1000 km roundtrip, 700km gravel, 3 Hiluxes, 5 days

[Hoppy]

The 3 Hiluxes left the Paarl tolgate just after 7 on friday morning, we stopped for breakfast at Ceres and filled the Luxes. We left the tar road on the famous Ceres/Calvinia strip and turned right soon after, a very wet Karoo was a pleasant surprize, atleast the heat and dust wasn't a problem.
The first two nights was spent at Swifty's farm called "Koedoesberg" (more about this later).
Day 3 took us towards the Tankwa karoo and up Ouberg pass into Sutherland for a quick stop, we left half an hour later towards Merwevllle and down another gravel pass with the best scenery you can imagine.
Day 4 woke us in a hunting cottage outside Merweville, we headed into town for a Breakfast(wich was served at lunchtime), we filled our fridges with Karoo lamb and headed through Laingsburg and towards Seweweekspoort, we set up camp under the trees at the Wagendrift Bush camp, another great find.
Day 5 we made a brunch and left on another scenic gravel road towards Ladysmith, Montagu and back to Cape Town.

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1000km roundtrip, 700km gravel roads, 5 Days, 3 4x4 routes, 3 Hiluxes, 8 special people, thanks.

[Mud Dog]

Short-n-sweet Allan! Nice pics, hope there's more to follow (I see you've already posted some from Wagendrift ).

[Hoppy]

A view over Swifty's farm, the only spot with Celphone coverage, a 90 min drive from the campsite!

Coming down the 4x4 trail towards the campsite, co driving GI Jane

The Pro Photographers at work!

Leaving me behind.... again.

[OOOOMS]

Seems interesting

You got my attention

[CasKru]

Lekker outing Allan. Dankie vir die pics

[GI Jane]

Thanks friends for an amazing trip.... Wonderful company, driving through some of the best countryside, in the most capable vehicles...

The Karoo had quite a bit of rain before we arrived so we had some muddy patches to contend with. We only managed to due a small section of the 4x4 trail at Koeddesberg because of time constraints, but what we did do, had some interesting and tricky sections in the most beautiful surroundings... I love the Karoo and just being in that countryside is magical for me... Definitely would be great to get a group of hiluxers together for a weekend to do the trail. Martin (Swifty) thanks for your hospitality and making your piece of heaven available for townies to enjoy...

Oh and the really good news is, that I have stopped smoking.... Took only one packet of cigarettes with me which I finished halfway through the second day...thought it would be good to be with a group of non smoking friends to quit... and because they are good friends thought they could cope if I got grumpy, which I did'nt.... The dry birds nests in the trees started to look good at some stage and I thought that they maybe okay to smoke if I rolled them in toilet paper... but fortunately never got that desperate... In fact never got desperate at all....

Lots of driving during the 5 days... but off road and in places we miss because we are always in such a hurry... Sutherland was closed when we rode in to town... excepting for a supermarket, where I resisted the temptation to buy cigarettes, much to my friends surprise, who behind the scenes were taking bets that I would cave in...

All in all the scenery was spectacular, the gravel roads in pretty good conditions, the people we met in the small towns, very friendly...and of course my trusty Hilux was on her best behaviour for the entire trip...

Photo's, sorry never took many of those because I was driving all the time, but saw a good couple of places I need to go back to, to get those good shots...

Thanks Hoppy and family, and Altie and Susan for some unforgettable memories..

[Mud Dog]

Well done Val! Now it's just a case of resisting the urge if ever it arises.

[Hoppy]

Me and Val has a bet, i'm NOT going to chicken first!

[Gideonvanzyl]

lyk na 'n lekker trippie julle.

voorspoed met die ophou rook, mens is nooit te oud om op te hou nie. My pa het na 35 jaar van gunston rook opgehou (pakkie 30 per dag), en hy is nou al 12 jaar sonder rook en is baie gesond.

Julle kan dit doen

[Hoppy]

Dawn on Koedoesberg

On our way

Preparing Brunch on Ouberg Pass

Brunch???, i need a smoke!!!

The Karoo is not always dry

Parked at Merweville

[OOOOMS]

Gooi daai pics Hoppy....nie geweet jy weet eens hoe nie ...

[Hoppy]

Just some more nice pics my wife took with the SLR;

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[george]

baie nice So wat is jou bet. gaan jy ophou drink

[Hoppy]

Gooi daai pics Hoppy....nie geweet jy weet eens hoe nie ...

Moet seker die een of ander tyd begin leer

lyk na 'n lekker trippie julle.

voorspoed met die ophou rook, mens is nooit te oud om op te hou nie. My pa het na 35 jaar van gunston rook opgehou (pakkie 30 per dag), en hy is nou al 12 jaar sonder rook en is baie gesond.

Julle kan dit doen

Ek rook nie, ek is (was) n Coke addict, veral as daar Red Hart in is, ek het gese ek sal ophou Coke drink as sy ophou rook, dit gaan maar swaar, TAB doen dit nie vir my nie, maar ek kan nie dat die antie my wen nie!

[george]

Ek rook nie, ek is (was) n Coke addict, veral as daar Red Hart in is, ek het gese ek sal ophou Coke drink as sy ophou rook, dit gaan maar swaar, TAB doen dit nie vir my nie, maar ek kan nie dat die antie my wen nie!

Wipskie en water raak ook lekker.Sal jou kom leer

[Hoppy]

Nee, daai goed maak my tande skurf en laat my ingels vloek, dit sal maar Red Hart en TAB moet wees vir nou

[george]

Nee, daai goed maak my tande skurf en laat my ingels vloek, dit sal maar Red Hart en TAB moet wees vir nou

Dan drink ek liewers Red Heart en Rasberry.Niks slegter as TAB nie

[ROOFER]

thanks for nice pics guys

[Mud Dog]

Wat van Pepsi? Rum met gemmer bier is ook 'n verfrissende alternatief, asook met yskoue rooibos tee ..... as die tee te bitter vis vir jou smaak kan jy dit met 'n bietjie 'glucose' versoet, baie meer gesond as om suiker te gebruik. Try dit.

[Mr_B]

Awesome pics Allan & Val... Allan is the 1GR finally fitted in the KZ?

[GI Jane]

Thanks for the pics Allan and Suzette... Mr B have not posted any photo's only took a handful... was busy driving and just enjoying the beautiful surrounds..

[Mr_B]

Val without you and your awesome Hilux in the pics, they just wouldn't be the same! Hehe!

[Hoppy]

Awesome pics Allan & Val... Allan is the 1GR finally fitted in the KZ?

I sold the 1GR, i bought the complete drivetrain from George JVR out of that burnt KZTE, the engine and hubs was badly damaged, but i could use most of the drivetrain. I fitted a 2.8 Colt injector pump and dumped everything electronic, i get 1100km range from 135L tanks fully loaded, think it's better than the 1GR?

Ps: My 5D finaly packed up(water damage), i'm downgraded to a mik & druk, a G1X, it took all the pix exept the last lot Suzette took with her 7D. I didn't have the manual, got the camera as we left, so all the shots was on the green setting, full auto, think it can do much better on manual settings.

[GI Jane]

Gooi daai pics Hoppy....nie geweet jy weet eens hoe nie ...

Moet seker die een of ander tyd begin leer

lyk na 'n lekker trippie julle.

voorspoed met die ophou rook, mens is nooit te oud om op te hou nie. My pa het na 35 jaar van gunston rook opgehou (pakkie 30 per dag), en hy is nou al 12 jaar sonder rook en is baie gesond.

Julle kan dit doen

Ek rook nie, ek is (was) n Coke addict, veral as daar Red Hart in is, ek het gese ek sal ophou Coke drink as sy ophou rook, dit gaan maar swaar, TAB doen dit nie vir my nie, maar ek kan nie dat die antie my wen nie!

Allan, Help!!! taking strain today .... am really dying for a smoke and wanting to eat everything in sight.... my boxers are following me around the house, they must beware I will even eat them.... turning into pacman..... have to increase my gym to 4 hrs a day or else I will grow to the size of a house!!!!!!!!

[Hoppy]

When i stopped smoking, i chewed bubblegum, in those days Beechies was still in flat boxes, i always had three flafours ready in my top pocket.
It's better now, you can get sugar free gum, less fattening.

Last night i needed something sweet, i looked at the Coke in the fridge.... ....i attacked the condensed milk instead.

[OOOOMS]

When i stopped smoking, i chewed bubblegum, in those days Beechies was still in flat boxes, i always had three flafours ready in my top pocket.
It's better now, you can get sugar free gum, less fattening.

Last night i needed something sweet, i looked at the Coke in the fridge.... ....i attacked the condensed milk instead.

x2 Sugar free beechies work.....

[Gideonvanzyl]

Ek rook nie, ek is (was) n Coke addict, veral as daar Red Hart in is, ek het gese ek sal ophou Coke drink as sy ophou rook, dit gaan maar swaar, TAB doen dit nie vir my nie, maar ek kan nie dat die antie my wen nie![/quote]

Sorry Hoppie, bly om te hoor jy rook nie.

Om coke te los is net so moeilik, jy sal moet vasbyt.

[Wickedwilley]

My reply at last!!
Thanks all for a wonderful trip. Val, how is the nonsmokers' club treating you? Here are some more fodies.

[Donkey]

Lovely pics and looks like an awesome trip, you guys mean coke or Coco-cola?

[GI Jane]

My reply at last!!
Thanks all for a wonderful trip. Val, how is the nonsmokers' club treating you? Here are some more fodies.

Altie, that was one photograph...

Nonsmoker's club is great... Also thanks to you for leading the way and taking us through those amazing places...

And Donkey yes Coke as in Coca Cola .... that stuff that is loaded with tons of sugar and eats away at your stomach lining, and to be honest I think it is nearly as addictive as nicotine...