WEEKEND AWAY FOR MY HUNNY

16 - 18 December 2016: My hunny and 3 friends (Elton, Steven and Dean) planned a weekend ride to Golden Gate Highlands National Park their website says "Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park". 

They left at 7 on Friday morning (which was a holiday in South Africa) with Richard and Steven on their bikes and Elton and Dean in a Pajero with their bikes on a trailer.  They stopped at the Historic Motorcycle Museum in Denysville for breakfast and arrived at Glen Reenen Rest Camp after riding 363 kilometers (226 miles) with about 260 km's being on dirt roads.

They camped for the night and braaied for dinner then rode out on Saturday morning on a route that my hunny had planned where they encountered some really tough sections (when planning it he said that the ride was going to be technical but of course he didn't know that parts would be impassible!!! ... The only way you will know if a road is impassible to ride is if you ride it ... not to be daunted he says "We will be back and more prepared!!!)

Part of the route went through Lesotho which he says has some of the most spectacular scenery (each time my hunny rides in Lesotho he says the same thing!)  They had lunch in Fouriesburg at a quaint little restaurant ~ Plaas Stoep Pub & Grill ~ where they enjoyed burgers sans the beer.

Saturday night dinner was consumed at the Golden Gate Hotel ... On the way to the hotel my hunny sent me these photos which prove the website claims to be true ... The park derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock, keeping vigil over the main rest camp. The highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge with the cool mountain shadows towards evening".  

Sunday morning up early and on the road before 8 to tackle the road back home.  My hunny rode Elton's BMW home and says he would have been more comfortable on his Honda but he rode the BMW to save his tyres as his motorbike is an off road bike and the tar kills the tyres.  He says that the ride home was VERY boring as it was all on the highway with no fun like riding off road.

I am delighted that he enjoyed his weekend however I am even more delighted to have him home safe and sound especially after a frightening moment when a girl on a motorbike turned out in front of him!!!  Thank God he managed to avoid this thoughtless person!!!!