Further East from Agulhas, there is no road anymore along the coast so I go north to Swellendam where I stay in a farm with Pieter and his family. They challenge the agro industry by being the first farm in Africa to get a huge machine from Australia (better than those from the US or Europe for South African climate) which cut the cereals instead of laboring and thus keep the microbiology of the soil and avoid or reduce the use of fertilizers!
Next day is tricky: I have another CS host, but in Calizdorp, 180 km and 2 mountain passes away! I first think of biking for a while and then try to get a lift. But these ‘radioactive hot springs’ 50km from Ladismith after 80km biking and their pools with hot water is so good for my legs! I stay there overnight in a caravan, and enjoy a braai with motor bikers, so many of them seen on the road all heading on to the Buffalo’s festival in Mosel’s Bay! The pools are supposed to be open from 6am to 10pm, but a bath there at 3am completely alone is just magic!
Good 50k ride the day after to Ladismith where I get lunch and put some more pressure in my tires to get up in the next pass! Big mistake! I hadn’t have a puncture for many days (after 3 in one day in Stellenbosch) and quickly get my rear tire dead! I change it once, twice, and my spare tubes are badly patched and still leak air! Time goes on, biking on the pass before sunset will be tricky! But before I even think about that and fix my tire, Derek, my CS host from Calizdorp ask for me: he came on his own to pick me up, what a surprise! Derek and Lawrence are 2 friendly British gentlemen that arrived in the mid 70ies in South Africa and now try to enjoy their retirement.
50km to Oudthorrn, an interesting place hosting many ostrich farms, where you can learn more about them, eventually try to ride them, and enjoy the ostrich steaks in the nice restaurants in the city! That’s also the place to discover the Kango’s cave, and a nice ride to see the Swantberg pass, probably better with a car or even better on motorbike, but with a mountain bike, just enjoy the downhill from the pass using the lift service from the Backpacker’s Paradise! Just don’t think to get on the 4×4 track and hiking trail with your mtb, way to rocky to ride!