November 13, 2025 to November 14, 2025
Laingsburg
Thursday the 13th of November 2025
We managed to get away just before six o'clock and made good progress along the N1. It was pleasantly cool with a light south-easterly wind on our right cheeks. In fact, the temperature was so agreeable that after twenty kilometers we ditched a two liters of water that we were carrying and still reached Laingsburg with a liter and a half to spare.
Lots of heavy goods vehicles but the long distance truckers are mostly good drivers with whom to share the road but their friendliness can be overwhelming and returning their hoots and waves soon became tiresome.
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About seven kilometers before Matjiesfontein we came upon major roadworks with the road being expanded to four lanes. This carried on until ten kilometers past Matjiesfontein and was the only really negative aspect of today's ride.
We pulled into Matjiesfontein at about eleven and, after taking a few photos of the very touristy village, enjoyed a nice break of carrot cake and coffee at the local coffee shop.
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After Matjiesfontein the wind picked up but it didn't have too much of an impact on our progress because it was largely downhill to Laingsburg for the last twenty kilometers. We pulled into Laingsburg just after two o'clock. We're taking a rest day here and will plan our route for the next few days.
Friday the 14th of November 2025
Laingsburg is mostly known for the devastating flood that occurred here on the 25th of January 1981 which killed 104 residents. Only 32 bodies were ever recovered and those of at 72 people were never found. A total of 184 houses and 23 commercial buildings were destroyed along with the railway bridge and the approaches to the N1 bridge over the Buffels River. The little museum that commemorates the flood tells many heroic stories of the townsfolk saving those in danger with a number of the rescuers losing their own lives in the process.
Tomorrow we head a further 85 kilometers up the N1 to Prince Albert Road from where we will head southwards the next day to Prince Albert itself.
Today's ride: 88 km (55 miles)
Total: 1,304 km (810 miles)
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