THE GARIEP DAM TOUR

“In days gone by, when De Aar was a ‘full-steam-ahead’ kind of town, the locomotive drivers would yank their whistles late at night as they approached the Karoo settlement. Each driver would have his own signature tune, and his family living in the town would know it well. They’d set out the supper dishes the minute that whistle went off.” (Karoo Keepsakes; Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit; MLM Publishers; Cradock; 2009)

- Nick Yell

In homage to the locomotive drivers mentioned above, but mostly out of sheer joy from finally getting off the hellishly corrugated dirt track (particularly the last 20 km) from Victoria West, I toot my own tune of jubilation as I hit the tar streets outside the De Aar Country Club.

Having ridden hard to get here to meet my mate, Jaco Loots, on time at the Olive Schreiner Restaurant, I hastily consult my cell’s GPS to direct me there as quickly as possible. At the same time I notice a message from Jaco saying he’s running about an hour late, so I amble over to the local Midas and search the shelves for any sort of ‘mechanic-in-a-can’ solution that might help the KLR’s cold-starting problems.

Armed with various fuel and valve cleaner additives I make for the restaurant eager to get out of the cold and restore body, mind and soul with some additives of my own. Soon I’m wallowing in a well-padded Morris chair, sipping good filter coffee and munching my way through the best cheese and tomato tramezzini I’ve ever tasted. “Howzit Yster, glad you could make it, boet!”

Apart from running late, Jaco’s GPS had led him on a wild goose chase around De Aar, before I eventually lassoed him with a What’s App location pin.

Coming in from his farm in the south-east near Nieu Bethesda, Jaco had ridden the R398 to Richmond and then the R348 to De Aar, both good gravel roads worth experiencing.