2 Jameson brothers and an orphan - Kubu Island and beyond..

[Tonteldoos]

Lekerrr...  :thumleft:

 

[popipants]

Day 3: On Kubu

We arrived at Kubu Island around 2pm. It was an awesome ride coming in. The terrain changes from sand to trees to grasslands to pan and then you get to Kubu. For those of you (like me) who did not know, Kubu Island is actually an Island. It is a big pile of rocks in the middle of the pan. During summer months when it rains the pans fill and it is not accessible. It is a bit of a tourist destination because lots of 4x4 visits it. When we arrived we got a campsite but later in the evening lots more people show up and the campsite filled up quickly.

There is nothing on the Island. You can buy firewood from the caretaker. But they rip you P20 per bag. But you don’t really have an option.  Please don’t collect your own from the bush….they don’t like it!
And they have water tanks, but the caretaker warned us not to drink it unless we had to, he said our stomachs might not be used to it. That is local lingo for you “go crap yourself silly!!”

There are a couple of portable toilets, but as Herman mentioned…the bush was a better and cleaner option. The best way of having a “veldtjie” is to burn your toilet paper afterwards, this will prevent thm from flying around.
We unpacked and took a walk around the Island. It is not very big about a 1km across.

Some of the pictures.

While exploring a little we came across an eco-capsule. Some Germans left if there. 
It is full of postcards with their addresses on. Then you are supposed to write your name on a piece of paper in the capsule
and then send them the postcard. We took one.

We came across this… Wonder who pissed him off?

Some advertising…
Michnus’s stretcher. Works like a charm, not as comfy as a blow up mattress, but much smaller and lighter to carry. There’s also no need to worry about punctures or your pump not working!

We had some nice meat, worse and bread rolls for dinner, finished our remaining Jameson and went off to bed.
I was very relaxed now, because my trip was finished. My goals for the trip was to reach Kubu, ride on the pans and to conquer the sand monster. So mission accomplished….
Our initial plan was to see if we can cross the pans to Gweta. There are two basic routes you can take. Across the pans to Gweta. Or right of the pan to the tar road and then to Gweta. From the ride reports we read most bikes seem to go right. So we decided to go left
Gweta is only 114km away; and seeing that the sand is not so bad!!
We did not need an early start…… 

 

[letsgofishing]

"Gweta is only 114km away; and seeing that the sand is not so bad!!
We did not need an early start…"

Famous last words?.... can't wait!

 

[funacide]

We also did not know that the best destination for the trip was yet to come  :deal: :deal: :deal:

 

[Plothond]

aaaahh.................

3 things:

1. You CAN do a trip report and you CAN write the ingelsman lingo
2. It takes time to do this. It's such a lekker feeling that others are giving you K&k for taking so long
3. I don't like sand !!!!!!



ps, love you lot too. Do not mms me pics ..... I'm going to take revenge !!!!

 

[Dustdevil]

Good guys, keep it coming :thumleft:

 

[Oetie]

ps, love you lot too. Do not mms me pics ..... I'm going to take revenge !!!!

That make two of us.........

 

[Leo]

Nice one guys.

This place is next on my to do list.  :thumleft:

Seems like you need to pack more Jamesons and less clothes. It's all about priorities

 

[funacide]

Nice one guys.

This place is next on my to do list.  :thumleft:

Seems like you need to pack more Jamesons and less clothes. It's all about priorities

You are correct about the alcohol, the best night (destination) we had was the night we needed more drinks...

 

[LeonDude]

aaaahh.................

3 things:

1. You CAN do a trip report and you CAN write the ingelsman lingo
2. It takes time to do this. It's such a lekker feeling that others are giving you K&k for taking so long
3. I don't like sand !!!!!!



ps, love you lot too. Do not mms me pics ..... I'm going to take revenge !!!!

That's like eating biltong in front of the dog, and not giving him any!  :biggrin:

 

[Wheelman]

aaaahh.................

3 things:

1. You CAN do a trip report and you CAN write the ingelsman lingo
2. It takes time to do this. It's such a lekker feeling that others are giving you K&k for taking so long
3. I don't like sand !!!!!!



ps, love you lot too. Do not mms me pics ..... I'm going to take revenge !!!!

That's like eating biltong in front of the dog, and not giving him any!  :biggrin:

This Dog needs more. Nice RR so far :thumleft:

 

[funacide]

Day 4 should be up before the end of the day....

 

[Brink]

:happy1:

 

[Huggels]

Loving it  :thumleft:

 

[popipants]

Day: 4
Distance: 114 km
Destination: Planet Baobab (S20 11.353 E25 18.321)
Price: p650 for a chalet. And p10 per beer!

With only 114 km today, we were in no hurry to leave. We got up make coffee, ate some rusks then started packing. We took a walk to the caretakers hut to try and find some water. We still had full hydration packs but most of our emergency water was used for coffee and Jameson.
We each still had about 2 or 3 litres left. But lessons learned in Namibia after Plotty bike broke; meant you could never have enough. In Namibia we had about 150 km to do. So we did not bother to fill up at twyfel fontain (it was ONLY 150km). Then we got stuck in “divorce pass” and had to spend the night next to road. So this time I insisted we get more water. The water was dodgy but it was for an emergency only.
After packing we took a ride around the Island to take some pictures.
Early morning camp site.

How’s this for a view

We left at around 10.
The first bit was bushy and rocky. I had a fun time because I deflated my tires the previous day and had to take it easy over the rocks. The jeep tracks also got more overgrown. After 20 km we got to the vet fence. The guard informed us that the pans were dry enough to cross. So off we went.

Crossing the pans again was an absolute blast. The main track was dry, but the moment you veered to far from it you starting breaking through he crust. Lots of fun at 100 km/h. We passed three 4x4’s with bush trailers on the pans at high speed. Herman made a mental note that we MUST get to the bush tracks before them, as they will hold us back.

Whilst we were taking photos, the 4x4’s came past us, we packed up in a hurry and sped off to catch them as the edge of the pan was close. And we don not want to be stuck behind them in the tweespoor sandy roads.  :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Don’t tie things to the outside of your bike, the thorn trees do not take any prisoners.

With about 40km to go; the sand started…..
At first it was ok. Very high side walls and middle mannetjie meant you cannot stray off your line. The tracks twisted through the trees with lots of overhanging branches making it impossible to “stand up and open up”. Every time you moved your body to avoid being decapitated by a branch you ran into the middle mannetjie . Makes for lots of hard work on a fully loaded GSA!!

Ah Botswana dirt highways!!!

Herman ‘s KTM almost taking a nap…

Whilst Herman struggled to keep his bike up, the 4x4’s caught us! They could drive faster with their 4x4’s towing a bush trailer in thick twisty sand! No way!
Soon afterwarts they past us.

We did not stop for to many pictures, we just tried to keep going. By now it was midday and very hot.
I had 2 little offs. Lucky not at speed, because you cannot get any speed trying to avoid hitting trees. Because I was at the back I had to pic the fully loaded piggy up on my own!

For all the people who says you cannot, yes you can.

Herman was forced to stop for about 10 minutes as his bike started overheating. With no wind, airflow restricted by the bush around you and the bike working hard in 1st, sometimes 2nd gear it was no surprise.
About 500 m after his rest stop Herman took a knee. Scenario: branches on the left hanging into the road, you move to avoid them. Weight transfer happens, and bike veers off into the middlemannetjie. You over correct, and front wheel runs towards steep side wall, gets caught and … You get the picture.
Lucky for Herman, his bike did not lie completely flat, and he could pick it up. Phew, we are lucky.
No serious incedents, no bikes broken.

Funacide had 2 off’s as well, the first was after the front wheel follows a 4x4 track off the path and diverted the bike straight into a tree, which broke one of the spotlights.
The second was worse when he hit the middle mannetjie while trying to avoid a thorn tree and ended up with good separation from the bike  :biggrin: :biggrin:, nothing broken so all is good.
For the last 20 km or so, the sand just never ends. There no is firm bits to rest. I got very tired and dehydrated. My GPS showed the next turn was into tar at Gweta, so I was watching the distance to next turn like a hawk.

With about 12km to go the piggy took another dirt nap. At this point I weighed my options.
I was at the back; I also let the others get a bit of a lead so that I do not have to stop if they stopped; because to get going again in this stuff is horrible.
I was dead tired and was thinking to myself. Maybe I should walk the last bit….but it’s 12 km. In motorcycle boots, that does not sound very appealing. And then I will still need to come back to for my bike.

Passing through the trees; there's dozens of tracks leading in all directions. I’m sure they end up in the same place.
Lots of the way I could not see any bike tracks, which means were weren’t on the same track anymore.
This is potentially a very big problem. I had no idea how far apart these tracks were. And I had no idea where the others where. I could have passed them.  
At this point I just made sure I was heading north.
Because North leans to tar!!!!  (I learned later that Herman and Funacide had also lost each other)

After my 2nd fall I ended up on the other side of the middle mannetjie.
The side that Funacide and Herman did not use. The going was a lot easier. Note for the future; do not ride at the back in sand.

With about a km to go I got to a village. I saw some cars. Normally road going cars!!! That meant no 4x4 required anymore!!!!!
I ride until I reached the tar T-junction. To see Herman a Funacide waiting. Man I was tired. That was one of the most difficult sections I have ever ridden. The only upside was it was not too far from civilisation. So worst case scenario, help was not far away.
After some beers Funacide and I decided we needed walky talkies. Because there is no cell signal in there, and there is no way to contact the other person even if he is only a couple of kilometres from you. And because of all the tracks, trying to walk to the other person is also not a real option.
For all the nay Sayers, yes GSA’s can do sand. It is a lot of hard work, but the low down toque really helps. I would love to do that section again with a unloaded bike to check the difference.
After lots of water at the garage we headed for Planet baobab.
It took us 2 hours and 12 minutes to do the last 30 km.

All the campsites where full but we did not care; after all that we wanted beer and beds. We got a chalet.
Planet Baobab is a bit of a tourist trap. Reminds me of Joe’s beer house in Windhoek.  But it is still worth a visit.  I loved all the décor.

Nothing like a good night’s rest after a hard days riding

Funacide had to try on the laundry bag to see of pink goes with his eyes.

That night at the bar we contemplated where to go next.  There were lots of votes for sticking to tar, I think I voted twice!! We were not in the mood for another session of sand.
Then Funacide says. “How about Kukoje Island”  > > >

 

[Ou Ryperd]

We are true lesbians....  :deal:

 

[Wheelman]

:drif: :drif: :thumleft:

 

[SandMan]

Yeh that sand can be a buggar!!!! Just a note, use it, don't use it....

Sand is easier the earlier or the cooler it is. Loosens up during the day. Try and ride on the middle mannetjie with all those thorn trees. It's actually easier once you get used to it and there is a lot more space to manuvre. Unfortunatly sometimes the middle mannetjies are just to narrow and you have to take the tree slaps like a man, hehe.

 

[funacide]

Yeh that sand can be a buggar!!!! Just a note, use it, don't use it....

Sand is easier the earlier or the cooler it is. Loosens up during the day. Try and ride on the middle mannetjie with all those thorn trees. It's actually easier once you get used to it and there is a lot more space to manuvre. Unfortunatly sometimes the middle mannetjies are just to narrow and you have to take the tree slaps like a man, hehe.

I actually did try the middle mannetjie for a while but with the 4x4 guys following every track in every direction, the middle mannetjie is either to narrow or has so many tracks crossing it, it is easier taking the pain of the trees. The tree hitting you on the body and bike is not so bad, but it was hot and with the visor open a couple of tree branches in the face really hurts. That is what caused my second off ducking and swaying away from a thorn tree at visor level  :biggrin: :biggrin:

I imagine that later in the season once many 4x4's have gone through that the branches would be less over grown. (Glad I am not taking my 900k Land Cruiser/Discovery 3 through those thorn bushes)  :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[SandMan]

Crossing the tracks is also a buggar yes!!! I'm just smiling here cause I know what you mean! 

You should see our 4x4 after we have done trips like that, lotsa scratches! But they buff out real easy though!