Eastern Free State down memory lane ramble . . . ings . . .

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I am very sure that there is a lot of other riders/groups that are in the same situation, but i could see that we (Our little adventure riding group) are really struggling to get back to our pre-Covid riding levels. Life after Covid has thrown different challenges to each one of our members and we have not seen a lot of riding activity within the group or individuals as such.. I sure am hoping that these challenges for us and all the other groups/riders out there will turn for the better and that all will be able to get back to do what we love so much. . . . And that is riding the dirt roads of this beautiful country.

I had some time available and managed to get away on the bike from around the 28th of March and decided to go and visit the Eastern Free State tracing my steps from where i was born, to spending some time in high school, but basically just trying to spend as most time as possible where there will be big skies and beautiful sandstone rock formations. Dont know why but these sandstone rocks does wonders for the soul

So it was:
* 28 March 2023 - Leave LA (Lower Alberton) at around 13h00 heading for Senekal on dirt roads that i picked up just outside of Sasolburg.
* 29 March - Senekal to Marquard where i was born 55 years ago and then on to Ficksburg, where i lost my virginity but that is a story for R&P for later
* 30 March - Spend the day in Ficksburg and surrounds
* 31 March - Ficksburg to Clarens
* 1 April - Clarens and surrounds
* 2 April - Head back to Gauteng

 

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Some peechers on the 1st leg from LA to Senekal

 

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The 2nd peecher is for the oks that slipped to see the Johnny Walker on the back there. This is the LA version of Cone Valve suspension, but just waaaay cheaper. A couple of sips on old JW and the bike's suspension becomes verryy smoothhh

 

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Some more LA to Senekal pics

 

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And more

 

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The cosmos is just awesome this time of the year

 

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We had cousins that stayed in Senekal for a good few years and visits here always included climbing this koppie and getting up to all kinds of stuff . . .

 

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How is that for good timing ending up at the Cheetah Bar and Restaurant in Senekal in time to watch some Abu Dabi Rally action and finding some cold Windhoek's

 

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Must say i was very tempted to stay for the "Show". Born and growing up in small towns i REALLY do miss a proper small town "Skou".

 

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Stayed at "Senekal Self Catering Accommodation" for the evening and they are sure to be recommended..
Rained heavily that evening and knew as i am alone i would most likely have to stay away from the dirt roads the next day but that was tomorrows problem to worry about

 

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Senekal to Marquard decided to stick to tar as i did not want to have to phone the ruling party to come to fetch me with the trailer after succumbing to the 24-42 syndrome . . . That will be where you hit he mud like a 24 year old and then moer down in the middle like a 42 year old

 

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Getting to Marquard where as noted i was born in 1968 and have had many excellent years of visit to the grandparents later with my cousins. Appologies for some of the heading down memory lane peechers here but there is enough dirt riding peechers to make up again .

One thing we adventure baaikers do see is all the small towns and how badly they are deteriorating

 

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The house i was born in. . . Well was born in Marquard Hospital but spend most of my early few months here. My grandmother on my mother's side lived here most her life and is where my mother grew up.

 

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Where my Great Grandmother lived just up the road from where my grandmother lived

 

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Marquard graveyard . . . Eish like most graveyard's nowadays

 

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What is left of the Marquard public pool. . . We have had many a school holiday spend here while visiting Ouma and Oupa. Grandpa was the pool supervisor so we ended up as Marquard "Pool royalty"

 

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The general dealer where we always stopped off to buy the original black nickerballs on the way to the pool . . . The ones that turns your whole mouth black and only cost like 2c

 

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The beautiful NG Kerk

 

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Marquard had like most small towns in those day the local Portuguese kafee and this is where it was for Marquard. So seems progress have also swomped them up as welI ?? I remember that these Portuguese adults and their kids eventually spoke such fluent afrikaans you would never have guessed them to be Portuguese.

 

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The Mill in Marquard that seems to be very much still working today. Then a lekker cold one from the Restaurant/Accommodation across from the Mill called "Oppiestoep" well worth a visit if you are in this part of the world