Travel exploring

Greyton breakfast ride

2026-01-04T09:01:00.011+02:00

First ride for 2026 and breakfast ride to Greyton

Took some dirt roads with rain here and there

Detour through Genadendal and back home

Nice to be out there

Namibia, Fish river canyon

2025-12-30T20:37:00.002+02:00

Took a four day drive from Hermanus to Namibia to see the Fish river canyon

The photos will tell the story

Klawer to Garies

Garies

Kamieskroon to Springbok

Springbok

Springbok to Noordoewer

Felix towards Rosh Pinah direction and back to Noordoewer

Towards Hobas and Fish river canyon

The Fish River Canyon (Afrikaans: Visrivier Canyon or Visrivier Kuil, German: Fischfluss Canyon) is located in the south of Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa, and the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 kilometres (100 mi) long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep.
The Fish River is the longest interior river in Namibia. It cuts deep into the plateau which today is dry, stony and sparsely covered with hardy drought-resistant plants. The river flows intermittently, usually flooding in late summer; the rest of the year it becomes a chain of long narrow pools. The hot springs resort of ǀAi-ǀAis is situated at the lower end of the Fish River Canyon.
Public view points can be visited near Hobas, a camp site 70 km north of ǀAi-ǀAis. This part of the canyon is part of the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, while the remainder is privately owned.

From Fish river canyon to Grunau

Grunau to Noordoewer

Detour to Uhabis, old military and farm cemetery

There is a known site of German graves at Uhabis, a former German border post located a few kilometers east of the current Norotshama River Resort, which is north of Noordoewer in Namibia.
During the Nama Uprising (1903-1907), Uhabis was the scene of several skirmishes between German Schutztruppe soldiers and local Nama forces, and the graves serve as a reminder of that conflict.

Noordoewer back to South Africa

Located north of Steinkopf and west of the N7 in the Northern Cape, Kinderlê is an unmarked yet poignant site that holds a tragic chapter in South Africa's history. Kinderlê, though not widely known, is a place that carries the weight of one of the most heartbreaking events in 19th-century South Africa—the massacre of 32 Nama children by Bushmen while their parents attended a church service. This event not only marks the loss of innocent lives but also represents the deep divisions and tensions between indigenous groups during the colonial period.

Okiep

Vanrhynsdorp

A trip to remember and might be planning to do it again, to travel a bit further and take more time

We had a wonderful experience with Namibia and the people there

2500 Km of fun

Day trip to L'Agulhas

2025-09-24T21:07:00.016+03:00

Travelling from Hermanus to L'Agulhas, the Southern most point on the African continent

Also visited the site where the Meisho Maru 38 stranded 16 November 1982

The Meisho Maru No. 38 was a small Japanese fishing vessel that, like so many others, prowled the seas to reap its bounty. This part of South Africa’s coast is notoriously dangerous, causing many ships to succumb to its wrath.

The Meisho Maru No. 38 met its end on November 16, 1982. A storm caused it to run aground. Fortunately, because it sank so close to shore, all 17 members of its crew were able to swim to safety, leaving the ship as the only casualty.

After spending decades being beaten by the elements, the wrecked vessel finally broke apart. For now, its prow still rests in place, though it’s likely the sea may one day claim that as well. If you’re in the area and like shipwrecks, you’ll want to be sure to see it before it’s gone

Along the way there are so many interesting things and places to see

A blessing to travel this piece of our beautiful country

Danger Point Lighthouse

2025-09-22T07:52:00.011+03:00

Took a drive Saturday and visited the lighthouse at Gansbaai, Danger Point

Outride

2025-08-28T20:47:00.011+03:00

Took the motorcycle out for a short ride today

Peat in the Onrus river system after devastating fire and then floods

De Bos dam, our local reservoir

And old house of Ella Gordon on Karwyderskraal road

Even a short ride is like a reset button for the soul

Truitjieskraal Bushmen Rock Art

2024-12-30T12:10:00.000+02:00

Usual way of travel is with motorcycle

After an accident in November and fractured elbow, it's travelling with vehicle

Just as good and in a sense better, for taking camera gear and taking photos

Destination Cederberg mountains and Truitjieskraal as focus area

Leaving Hermanus and sightseeing on the way

The Alwyn Vintcent, the last steam-powered vessel on South Africa's register - Now in Villiersdorp

Between Worcester and Robbertson, the Pampoenstal

Hex River Poort

De Doorns

Matroos mountain range and known as the "matroos" - sailor

Hex river Pass

Defence Force training grounds

Road to Venster pass

Swaarmoed road

Karoopoort - Gateway to R355 road

Famous R355 road

Tankwa padstal

Peerboomskloof pass

Old ruins

Bushmen rock art

Katbakkies pass

Cederberg Oasis

Truitjieskraal

Elgin

2024-10-05T16:05:00.015+03:00

Nice biking weather and took the motorcycle to Elgin

Steam locomotive coming from Cape Town

Morning outride

2023-09-09T21:57:00.002+03:00

Was booked for a trip to Seweweekspoort, but the weather seems to be against the planning

A beautiful morning and not to waste it, I took to the dirt roads around Hermanus for a quick 65 km round trip

Found a geocache, inspected out local reservoir, De Bos dam, Karwyderskraal road, Swartriver road with some Blue Crane along the route and back home

A nice relaxing ride

We surely live in one of the better looking parts of the country, all right in my back yard

Saturday morning ride

2023-08-12T17:10:00.005+03:00

Cloudy day and cool, but no rain forecast

Took the motorcycle out for a quick ride

Past our local reservoir, De Bos dam, currently 100 % full and overflowing

Then the Karwyderskraal road to Swartrivier road where a herd of cattle was using the road, they have the right of way here

Onto gravel again and canola fields in flower

Blue crane, our National bird

A great short ride just to relax and enjoy

Canola

2023-07-22T19:31:00.009+03:00

Took a drive through the Overberg close to Hermanus

Canola fields looking good

This year's winter rain was good and everything's green and gold

Gravel roads in great condition

I went out with the vehicle and was jealous when a group of bikers passed us, next time on the bike

Barrydale milkshake run

2023-07-02T20:39:00.001+03:00

Have not been on a bike trip for quite a while

Today we planned to go from Hermanus to Barrydale for their exquisite milkshakes - Lemon meringue is one of the best

Went through Akkedisberg pass and struck fog, being winter it is cold and temperature dropped to 9 degrees, quite cold on the bike

Pushed through to Riviersonderend for a hot pie, Bobotie, and hot coffee

Breede river at Swellendam still a lot of water flowing after heavy rain

Then through the beautiful Tradouw pass to Barrydale

At Diesel and Creme enjoyed the super delicious milkshake and again on our way home

Through Cogmanskloof pass at Montagu and heading home

Last stop and go on Hemel and Aarde road where roadworks are ongoing

In total a 400 km trip of pure joy, what a privilege to have and ride a motorcycle in this beautiful country

Overberg outride - 2022-11-06

2022-11-06T17:02:00.000+02:00

Late morning decided to go for a quick trip

Through Hemel & Aarde valley, Shaw's pass and gravel turn off

Beautiful scenery with sheep and our National Bird, Blue Crane

Stopped at Dassiesfontein for cold drink and off to Swartriver rd

De Bos dam, our water reservoir and back home

80 km of fun

Overberg morning ride

2022-10-29T16:44:00.008+02:00

Beautiful morning in Hermanus

Time to take a morning trip through the Overberg

Back in Hermanus a quick stop at my favourite spot on the cliffs, Sievers Punt

150 km trip in total

Malgas outride - 2022-10-08

2022-10-08T21:26:00.012+02:00

345 Km of fun

From Hermanus to Malgas and back

Lunch at Malgas hotel and then crossing the Breede river on the pont

Last stop some nice coffee milkshake in Hermanus

Western Cape, South Africa

Morning outride

2022-09-18T19:00:00.004+02:00

Winter almost back in Spring

Some rain in the past 24 hours, but the day started with good weather

Then it's time to do a morning trip

Left Hermanus and did a 93 km round trip

Just drinking in the beauty of the area

From Canola to wild flowers to whales

All in one go

Tankwa outride

2021-07-11T10:58:00.002+02:00

Tankwa Karoo National Park is a national park in South Africa. The park lies about 70 km due west of Sutherland near the border of the Northern Cape and Western Cape, in one of the most arid regions of South Africa, with areas receiving less than 100 mm of average annual precipitation, moisture-bearing clouds from the Atlantic Ocean being largely stopped by the Cederberg mountain

I saw somewhere that the Tankwa river is flowing after much needed rain, I often go through the area exploring with my motorcycle

It is a must to see the waterfall, but rain water flows away very quickly in this region

Saturday was the day to go and explore once again with seeing the waterfall as the target

Winter time in South Africa and quite cold, so decided on the vehicle for this road trip rather that the motorcycle

Still dark when we left and icy cold, minimum temperature at 2 degrees just before 08:00

With snow capping the mountains at Worcester it's no wonder it's so cold

Hex river pass with Matroos mountains in background

Roosterkoek for breakfast

Stretching legs at old farm gates and a quick geocache find

Leaving the Western Cape into the Northern Cape, wind farms going up everywhere for power

Leaving the tar and going onto the gravel, the best way to explore and relax, almost no traffic on the road

Some nice rain fell in the area and parts that have been dry for years, suddenly had water, nice to see. Golden rule, open gates stay open, closed gates will be closed again

The beauty of this area is just so special, you love it, or you don't

Lonely quiver tree

The Tankwa river with the waterfall when it's flowing, we were a few days too late

Well, next time, and going on through the Tankwa, drinking in the beauty of the region

Springbok, our national animal

The Cederberg mountain range in the distance

Water is a rare commodity in this region, every means to get it

The notorious R 355, tyre eater of note

Tankwa padstal, an oasis on the road

Guy with his Gyrocopter having fun

Heading home with some scenery on the road

Michell pass near Ceres

Wolseley blockhouse

690 km of fun riding through a very beautiful part of our country

Seven passes

2021-04-11T15:18:00.007+02:00

The Seven Passes Road along the back roads between George and Knysna. Obviously, the name is a hint: there are seven passes along this road, from the Kaaimansgat Pass to the Touw River Pass, Hoogekraal to Homtini, via Karatara and Rheenendal, ending at Phantom Pass, which runs along a river and spits you back out onto the N2 on the western outskirts of Knysna. (By the way, you don’t need to worry about being stalked by ghosts on Phantom Pass, it’s actually named after something far more earthly – the white phantom moth.)

Thanks to the 19th-century ingenuity of Thomas Bain, without whom the Western Cape would look very different today, your route twists and turns through indigenous forests and gorges. It’s so special that it’s been declared a national monument, and that’s not something you can say about many roads in South Africa

Afternoon ride

2020-07-12T19:38:00.000+02:00

After a heavy storm, the region was quite wet
It's winter and very cold
But, always right for a quick ride through the Overberg
The region is green this time of year, being a winter rainfall area

Our town's reservoir, De Bos dam, water level low at 38 %

Karwyderskraal pass

Swart river low level bridge

Canola starting to bloom

Saturday afternoon around the block

2020-06-21T19:31:00.000+02:00

Saturday afternoon, cloudy and cool, but a need to ride
Taking the BMW for a ride
Karwyderskraal road to De Bos dam

Ella Gordon's old house

Back to the gravel road

Just a slow loop to get out there

Morning outride

2020-06-14T16:21:00.002+02:00

Snowed on high mountains last week
Time to take the bike and see if we can spot some snow
Crisp out there on the bike
Hermanus to Villiersdorp and back

Theewaterskloofdam

Not a lot of snow left, but quite chilly on the bike

150 km of fun

Change of motorcycle

2020-06-12T21:49:00.002+02:00

After 6 years and 45 000 km of fun and pleasure it was time to sell the very trustworthy Yamaha Tenere

We had a lot of fun and experienced a lot of travel

Bought a BMW R1150GS still in fantastic status
55 000 km and perfect condition

Yet another adventure on the horizon

Bainskloof pass

2019-11-10T17:31:00.000+02:00

Bainskloof Pass (Afrikaans: Bainskloofpas) is a mountain pass on the R301 regional road between Wellington and Ceres in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The pass, opened in 1854, was constructed by road engineer Andrew Geddes Bain with the use of convict labour. Originally built for horse-drawn traffic, the pass was later tarred.

The pass reaches 594 metres (1,949 ft) at its highest point. Here, the road joins the Witte River, which descends the northern side of the mountains through a precipitous cleft to a stretch of rapids, waterfalls and natural pools. Bainskloof Pass is now a national monument

Malgas pontoon

2019-10-06T21:09:00.003+02:00

Malgas is a small town on the banks of the Breede river in the Western Cape, South Africa
The last hand drawn pontoon is here transporting vehicles and people from one side of the river to the other side
A new pontoon was made and are being put together to replace the old one
This new one will be machine operated

Almost sad that the old will be no more and being replaced by new technology

Outride

2019-08-11T16:58:00.001+02:00

Haven't been on the bike for a while
Winter is on us and a break in the rain and a crisp clear day just made it worth it to take a short ride
Searched for canola that's starting to flower
First stop at local reservoir - De Bos dam, Hemel & Aarde valley, Hermanus's main water supply
Still quite empty at about 43%

Over Shaw's pass to Caledon, Tesselaarsdal valley below

The canola is everywhere and quite beautiful

Theewaterskloof dam, been in the news for low water levels, one of the main water supply dams for Cape Town
After some much needed rain the water level has risen to 70%

Then back to some more gravel and canola fields

With all the heavy rain, there was quite a huge mudslide with rock fall on the Franschhoek pass, time to go and see for myself

Indeed a huge heap of sand and rocks blocking the road, pass closed

Then heading back home via Van Der Stel pass

A nice 200 km round trip, just the medicine needed

90 km loop

2019-06-17T16:01:00.001+02:00

Winter in Hermanus, but what a stunning day, not to be wasted
De Bos dam, Hermanus main water reservoir, water level alarmingly low at 39 %

The bike hiding behind the bushes

Karwyderskraal road and Kleinmond in the distance

Some more of the Karwyderskraal road, gravel highway

I know that is the Highlands road across the valley

The old steel girdle bridge over the Bot river

Turn off from the N2 onto the Valley road, leaving the tar for dust

Strictly no entrance, could be a nice road to take, but rules are rules

Highlands road coming up, the road is in the best condition I have seen it in years, smooth and hard, no loose rocks or corrugation, what a pleasure to ride and relax

Karwyderskraal road, from the other side of the valley

90 km of fun