Just Blip It!
Race Dog
Just returned from an epic ride through Swaziland with Khwela Adventures. As an Expedition Leader for Khwela Adventures I often take small groups of riders for some hardcore riding on the rough terrain, jeep tracks, cattle and goat paths that make up the very remote areas of this beautiful kingdom. On this occasion I got all my riding buddies together to help me recce a new route and area of Swaziland for future Expeditions.
We set out on Friday for the 3 day ride with 9 KTM 990 Adventures and 1 lonely BMW 650 Dakar. Everybody was informed that this was going to be a very technical ride and not an easy one, some of us knew from previous experience whilst others didn't know what they were getting themselves into! >
We jumped the tollgate, had a quick steers breaky then headed for the border.
It wasn't long before we turned off the paved roads into a river bed, the weather changed to a constant drizzle, keeping the dust at bay.
The !st off came soon afterwards! First a pose for the camera then we pick-up!
Then the 2nd.........Rieks, the only chick in the group! This chick can ride!! Great to have such a capable rider on the trip!
Then the 3rd....... Dingy became a victim of the slippery grass!
Awesome riding!!
Then it got challenging!
Then Zulu hit a rock hard bending his bashplate which broke off his fuel tap, fuel sprayed out. We quickly closed off the other tank and man handled his bike onto level ground to survey the damage.
It was a clean break, out with the Pratley Steel (Bikers best friend).
15 minutes later, fixed!
By now the locals had crowded round to watch these crazy bikers!
One of the local ladies took a fancy to Zulu and proposed to him!
From there the riding got more changing with some thick sand and steep banks that had to be conquered!
We eventually stopped counting the wipeouts and started scoring them out of 10!
Rieks trying to look elegant in the bush!
Wilson sorting out some work issues from the middle of nowhere!
Charl and Johan loving it!
The blood, sweat and tears kept flowing!!
Then the river crossings!!
Ha ha ha! You got to crawl before you can walk!! :imaposer:
Even I decided to lie down for a bit!! :lol8:
We eventually made it back to a bit of civilization for a snack and refreshment. Had some time to carry out repairs on the Dakar that was losing some bolts along the way.
Got to love Africa!! O0
Our very own Chuck Norris, Treffon.
We made it to our overnight accommodation at Mananga Country club for some well earned beers and a good hot meal! What a day it had been with a great bunch of people!!
Wilson still closing some business deals!
Rieks and Johan.
Dingy and Chuck chowing down on some tasty graze!
A quick dedication to a super tough guy Shangali, he joined us for the first time to ride Swaziland this weekend, I had never met him before, he asked to join our ride and was not in the least put off when I warned him it was going to be tough and very technical, he rode very well with a few offs along the way, not once complaining. What surprise we all got on the first night when he pitched for supper wearing a prosthetic leg! None of us knew! Big respect to this fantastically positive guy who is always jolly, always smiling and loves riding his bike. :ricky: :ricky:
Day 2 promised to be another day of the usual gnarley, hardcore riding.
Will post day 2 soon!!
We set out on Friday for the 3 day ride with 9 KTM 990 Adventures and 1 lonely BMW 650 Dakar. Everybody was informed that this was going to be a very technical ride and not an easy one, some of us knew from previous experience whilst others didn't know what they were getting themselves into! >
We jumped the tollgate, had a quick steers breaky then headed for the border.
It wasn't long before we turned off the paved roads into a river bed, the weather changed to a constant drizzle, keeping the dust at bay.
The !st off came soon afterwards! First a pose for the camera then we pick-up!
Then the 2nd.........Rieks, the only chick in the group! This chick can ride!! Great to have such a capable rider on the trip!
Then the 3rd....... Dingy became a victim of the slippery grass!
Awesome riding!!
Then it got challenging!
Then Zulu hit a rock hard bending his bashplate which broke off his fuel tap, fuel sprayed out. We quickly closed off the other tank and man handled his bike onto level ground to survey the damage.
It was a clean break, out with the Pratley Steel (Bikers best friend).
15 minutes later, fixed!
By now the locals had crowded round to watch these crazy bikers!
One of the local ladies took a fancy to Zulu and proposed to him!
From there the riding got more changing with some thick sand and steep banks that had to be conquered!
We eventually stopped counting the wipeouts and started scoring them out of 10!
Rieks trying to look elegant in the bush!
Wilson sorting out some work issues from the middle of nowhere!
Charl and Johan loving it!
The blood, sweat and tears kept flowing!!
Then the river crossings!!
Ha ha ha! You got to crawl before you can walk!! :imaposer:
Even I decided to lie down for a bit!! :lol8:
We eventually made it back to a bit of civilization for a snack and refreshment. Had some time to carry out repairs on the Dakar that was losing some bolts along the way.
Got to love Africa!! O0
Our very own Chuck Norris, Treffon.
We made it to our overnight accommodation at Mananga Country club for some well earned beers and a good hot meal! What a day it had been with a great bunch of people!!
Wilson still closing some business deals!
Rieks and Johan.
Dingy and Chuck chowing down on some tasty graze!
A quick dedication to a super tough guy Shangali, he joined us for the first time to ride Swaziland this weekend, I had never met him before, he asked to join our ride and was not in the least put off when I warned him it was going to be tough and very technical, he rode very well with a few offs along the way, not once complaining. What surprise we all got on the first night when he pitched for supper wearing a prosthetic leg! None of us knew! Big respect to this fantastically positive guy who is always jolly, always smiling and loves riding his bike. :ricky: :ricky:
Day 2 promised to be another day of the usual gnarley, hardcore riding.
Will post day 2 soon!!
