Ah, a weekend in Patensie! A little adventure, some fresh air, and a casual bike ride to the Kouga Dam—what could possibly go wrong? Well, let’s just say that a 7 km ride there and 7 km back sounded reasonable at first. But, as we quickly learned, reality had other plans.

The Illusion of a “Gentle” Ride
We parked near the turnoff, unloaded our bikes, and started rolling down a short hill. Glorious! A downhill start! And that, dear readers, was the last downhill for the next 4 km. The road immediately launched into a “gradual” climb. At first, all seemed well. “No problem,” I thought. But this climb had a personality. Every time you’d spot a corner and convince yourself it would level out, it just… didn’t. It was like a bad relationship—you keep hoping for the best, only to be let down again and again.

Eventually, we reached the top. Sweet, sweet downhill! A glorious 3 km of cruising, wind in our faces, smiles on our lips—pure cycling bliss. But there was a tiny voice in the back of my head whispering, “You do realize you have to climb back up this, right?” To which I responded, “Shhh, future me will handle it.”

The Final Climb – Where Pride Beats Logic
Halfway down, two cars passed, kicking up a cloud of dust. Ah, the joys of country cycling—where you don’t breathe oxygen, but rather a fine blend of dust, road grit, and mild regret. Then came the final climb to the dam wall. The road turned steep. Like, ‘who put a mountain here?’ Loose rocks added to the fun, making pedaling feel like an extreme sport.

Three-quarters of the way up, I made the executive decision to stop and push my bike. But just as I was about to dismount, Roger, about 10 meters ahead, yelled, “Car coming!” Pride is a powerful motivator, folks. No way was I letting those drivers see me walk my bike! So, I dug deep, legs screaming, lungs burning, and somehow managed to keep pedaling. The cars passed, the drivers smiling and waving as if to say, “You got this!” And just like that, I was past the worst of it.

A View Worth Every Drop of Sweat
At the top, we cycled through a stunning tunnel, emerging to a breathtaking view of the Kouga Dam. Worth it? Oh, absolutely. We explored the area, soaked in the scenery, and prepared for the ride back.

The Ride Back – Sweet, Sweet Revenge
The once-daunting steep hill? Now a breeze. The dreaded 3 km climb? Not as bad as we thought. And the final stretch? Basically downhill all the way. Back at the car, we packed up and made the most important decision of the day: a pit stop at Padlangs for the most delicious milkshakes. Strawberry for me, chocolate for Roger. Because after 20 km of unexpected adventure (not sure where those extra kms snuck in), we earned every sip.