Time to catch up with my admin. Sofar no hickups and every thing is roughly going according to my rough plan which consists of one line: "Drive the gravel mountain passes of the coastal belt and enjoy the trip and the environment".
Between Durbanville and Papkuilsfontein (Nieuwoudtville) there are three good passes as well as a picturesque route that winds through the koppies for about 40km. Unfortunately one of the passes (Pakhuispas) has been tarred. This route took me to Papkuilsfontein where I stayed for one night in my home made one man roof top tent. I discovered that it is a summer tent, not a spring tent.
Friday's destination was Gifberg Farm, via Botterkloofpas (impressive) and Gifbergpas (very impressive). Along the way I passed the memorial that was erected on the spot where the young Faffa de Milander died in 2009. Gifbergpas is very steep and some tar sections had to be added to assist vehicles when it is wet. The 4x4 route from the reception down to the river is very rough towards the end and I would not recommend it for any vehicle without sufficient ground clearance and a low range. Even then some guidance to the driver as well as road building may be necessary. I paid the price for being too casual. The night next to the Doringivier was special.
Saturday morning it was back to the N7, after battling the loose sand at the river bank with tyre pressures that were too high. Again over the Pakhuispas, and down Hoek-se-Berg (se pas). The scenery form the top of the pass is awesome. There are some pictures below showing the Wupperthalpas and the Old Postal Route.
Enjo Farm in the Biedouwvallei belongs to a young German couple who immigrated 6 years ago. This is awesome territory and I will go back. On Sunday I drove down the valley to the spot where the road crosses the Doring River in summer. From April to November the level of the river is too high to cross and that forced me into a 100km detour the next day, which was yesterday. The detour took me back up Hoek-se-Berg, crossing the Doring River (over a bridge) before ascending the Botterkloofpas  and thereafter taking the Soutpanpad towards the Tanqua Karoo. It was my third time up the Gannagapas and it still rates among the best and most impressive passes that I have travelled. Not only because of the pass itself but also because of the view fro m the top.
And here I am in Sutherland at Jurg se campsite until Thursday. Tonight I meet with the local radio amateurs at the hotel.

Gou bietjie admin.Tot dusver het alles baie voorspoedig gegaan en my rowwe ekspedisieplan "om die bergpasse van die kusstreek te ry en die omgewing te geniet" werk nog.  
Tussen Durbanville en Papkuilsfontein is daar drie goeie passe en 'n mooi roete wat vir  40 km tussen die koppies deur kronkel. Ongelukkig is Pakhuispas nou geteer. Die roete het my na Papkuilsfontein geneem waar ek vir een nag gebly het in my tuisgemaakte eenmandaktent. Die tent blyk eerder 'n somertent as 'n lentetent te wees.
Vrydag se bestemming was Gifbergplaas via Botterkloof (indrukwekkend) en Gifbergpas (baie indrukwekkend). Oppad is ek verby die gedenksteen ter herinnering aan die jong Faffa de Milander wat in 2009 daar oorlede is. Gifbergpas is baie steil met stukke teer om te help as dit nat is. Die 4x4 roete wat van die ontvangs na die Doringrivier loop is aan die einde baie rof. Ek sal dit nie aanbeveel vir voertuie sonder goeie vryhoogte en "low range" nie. Self dan is aanwysings aan die bestuurder en padbou soms nodig. Passassiers moet maar vooraf 'n pilletjie drink. Ek het nie goed opgelet nie en die prys betaal. Die nag langs die Doringrivier is spesiaal.
Saterdagoggend terug na die N7 na bietjie grawe in die sand langs die rivier. Ek was te lui om my bande ver genoeg af te blaas, met voorspelbare gevolge. Toe weer oor die Pakhuispas en Hoek-se-Berg na die Biedouwvallei. Die uitsig bo van die pas is awesome. Hieronder is fotos wat die Wupperthalpas en die Ou Posroete wys.
Enjofarm in die Biedouwvallei behoort aan 'n jong Duitse paar wat 6 jaar gelede geimmigreer het. Die vallei is iets besonders en ek sal graag terugkom.  Sondag het ek met die vallei afgery en gaan kyk waar die pad die Doringrivier in die somer kruis. Die watervlak was ver te hoog en ek moes die volgende dag 'n 100km detour doen. Die detour het my terug oor Hoek-se-Berg geneem, oor die Doringrivier (met 'n brug), oor die Botterkloofpas en later met die Soutpanpad na die Tanqukaroo.
Dit was die derde keer wat ek die Gannagapas uitgery het en dit bly een van die indrukwekkendste passe wat ek nog gedoen het. Nie net is die pas self indrukwekkend nie maar ook die uitsig van bo oor die die Tanquakaroo.
En hier is ek in Sutherland by Jurg se kampplek tot Donderdag. Vanaand ontmoet ek die plaaslike radioamateurs by die hotel.
groete.

Wupperthalpas - van Biedouwvallei

Die ou posroete tussen Biedouwvallei en Tankwa

Life is tough for a lone ranger

Enjofarm se kampplek

As mens hard werk moet jy goed eet 

Te hoog - selfs vir 'n Defender

'n Dubbeldekkerbus op 'n plaas in die Tanquakaroo ???

Gannagapas

Goeie kampplek in Sutherland