The Giant Little Karoo Trek route through the Little Karoo. Western Cape. South Africa
Route profile - Anysberg to Montagu. (That's Ouberg Pass you see on the right.
Route profile - Calitzdorp to Van Wyksdorp. (That's Rooiberg Pass in the middle).
Route Profile - Rietfontein to Anysberg with the peaks of Little Swartberg Pass and Die Outol Pass clearly visible.
Route profile - Van Wyksdorp to Rietfontein, the easiest ride of the lot.
Chillin' at The Calitz in Calitzdorp on Route 62 - beers and wine at the pool. The Giant Little Karoo Trek.
So, we’re staying at The Calitz in Calitzdorp on Route 62 - a rather nice spot with great decor. Bring 8 eBikes into the mix and it just gets better!!! The Giant Little Karoo Trek starts tomorrow morning.
The calm before the storm - all rearing to go at the start of the Giant Little Karoo Trek From left: Sue, Tony, Pat, Joy, Dave, Sharon, Bruce and Roger.
We head out of Calitzdorp on tar (that wouldn't last long...) with the glorious Swartberg Mountains in the background.
Tony and Joy about to tackle one of the many hairpin bends on Rooiberg Pass.
Tony, Joy, Dave and Sue on the climb up Rooiberg Pass.
Tony, Joy, Dave and Sue leading Pat in the support vehicle up Rooiberg Pass.
Dave on Rooiberg Pass, seemingly very chuffed to be out on his bike in the Karoo.
Pat (designated driver for the morning) in Bruce's Discovery, negotiating one of Rooiberg's tight corners.
Bruce and Sharon on Rooiberg Pass with the famous Towerkop Peak near Ladismith, in the far distance.
Tea and sandwiches on top of the mighty Rooiberg Pass. The Giant Little Karoo Trek.
Bruce at speed at the start of the downhill after cresting Rooiberg Pass
Nicole (owner of Paddagaste where we spent the night) and Ralph (of Raplie's Tequela Shed) were kind enough to ride out (on conventional bikes) to meet us on the slopes of Rooiberg to escourt us to Van Wyksdorp.
Flood? Really?! In this dry environment? Apparently, yes - a few months previously.
We imagined that once we'd cracked Rooiberg, the descent into Van Wyksdorp, our overnight stop, would be pretty much downhill. Not so! Not so at all - there were a few serious climbs to tackle.
Road conditions on our first day out varied from tar to smooth gravel to patches of stone that made the going, er, interesting on occasions. The Giant Little Karoo Trek.
Tony leads the team out of Van Wyksdorp and past the town's iconic windmill at the start of the second day's riding
One of the many fans that cheered as along on the way out of Van Wyksdorp. Actually, the only fan!
