| Motocycle Touring with Robert Fysh |
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This was a journey planned to encompass Route 62 on the downward leg to Cape Town from Pretoria, and on the return home, a sweep along the west coast; a mix of geographic extremes and areas of South Africa not commonly visited.
Route 62 may not be as legendary as the famous trans-continental Route 66 in the United States – from Chicago to Los Angeles - but it offers a ride of a different nature. Route 66 covers more than 3600 kilometres, whereas Route 66, depending on where you start, is 700 odd kilometres long (if you ride from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town). A significant difference in distance.
But, if you include a return trip along the west coast, you will have earned a trip worth remembering; extremes in scenery, weather and culture. You move from the mountains and wheat fields of the south Western Cape into arid semi desert. From the mountains and valleys of Piketberg, you fairly suddenly encounter a flat arid stretch beyond Citrusdal that extends as far as Garies. Garies, the locals will tell you, marks the transition into Namaqualand, that part of South Africa, that in early spring – if the rain arrives at the right time - erupts into a cascade of blossom. From Kamieskroon the plains evolve yet again into stark mountainous landscape that culminates in Springbok. I arrived in Springbok on a Friday night to discover a Wild West mood; the bars boisterous and busy (the town is on the main route from Cape Town, to Namibia).
‘Rooi’ Pieter van den Heever, a resident of Vanrhynsdorp suggested that I visit Jopie Kotze’s Springbok Café. The shop reflects a lifetime collection of Springbok history, memorabilia, west coast semi precious stones, books and photographs; an astoundingly detailed private collection.
From Springbok you head on to famous Poffadder, a blank, small town more famous for its name than any other attribute. Still, the hotel offers a refreshing stop and if you’re inclined, the right to boast that you been to Poffadder.
Poffadder takes you onto the Orange River vineyards that cluster either side of the road from Kakamas almost through to Upington. From here, a long hot trip home through desolate country to Kuruman, Kimberley and then home to Pretoria.
This ‘circular’ trip down the east coast and back up the West coast was a memorable experience.
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| 2010-02-09 |
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