Starting out from De Rust this morning we traversed another major commerce route through the mountains. Not a pass this time, but a poort. Winding through the Swartberg mountains Meiringspoort links the Great Karoo with the Little Karoo allowing the wool farmers (well, sheep farmers really) of old to send their goods across to the little Karoo and then over to the coast via Montague Pass. This was far more attractive than the previous practice of sending the stuff all the way to Cape Town!

The Meiringspoort road cross crosses the river about twenty times, each drift having it’s own name, like Skelmkloofdrif (Hidden Ravine drift) and Uitspandrif where the oxen were traditionally out spanned. The most interesting is Laastedrif which, if you approach from the north is named Eerstedrif.

At least these drifts are well out the water!

Before the village of Klaarstroom, we turned off onto a gravel road and immediately hit a drift that was run over by the stream and wet the shoes again (except Nicky of course who managed to freewheel through with her feet held way high).

The route included a good climb of about 500m but at least not all in one go. The descent down to the Prince Albert tar road was fast and fun, apart from the sections that were wet, throwing mud up off the wheels. Everyone looked well bespattered at the lunch stop.

After lunch the group went all roadie and headed out to at a good pace. Soon Nicky was off the back and did not look all that comfortable. Having had a good hour at threshold across the gravel I was more than happy to slow up and keep her company. Along the way we came to Waterberg wine estate and it didn’t take much encouragement for her to stop for a break. In fact I think there are a couple of skid marks just at the entrance.

Turns out Waterberg provided two of their varietals for the wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene in Monaco. Sadly we couldn’t pick up a case or two!

A proper watering point!

And then with slightly lazy legs we headed back out and covered the remaining 22km to Prince Albert.