Making memories on Bolandcycletour 2026
Drone-man is watching you/us (hopefully not while we sleep). Because we need to laugh at ourselves and reminisce afterwards. These are some thoughts for the Beyond Bolandcycletour and Tourdeboland photo opportunities for next year. What and where to capture. And to grab scenic photo’s before the riders arrive, because sometimes they zoom past surprisingly quick.
*Maybe John can give us a quick run-down of his equipment.
General
Try to keep out traffic – which may be near impossible at times. I can’t believe how many times we had the perfect shot and then a vehicle (like the only one for the day) got into the shot. Must have been Murphey behind the steering wheel.
Upload daily – pics not vids, for daily blog, so we can pick pick pick. And load them just as is, unedited, because different strokes for different folks, and different use cases. We can filter later.
Casting couch – impromptu mobile phone interviews inbetween. Keep it casual and just chat to people if and when they are comfortable to do so. This isn’t and Eisteddfod.
Add
Pre-tour – mug shot of every rider – and his or her bike – so we can tell the story, or better yet, the riders can tell the stories themselves. Grab some inspiration from TCR for this one.
Group shot – with jerseys, like Springbok team photo. How about something formal (no-one smiled back in sepia days) and something FUN (which comes natural, given the crowd).
Mornings – daily group shot at the start, unofficial, so we have more group photos and can see how we moved from point A to B each day. Nothing too serious.
Up-up-up, it’s a sign! – get pics of all mountain passes and POI boards. Ideally two shots for the boards at each mountain pass: one at the start (bottom) and one at the top (showing elevation).
Road signs – indicating the towns we visit, in passing. Nothing fancy, just a quick mobile phone snap of the points of interest boards, also great for Unsplash later.
Waterpoints – and afternoons activities, showing interaction. I especially like those phone shots from the top showing what was on the table during stops or meals, showing what we eat/drink.
Accommodation venues – more pics of the venues where we stay over and often times the venues themselves can do with better or additional promotional material so herein lies another opportunity.
Behind the scenes – so we can laugh at ourselves afterwards. These are usually the best snaps and this is how we make memories and why we do these cycle tours.
Daily Bolandcycletour pics 2026
D0 and D1 early arrivals – and arrival in Stellenbosch, no photos just yet because John only joins us from the first cycling day. BUT: some ‘what do you expect’ interviews would be awesome – to compare to a review or testimonial interview at Lanzerac debrief afterwards!
D2 grand depart from Stellenbosch – Eersterivier en die water wat loop, Coetzenburg en die berg agtergrond, Montmarie lang laning bome, Stellenzicht drone shots en WP, TBA for something at the sea-finish.
D3 coastal to Hermanus – G’bay sign teen die berg, Clarence drive bliss, penguins in Bettiesbaai, Palmietbrug met die koue water, Arabella en Benguela cove in passing, Bientang se grot en Hermanus se hawe.
D4 up to Caledon – La Vierge bend 180 degrees upwards, the valley somewhere opposite Newton Johnson or such, Shaw’s pass se op en af, silos as we approach, en entrance skep goeie indruk by The Caledon, spa levels.
D5 down to Struisbaai – wide open roads and canola fields, Brakelstoor as dit nog bestaan teen daai tyd, Napier met die ossewa en coffee stop, Struisbaai se cottages en beach.
D6 around Agulhas – Harbour met die stingrays, geel frame pic by die mini lighthouse, uitstap op die jetty, lighthouse op en views, Southernmost tip en beers, en John se iconic drone pic op die Afrika.
D7 gravel Kassiesbaai – Prinskraal kruising op die grondpad, Waenhuiskrans approach, cross, sandduine, afstap grot toe, hole in the wall, Arniston cottages en visbraai dinner.
D8 up to Swellendam – endless rollers to Die Republiek, van daai cool shots van onder af, en in die pad, baie van die venue, potjie! Dalk weer museum walk en ietsie van die NG kerk in die hoofstraat.
D9 optional Barrydale – Suurbraak – waar is Nic se plek? Brug soos Tradouw begin, Drupkelder draai en die lookout point ondertoe, Tradouws valley below en daai water later, Dieselpompe omdraaiplek.
D10 stukkie DC Montagu – ietsie vd DC rollers, Spanspek se plek en group shot voor die hooibale, Cogmanskloof maak die dag, 10m op na daai lookout by die fort, drone deur die gap.
D11 rooiklim na Karoo1 – as you approach and then looking back from the top of the Burgers pass in the KOO valley at the Keisie lookout point, then Oupa Batt se shop and the only petrol pump, then 1234m, and the wide open roads thereafter, fin at Karoo1.
D12 groot vyf – Aquila day so more about the animals than the cycling really. R46 T-junction turnaround and show the vast open longest flat road, then it is all about the Big Five! And stargazing…
D13 transfer na Slaapstad – safari in the morning so the remainder of the animals, on and off the game drive vehicles (!) and after transfers to CPT maybe a Leeukop hike if anyone feels like it?
Add Tourdeboland in part 2
D14 Tourdeboland starts – on the steps, more rider pics as they join us, with the odd interview, Blouberg iconic drone shots along the coast with Table Mountain at the back, Geelraam groepsfoto, Damhuis and jerseys.
D15 na Riebeek – onder die laning bome by die begin, then cross the bridge where the sprint starts, Philly and the old post office and Mark’s family, Kalbaskraal train track waterpoint, Bothmaskloof climb and then bliss at the 8ft stop at the top, RVH and olives in the pm.
D16 Bains to Tulbagh – start-stop 1st thing in the morning in Riebeek town square, a snap on the road to Hermon, coffee in Wellington, Bainskloof lookout and more, Bergsig shaded WP, Wolseley treinbrug is a cool feature, Tulbagh tour.
D17 magic day climbs – follow the long group from 5am start over Gydo pass, Michells pass, Bainskloof pass, many rider WP pics at Bergsig bistro, Slanghoek valley road, Goudini sign and spitbraai.
D18 dam to Franschhoek – capture early morning mist, Brandvleibrug crossing, Stettyn waterpoint and get those large letters this time, lovely Thee-waters-kloof-dam (maybe from the bridge), FHK pass and scattered ground lookout, winetour.
D19 to Lanzerac – compulsory shot in front of the Monument at the start, Pniel waterpoint and Simonsberg, HH pass and looking back to the mountains at the top, Jonkershek bome en gaap-hek, Lanzerac, interviews.
D20 open fun day – why not send John with on the touristy outing in CPT and take iPhone snaps of Leeukop, Rooibus, Silo, Waterfront, Ferry to Robbenisland, Ferris wheel, Cable car etc etc.
D21 Cycletour – ask all riders to share their own pics, not only for the day but also for the 3 weeks prior, on WhatsApp, easiest for all – or like a Jeff Google Album if you can, and thanks for sharing!
FIN.
