Cederberg – 3 Dec 2022

Dwarskerbos – Vanputtensvlei: 104 km

There is no sign of any rain clouds in the air so clearly, and luckily, the meteorologists got it wrong again. We are in no hurry since we have a short day so the plan is to get going anywhere from 8 am. Ronel donates a pair of tights and a small blanket to Izabel. She only packed for a summer trip and thus far we’ve had some chilly day, and nights.

Our first stop is for breakfast at the Skooltjie Pastal. We’ve been told to try their Bobotie pies so we get pies and coffee.

I’ve not been feeling well since yesterday and we were just minutes away from our breakfast stop when I started feeling crap. By the time we reach Elandsbay, I am hanging onto the handlebars just to keep upright. When Rooistoor padstal at Vensterklip appears I don’t even think twice about the fact that we just stopped for breakfast less than an hour ago. I can’t get in and sit down quick enough. The owner is very concerned and ushers me to more comfortable couches at the back before giving Izabel some warm water concoction that I must drink.

The muti seems to work because I start feeling better a few minutes later. We haven’t got far to go now so I decided to just push on and get there so we can set up camp early and I can lay down. A few kilometers before reaching Lambertsbay we decide to visit the Bokstal. They farm goats and make very good goats cheese. And so the fun starts. As I make a wide turn before parking the ground just gave way and within seconds Putin is laying on his belly. The rear pusher wheel disappeared into the sand up to the final drive and the only reason it did not go deeper is that there is no more ground clearance. A frantic attempt to go backward and then forward confirmed the obvious – we were stuck good and proper.

But with bad luck comes the good because there were two very helpful guys more than willing to help. It was clear that this will take either a lot of muscle, a lot of digging, or a little bit of digging with a little bit of muscle. So the latter it was and I started digging the rear wheel out. The idea was to go backward since going forward would probably mean getting stuck again. After a fair amount of digging, shoving rocks and muscle from Ingo, and (so sorry forgot his name) I finally liberated Putin.

Once we were free I decided there won’t be any more stops except for food, drinks, and fuel in Lamberts bay. All stocked up we head for Vanputtensvlei. As the name eludes the site is located next to a vlei, or wetland. They have nice shaded camping spots from which we have the pick since we are the only tent campers. There are a few caravans and RVs but they make use of a different section.