For the past couple of years, a small group of us have cycled from Knysna up to Uniondale as a 'warm up' for Karoo 2 Coast.  We figure that if you're gonig to make the pilgrimage all the way from Cape Town to Knysna, you may as well make the most of the weekend and do a bit more than a downhill ride.

Recently a few folk have been asking me a few more details on our route and the logistics behind the adventure, so here you go:

Friday

Head up to Knysna and stay the night at a B&B/Backpacker/extended family member.  Note that by doing the  double K2C you are reducing the need to drive all the way to Uniondale!

Saturday

Get up and have a good breakfast, find someone who is heading up to Uniondale later that day and leave your bags with them.  If you don't have a bag shuttle sorted, you can always carry a bag with the basics.  All you really need is a warm change of clothes for the evening, kit for the next day and your sleeping bag (depending where you stay).

Find a safe spot to leave your car for the day/night.  Somewhere close to the finish area is always useful, so that you can easily get your bag and shower there.

There's no need to rush out early in the morning.  It's a chilled day, so take it easy.  That said, you should leave Knysna by 11am.  The ride will take 5-6hrs and you don't want to arrive too much after 5pm.

Leave Knysna heading towards Cape Town and follow the K2C route backwards up the road past Simola.  At the top of the hill, instead of heading down into the forest, just carry straight on the road ahead.  This road takes you on a scenic route around the back of Knysna, where you eventually pop out on the tarred R339 - the road that becomes Prince Alfred's Pass.

You can also head out of Knysna in the opposite direction.  At the top of the climb you can take a left straight onto the R339.  We've chosen not to take this route anymore, as you have to deal with the fast N2 traffic and the township as you turn off the road.  It is slightly shorter, however.

Once you're on the R339 you just head straight and follow the signs to Uniondale.  The tar doesn't last too long and the gravel road is in great condition.  Eventually you'll recognise the K2C turn-off and you'll be riding the route backwards. 

Along the way, stop at the Big Tree and sign the stump.  Pause at the picnic sites and have a tea break.  Stop at the top of climbs and take in the view.  At the bottom of Prince Alfred's pass there's a little coffee shop/cafe on the left that serves a decent cup of Nescafe and scones - take a break there before you head up the 17km pass.  On your way up the big climb you'll have a lot more time to take in the vistas and appreciate what Thomas Bain achieved in road engineering way back when.  Tomorrow it will flash past in 10mins!

At the top of the pass you'll eventually meet up with the R62.  Take a right and then shortly after turn left onto the continuation of the R339.  In previous years this road has been closed to traffic due to flooding damage, but we've always just ridden it anyway - it's been passable on a bike. 

Once you get to Uniondale, find your bags and accommodation, shower and eat.  Make your way to registration and top up your carbs with the Pasta dinner they provide.

Accommodation:  there's always camping at the start, which is extremely convenient.  They also have stables which are literally just old stables filled with hay and a mattress.  This is a useful option if you ride up with a bag.  If you've got a luggage shuttle, rather take a tent . 

Sunday

Pack up your stuff and head to the registration area and ask around for the bakkie that's going back to Knysna.  They always have a vehicle heading back down to carry people's bags for those that were dropped off. This useful service also means you don't have to find your friends, who brought your bags up the day before, early in the morning, leaving more time for breakfast and bathroom queues.

Hop on your bike and race your way back down to the coast.  Take pride in the fact that you are one of few who really deserves to be zooming down Prince Alfred's Pass and that unlike many around you, you actually know what the view looks like and have the photos to prove it.

Back in Knysna, enjoy that celebratory beer and hope the water restrictions have been lifted, allowing you to have a shower.  In previous years there were only cold showers, but in 2010 the venue changed, so I'm not sure of the hot water facilities there.

If you're a racing snake and have a good chance of being on the podium, you might not want to do the double K2C.  For the rest who are happy with a top 20, a PB or even just to comfortably finish, there is no reason why you don't make the most of the weekend.  It's perfectly placed on the calendar as a big weekend of riding - especially if you're training for something like the DC - to get the season started on a high note :)

Download the Google Earth route here