Who let the Dogs out?! 30/12/2017 Garden Route Ride

In the Planning a Ride thread, a post appeared by MiniDan, asking about Garden Route Dogs and Rides. Chris L had done a ride around Stilbaai a while ago and I'd had to miss it, and Tony mentioned he'd be doing his "overheat" last-day-of-the-year ride, which I also wanted to do, so I submitted my cell number for the WhatsApp group, arranged my accommodation, and waited. Then the message came in:

"OK, so who's available for a lekker, tough, long ride on the 30th?"

How tough?

"A couple of technical sections, but nothing too bad. Just going to be a very long days ride... "

MiniDan wasn't lying either - it was a long day, starting at 08:00 on a surprisingly chilly morning, through a very hot midday and ending in cooling misty coastal rains in the very late afternoon. In between there was wide dusty gravel highways, gnarly rocky, rutted technical sections, deep valleys and high hills.

We almost had to mutiny around lunch time to grab a bite to eat at Riversdal, because MiniDan apparently lives on dusty air - no lunch had been factored into this ride :

Our final route:

I set out from George Backpackers around 6:30, past the airport and onto the N2, and reached the designated Mosselbaai Engen at about 7:15. It was a beautiful chilly morning, and Tony the Boney and Odd Dog were at the Wimpy having breakfast. I ordered the strongest coffee they could produce.

The rest of the Garden Route Dogs turned up and eventually we were 7 Dogs, standing around admiring and discussing bikes, and waiting for MiniDan. A tall Dog helped put my bike on its centre stand for Tony to apply a much-needed lubing spray, and when he took it off again he had to bend to keep it upright, my bike is so low. A bonsai DR  :laughing9:

MiniDan finally came roaring in.

We were a motley crew indeed, with no two of the same model bikes:
Husqvarna 701
Honda XR600
Yamaha XT660Z
KTM 950 Adventure
BMW F800GS
BMW R1200GS
Husqvarna Trans Alp TR650 (sorry, [member=1597]ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS[/member]  : )
Suzuki DR650

MiniDan roared off again, followed by the three younger eager beavers (the XR, the XT and the KTM) while the older crew pursued at a more gentle pace, led, strangely, by me. It was exceptionally dusty, and the gaps between the riders widened and shrunk like an undulating tshongololo as we tried to keep our eyes on both the rider in front and behind, and not choke on each other's dust.

It was glorious weather for riding, crisp and clear, and the scenery was  :drif:  The Garden Route is quite aptly named, and the undulating mountains and crags feed the eyes and the imagination. And so many, many beautiful gravel roads criss-cross this bountiful, beautiful landscape :ricky:






Deflating tires for the dirt. I must admit, I'll never do this if I can avoid it. I realise the advantages of deflated tires and improved road holding on gravel, but it seems to be accompanied by an unnaturally high occurrence of snake bites and punctures, and I can't help but feel there is a connection. Maybe deflated tires and improved road holding encourage riders to ride faster, hitting stones etc at higher speed, which can cause snake bites.

Since I can't change a tire or fix a puncture to save my life (yet), I'd rather play it safe and not tamper with tire pressure. So far I've been very fortunate. The two punctures I've had occurred in civilisation, with Dogs around to help, despite sometimes bone-jarring hits on ruts and rocks.










I last crossed this bridge in August after the Thumper Bash, and it had been bone dry. It was lovely now to see some water.




Beckoning to be travelled:




Shooting the breeze






Bonsai bike and rider  :  Chris at Flying Brick helped me pick out a new helmet, and afterwards contacted me to apologise for not recognising me - he thought I'd be taller. Which I found hilarious, considering most Dogs expect me to be manlier :imaposer:




MiniDan set a ferocious pace to stay ahead of the baying younger pack, and paid a heavy price - soon he had to stop for fuel, the first of the day. After that he set the XT to the lead, and followed at a more sedate pace with us older and (in my case) less testosterone-driven Dogs.

Discussing fuel consumption near Muiskraal:








Filling up at the back of beyond Riversdal. As it's never prudent to pass an opportunity to fill up, we all liquidated.

Husqvarna Trans Alp 650

That must be a new bike on the market, i have not seen one yet :lol8:

:sip:

MiniDan went but no 2sd?

Next up was the highlight of the day for me: Gysmanshoek Pass.

I'd inadvertently done it at the end of December 2015, on my first long tour, with only 6 months of riding experience under my trembling belt. The rutted track had been in a much worse condition then, covered in shaley big rock and loose gravel, and the only reason I hadn't fallen was a bigger sprocket, a pumper carburettor, a heavy throttle hand and resultant forward/upward hurtling motion. I'd shaken so much when I got to the top, I kept dropping my bike because I couldn't put the side stand down properly.

I was really looking forward to riding it again, hopefully with a bit more control this time. It is truly a beautiful pass, so don't ever forego the opportunity to ride it. In fact, do like MiniDan and co and ride it to the top, then turn around and ride it back again. Next time I'll do that.

A faded and almost illegible sign in the background, probably not refreshed on purpose, if the gates in the valley is anything to go by.












View at the top:










Tony the Boney said - elevation is 1:5, just keep a steady hand on the throttle.








Our KTM Dog took video footage of some of us crawling up Gysmanshoek Pass

[youtube]https://youtu.be/yRfk5ZXlA-0[/youtube]


An exuberant MiniDan

big oil said:

:sip:

MiniDan went but no 2sd?

Click to expand...

I was disappointed he didn't join us, probably still recuperating from having BMW stanchions inserted in his legs, but MiniDan is riding his Husky, so he was there in spirit O0

"Where to now, Boys? The ride isn't even half over yet "






Ah, someone needs a refil again - and the rest of us needed SUSTENANCE






After refilling bodies and bikes, we decided to go home the long(er) way - through Vermaaklikheid, Blombos, past Jongensfontein, through Stilbaai, past Vleesbaai and then back to Mosselbaai to say our good byes. Wide gravel with a super fine white dust and embedded with sharp rocks, and ominous grey clouds hanging low overhead. The weather turned cold and watery, but at least that settled the dust a bit (onto us and our bikes, that is...  : )


Our avant garde, waiting for the silvery oldies to catch up.




MiniDan taking the lead again




Last kowtow and route confirmation in Stilbaai




The roads are covered with superfine clingy chalky white dust




"Buff? What's that?" Our XR Dog was always on the tail of the leading dog; he must have been pooping bricks later.




Clouds glowering overhead but no rain yet.




Some didn't like the rain so much




MiniDan, ready to go




Made it through the rains fine, and almost at the end of our ride.




Last haul on tar






I never know what to do with my hands when posing for a photo. I can't do the butch watermelon thing, like the guys  :-[.

"Bonjour" means good bye...  :sad:




After all this glorious gravel, I wasn't in the mood to ride tar 45-odd kilometres back to George, and asked for some nice alternative roads. The XT Dog (Charlie?) directed me to a nice little gravel road that starts at the back of Groot Brak and comes out behind the George Airport. Almost same traveling time but much more relaxing, starting with a twisty hill climb and ending with wide winding gravel roads through the farmlands between Groot Brack and George. So I got a little extra minerals in my diet :laughing8:

Thank you for a great ride, Gentledogs, hope to meet you again on the road :thumleft:
 

Nice RR and pics!
Glad you guys had a good ride  :thumleft:

Thanks for sharing Ri!! Lekke saam gery!!

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thanks Ri nice report as usual  :thumleft: :thumleft:

.

Well written, as usual Ri, and glad to see you all had a problem-free ride.

Isn't motorcycling great?! :ricky: :ricky:

Very nice RR, shucks I haven’t been called “younger” or “avant” in many a year, like it thanks [emoji6]
Was a good day’s ride, will be back in April for another.


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Ri said:

"Bonjour" means good bye...  :sad:

Click to expand...

Actually it means Good Day  :thumleft:

Au revoir is good bye.

Nice report Ri

Skaiidawg said:

Ri said:

"Bonjour" means good bye...  :sad:

Click to expand...

Actually it means Good Day  :thumleft:

Au revoir is good bye.

Nice report Ri

Click to expand...

So much for subtle irony  :  :imaposer:

2StrokeDan said:

Well written, as usual Ri, and glad to see you all had a problem-free ride.

Isn't motorcycling great?! :ricky: :ricky:

Click to expand...

Thanks 2SD, sorry you couldn't join us.

Nothing better!! You must have mobilised your favourite chair with a lawnmower engine by now  :ricky:

Ri said:

2StrokeDan said:

Well written, as usual Ri, and glad to see you all had a problem-free ride.

Isn't motorcycling great?! :ricky: :ricky:

Click to expand...

Thanks 2SD, sorry you couldn't join us.

Nothing better!! You must have mobilised your favourite chair with a lawnmower engine by now  :ricky:

Click to expand...

My wife keeps on sabotaging the project. :xxbah:

2StrokeDan said:

Ri said:

2StrokeDan said:

Well written, as usual Ri, and glad to see you all had a problem-free ride.

Isn't motorcycling great?! :ricky: :ricky:

Click to expand...

Thanks 2SD, sorry you couldn't join us.

Nothing better!! You must have mobilised your favourite chair with a lawnmower engine by now  :ricky:

Click to expand...

My wife keeps on sabotaging the project. :xxbah:

Click to expand...

That's what happens when you make the wife mow the lawn :imaposer:

Het what's this "Our avant garde, waiting for the silvery oldies to catch up."  Don't you know that the fastest riders in the pack bring up the rear!  :imaposer:

Nice RR, Ri.

wonderful RR thanks Ri!!