In 2021, after the 1,000 Miler race (See Jozi-Parys-Le Cap Forgotten Highways “Miler” Route) had been called off during the Covid-19 lockdown period, we set about plotting the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Mile Challenge (approximately 1,600km) route…and rode it shortly afterwards. The 1,000 Mile Challenge idea was one of an unsupported informal challenge. This implies riding the set route with no “outside” support, the rider only making use of commercially available services along the route (accommodation, food etc), obviously excluding any transport related services, and with no back up vehicle or support from elsewhere. The challenge was hosted on Massive Adventures website.
The idea was to find as much gravel road, and as little vehicle traffic, between Joburg and Cape Town. The obvious constraint on the amount of gravel was that we needed the route to go through enough towns for resupply purposes, to facilitate unsupported riding, the biggest town en route being the Free State Capital of Bloemfontein.
Although we dubbed it “Joburg to Blouberg”, the truth is that the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Mile Challenge part of the route is more a “Gauteng to Blouberg” route, not starting in Joburg but rather to the south at the Rivera Hotel in Vereeniging, on the Vaal River. This was to avoid the worst of Gauteng’s busy roads.
Riders choosing the original Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler route for their "Miler" attempt, can commence their 1,000 Mile Challenge ride at the Rivera Hotel in Vereeniging, and follow the route to Blouberg.
But for those wishing to have a genuine Joburg start, we add on a section starting outside the Lido Hotel/Shell South City on the R82 route to Vereeniging, and we have plotted what seems the nicest possible route (given Gauteng’s traffic challenges) via Henley-on-Klip south to Vereeniging. Call it the “warm up” if you like….and add it to your ride for a true “Jozi 2 Cape” trip.
for Below, a link to the original Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler Route (Vereeniging to Blouberg) map for GPX file download:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39942110
The route includes the historic town which was the 1st Voortrekker Republic, Winburg, and the country’s judicial capital and former Free State Republic capital of Bloemfontein. It then passes the country’s largest dam, Gariep Dam, before later making its way onto parts of the “Forgotten Highway” through Sutherland. Sutherland is a well-known star gazing town, with major telescopes in the vicinity, and is also the town with the coldest recorded temperatures in SA. Interestingly, the highest point on the route is only past Sutherland, whereafter the Ouberg Pass provides a spectacular descent down SA’s Great Escarpment into the Tankwa Karoo. The biggest climb on the whole route is up the Bo-Swaarmoed Pass, before some more big descents follow down Swaarmoed Pass into Ceres, Mitchells Pass beyond Ceres, and Nuwekloof Pass (formerly Roodezand Pass), one of SA’s first passes en route from Cape Town to the hinterland.
In April 2021, Paul Erasmus and John Loos left Vereeniging to become the 1st two people to ride the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Mile Challenge…riding unsupported. They covered the route in 7 days 8 hours and 39 minutes.
Below, a link to the video about the ride:
This ride also formed the inaugural ride of the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler Challenge that was then hosted by (now defunct) Massive Adventures.
The following year, John Loos rode with his friend Nikki van de Walt, who became the 1st known lady to ride the route, and riding unsupported. Their time was 8 days and 12 hours, which at time of writing was still the fastest womens’ time.
Below, a link to the video about the ride:
At time of writing this blog, Simon Rollo held the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler “down” ride unsupported FKT (Fastest Known Time), with a time of 4 days 22 hours and 8 minutes.
Click on below links to videos about Simon’s ride:
The original Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler Route (from Vereeniging to Blouberg) distance is 1,602km, and includes +9,982m of vertical ascent and -11,410m of vertical descent.
Key features of the route and the ride:
THE “WARM UP”
The “Warm Up”….for those wanting to start in Johannesburg and not in Vereeniging, this will add an extra 61km on top of the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler route distance of 1,602km:
Lido Hotel/Shell South City to Vaal River - 61km
The start of the Joburg to Blouberg “Warn Up” is outside the Lido Hotel, a well-known hotel in Audax riding circles, not far from Klipriviersberg in the south of Joburg, just off the R82 route going south. The route goes east shortly thereafter, onto quieter routes through the beautiful town of Henley on Klip, via Three Rivers, and on to the Rivera Hotel on the Vaal River at Vereeniging.
Click on the link below for a map and GPX track of the “Warm Up” section:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45284010
THE “JOBURG TO BLOUBERG” 1,000 MILE ROUTE (VEREENIGING TO BLOUBERG):
Vaal River to Koppies – 83 km (83 km from the start)
Starting at the Rivera Resort on the Vaal, the original Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Miler route crosses the Vaal River into the Free State 700 metres in, and follows the R82 Koppies Road to the 30km mark where it turns right to Wolwehoek Station.
At Wolwehoek Railway Station, the 36.5km mark, the route joins a dirt road that runs next to the Johannesburg-Bloemfontein railway line.
The route takes an array of dirt roads to near to Koppies, skirting Koppies Dam and Koppies itself, not going quite into the town. But it is a short ride from the route into Koppies is easily done should one wish.
Alternative routes to Wolwehoek:
Between the Rivera Hotel and Wolwehoek Station, riders are welcome to use any alternative route to get to Wolwehoek Station, and we will still see them as being “on the Joburg to Blouberg 1,000 Mile Route” for the purpose of our Miler Club Challenge. We make this provision because the original route outlined above has become more busy in recent years, the informal settlements along it have grown, and it has become “less popular” for 1,000 Mile Challenge riders.
A possible start section route, via Van der Bijl Park, is provided below as a possible alternative:
After starting at the Rivera Hotel, the alternative route moves onto Barrage Road going west to Van der Bijl Park, only crossing the Vaal River into the Free State at Van der Bijl Park.
The route goes quiet from around the 89km mark, after having crossed into the Free State, skirted around Sasolburg, and turned off the R59 Parys Road at the onto a set of gravel roads heading towards Wolwehoek Railway Station.
For route map and GPX file download, click on the link below:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45283913
Koppies to Edenville – 48 km (131 km from the start)
From Koppies to Edenville the route is on quiet tar roads. Edenville is a quiet town with a garage shop for a pie or cold drink and not much else, and it is unlikely to be high on any tourist’s bucket list.
Edenville to Steynsrus – 47km (178km from the start)
The 47km ride from Edenville to Steynsrus is largely dirt road. Steynsrus is a little more significant in size, and has a supermarket and a take-away shop of sorts. It can be a good lunch time stop for those trying to make Winburg on the 1stday.
Steynsrus to Ventersburg – 46km (224 km from the start)
It is dirt road from just outside Steynrus to Ventersburg. Ventersburg is the 1st “24-hour town” since entering the Free State, as it is on the main N1 route from Joburg to Cape Town. It is not a pretty place, but is useful for resupply, and will likely have accommodation that is open long hours too.
Ventersburg to Winburg – 64km (288m from the start)
It is another almost almost exclusively gravel road stretch from Ventersburg to Winburg. Winburg is a quiet town these days, with the N1 bypassing it, as does the national road coming from Harrismith and Durban. But it has a garage shop, and the Winburg Guest House is a useful stopover. The same people that own this guest house also own the Winburg Hotel. They make a good TBone steak, pepper sauce and chips.
Many years ago, Winburg was the first Voortrekker Republic.
Winburg to Bloemfontein – 127km (415km from the start)
The route goes right through the middle of Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein has everything from 24 our hotels, to restaurants and take aways (all of the main brands), to bike shops and hospitals if one is in need of running repairs. It is the last place on the route that one is likely to find a bike shop of significance.
Bloemfontein to Edenburg – 76km (491km from the start)
Just past Bloemfintein there’s another quiet gravel road stretch to Edenburg parallel to the N1, Edenburg is a sorry old town, once a hive activity decades ago when the N1 used to pass through the middle of it….but the N1 has long since been diverted to bypass it. It also appears good for a quick pie and cold drink before moving on.
Edenburg to Trompsburg – 37km (528km from the start)
The 37km to Trompsburg is a quick tar road ride. Trompsburg is a far better bet than Edenburg in terms of nice accommodation options, including a hotel and some guest houses, as well as one or 2 restaurants.
Trompsburg to Springfontein – 30km (558km from the start)
Back onto gravel road for a quick ride to Springfontein, a key railway junction which does have the odd bed and breakfast.But Trompsburg would be our pick for a sleepover well ahead of this town…..with all due respect, as they say.
Springfontein to Gariep Dam – 53km (611km from the start)
Gariep Dam is probably the next best accommodation option after Trompsburg, having a variety of self catering options, a luxury hotel by name of De Stijl which has a beautiful view of South Africa’s biggest dam, and a Forever Resort. There is also a very well stocked OK Bazaars Mini Market and a restaurant called Tjailatyd next door.
Gariep Dam to Colesberg – 71km (682km from the start)
It is another quiet gravel grind to Colesberg. Colesberg is a “24-hour town” in the N1. At the far end of Colesberg the route passes a 24-hour Engen OneStop with a well-stocked garage shop. There is also a KFC and the Merino Inn Motel with a 24-hour reception for check in.
Colesberg to Hanover - 82km (764km from the start) – approximately half way to Cape Town
It is another gravel stretch through an assortment of farming areas, including some game farms. Just after leaving Colesberg there is a high gate in the road. The road is a public one, and after the people remotely monitoring the gate have seen who you are, you should be allowed through.
The last 14km of this stretch are on a narrow tar road with some traffic.
Hanover is near the half-way mark on the route. It is an N1 town, and as such has ample guest house accommodation, and 2 garage shops with take-aways on either side of the N1. We recommend the Hanover Hotel.
Hanover to Richmond – 76km (840km from the start)
After a few hundred metres on the N1, the route is all gravel to Richmond. It bypasses Richmond, but the ride into town is quick. Richmond is another N1 town well supplied with accommodation, a garage and restaurant at the Caltex Garage.
If one is thinking of bailing out and going home early, the N1 towns are probably the best places to do it, because they will probably have at least one of the major bus services stopping there.
But be sure to find out in advance which bus services will accept a bicycle on board. Some are sticky about this.
Richmond to Victoria West – 85km (925km from the start)
There’s another quiet gravel stretch to Victoria West, the home town of legendary Springbok Rugby Player Mannetjies Roux. Victoria West is the first town with something of a tourist flavour to it, and is well supplied with a supermarket, restaurants, coffee shops and guest houses.
This may be a last option for easy bailing, as it is on the national road from Cape Town to Kimberley, which should see some bus services operating through here. This route is quieter than the N1 however.
Victoria West to Loxton – 89km (1,014km from the start)
Not far outside Victoria West, the route turns onto a gravel route to Loxton, with some significant climbing before a drop later on towards Loxton.
Loxton is a very quiet little town, but does have a restaurant called Loxton Lekker, a small supermarket and some guest houses. However, like many other towns away from the national roads, it is best to arrive early to find accommodation and food. This town “closes” very early in the evening. And don’t get to Loxton too early in the morning either, or you may find everything still closed too.
Loxton to Fraserburg – 97km (1,111km from the start)
On down the gravel “Forgotten Highway” the route goes to Fraserburg, which is not a touristy town but functional, and big enough to have a few grocery shops and bed and breakfasts. It is another town that “closes” early. One can often phone ahead to the guest houses in such towns, and they have been known to leave food orders in one’s room and a key in some hidden place for a rider to get in. Phoning ahead to book during daylight hours is advisable if you’re running late.
Fraserburg to Sutherland – 107km (1,218km from the start)
Sutherland is the home of some of the world’s largest telescopes, and is also the country’s coldest town in Winter, often experiencing Winter snowfalls. It is a touristy little town, and thus has ample supply of hotels, guest houses and restaurants. Nevertheless, it is probably advisable to either arrive early in the evening or phone ahead and book accommodation during daylight hours.
The route through Sutherland is known as the “Forgotten Highway”, because at a stage it was the main route to Kimberley, and beyond, from Cape Town. But when what is now the N1 route was built along the rail route to the south, these would-be boom towns never took off, as traffic along the route dwindled.
Sutherland to Tankwa Padstal – 161km (1,379km from the start)
From Sutherland, it is a major trek down the Great Escarpment via Ouberg Pass, across a very dry and barren area called the Tankwa Karoo, and on to Ceres 259 km away.
In between, 162km from Sutherland, stands the TankwaPadstal (Tankwa Farm Stall), where one can get water, cold drink and food. If one is going all the way to Ceres in one day, you probably want to leave Sutherland very early to make the Padstal before 17h00 closing time (and it is closed on Wednesdays), and that’s not as easy as the route is sometimes badly rutted roads in parts.
There are some accommodation options in the Tankwa, but mostly quite far off the route . It is probably best to phone ahead and establish who will have accommodation available and who serves food. Some are self-catering, so one may have to carry food from Sutherland.
Tankwa Padstal to Ceres - 87km (1,466km from the start)
From the Tankwa Padstal, it is 87km to Ceres. There is a catch, however, in the form of one of the few significant climbs up Bo Swaarmoed Road, a climb just after exiting the Tankwa Karoo. The Bo Swaarmoed climb is a gravel section from around the 1,429km mark to the 1,438km mark. After this one rides easily along the top of a mountain before a big fast tar road downhill to just outside Ceres.
Ceres is the most impressive town since Bloemfontein, and there are ample guest houses, bed and breakfasts, take aways, restaurants and garage shops.
The route is now mostly tar from here to Blouberg.
Ceres to Riebeeck Kasteel – 57km (1,523km from the start)
There is a fast descent down Mitchells Pass just after exiting Ceres, and then it is on past Wolseley and over Nuwekloof Pass. Nuwekloof Pass is a very easy and fast trip, with little climbing and mainly fast tar road descent as one heads nearer and nearer to sea level.
At the 1,510km mark at the town of Gouda, where there is little worth stopping for other than to admire the big wind farm turbines on its outskirts, the road becomes gravel for a short 20km section to Riebeeck Kasteel.
Riebeeck Kasteel is a pretty little Town with some nice little eating and accommodation places….with good filter coffee. Don’t laugh about the filter coffee….further back up the route in the Free State its as scarce as hens teeth.
Riebeeck Kasteel to Malmesbury - 22km (1,545km from the start)
After a steep tar road climb over a pass on leaving Riebeeck Kasteel, it becomes a fast trip down to Malmesbury 21 km further on. Malmesbury is a big town with everything that opens and shuts, but most notably a McDonalds right on the route as one is about to exit the town.
Malmesbury to Blouberg - 57km (1,602km from the start)
Mostly tar, the route is gently undulating all the way to Melkbos, from where one hits the flat fast cycle path for the final 8km in to the finish at Eden on the Bay, Blouberg. The town of Kalbaskraal offers the last Coke stop at the 1,560km mark.
Be sure to have your photo take at the big picture frame at Eden on the Bay, with Table Mountain in the background if the sky is clear.
Climate:
- The Free State is a Summer rainfall area, and it can be a mud bath during this period of the year. Lightning can be dangerous during Summer thunderstorms. Temperatures in summer can be extremely hot all along the route, sometimes in excess of 40 degrees Celsius. In winter, it can be bitterly cold by South African standards, with temperatures often going significantly into sub-zero territory at night. It is largely dry in Winter (2022 being a bit of an anomaly) along most of the route, barring the odd snowfall around Sutherland, and rain in the Western Cape right near the end of the ride after Ceres. The Western Cape is uniquely a winter rainfall area.
In winter, the prevailing winds along the route are more from the west and north west, and can thus present significant headwinds. The winds are often less or non-existent at night, which can make night riding an option if one can handle the cold. Spring and Autumn may present the best riding times, neither too hot nor too cold nor too wet.
Bikes:
- We prefer mountain bikes, with dual suspension, overgravel bikes. While this is simple gravel and tar road riding, the roads can be severely rutted in sections, and when they are we appreciate the dual suspension. It is an easy riding route, mostly flat to undulating, the biggest climbs and descents only being reached near to Sutherland late into the ride.
Logistics:
- While major towns on the N1 such as Bloemfontein and Colesberg are “24-hour towns”, where one can find some form of shop and accommodation open around the clock, many of the other towns are not like that. The likes of Winburg, Loxton and Fraserburg see businesses closing early in the evening. This requires some planning. It is best to depart early and arrive early at an overnight or resupply destination, in order to find shops and guest houses still open. If one is running late, it is best to phone a guest house owner in the afternoon to book a bed and perhaps some food. Some guest houses will leave a key hidden somewhere for a rider to let themselves in late in the evening, and even leave food in one’s room if ordered. The Karoo folk can often be helpful like that.
If one is thinking of “bailing” from a ride, there are easy options up until Richmond, at various towns along the N1. Many of these towns have major bus services stopping and taking on passengers for Johannesburg or Cape Town, and one can easily book online. One should check with the bus company in advance about being allowed to take a bike onboard. Some companies are “sticky” about this.
Further down the route, along the Forgotten Highway, it is more difficult to “bail” early, although it can be done via various roads heading south to N1 towns such asBeaufort West, Laingsburg and Touws River a little further away.
Overnight stays:
- Some folk have been known to sleep in the “bush” near to the road, taking tents or bivvy sacks and sleeping bags. That’s the heavy packing option. This shouldn’t be necessary though. At no time, apart from between Sutherland and Ceres (254km), is the distance between towns much over 100km, and there are plenty of accommodation options, often with lower prices the further away from the N1 route one goes. Even between Sutherland and Ceres through the Tankwa Karoo, there are some limited accommodation options, though these are often self-catering, so some planning and carrying of food from Sutherland for the overnight stay may be required.
Speed of Service:
- The country towns en route are often known for their friendliness, but not for their speed. If one is in a hurry, and wants to take a short break before moving on, ordering cooked food that needs to be prepared may not always be a great idea. Even take-aways do not compete with McDonalds and the like for speed around these parts…..and McDonalds is not a common occurrence on this ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment