I woke up at 5 am with a drizzle falling on the roof. Not impressed because, as I mentioned earlier, I don’t mind rain but not when I start or finish riding (more about this later). I get out of bed to do the final packing and I soon realize that it’s one thing to look at things lying on the ground, but a different matter to find a place for everything on the bike. By the time I have found a place for everything, the light rains have stopped and blue skies started peaking out behind the clouds.

All packed and ready to go. Surkov has a new spot 😉

Eventually, we ride out the gate just after 6 am, excited for the adventure that lies ahead. As usual, our trip’s first and last days are not very awe-inspiring. It’s just a matter of getting the hell out of here. Our destination for the first stop is Jan Kempdorp, a town in the North Cape province. Most people will remember the town as the location of a huge munition depot during the border war.

We stopped for breakfast just outside Ventersdorp before turning towards Hartbeesfontein. Just 30km down the road I hear a weird sound and seconds later feel the familiar weave that signals a flat tire. Not very impressed because the rear tire is brand new with a heavy-duty tube. Upon closer inspection I find no apparent damage, making me think that the tube failed. I decide to replace the wheel and fix the issue later.

Funny breakfast joke.

Not so funny to unpack everything to replace the back wheel 🙁

The gravel road from Hartbeesfontein to Wolmeransstad is in very good condition and it is a welcome break from the tarmac.

We stop at The Local Spot Padstal & Deli just outside Wolmeransstad for a quick bite and leg stretch. My ‘quick bite’ turns into a portion of skildpadtjies with pap and gravy.

Skilpadtjies, pap and gravy with cold ginger beer

Bellies full we depart, or at least we get to the gate before I realize we have our second flat tire for the day. Well, at least it happened here instead of somewhere with no shade. By this time the wind has picked up but it was getting very hot at the same time. I decide to fix the flat we had previously and as I suspected the valve insert separated from the rest of the tube. It did not tear but the valve gusset neatly was separated from the rest of the tube. We only have two spare tubes so I hope this is the last time a tube is destroyed.

Number 2
Valve-less in Wolmeransstad.

By the time we get going the wind is howling and the temperate is boiling. Just before reaching Christiana a huge storm starts developing on the horizon and we are excited about the prospect of riding through some nice cool rain. Since we still have 50km to go it would be perfect. We can cool down and dry out before getting to our overnight stop.

Riders in the storm.

This little guy took a ride on Izabel’s shoulder

But alas, the storm keeps on evading us until 2km from our destination when the heavens opened up with buckets of rain and hail. Every single vent in my jacket is open and within seconds I’m wet to my underpants. As soon as it started it stopped 500m before we stop at our destination, dripping wet, well me, Izabel is bone dry.