Minxy
Race Dog
"What, another Kaokoland RR?!"
Yip, in the making!
I thought I'd start this RR early, as there is so much hard work that goes into just making a trip like this happen. After more than a months planning, things are finally falling into place and we will be departing on Wednesday the 25th of July via Botswana to Hentiesbaai, Namibia where our trip starts.
The Motivation
Last year in September I had the privilege of being a finalist who embarked on the Honda Quest, an event that saw 20 riders navigate Northern Namibia on the new Honda Africa Twin. When riding between the exotic, tall palm trees on the Kunene river trail right up along the border of Angola, I knew I would have to come back here and show this incredible, out of this world place to the person who matters the most to me in my life. An option presented itself, quite early on. A trip with Specialised Adventures! We were seconds away from booking and then disaster struck... HSK's passport had expired
We thought, ok... Lets join for the September 2018 trip. Again, a message from Hardy on the forum mentioned that the September trip has been canceled (this has since been revised), but it had us thinking... Why don't we just go on our own? No support, no backup, just us. A romantic Kaokoland adventure? Hmmmm
"Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
(Just the two of us)
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I"
Wow that song is sooo cheesy! Enough of that :laughing4:
The Route:
This took a considerable amount of hours to put together. I cannot thank Hardy, Xpat, MaxthePanda, Johnny Wildwood and Johannes (a rider from Quest and elephant expert) enough for their inputs and advice regarding the route. We seem to have just the right mix of scenic, epic, extreme and fun to look forward too, with just a tad of afkak, ok actually quite a lot of afkak, but that is what makes it an adventure! ;D
Day 1 - Hentiesbaai, Omaruru Riverbed to Uis for fuel then to Brandberg White Lady Lodge. 194km
Day 2 - White Lady Lodge to Twyfelfontein via Quest route and Huab Riverbed to Palmwag. 197km
Day 3 - Palmwag to Opuwo. We are taking a lovely detour through the Otjitheka Trail going through Klein Serengheti and the Khowarib Schlucht. 298km
Day 4 - Opuwo to Epupa Falls via Kunene River Trail 221km
Day 5 - Rest Day
Day 6 - Epupa Falls to Van Zyls Camp 145km
Day 7 - Van Zyls Camp over the pass and up in the Marienfluss to Camp Syncro 84.5km
Day 8 - Here's where we may change things up a bit as we are not in a huge rush and can extend the trip by a day or two. Either we have a rest day, or we take an alternative route past Bloudrom & Rooidrom to Marble Camp. If there's plenty of daylight, and if we have energy left... Hoarusib riverbed road to Puros. +- 205km
Day 9 - Puros to Palmwag via the Puros Canyon and Hoanib Riverbed. 280km
Day 10 - Palmwag to Ugab Rhinocamp. We'll be doing the Valley of Desolation trail here. If all goes well we will push on to Henties, otherwise stay at the Rhinocamp. 318km
Day 11/12 - Play in the dunes near Swakopmund. I have always wanted to ride up Dune 2, so hope we have time to tick this bucket list item.
The Rides:
2016 Husqvarna 701 Enduro
My weapon of choice! This really is the "next best thing" if you don't have an adventurised 500 that is... It is a bike I enjoy immensely, lightweight and nimble. I have been racing it in the Dualsport class at the Farmjam series this year and this bike has also carried me through some pretty crazy passes in Lesotho. It is a bike that I know and it is a bike that I'm comfortable with.
Modifications done for the trip (I already had spotlights and crashbars/pannier frames fitted):
- Michelin Desert mousses with Michelin Desert Race front tyre and Dunlop D908 rear.
- Underseat tank 6L
- Suspension tweaked by Hilton Hayward to accommodate extra luggage and fuel to be carried.
- GPS added.
Suspension tweak
Underseat tank, got this nifty tank from Flyingbrick and installed by Offroadcycles.
2008 KTM 690 Rally Factory Replica
HSK will conveniently be riding this incredible machine, which was purposefully built in the classic African Dakar glory days for terrain almost exactly like what we planning to do
It takes 36L of fuel with a range of nearly 500km (terrain dependent of course), has incredible suspension and he literally didn't have to do a thing in terms of modifying the bike to get it ready for the trip.
A basic service was done as well as suspension tweak and added mousses. We also switched his shiny new fuel tanks to the older ones from my bike. See image of badassery below:
Yes you are seeing double!
The Riders
Minxy and Hondsekierie, or just HSK, it's easier to type
We've done quite a bit of traveling together over the last few years. I've been riding for just about 5 years and HSK... well many more than that
Being a biking couple has many advantages, like sharing the same tent, towl, soap, shampoo, the list goes on : It definitely makes for easier packing arrangements :imaposer:
It can also be hard work though, as we have to pick each other up when times get tough and compensate for each others weaknesses. This is not going to be an easy trip, and I have no doubt we will be put to the test. Anyway, all that aside, this is still supposed to be our romantic 'cocoa land' getaway! :biggrin:
To be continued...
Yip, in the making!
I thought I'd start this RR early, as there is so much hard work that goes into just making a trip like this happen. After more than a months planning, things are finally falling into place and we will be departing on Wednesday the 25th of July via Botswana to Hentiesbaai, Namibia where our trip starts.
The Motivation
Last year in September I had the privilege of being a finalist who embarked on the Honda Quest, an event that saw 20 riders navigate Northern Namibia on the new Honda Africa Twin. When riding between the exotic, tall palm trees on the Kunene river trail right up along the border of Angola, I knew I would have to come back here and show this incredible, out of this world place to the person who matters the most to me in my life. An option presented itself, quite early on. A trip with Specialised Adventures! We were seconds away from booking and then disaster struck... HSK's passport had expired
We thought, ok... Lets join for the September 2018 trip. Again, a message from Hardy on the forum mentioned that the September trip has been canceled (this has since been revised), but it had us thinking... Why don't we just go on our own? No support, no backup, just us. A romantic Kaokoland adventure? Hmmmm"Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
(Just the two of us)
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I"
Wow that song is sooo cheesy! Enough of that :laughing4:
The Route:
This took a considerable amount of hours to put together. I cannot thank Hardy, Xpat, MaxthePanda, Johnny Wildwood and Johannes (a rider from Quest and elephant expert) enough for their inputs and advice regarding the route. We seem to have just the right mix of scenic, epic, extreme and fun to look forward too, with just a tad of afkak, ok actually quite a lot of afkak, but that is what makes it an adventure! ;D
Day 1 - Hentiesbaai, Omaruru Riverbed to Uis for fuel then to Brandberg White Lady Lodge. 194km
Day 2 - White Lady Lodge to Twyfelfontein via Quest route and Huab Riverbed to Palmwag. 197km
Day 3 - Palmwag to Opuwo. We are taking a lovely detour through the Otjitheka Trail going through Klein Serengheti and the Khowarib Schlucht. 298km
Day 4 - Opuwo to Epupa Falls via Kunene River Trail 221km
Day 5 - Rest Day
Day 6 - Epupa Falls to Van Zyls Camp 145km
Day 7 - Van Zyls Camp over the pass and up in the Marienfluss to Camp Syncro 84.5km
Day 8 - Here's where we may change things up a bit as we are not in a huge rush and can extend the trip by a day or two. Either we have a rest day, or we take an alternative route past Bloudrom & Rooidrom to Marble Camp. If there's plenty of daylight, and if we have energy left... Hoarusib riverbed road to Puros. +- 205km
Day 9 - Puros to Palmwag via the Puros Canyon and Hoanib Riverbed. 280km
Day 10 - Palmwag to Ugab Rhinocamp. We'll be doing the Valley of Desolation trail here. If all goes well we will push on to Henties, otherwise stay at the Rhinocamp. 318km
Day 11/12 - Play in the dunes near Swakopmund. I have always wanted to ride up Dune 2, so hope we have time to tick this bucket list item.
The Rides:
2016 Husqvarna 701 Enduro
My weapon of choice! This really is the "next best thing" if you don't have an adventurised 500 that is... It is a bike I enjoy immensely, lightweight and nimble. I have been racing it in the Dualsport class at the Farmjam series this year and this bike has also carried me through some pretty crazy passes in Lesotho. It is a bike that I know and it is a bike that I'm comfortable with.
Modifications done for the trip (I already had spotlights and crashbars/pannier frames fitted):
- Michelin Desert mousses with Michelin Desert Race front tyre and Dunlop D908 rear.
- Underseat tank 6L
- Suspension tweaked by Hilton Hayward to accommodate extra luggage and fuel to be carried.
- GPS added.
Suspension tweak
Underseat tank, got this nifty tank from Flyingbrick and installed by Offroadcycles.
2008 KTM 690 Rally Factory Replica
HSK will conveniently be riding this incredible machine, which was purposefully built in the classic African Dakar glory days for terrain almost exactly like what we planning to do
It takes 36L of fuel with a range of nearly 500km (terrain dependent of course), has incredible suspension and he literally didn't have to do a thing in terms of modifying the bike to get it ready for the trip.
A basic service was done as well as suspension tweak and added mousses. We also switched his shiny new fuel tanks to the older ones from my bike. See image of badassery below:
Yes you are seeing double!
The Riders
Minxy and Hondsekierie, or just HSK, it's easier to type
We've done quite a bit of traveling together over the last few years. I've been riding for just about 5 years and HSK... well many more than that
Being a biking couple has many advantages, like sharing the same tent, towl, soap, shampoo, the list goes on :
It definitely makes for easier packing arrangements :imaposer:It can also be hard work though, as we have to pick each other up when times get tough and compensate for each others weaknesses. This is not going to be an easy trip, and I have no doubt we will be put to the test. Anyway, all that aside, this is still supposed to be our romantic 'cocoa land' getaway! :biggrin:
To be continued...
