We left Nelspruit on Thursday morning early and were heading for Bloemfontein ... it was damn cold and I am glad I bought the EVO Jacket. Roan was waiting for me at his gate on the Schoemanskloof road and I was late.
Both of us was a bit worried about the cold and took all the precautions we could. For the first time I donned a thermal long underpants under my riding pants and as we climbed up the mountains through Patanek and up De Beers nek I was very glad I did. On the plato close to Machadodorp we hit 4 Degrees C and as soon as we went over the first set of hills after MAchadodorp towards Carolina we got 2 Degrees C. It was damn cold and I am not even trying to think what the actual temperature was including the wind chill factor at around 140 kph.
On this leg I was not planning to stop before we reached Ermelo and pressed on.
It was way too cold to consider having a camera around my neck so on day one I did no shots from the saddle.
We had a light breakfeast in Ermelo and that Steers joint really needs to get their act together ... their griller is not grilling and the stuff was bleak and tasteless. I think I should go and report them to the Steers Management ... what they are doing there to food is a sin.
We refuelled in Ermelo and then headed to Standerton. Temperature was bobbing between 2 and 4 Degrees C and it was a blessing to have Heated Grips and a Heated Saddle on the LT. At Vrede we stopped to get some Biltong but the previous weekend's rugby cleaned the butcher out and we settled for some wet dry wors. Here we stood around in the sun to get some heat into our bodies.
Vrede was a good rest and the temperature did pick up a bit to around 4 degrees.
From Vrede we went down to Warden and on to Bethlehem. I was worried about potholes on this stretch from Vrede to Warden and kept a really close watch on the road surface. As we approached Bethlehem the temperature was up to 8 degrees and we stopped for fuel. Because of the danger of potholes our average speed was very civil and Roan reached Bethlehem just as his reserve warning came on ... around 326=5 kms on that leg and I was impressed with the GS's ability to make it ... the LT still had a lot of juice left and consumed 4 litres less than the GS on this leg.
Refuelling in Bethlehem
In Bethlehem the GS needed some oil and we headed for Senekal, Windburg. Stopping after the Verkeerdevlei Toll Plaza has become sort of an institution and we sent some MMS's to our loved ones of us infront of the Plaza. A smoke and on to Bloemfontein. I am really sorry I did not take shots on the road.
We arrived in Bloemfontein at around 17h30.
14 on Diaz guesthouse.
This Guesthouse needs to be noticed ... the rooms are excellent and the place surely deserves the 4 starts that they advertise so proudly.
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