August 17, 2019 – Stellenbosch to Springbok

August 17, 2019, 7:25 a.m.

Location: Stellenbosch, S.A.

Weather: Overcast Temp:11C

Notes: Long day ahead. Brackets removed from top box and neoprene installed. I’m feeling much more comfortable, although the gas tank and exhaust bracket make for a very wide spread for my legs.

Entry located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.9364962,18.8663637,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Lunch 12:33 p.m.

Location: Red ox steakhouse

Weather: Clear Temp: 29C

Notes: Today we traveled through acres of field crops spread over rolling hills. This lasted for several hours until we reached a range of low mountains. We wound our way up to the top where we were hit by a vicious wind. Finally we were following a valley where citrus orchards covered the slopes and a irrigation canal meandered back and forth under the road.

We stopped for gas and learned that our support truck had had a breakdown. We waited around for half an hour then our guide Hugo told us we would go to a restaurant after our second gas break since our picnic lunch was in the truck.
The temperature climbed precipitously so I was glad that I had taken off my down jacket.
Eventually we climbed out of the valley and onto the other side of the mountain where there was little agriculture happening. We hit the wind again until we turned off to go to the restaurant where we are now.

There were some interesting birds nesting in hanging nests in many of the trees in the yard. Later I learned they were Cape Weavers, only found on the South African cape.

Entry located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.6064000,18.7280380,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Arrival – Springbok Hotel 5:10 p.m.

Location: Springbok , S. A.

Weather: Clear Temp: 29C

Notes:
Our group stopped for gas about 150kms from Springbok. I replenished the water in my waterpak and Matt bought a bag of ice and distributed it to everyone for their water pack. The temp is 38C!

The landscape is dry and mountainous but the mountains are round-topped, not peaked. It seemed we spent the day facing the sun, although we were headed north. My legs and hips are still so sore so after 5 hours of riding I was really ready to get off!

When we arrived at our hotel it turned out that they didn’t have a record of our booking. Luckily the hotel was nearly empty. We are still waiting for Bayne to arrive with the support truck. At least he was able to get whatever was wrong with it fixed .

We got our rooms and went to the bar. Mike went for a swim in the tiny pool. We had a beer.