I just love seeing Bolandcycletour & Tourdeboland through the eyes of our customers!
Thanks Jeff, for the amazing review, and sharing your photos with us. We should all do the same.
Start from Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch town walk. Nelson Mandela art. Stellenbosch university buildings. Old church. Pics of Nico and Dewald from De Haas Luxury Living cycling. Jonkershoek gate for the MTO forest entry. An aerial overview of the Bolandcycletour and Tourdeboland. Group start on the first day for the Stellenbosch loop. First coffee stop at Stellenzicht. Along the vineyards where John took a killer drone shot. Specialized Paarl and the KNUS coffee shop milkshake stop. View from Paarlberg. At the top of the Taalmonument climb. As we enter Val du Charron VDC wines in Wellington, with their stunning animal artworks. Wine tasting at VDC. Stained glass lead art windows. And then the fire on the mountain behind which almost evacuated us.
Over Bainskloof and down Slanghoek valley road
A misty morning smokey smog start from Wellington after the fire and we can look down on the damage towards Doolhof where the MUNGA MTB finishes every year. the Bainskloof climb start shot. Don’t feed the baboons, they will help themselves (we are already fed). The long Bainskloof flat finish to the lookout point. And the view from the top, the first of many on Bolandcycletour. Mountain asses of SA. Leopards, beware. Lorenzo chasing slipstream. View from the top of Goudini spa after that relentless little climb to the top. Our bkes on the deck, and our bodies in the water. The first braai. And leaving Goudini the next morning to cycle into the wind. Up Mitchells pass towards Ceres and seeing the brewery. Shanty town outside of town towards Swaarmoed pass. The house in Klondyke and John’s lovely homemade dinner. Leaving from the top of Matroosberg the next morning.
Big Five Animal African Safari at Aquila
We descent the short gravel stint, safely. Except for 2 punctures by Lorenzo right near the bottom, quickly fixed. Then down the R46 to Aquila for some welcome drinks and the Big Five animal experience, after a buffet lunch. Welcome to the private game reserve. And game drive with your own guide, super informative, and fun. How many animals can you spot? Ostrich. Elephant. Buffalo. Rhino. Zebra. Lion. The king of the jungle. Baboon. Chris. Giraffe. And back to camp. For a group dinner, stargazing that didn’t officially happen, and doing the same procedure game drive but in a different part of the private game reserve the next morning before leaving on bicycle.
From the top of Rooihoogte 1234 to the best milkshakes
The infamous 1234m sign where I took the competition’s ghastly sticker off the board – gekke en dwase krap hulle name op mure en glase. Then a pic down the KOO valley at Burgers pass before we arrive in Montagu for Route 62 beer tasting. Candlelit group dinner at the restaurant at Mimosa lodge and Lorenzo entertained on the piano, self-taught, nonetheless. Corgmanskloof and Old English Fort through the rocky cliffs on either side before a coffee stop and drone shot at Spanspek se plek. Then into Swellendam and pass the majestic old NG Church. Before arriving at Gaikou lodge. Where our friendly guide knew the waitress, off course. And went fishing. The museum tour was something to reconsider. And John had the day off and spent it hiking in the mountains. While we took the optional route like gorillas in the mist over Tradouw’s pass to Barrydale. For the milkshake at Diesel & Crème. Which never disappoints.
The Southernmost Tip of Africa
We hooked a left off the N2 from Swellendam down to Struisbaai and the sign announced ‘97km to Cape Agulhas, the Southernmost Tip of Africa’. And what a 100km ride it was. Windy in places. Majestic I others. and stopping for another milkshake at red FLAMES restaurant in Bredasdorp. Before arrive in Struisbaai for the yellow sign framed pic. Then Welcome to Agulhas sign at Spookdraai. And the lighthouse, up and down. Before taking pics, spending time and having beers where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. The OWL at home and another braai for an authentic South African holiday experience. Sunrise on the flattest road the next morning, before breakfast in Napier. And then on to Van Brakelstoor, which will be closing down permanently, soon. The canola climb continued upwards to Caledon with the hot springs and round of pool. Some drizzle during our late start the next day and through the peaceful Hemel & Aarde wine valley down to beer-o-clock in Hermanuspietersfontein.
Welcome to Hermanus and meeting the penguins
Stay a stone’s throw from the water. Walkabout in Hermanus. Art walk. Spotting a dassie. Down to Bientang. Spend a lovely afternoon reminiscing of how far we have come on the Bolandcycletour to date. Dine inside a cave. Leave after early breakfast the next morning and stop for the penguins in Bettiesbaai – thanks Jeff, this was a top request. Isn’t it lovely when your customers also turn into tour guides? Remember to check for penguins under your car before you leave. Onto Rooi-els. Wait for Chris, who cycled from home (200kms+ for the day). Go over stunning Clarence drive – and now I am curious did you find Clarence drive on Bolandcycletour to be more beautiful than Chapman’s peak drive on the Cape Town Cycle Tour? Finish at the tavern in Gordonsbaai next to Bikini Beach where John and Mark waited for us. Onto the Tourdeboland. And a map to boot.
Tourdeboland starts in CPT
On the steps at the City Lodge at the V&A Waterfront in CPT. Group shot before the started, waited for the noon gun (cannon) to shoot before we were off. Along the coastal roads to the first waterpoint, not required, but just for fun. The iconic Table Mountain shot from Bloubergstrand, while having biltong and sipping on cold drinks at the support vehicle(s). and then the yellow frame with some Bolandcycletour and Tourdeboland riders in the shot, and Table Mountain behind. Damhuis for the first bigger group dinner and jersey presentation. The latter is a strong word, we just handed them out. reminder to make more of a spectacle next time.
Group ride the next morning. Under the trees. Then to the post office old historical building in Philadelphia, Western Cape – not Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Over Bothamaskloof pass to see the vineyards and the Riebeek valley below. Buth first a water stop, at the top, and some shade (and maybe even a beer, because it was very hot indeed). Wine and olive tasting at Kloovenburg. Lorenzo ended the day on the piano and glorious ribs for dinner at the hotel. Next morning double/single file to Wellington. Thinking room – what are you thinking about? Then over Bainskloof pass, through Wolseley and passing wind turbines in transit on our way to… Tulbagh.
From Tulbagh to Franschhoek wine routes
Step back in time. historical town walk in Tuylbagh main road. A view from the rooftop. Group dinner and discussions on which route to take the next day. Will it be 50 or 100 or 200 kms? Just one taker for the latter (thanks, Jen!). Bainskloof again – in both directions. Check out the Bain legacy of Andrew and son Thomas Bain. Bainskloof pass view. Bainskloof pass wine. And a Spitbraai. After a looooong day. En route to Stettyn the next morning, single file, and the first 50kms flew by in the blink of an eye. Mountains. Vineyards. Coffee stop. And a boat in Villiersdorp. Before Franschhoek pass. And that view from the top. Down to Chamonix for wine tasting in the afternoon. And the main road. And final group dinner at the French Connection, keeping in line with the French theme, in Franschhoek, close to the museum of the French Huguenots. Final waterpoint as the backside of the Simonsberg mountain. And finish at Lanzerac.
Welcome to the Cape Town Cycle Tour
Blue registration entry to the CTCT Expo. Pic of the Cape Town Stadium where we have watched so many rugby matches before. CTCT closes off roads through CPT so the cyclists can have free reign en route for 1 day. Route overview. Mass start. Our US group of Linda & Jen & Jeff at the start. The first climb. Arriving at the ocean. Misty cliffs. Seeing Houtbaai. Chapmans peak climb. 12 Apostles. Mouille point light house (well spotted, the oldest I the country). And the finish line and CTCT medal. Final dinner celebrations hosted by Nic & Astrid in Constantia. Robben island ferry trip from V&A Waterfront to visit Nelson’s prison cell. And then some snaps when back in the Waterfront. The #earthshotcapetown yellow board with Table Mountain in the background. Heading up to Table Mountain and the cable car. And the colourful houses in Bo-Kaap.
And that was that for the Bolandcycletour and Tourdeboland
Final group shot including all riders. From LTR. Thanks for a great tour! (Mark, Elisebet, Paul, Linda, Jen, Peter, Hanli, Willem, Nico, Carinus, Jeff, Albert, Ellen, Nic; In Front – Nici, Lorenzo, John). Join us again next year. Entries are open on https://cyclotourism.co.za/ and you can choose between 2 different flavours. Bolandcycletour is a 3-week ~1500km once-in-a-lifetime cycling adventure, with Big Five safaris and other activities to keep you entertained off the bicycle. While our beloved Tourdeboland is the perfect week on a road bicycle before the Cape Town Cycle Tour and allows you to get into tip-top shape for the big day.
