TRAVERSE 43
One of the best rides in Cape Town is undoubtedly the scenic road through the Cape Winelands and up into the Cedarberg mountains. It is one of my personal favourites. Now let me assure you that this choice was not made lightly. There is a smorgasbord of excellent day and overnight rides in all corners of the Western Cape province of South Africa and to be honest, riders here are often spoilt for choice. I know that I am lucky to call Cape Town home.
This particular spin is the perfect distance to be enjoyed over a weekend. Many wannabe adventure riders do not have the luxury of escaping their 9-5 lives for months on end, so the perfect weekend ride can offer thrill seekers the opportunity to quench their adventurous spirit. This route allows for many enjoyable miles in the saddle, riding on both dirt and tar. You will see mountains, wine farms, bird life and if you like, get to eat the best spare ribs you have ever tasted. With a little luck and some skillful riding, your spare tire will remain untouched.
Leaving the Cape Town( known by locals as the‘ Mother City’) is not easy. With its towering Table mountain shrinking in your rear view mirrors you will need to endure a short ride on the freeway, more often than not accompanied by heavy traffic. The N1 is the road that, if followed for long enough, will take you all the way to Johannesburg. Don’ t fret though, you won’ t have to dodge trucks and buses for very long. After about twenty to thirty minutes, the route veers off to the left onto a much more rural road.
The sign board will direct you to a small farming town called Wellington. As you near the town make sure to turn into the CBD you will meander past the old church building. It is there that you must remember to turn left into the main street. Many bikers bypass this town and travel via the village of Tulbagh, but then you end up missing the best part of the ride. Make sure you check your map or GPS and don’ t end up going around the pass rather than cutting up and over it. The middle of the town can be pretty busy on a late afternoon, but this stretch is only a couple of kilometres long. The streets are lined by old Cape Dutch style buildings, it is certainly worth passing through. The bustle is over before you know it and then the real fun starts.
Just moments after leaving the chaos of the town centre behind you, the road is transformed into a spaghetti bowl of twists and turns. This is the beginning of the first pass, so hold on tight. A height restriction board warns heavy trucks of the dangerous route ahead. Lapping at both road shoulders are forests of tall trees interspersed with fynbos. Fynbos is a rough shrub that is common around the Western Cape. Literally translated, it means fine bush, but there is not much fine about this shrub. Its branches twist and curl the way a grape vine does. If you are lucky, you will see the bushes in full bloom. They flower with spectacular beautiful blooms in many colours that are often said to be alien like. Bright pink and orange flowers look out of place growing on the rough, rugged, rocky slopes. It will be hard to ride by without stopping to try capture that perfect close-up photo.
Bain’ s Kloof pass is one of the Western Cape’ s masterpieces. It was designed and constructed by the revered Scotsman, Andrew Geddes Bain. Opened in 1854, this 18 kilometre engineering marvel provided access to the hinterland beyond the mountains and was known as the‘ Gateway to the North’. Long before riders leaned into the twists and curves of the road with
TRAVERSE 43