Another city13th Feb
Route 62

Arose early at six for a cool start and it was cloudy and dark. However took off after breakfast at seven, filled up and headed south into the mountains.
This morning’s up and over.
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It got darker and darker and then a surprise, I had to go up the pass,
THE UP
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and then over the top, continuous 3 or 4 km of twisty and hairpin with half km straights interspersed for 25km. Once again geology was stunning as were the water features up there.
THE OVER
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All the time the weather was darkening, all round so decided to head for Port Elizabeth as it was meant to clear in a couple of days. Down the mountain and turned east along a rather bumpy road, missed this for a week or so, steady 100kmh, the speed limit debating waterproofs but only mist and short gentle showers so kept on. Stopped at the Roadside Café, crazy place, all things 50s. Jukebox and memorabilia, with bad real coffee, (why do they not do instant Nescafe?) But a nice stop all in all with mental people who loved it all. Half of them were not even born.
Read an article (supposedly a journal) about how the explorers found their way over these mountains with their ox wagons to discover new lands. The great white explorer was on his way north and had spent a few days exploring to find a route when he returned to camp. There was a local (who knew little because he had not yet discovered this part of the world), who asked what he was trying to do. The explorer and discoverer explained he was trying to find a way over the mountains for his ox carts and animals. The local asked him why he did not just follow the elephant route, to which he said what, where is that. I can show you and he did. The great white explorers (who I still have loads of respect for, they did take wagons and herds through these routes lorries struggle with on modern tarmac) well they just followed the native Africans who just followed the elephants. BONUS, two men and guns, elephants in pass a captive turkey (or in this case elephant) shoot. Two problems solved by one man who had not discovered he was in Africa yet, movement for the explorers and money.
Anyway back to the road, suddenly 200 – 400 metres away a uniform steps into road hand up, look at speedo, 114kmh in 100 limit. Pull over, helmet and gloves off and man asks for licence, was I speeding says I? No says he 95kmh, get my license out and hand it over, chat about South Africa greatest place in the world and agree, he is after all a policeman and off I go. Thanks Yamaha for such an inaccurate speedo, that’s 20 percent out and 100. Hope it’s the only bad tolerance.
Kept heading east towards the Indian Ocean on the back roads, twisting and turning through the valleys instead of straight over them. Really nice ride even if it was a chilly 18 degrees. Came across a great suspension bridge over a valley next to the main road that was connected to a road, railway or even the ground, just 2 pillars on the edge of the gorge and no ramps down to the sides, photo as I rode along thinking what on earth????
Bridge to somewhere?

Into Port Elizabeth, fantastic, busy roads, shopping centres, people trying to kill me, leaving traffic lights when they turn amber in the other direction but still red in theirs, not stopping at 4 way stops, all in the wet. So after some food decided to head for a quieter bit of coast for the night. Weather rain tomorrow so figured a couple of nights giving me time to have a wander around the city, long way to come for no look. Campsite closed, due to weather? So booked a very basic room, bed but no chairs. Place is plagued by monkeys who climb in and steal shiny things apparently, so everything still locked in boxes and keys in my pocket all night.
Managed a mere 465km today. Mainly nice roads and would have been pretty scenic if the clouds and rain/drizzle had not been about. Did not even see the sea coming down the coast road.
Indian Ocean is great, big waves, lots of noise and cannot see it for mist. May clear up later .
The Indian Ocean is freezing.