TRAVERSE Issue 28 - February 2022 | Page 49

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behind . After a short stretch of the N2 , we turned down towards Bredasdorp . The wind was blowing much harder on the southern side of the mountains , but the KTM just powered through it all .
We stopped for a milkshake in the town and after refuelling , headed to the dirt again . The last hour or so of road that would get us to the river mouth , is dirt and I had been given very different information on its condition from what we were soon to experience .
Almost immediately after rolling onto the gravel , we saw roadworks ahead . We managed to dodge the stop and go , but the conditions were something we could not avoid . The top of the sand had been scraped off and there was a fresh layer of soft powder that had been rolled flat . To keep the fine dirt from blowing away as the roadworks were underway , water had been sprayed . This meant mud and slippery riding . We were very grateful to be on the KTM that day .
There were a few hair-raising wobbles , but Mike ’ s expertise kept us upright and we powered through with mud spraying everywhere . Before we knew it , we had reached the river again at Malagas . The river ’ s punt was not working , and the entire place looked deserted . We continued towards the mouth and our waypoint , Cape Infanta . This was the Cape we wanted to reach for day one and what a brilliant ride it was . The bike just dealt with everything we had tossed in its path . Obstacles became stepping-stones and our smiles widened with each bend in the road .
Riding with the river to our side and the sea ahead in the distance felt good . Another big challenge completed , and it felt so right . I really had enjoyed the bike . Getting back in the saddle was a little bittersweet . It certainly gave me much more respect for pillion riders . At the river mouth , we stopped for a picture . I stood there in silence to absorb the sound of the water flooding out to sea , I could smell the muddy waters and even taste the
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