This summer my friend Craig Edgar and I set off on a 3 day bikepacking adventure from Franschhoek into the Overberg. Our plan was to travel light and cover as much distance as possible each day, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and little towns along the way. Opting to flashpack (like backpacking, but with a better budget, also know as credit card touring) we would be staying in BnB’s and eating at restaurants, which meant that we didn’t need to carry camping gear or food.
Day 1 FRANSCHHOEK – GREYTON (107km)
On day 1 we rode to Greyton via Draaiberg and Helderstroom roads. Beautiful scenery and very rideable gravel roads with great coffee at Greyton as a reward! Greyton area is a great place to ride and the recently opened Hub & Spoke makes the perfect pitstop (integrating a trail centre with cafe & restaurant). There are also lots of accommodation options to choose from in the area – from guest farms to backpackers and campsites.
Day 2 GREYTON – MCGREGOR (96km)
We set off early morning and headed out North on the R406 towards Riviersonderend. Had a massive breakfast at Die Padloper Coffee Shop in Riviersonderend to fill our reserves for the riding ahead. From there we took the DR 1306 and a secret road that I believe is part of the Cross Cape Route (ok, not so secret). We turned left on the Stormsvlei road and then the heat set in. It quickly became a long but enjoyable day with again great scenery and beautiful farmland all the way to McGregor. Time for a cold beer!
Day 3 MCGREGOR – FRASCHHOEK (133km)
Tired legs and tomato skin! We got on the road at 5:00 am to beat the sun. It turned out to be a fantastic, quiet summer’s morning with endless gravel roads all the way to Villiersdorp! Here we stopped for a wonderful lunch at Alwyn Vincent Padstal. The last 30km of our journey, took us on the tarred R45, past Theewaterskloof dam and up the scenic, winding bends of Franschhoek pass before defending back into Franschhoek.
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A fast-paced, gravel grinding adventure from the Franschhoek into the Overberg. The route transverses some of the region’s most scenic countryside with welcoming little towns, great accommodation and plenty places to stop for coffee, grub and ice cold beers along the way.
3 DAYS | ⇔ 340 km (loop) | + 4000m | ≡ Tar / Gravel
