retrograde
- Miscellanea
- The
Studio
- Motorcycling
- South Africa
- Links
- Contact
Day 3 - mountain passes.
We
met for breakfast at 08:00 on another fine day, and were on the bikes
by 09:00, without the panniers as we were returning to Nuy that night.
Day 3 was "the day of the mountain passes", 6 in total, crossing and re-crossing the Hex River Mountains:
Rooi Hoagte (Red Heights), with it's fort dating back to the Boer War
Burgers' Pass (Citizens' Pass)
Theromsburg Pass, leading to Ceres
Mitchel's Pass
Bains Kloof Pass, narrow with 206 bends and my personal favourite!
Du Toits Kloof Pass
Brilliant riding with stunning scenery - I'll let the pictures do the talking.
Day 3 was "the day of the mountain passes", 6 in total, crossing and re-crossing the Hex River Mountains:
Rooi Hoagte (Red Heights), with it's fort dating back to the Boer War
Burgers' Pass (Citizens' Pass)
Theromsburg Pass, leading to Ceres
Mitchel's Pass
Bains Kloof Pass, narrow with 206 bends and my personal favourite!
Du Toits Kloof Pass
Brilliant riding with stunning scenery - I'll let the pictures do the talking.
 The fort above the Rooi Hoagte Pass |  Tracy with the bikes on the Rooi Hoagte Pass |
 Let's all follow that truck! |  Close to the edge on the Bains Kloof Pass |
 The bikes having a well earned rest |  Du Toits Kloof Pass |
Just
before the last picture was taken I had a bit of a moment. We are
travelling at about 140 km/h down this wonderfully engineered modern
pass when we suddenly hit a tunnel. Of course I've had my sun visor
down all day and - bang!, everything goes dark and it takes me a
couple of seconds of abject terror to realise what's happening!
We stopped at a wine shop at the side of the road, which you see lots of in this region, to stretch our legs (honest!) and bought a couple of very nice bottles for dinner at about £2.00 a throw.
We made our way back to Nuy for more cold beer therapy, after a great days riding and, what had been for me, one of the highlights of the tour.
We stopped at a wine shop at the side of the road, which you see lots of in this region, to stretch our legs (honest!) and bought a couple of very nice bottles for dinner at about £2.00 a throw.
 The ladies taking a little light refreshment.... |  and there's me with a bottle of water! |
We made our way back to Nuy for more cold beer therapy, after a great days riding and, what had been for me, one of the highlights of the tour.