7 February 2019, Jacobsdal to Koffiefontein, 45.5km
Zero53 R400

Our decent room at Zero53, the only budget option in town, sports a fan instead of aircon. It is owned by a woman from Lesotho and managed by her nephew Kekeletso, her previous employees having been fired for pocketing the proceeds.
We showered and slept despite the heat, but by 14:00 when our Garmin recorded 30 degrees in the room, we dressed and went in search of somewhere cool to settle in for the afternoon. And so we find ourselves at Hakuna Matata Pub and Grill and Guest House. Charl is happy as a grig in the pub, chatting with locals and out-of-towners, and I am happily ensconced all on my own in the restaurant overlooking the courtyard garden. Once I’ve written this blog, I plan to read my book … time out!
The last 20km of any given day are tough. The last 5km hell on wheels. Particularly now that it is hot, hot, hot. We were on the road by 06:00 this morning; by 09:00 we were wilting in the incredible heat. We have reached a point, quicker than we hoped, of coping with around 25km or so of relatively easy terrain, so we enjoyed the first part of our ride through uninspiring farmland (predominantly cattle or sheep, we assume, as few crops were visible). At one point we crested a ridge and were suddenly in very different terrain with a dozen koppies popping up from the relative flat of the veld. More interesting to look at, tougher to cycle.
We rescued two animals today: a dazed baby bird flapping unhappily in the middle of the road, and a tortoise, part way across the road and in danger of being squished.
Almost immediately upon entering town, we saw a restaurant / takeaway joint with an extensive and well-priced menu sited next door to Shoprite. Really pleased to see black-owned and run options in these traditionally-conservative small Free State “dorpies” (towns).
A single-lane bridge spans the Riet River on the outskirts of Koffiefontein, and the “Welcome to Koffiefontein” installation comprises a coffee pot and cup.

For today's route see below photos
For overview route, click on ROUTE tab above…