Epic 2 Day Cycle into "Die Hel " & Climbing out with the Ladder

Been living in Prince Albert now for 9 Years and always heard about the Famous Ladder at the end of the Lost Valley of Die Hel. In the old days the only way out was by sending Donkeys up the Ladder loaded with Produce grown in the valley. Well we finely made a date to do the ride over 2day, Heini, Johann & me. Booked our stay in the valley in Koot Cordiers se Huis near the Gamka River so we could get an early start at riding and climbing out the Famous Ladder. Only to found that the path that I had been showing people for many years was not the Ladder, it is about 8km's further down the valley over a very steep track into a beautiful valley called Kleinberg, which is the most amazing valley with 2 great looking farmhouses, Lapa and strong flowing river running though it. We had to look out for the tall Popular Trees, were the Steep Path called the Ladder starts,we had to cross the stream to the opposite bank behind the trees. In the metre wide gap between the poplar trees and the face of the mountain there starts the foot path,  well what a climb 350m, 54% gratin at times, you are now on The Ladder, picking up our bikes we started climbing up the historic route, with recordsof its use going back to the Anglo Boer war when Denys Reitz and his kommando left the valley via the same route,  when get to the top you find the Kraal were the Donkeys used to be uploaded and reloaded with goods to be sent down the ladder again back into the valley. For us it was still another 15km's of rocky Jeep tracks to do to reach the road coming up from the Gamkaspoort Dam, struggled along cycling were possible, pushing up the hills, over the next hill hoping to see the end but not to be, found a water pipeline with nice cold drinking water and enough to cool off with aswell then after an hour for so saw a tall pole at the top of the hill, when I arrived at it, it showed a cell phone sign on it, next moment saw what I been hoping for ahead the Bosluiskloof  road way ahead, Bliss.  After that we did 5km's of downhill to the top of Seweweekspoort turn left to head down it 20km's, after about 15km's found  Ria coming up the poort looking for us, she was concerned because we were hours late.

What a Ride, best Scenery ever, weather played its part, bike and saddle unbelievable smooth and comfortable ride.