Wind, dust, punctures and smiles – Pedalling through the Karoo

Posted on 27 March 2009

We left Cradock in good spirits after our lovely stay at the enchanting Victoria Manor. Our host David Kerr looked after us so well we had to stay an extra night.

We were once again treated like kings with a visit from family and our now official massage therapist, Kacy.

The road out to Hofmeyr was fine until the wind decided to play on our patience. It was gusting from our left and jolting us straight into the traffic. One or two close calls left us adrenaline fueled and eyes glued to our rearview mirrors. Things just worsened the closer we came to Hofmeyr. The wind started spinning up miniature dust tornadoes which stung your face and made life just plain miserable. We lunched at Hofmeyr and then tackled the 15kilometers to our next contact arranged by Richard Ardene, from Pam Golding Properties St Francis Bay.

We reached the turn off for Alicedale, the farm of David and Lynette Lord. Lynette arranged to pick us up and taxi us to the farm house, 10 kilometers off our route. On arrival we were greeted by an annoying sight, a flat back tyre. Marc joked as I fixed the puncture, only to be blessed with one the very next morning. It has become a fact that he who laughs last, patches in the morning.

Lynette cooked up a storm and the roast we ate after our 90 kilometer windblown dust battle did not touch sides. David showed us a route through the Boesmansberge to Burgersdorp which was far more scenic that the Steynsberg road. The evening was full of laughs and the late night almost took its toll on the tough slog over the mountains the following morning.

Once again we were on the road fighting the North West wind towards Burgersdorp, the main thing pushing us on was the delicious lunch packs of sandwiches, muffins and fruit packed for us with the kindness of Karoo hospitality.






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