RIDING THE GARDEN ROUTE
The Garden Route of South Africa tour had started strong. We had visited the Cape of Good Hope, taken in mountain passes of Tarmac and gravel, as well as desert highways and coastal twisties. But it was about to get better still.
After two nights in Oudtshoorn, we were on the move again. And we were heading to the home of South Africa's National Elephant Park in Addo, near Port Elizabeth.
It was a long ride to Addo. We crossed the Outeniqua Mountains, and pushed through the towns of George and Wilderness (which, by the way, is about as far from the wilderness as can be). Then we took a little detour to the coast via Nature 's Valley through a twisty decline. The sharpness of the bends took some careful negotiating after the fast roads we had spent all morning on. Climbing up from the valley, we took in Bloukrans Pass. The road is officially closed to direct traffic to the new toll road that has replaced it. But it is still passable, although nature has started to claim back the land, and most of the way the road is narrow with vegetation pushing in from both sides and grass coming up through the Tarmac . It's perfect for adventure bikes, lovely to ride, and feels like a calm sanctuary, with the wild trees providing a rare bit of shade.
