Rain in the Richtersveld Two.0 - Desolation & Dunes

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

Heading out to Spektakel pass and past the old Spektakel mine, one of the largest copper producers in the area during its day ~ 1861

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

Mike styling on his Kove.

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

We were on a road only an Anglo or De Beers would make. I kept expecting a toll booth to appear.

Just then . . . . . .

I suspect Jarod could not take the broad sweeping tantalizing Buffels Rivier taunting him one second longer.

Our leaders stopped, with their bikes pointed towards a track that led into the river bed. We were not going to wait for an invitation, and ploughed headlong into the river. Some of us a little too literally. Clearly under the conviction that their sand riding legs lay buried in the sand and were going to find them come what may. Others were sure theirs lay on the opposite bank and rapidly corrected course to get them,....

Very soon, however, the entire crew were thundering down the river like the Charge of the Light Brigade

51Mobile · Sep 16, 2024

Regrettably, all good things come to an end. When there are a host of people with their cameras out at the end, be warned things could get tricky.

And so it was with us. There was a causeway across the river, on which the front-runners were parked - in particular Stephan - always keeping an eye open for good photo ops. Prior to the causeway was a sheet of slippery mud! Having just got our legs into the sand thing, we were thrown a curved ball and plunged head long into thick slimy mud.

Those specs in the sky behind the bike aren't birds!

51Mobile · Sep 17, 2024

A birds eye view of Buffels Rivier.

51Mobile · Sep 17, 2024

Henry was LOVING his new ride, skipping over the sand in fine style.

51Mobile · Sep 17, 2024

A fence was visible across the river downstream of the causeway, to avoid the possibility fo riding over private property we reluctantly made our way out of the river bed where we found an awesome jeep track that looked like it headed towards the toll road we had previously left.

We passed a stone structure reminiscent of a small Stonehenge.

51Mobile · Sep 17, 2024

The track led us to the "toll road" and into Kleinzee.

Bruce Hep · Sep 18, 2024

Riding along with you guys vicariously on your trip.

51Mobile · Sep 19, 2024

It was a quick ride through Kleinzee and a short hop along the edge of the beach to our refuelling (riders) stop.

51Mobile · Sep 19, 2024

Kleinzee is a carapace of a previously prosperous state. After almost 10 years in the diamond industry, I came away with two conclusions:

All the thieves are in the diamond business, but not all in the business are thieves.
Diamond's fundamental value proposition is for ugly men to get sex