Charley Boorman in Africa, day 3

Posted on 19 August 2010

A day of two halves

Clanwilliam bade us an early farewell and off on another chilly start which saw us backtracking to our offroad section in an eerie mist. Yesterday’s warm glowing landscape took on a more dramatic and sinister appearance as rock formations so characteristic of the Cederberg were shrouded in mist this morning. It looked more akin to a set from Lord of the Rings. A dragon wouldn’t have been out of place this morning.

Yesterday’s memories were still fresh in some minds as, once again; the gravel paths beckoned us to take them on. The going was much firmer, however, and everyone made good time along the dusty R364. Skies became increasingly leaden and overcast as small groups picked their way through the back roads and through the Botterkloof Pass. This area is well known for spring flower displays and forms part of the local flower route although lack of rain seems to have produced a meager display thus far.

The temperature hovered at around ten degrees all morning as leading bikes kicked up dust trails that could be seen from the distant valleys. They were all heading one way, for a cuppa at Nieuwoudville, and possibly donning the thermals hastily discarded yesterday.

Impending rain split our group into two parties at Nieuwoudville. Here the option was tabled to push on with the back roads and risk rain, or to head to the main highway, the N7. Even numbers picked both routes and our Garmin GPS units were hastily reconfigured with alternate waypoints and distances recalculated. It’s certainly come a long way from sucking a finger, sticking it in the air and “˜eeny, meeny, miny…mo’!

Charley Boorman and Ross Noble took their group back onto the back roads, while I elected to redirect and join the N7 in the hope of sighting some flowers before Springbok. It was a relief to see brighter skies and feel less wind-chill, however, this is a long stretch of tarmac and the 312 kilometres of bullet straight roads took longer than I anticipated.

A few patches of flowers here and there were tracking the sun, once more dominating the blue sky and cheering the journey into Springbok. Currently I’m joining a merry bunch of bonding bikers and having a sundowner, while some kind soul has cranked up the radio. It’s a Python classic, being played with uncanny timing – with everyone at the table whistling along. “˜…Always look on the bright side of life, te tum te-tum te-tum te-tum’. I promise you!

Tomorrow Namibia!






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