JOBURG TO BLOUBERG

THE 1000 MILER IS A DIY TOUR (OR RACE!) ON THE BACK ROADS - FROM THE BRIGHT CITY LIGHTS TO THE BEACH.

- TIM BRINK

Not far north of the Ni between Cape Town and Johannesburg lies a network of mainly gravel roads, part of the original vehicular route between South Africa's two biggest cities. When the spanking new (and faster) N1 we know today cut its swathe through the Karoo and the plains of the Free State in the early 70s, many of the towns on the old route went the way of the fabled Route 66 in the USA - without the through traffic, they crumbled and decayed.

The 1 000 Miler takes you through many of them names like Edenville, Steynsrus and Winburg join more major centres like Bloemfontein, Ceres and Sutherland as opportunities for refreshment and refuelling, should you accept the ultimate challenge on the route: a completely self-supported journey. Rely on your resourcefulness and the kindness of the residents of these towns to keep you fuelled up.