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Disused Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch

flickr-233131742.jpg Disused Helshoogte Pass, StellenboschThumbnailsDisused Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch

I have been wanting to take pictures of this old pass for some time, having remembered driving along its twisting roads climbing to the summit many years ago (middle 1980's). Today I passed a layby and noticed that there was a narrow path / ramp going over the earth mound that blocks the top of the pass - just enough room for a motorcycle - so I took the plunge and squeezed my bike up and over the path (not easy as my bike is a 1450cc road bike and the path looked slippery and at an angle - but you can't pass up an opportunity like this). After I went over, the noisy new road left behind me, I found myself in another world....... the road was quiet and peaceful with leaves and light debris covering the road. I managed to ride about 2km down the old tree lined pass and only emt one man walking his dog. What an experience! On the way back up I noticed other people had stopped at the layby and I was pretty nervous cresting that mound again as I could just imagine me sprawling there on the road.... but I made it over, and through the shallow storm water channel, and back into the present time.

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