De Rust

November 19, 2025

Another easy day , from Klaarstroomto De Rust.

With such a short distance we could take our time through the dramatic Meiringspoort and enjoy the views. I have been through here at least five times before but I was still blown away by Nature's beauty. The road crosses the Groot River twenty five times as it winds its way through the gap in the Swartberge. The San and the Khoeikhoei must have known about the path through the mountains for millenia but a "road" was first constructed in the eighteen fifties. It has been rebuilt numerous times, most recently after floods destroyed it in 1996.

The area is once again in the grip of a drought and the waterfall in the middle of the pass is down to a little trickle.

We've had a restful day at a very nice cottage in De Rust. Tomorrow we head for a farm near Barandas, halfway to Uniondale.

Today's ride: 23 km (14 miles)
Total: 1,515 km (941 miles)

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Kathleen JonesInteresting what they did to the road to keep them from being washed out next time, with the rocked edges. Good luck, road!
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2 months ago

Jean-Marc StrydomHa ha. Hopefully it will hold up. It has certainly struggled in the past.

In SA they use use cement to stabilize surface of the dykes on which the road is constructed. In this case the edges of the dyke has been further stabilized with natural stone bound to the edges with cement. I am guessing the intention is that the excess water that can't be dealt with by the culverts will flow over the road instead of eroding the dyke.
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2 months ago