I started pedalling at 7.30 and luckily found a shop that would top up my local SIM having used up all my 3GB in the past week \ud83d\ude41 Mainly I suspect because the Air seems to love tethering to the phone.<\/p>\n
It was a gorgeous day clear sky little wind so I made good progress, although a bit worried that I was totally surrounded my mountains \ud83d\ude41 also the cars were coming by at 100mph \ud83d\ude41 After just under 2 hours I spotted a cafe \ud83d\ude42 So just had to stop! There were 6 local MTB’s there one of which was semi-pro. This country is certainly better suited for MTB’s rather than roadwork. I had a delicious Lemon Meringue pie and smoothie \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n At Calitzdorp, at the foot of the pass I stopped for a drink but started to get harassed by a beggar so left early – big mistake – there were no other cafes\/shops\/anything at all until Ladismith. The climbs are long and arduous especially in the heat, traffic & lugging all that kit. I certainly could have used some of Sally’s gels \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n After nearly getting pushed of the road by a succession of milk tankers I left the N62 onto The Hoeko Road, big, big mistake it was very hilly a lot further and worse very hilly on gravel roads \ud83d\ude41 \u00a0I ended up scrounging water of one of the houses \ud83d\ude41 Interestingly the lady said that Sunday is\u00a0the worst day for milk tankers.<\/p>\n I eventually made it to the\u00a0Ladismith Manor. A great little place run by an ex Glaswegian. I managed to find a cafe open for yet more fish & chips.<\/p>\n![\"Huisrivierpas\"](\"https:\/\/geoffjones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/1-IMG_1848-300x213.jpg\")
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