Nature's Valley to Shorts River Mouth

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Breakfast on the Manor Veranda

Today is our last day of cycling in South Africa and we have a fairly long and hilly trip planned.  We drive from Knysna, beginning at 8 am, and get to our cycling point at 9 am for our ride to Nature’s Valley and Bloukrans Pass to Tsitsikamma National Park which will take us to the Indian Ocean shore at Shorts River.  The ride began at a high altitude with a good view of Plettenberg Bay and the indigenous forest of South Africa.   

Above Plettenberg Bay

After 10 km, we dropped down into Nature’s Valley on a very steep winding road.  In the valley the temperature was at least 10 degrees cooler than at the higher altitude.  From Nature’s Valley we had to climb out on a very steep 2.2 km road and it required the lowest gear to do it.  This is our steepest climb of the day.  From there we road on a plateau.   

The road bed was undulating before we arrived at Blodkrans Pass and did another steep descent.  Along the way we had view of the new Blodkrans Bridge that has the highest bungee jumping station (216 m).  Then we started the second steepest and longest ascent of the day.  By now the temperature was 38^oC (100 degrees F) and it was a grueling climb.  Once to the crest, we had an extremely hot, sun baring down, undulating ride to the N2 highway.  Needless to say, a lot of water was consumed!  Once we turned toward the entrance to the National Park, we were eagerly anticipating the 3 km downward descent to the Coast.  The heat and humidity were very excessive, but we kept going with that anticipation we would soon descend.  And, we did, but not before filling up the water bottles with cold water at the entrance station.  The descent was marvelous and we arrived at the Indian Ocean with a great sigh of relief.

Ah, We Made It!

After turning in the bikes, we walked to the restaurant for a very large, very COLD draught beer and soon enjoyed our lunch of fish n’ chips.   

Although we thought we were finished for the day and would soon be back at the manor relaxing on the lawn, surprise.  Off we went on a 5 km round trip hike to the mouth of the Shorts River.  This took us through the coastal jungle on a boardwalk that went up and down the side of the ridge following the coast.  We then arrived at a suspension bridge that spanned the mouth of the Shorts River that exists the river gorge at the Indian Ocean.  Some kayakers were at the mouth and could actually kayak 2 km up the gorge.  

 The views of this area were great.   After hiking back, we began our drive back to Knysna and the manor.  Along the way, we stopped at the huge bridge spanning a gorge to see the bungee jumping from the world's highest bungee jump site (216 m).  Then to Plettenberg Bay and finally back to the manor for a long awaited shower.

216 m Bungee Jumping

Mountains to the East of Plettenberg Bay

Tonight we had a braai for our farewell dinner and celebration.  

The trip leaders presented everyone with a memento of this South African cycling trip – a handcrafted, miniature wire bicycle with a South African flag.    

Tomorrow we will leave at 9:15 am for our shuttle to the George airport and the long flight back home.  We have seen and done so much in these two weeks in South Africa.  The diversity of scenery, animals and people in the parts of the country we have visited has been outstanding.  We have had a most pleasurable visit and have really enjoyed the group, tour leaders, and drivers (Garief and Henri).

Knysna to Buffalo Bay

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Today our cycling will take us from Rheenendal (old gold mining country) to Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay.  Much of the ride was through forested land with gentle uphill and downhill riding.  At the N2 highway there was a fabulous downhill ride for several kms and then a left with a nice ride to the ocean.  At the mouth of the Goukamura river, there were spectacular views of the ocean and the very rocky (red-tan colored) coast.  

River meets Indian Ocean

Mountains to the West

Rugged Coastline

The ride along the coastline was beautiful – blue sky, deep blue Indian ocean with white frothy waves, and tan-colored sandy beaches tucked among the red-tan rugged rocks.  A quick left onto Walker Drive took us to the end of the ride with a great view of the Bay.  We have traveled south and west of Knysna along what is known as the Garden Route.  

Buffalo Bay

Arrived at Buffalo Bay

Wading in the Indian Ocean

A couple did a swim in the Indian Ocean, but the water temperature was much too cold for us – probably as cold or colder than the Pacific.  I

Debbie and Jesse in the Indian Ocean

n addition, there was a constant strong wind blowing in from the ocean, which was covered with whitecaps.  We had a couple of hours to relax, view the parasailing, and then have a picnic lunch before retracing our route back to the River Deck Restaurant/Bar.  

Louis, Bob, Ann, Mary Ann, and Maureen

River Deck

From there we shuttled back to the Belvidere Manor to get freshened up and relax. 

 

Manor Cottages

Manor Grounds and View

Klein Karoo to Knysna Bay

Tuesday November 3, 2015

We left Le Plume and the Klein Karoo this morning for a 2 hour drive to Knysna, which is a city on Knysna Bay that connects to the Indian Ocean.  The arid environment has been exchanged for a lusher coastal environment.  Our trip took us over the mountains and into the city of George, which is on the coast and is where we depart on Friday for our trip back to the US.   

View Toward George and Indian Ocean

VBT Group

From George, we had about an hour drive to Knysna and the beginning of our cycling for the day.   

We started at a lookout on a hill overlooking Knysna Bay and proceeded to cycle onto the drive that goes around the bay.   

Beginning of Ride

A beautiful part of the ride was on Leisure Isle, which is a island in the bay with many large homes and views of the bay inlet.   

Inlet from Indian Ocean

We then exited the island and cycled toward the inlet where we had lunch at East Head.  There was also a short walk out to the rocky inlet with great views of the inlet from the Indian Ocean and back into the bay.   

Lunch at East Head was outside with good views of the inlet.  Afterwards, we retraced our ride, but stopped at the Waterfront, which contains a marina and shops.   

Then we continued on to Belvidere Manor where we will be staying for three nights.  The Manor has several cottages and a good view of the Bay.  We had a relaxing few hours before dinner.  Dinner was somewhat exotic with smoked crocodile carpaccio as an appetizer, antelope as the entre’, and dark chocolate pate’ for dessert.  All of the food was outstanding.