South Africa
This morning the alarm went off at 7:00 AM.
A quick breakfast, then into the Uber to the Triumph dealer in Cape Town.
Waiting there were Tyrone, Tino, and Timmy—the Tiger 900 Rallys, all ready for the guys.
After sorting out the paperwork and setting up the luggage and electronics, we headed to the depot to pick up Claire, the CRF300, for Marleen.
The first 150 kilometers were on paved roads, just to get a feel for the bikes. Crossing the Bainskloof pass we headed north towards Cederberg. Then the real adventure began. After filling up the tanks and grabbing a quick lunch, we took on the last 45 kilometers off-road. It took a bit of getting used to for Arjen and Marleen, but with Stefan and André’s help, we all made it through.
The views were stunning, and we were constantly filming and taking pictures of each other.
A dream come true!
After some slips and a few adrenaline-filled moments, we arrived at our final stop for the day—a farmhouse on a campsite Cederberg Oasis. Not exactly clean or luxurious, but good enough for a night. We had a nice meal at the restaurant by the campsite and chatted with some fellow motorcyclists.
This morning we got up at 7:00 AM, got dressed, and strapped the bags onto the bikes.
We had breakfast at the restaurant by our accommodation, then set off for another day of motorcycling fun.
This time we started with the off-road section, followed by a national road (N-road) for the final part of the ride.
What beautiful roads and scenic viewpoints! Occasionally a car would pass, but otherwise it was wonderfully peaceful, giving us plenty of space to ride and practice.
Motorbike Claire was a bit tired today and decided to take a little nap on the ground 🫣
Luckily, Marleen and Claire were quickly back on their feet—and there was even time (and humor) to snap a photo.
Aside from a blue bruise on the thigh, everything was fine.
During a stop at the gas station, we drew a lot of attention.
There were also fellow motorcyclists with stories and tips that made our journey even better.
Upon arriving in Wellington, we found a lovely place to stay—beautiful location and a kind host.
Two of us even got a ride to the supermarket, which was super convenient.
We picked up some goodies for an African braai (BBQ) and enjoyed a cozy evening in the garden.
We did, however, share the night with many mosquito friends 😟
So today we’ll be doing a bit of scratching…
The days are hot, so we chose to hit the road early again.
After a quick breakfast, we packed up the bikes and began the day’s ride.
Before long, we passed through Franschhoek, where the terrace at the local coffee shop was packed with motorcyclists. We decided to stop too and enjoy a delicious coffee.
There was a constant flow of bikes coming and going—mostly sport bikes, so we won’t be seeing those guys on the off-road trails!
After coffee, we tackled the Franschhoek Pass, a stunning road where we did spot some of our racer friends again.
We also had to watch out for our baboon 🙊 friends crossing the road—so keeping your eyes on the road was key. André was waiting for us to take photos, and just happened to witness one of the sport riders take a fall. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured and didn’t need any assistance.
After a stretch on the road, we hit some beautiful off-road trails today—hard-packed gravel, perfect for riding.
We stopped often for water breaks and once for a cold drink on a terrace.
The temperature hit 34.5°C, so staying hydrated and looking after ourselves was essential.
Tonight, we’re sleeping in a luxury tent in the middle of nature. We had a wonderful braai (BBQ) and enjoyed the view. There’s also a pool, which we happily used to cool off. In short—pure enjoyment!
Tomorrow it’s going to be 42°C… to be continued…
Scorching Heat and Stunning Passes
Despite the comfort of our luxury tent, we decided to get up at 6:00 AM and hit the road by 7:00 AM. The roles were assigned and we left right on time. Why so early? The weather forecast warned of 42°C heat!
After making good progress on an 80 km/h road and then pushing through 100 kilometers of highway, we stopped for a milkshake to cool off. After this refreshing break, we tackled the final stretch toward the Swartberg region.
We had our last fuel stop in Laingsburg and then continued through the stunning Seweweekspoort Pass. It began paved, then turned to gravel—an absolutely beautiful route. Even with the intense heat, this was a highlight we wouldn’t have wanted to miss.
We arrived at our accommodation around 2:30 PM, and it couldn’t have come a minute sooner. Overheated and exhausted, we jumped straight into the pool for a refreshing dip.
After cooling down, we decided to eat out. A main course with a glass of wine came to just 100 rand—about 5 euros. Bellies full and ready for an early night. Tired, but very satisfied with the day.
Off-Road Wonders and Wildlife
We left our accommodation around 8:30 AM and immediately hit an off-road track that had a bit of everything. The landscape changed constantly—from jungle-like greenery to the rocky terrain we’ve become familiar with. Along the way, we spotted giraffes, zebras, and antelope. It was far too hot to grab the binoculars or DSLR, so this one’s just for the memory bank.
Eventually, we merged into the famous Swartberg Pass. What a view! Video footage is still to come. During the ride through Swartberg, Stefan ran into trouble with a flat front tire. With no shade to be found, the repair had to be done under the blazing sun. Fortunately, it was just the outer tire and a perfect puncture for a plug. Great teamwork from the crew!
Once in Prince Albert, we took a (ice) coffee break at the Lazy Lizard café. Thanks to a sponsored coffee from our longtime fans (thanks Corine & Jan 😜), we enjoyed our break to the fullest.
The day continued with another 200 kilometers of paved roads, weaving past beautiful landscapes and lots of ostriches. The ride to the coast made this one of the most diverse and scenic days yet.
We saw temperatures reach 38°C inland, but ended the day with a pleasant 24°C at the coast. After a refreshing shower, we sank into balcony chairs overlooking the ocean and enjoyed André’s braai magic.
Perfect end to an unforgettable day.
The Flying Dutchmen
Today we had a long ride ahead, so we set off early. For the first time, the temperature was actually pleasant—still warm, but with a max of 32°C, it was far better than the 42°C heat wave earlier this week. The breeze while riding was refreshing and welcome.
We continued along the coast and soon saw that familiar sign: from tarmac to gravel—let’s go! We had about 270 kilometers ahead, with at least 200 of those unpaved.
Coastal sand made for some interesting riding and earned today its title: The Flying Dutchmen. A few Tigers kissed the ground today—but fortunately, all were low-speed tip-overs in deep sand. No harm done, just stories to tell!
A stunning mountain pass followed, with a mix of technical challenges. Great practice for Stefan and André, and perfect learning moments for Arjen and Marleen. Somewhere in between all the gravel, we found a lovely lunch spot where we could refuel and recover from the first part of the ride.
The final stretch led us to a small river where we crossed via a hand-pulled ferry—an unexpected and fun twist to an already memorable route.
Tonight’s stay is a remote farmhouse—beautifully located and perfectly peaceful. We’ve got a wonderful house to relax in after a full, eventful day.
Mud, Mayhem, and Motor Skills
This morning we were still tucked into bed when we half-sleepily heard a rumble outside. Rain—in South Africa! And not just a drizzle either. Thankfully, our luggage bags proved to be waterproof, and the bikes got an unexpected rinse, shedding some of their dust coats.
We debated today’s route, as it included lots of off-road sections. Just leaving the cottage, we already encountered massive puddles. Still, we wanted to stick to the plan—but 20 kilometers in, a torrential downpour hit and we dove into a coffee shop for shelter.
New plan: ride through the rain until we hit better weather, get soaked if necessary, and then back to off-road once conditions allowed. And so we did! The rain eased up by midday, and we veered off onto gravel trails again.
The route served up a mix of mud, sand, and skill-building challenges. Arjen unexpectedly found himself veering off into a pasture, and Marleen gave herself a solo sand-recovery mission—only to dig in so deep that the bike could basically stand up on its own!
A long climb followed, up through farm gates where we could wave to curious cows. Then a steep descent over loose rocks, ending in a surprise: the water crossing had been completely washed out, leaving a two-meter-deep trench. No choice but to turn back and tackle the rough trail again—loose stones, surprise dips, and all.
The whole loop took two hours, but it was a highlight in terms of technical riding. Everyone made it through with a bit of slipping and sliding, and loads of laughter. A true team win!
Bonus: The Tally So Far 📊
As the dust (and mud) settles on today’s adventure, it’s time for some light-hearted stats from the trip so far. Here’s how things are stacking up:
- Times Marleen dropped her gloves: 56x
- “Oops” moments (minor mishaps): 18x
- Times we’ve enjoyed a proper braai: 5x
- Flat tires: 1x
- Influencer-style photos taken: 1199x
- Huntsman spiders encountered up close: 2x 🕷️
- Times Stefan’s front tire needed air: 5x
- Number of rides where Arjen’s shoes weren’t black with dust: 0x
- Times André rode around like a happy kid (on a CRF 300 Rally): 1x
- Times Marleen forgot to cancel her blinker and got called out: 1000x
- Times Stefan looked normal in a photo: 0x
Until tomorrow! 🏍️🌍
Today was our last day with our trusty bikes.
It started off well, because as we were leaving this morning, André discovered he had a flat front tire. Fortunately, we were able to stop, and the people at the gas station were very helpful. We fixed the tire and then kicked off the day!
First, we headed toward the Franschhoek Pass, which we had already ridden earlier this week, but it was so beautiful that we planned to do it again. However, it turned out there were roadworks today, and the pass was closed. The man directing traffic said we could pass for a fee… Seemed like a weird idea to us, so we decided to turn around and take the same road back.
Along the way, we had time for coffee, pie, and a bit of shopping. Once we arrived in Cape Town, we rode the stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive, and after that, it was truly time to return the bikes. First Claire, and then the three boys. Everything returned neatly, and we’d ridden exactly 2,150 kilometers.
Stefan is flying home tonight, and Arjen, André, and Marleen are getting ready for a relaxing weekend in Stellenbosch. We ended the trip together with dinner at a burger bar—massive burgers and staff who acted like they were too lazy to walk. You even have to pick up your own order while they watch you serve the food yourself. Naturally, they still expected a 10% tip 😉
After dinner, we shared an Uber to the airport. Time to say goodbye to Stefan, complete with a little tear from André. Then Arjen, André, and Marleen picked up their rental car (a Toyota Starlet). We’re calling it Stefan Starlet—that way, he’ll still be with us this weekend 😄
