Cape Town to Victoria Falls.

fantastic Photos Mel

Thanks guys for your comments.

Day 8. saturday.

Today the group split into two. When making plans for the trip, there'd had been some confusion and Jerry had only planned on being on tour for a little over a week and had made other plans. So Jerry and Bruce needed to be back in Cape Town by the Tuesday. They would have about 900km to do that day as they were going back to Bulawayo and on to Beitbridge border then into Musina, SA. The rest of us had a week to get back to Cape Town as Joerg's return flight was the following Sunday. We would head back to Bulawayo and spend the night there and make our way to the border the following day.

We waved Bruce and Jerry off at about 07.30 We received a text a couple of hours later warning us of a police speed trap just outside of town. They'd been nabbed doing 100km in a 60km zone. $20 fine.

We set off a couple of hours later, riding ever so slowly out of town. There was no speed trap to be seen and we let our guard down. About 200km later, just in time, I spotted the over zealous police officer with his radar gun and managed to screech to a more acceptable speed. Jurgen who was riding ahead of me was not so lucky and was slapped with a fine too.

We had a good ride back. Nothing much to report.


Good bye Victoria Falls. Till next time.



We passed through many villages. Not quite like we know them over here.



We met these two young boys at a petrol stop on our way to VF. Abraham and Patrick. My heart went out to them. They were trying to raise school fees for the following school term by selling these carvings. They bought the carvings from a market close by then they'd sell them at the petrol station, obviously with a mark up.

What struck us all was how polite and well mannered they were. They spoke English fluently (it is the official language in Zimbabwe) and were obviously very intelligent. They desparately wanted to be back at school the following term. They were genuinely interested in us and our travels and never asked for anything. If they were given a chance at an education, they would make something of themselves. I used to teach in a rural school and I was always moved to tears by the challenges the kids had to overcome just to able to come to school. In Zimbabwe, education is not free, and is therefore a privilege not a right. Most people will grab the chance with both hands.

Abraham and Patrick's school fees for the term was R100, a paltry £8 or so. There are three school terms in a year.



My lasting image of these two, is of bare foot Patrick waving us good bye with the biggest smile on his face as he devoured the ice cream cone we'd bought him.

We made it back to Bulawayo in good time. I was exhausted and my limbs were aching from all that jumping I'd done. We spent the night in Nesbitt Castle, a really lovely gothic style accommodation.











If you're ever in Bulawayo, i'd definitely recommend at least one night here.

http://www.nesbittcastle.co.zw/index.html

Next day we crossed the border without incident and headed for a lovely highland town of Tzaneen. Here we ecountered the first rain of the trip. It was really interesting the way the weather changed. We'd left Zimbabwe in the middle of a heat wave and through a blazing hot Musina. I thought I'd pass out a couple of times, it was that hot. As soon as we started up into the mountains, the temperature dropped and the rain was upon. Fortunately we made it up the relentlessly winding roads to our guesthouse just before the heavens really opened up.

The next morning we set off for the Mpumalanga province. We intended to pass through God's Window, a scenic splendour so called for its panoramic view of the Lowveld. However, it was raining so much, there'd be no chance of seeing much so we abandoned that plan and took a more direct route to the town of Dullstroom where we intednded to spend the night.

By the time we arrived in Dullstroom, the rain had cleared off and it was bright and sunny once again.





After lunch, it was time for me to have a quick lesson in off road riding. We planned on riding gravel for most of the way to Cape Town. We found a stretch of gravel road and I had my 'lesson'.











Twenty minutes later, lesson over, it was back onto tar and off to find accommodation.



We turned off into an estate that advertised accommodation. It turned out to be a private estate.



At the gates we had to assure security that we were not a bunch of rowdy bikers that intended to ride around the estate and make a nuisance of ourselves. After taking our details we were allowed through.





The scenery was stunning with lots of hairpin bends.













They were able to offer us accommodation and we spent the rest of the day enjoying the views.

[dizzyblonde]

My goodness, she jumped off a cliff!!!!! Never catch me doing that lady I'm scared of heights.
Those roads are very differing, some make ours look pothole free, then some look so perfect we're jealous.

Great pics as always Mel.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Great pics as always Mel.

Thanks DB.

The staff at this hotel all wore kilts (the owners are Scottish) which I found hilarious





It was really cold. Enough to have a big roaring fire. Absolute bilss!



Next morning we headed for the Drakensburg mountains in KwaZulu Natal province. Again, we did a mixture of gravel and tar.





We made it to Montusi Mountain Lodge just in time to watch the sun set.

The following morning we left the Drakensberg and travelled into the Free State, passing through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Again, the scenery here is amazing. the National Park lies at the base of the Maluti Mountain Range of Lesotho. It's breathtaking.




















We stopped for lunch in Wepener, a town on the Lesotho border . We parked up close to a school and were immediately mobbed by some very excited kids.

This is so time consuming, so will hurry through the rest.

We spent the night in a town called Lady Grey. The guesthouse had alpacas roaming round the garden.



We arrived before the sun set so went up Joubert's Pass, only a stone throw away from the guest house. I went pillion as I wasn't feeling too confident. In hind sight, following the next day's events, I realised I would have managed just fine on my own bike.





Next day we set off for Balfour. The first half of the day was the best off road riding and I was in my element.





The landscape was fantastic.







































That afternoon I took on the biggest challenge of the trip and failed miserably. We decided to take the R351 from Sada to Buxton. This is a pretty run down, hardly used gravel road that goes through the Katberg mountains and the aptly named Devil's Bellows Nek. It's certainly only for experienced off roaders!There was hardly any 'road' to see, just huge rocks, boulders big ruts in the road and lots of foliage slap bang in the middle of the road. No way would a four wheeled vehicle make it through. It was so serene, with only the mountain horses watching us.

I managed about half way before we got to a really tricky bit and the back wheel slipped from under me and down I went, bashing my left hip against a rock. Ouch!! At this point it was cold, wet and windy and I'd had enough and just wanted a hot bath and some food. So I decided to carry on despite the pain in my leg. Not for long though, as about 2km on, again the back slipped from under me and I fell over on the same side, bashing my hip against some rocks again. Double ouch!! After much sobbing and being a big girl's blouse I knew there was no way I could carry on. I had excruciating pain down my left side and I could barely weight bear. So we decided we would leave my bike and I'd ride pillion with Jurgen to the guesthouse which was about 30 km away. Then Joerg would ride pillion with Jurgen to fetch my bike. A lot of messing about but there was no way I would have been able to ride. Just being pillion was agony enough.

But all's well that ends well and all three bikes made it to the guesthouse safely and I over dosed on co codamol and diclofenac.

What a fantastic trip . fab photo's and no doubt a fantastic experience....well done Mel

Originally Posted by scooby

What a fantastic trip . fab photo's and no doubt a fantastic experience....well done Mel

Thanks scooby.

That night we had a heavy thunderstorm. Not that I noticed it much, I was that knocked out.

Next morning, Day 14, Friday, we were up early ready for De Rust, a little village about 35km outside of Oudtshoorn. Thanks to co codamol, diclofenac, a long soak in a hot bath and much tlc, my leg was good enough to carry on. We were about 900km from Cape Town and we could have had the bike recovered but I was determined to complete the ride.

Breakfast in Waylands Country Guesthouse



We didn't get to De Rust that day. The heavy rains meant the roads were impassable.







We did about 20km before we decided to turn back. The roads were so slippy and my heart was in my mouth the whole time. I knew it was just a matter of time before I fell again.













It rained some more that morning and on the way back we hit a really muddy patch. I gave up and walked this bit.












Surprisingly I made it back without dropping the bike.

Back at the guest house we came up with plan B. Joerg had to get out of Balfour as he had a flight to catch on Sunday afternoon and we were still about 900km from Cape Town. So Peter, our host lent us his truck. Joerg's bike was loaded onto it and Joerg and Jurgen set off for Fort Beaufort. The plan was to drop off Joerg in Fort Beaufort and he would then make his own way to Cape Town. Jurgen would bring the truck back to the guest house and we would leave the following morning.

I spent the afternoon playing with Una, the our host's Rhodesian ridgeback.







Jurgen was back mid afternoon, by which time the rain had stopped and the roads were starting to dry up so we decided to head out as well. There were still some really muddy bits on the way out so my bike was loaded on to the truck and Peter, our host drove us up to the Mpofu Game Reserve, while Jurgen followed on his bike. We then rode through the game reserve on to Fort Beaufort, then on to Adelaide where we re united with Joerg.





They have rhinos in this game reserve, but I didn't care. Riding through the reserve was the quickest way to get us off the gravel and on to tarred roads. I was whooping with joy when we finally got to Fort beaufort and onto tarred roads!!

Day 15, we were up early heading for De Rust.

More gravel roads.







Tortoise ahead.



I wasn't expecting her to be so heavy! Lifted her off the road and into the bushes.



On to Willowmore for lunch stop.











Then on to tar.






We stopped in Willowmore for lunch, then on to De Rust for the night.

The next day, day 16, we were up at the crack of dawn for the final leg of our journey. we set off at 06.45 and it was 5 degrees celcius.
We legged it to Cape Town and go there in time to get Joerg to the airport for his flight home to Germany.

Somerset West, about 30 minutes from Cape Town.






I spent the next few days relaxing and enjoying the sights of Cape Town. As much as I had enjoyed the ride it was lovely to be able to park up the bikes and revert to four wheels. . . till next time.


The End.

Amazing Melody, thanks so much for sharing your experience