8 - Day Adventure Report (Ashman & Warrior pics added)

[Mrs.T]

We had a slow start on Friday after breakfast and headed off to Aliwal North with about 80km of dirt thrown in just to make life interesting. A coffee break was had on the dirt section and the debate of where the tomato which went over Sani should be placed, in the middle of the road or on the side. We over nighted on a farm on the Goedemoed road where we swam in the hot spring on the farm.
   
Saturday morning we headed off to Middelburg via Goedemoed and Bethulie where we stopped for breakfast at the Ou Vellie which is owned and run by a biker couple. We stopped at the Gariep dam and watched the water cascade out of the sluice gate. We arrived in Middelburg about 15h00 where we stayed overnight with Ettiene`s friend Vivian. This ride was marred by cross winds and a hail storm.
Sunday was homeward bound with a stop for breakkies at the Wimpy in Graaff Reinet. For most of this ride we were fighting cross winds and from near Jansenville we were riding just behind the rain.

Thanks to Trevor & Ettiene for putting this ride together, it was a privilege riding with you.

 

[Mrs.T]

Ashman's pics

 

[Mrs.T]

Warrior's take on his 8 Day Adventure Ride

This was an adventure of a lifetime. Trevor and I started planning this trip exactly a year ago.

We left on Saturday, 1st April, and met up at Colchester. Due to rain during the course of the week leading up to 1st of April, we could not do any dirt and rode tar to Queenstown where we stayed at Roydon’s Game Farm.

On Sunday, 2nd April, the sun was out and we looked forward to a nice day’s riding, especially dirt.  Outside Dordrecht we turned onto a dirt road.  We were pleasantly surprised be the good condition of the road. It was a great ride through Clifford, Rossouw and into Barkly East. We hit tar and rode to Mountain Shadows Hotel, which was a welcome sight.  We stayed there for 2 days.  Ashley and I rode down the Barkly East Pass into Elliot and back. The surrounding mountains is a sight to behold.

On Monday, 3rd April, it was time to tackle Bastervoetpad.  I have heard a lot about this so-called ‘road’, but never expected what was lying ahead during the next 4 hours.  On Friday and Saturday that area had nearly 150mm of rain!!!!

At the first river crossing, Trevor stopped and asked us if we wanted to continue.  We said “no problem!”  We climbed and bounced around until we reached the top plus/minus 2 and a half hours later, about 16km further.  Hectic stuff.  No one came short up to that point.  The view from the top was fantastic – God’s own country.

 

[Mrs.T]

The “ride” down was a nightmare!!  Sliding down dongas and clay.  Struggling through waterlogged paths and then I hit a flat rock and BANG!  I was down.  Check out the puncture as proof.  Words cannot describe this “road” – 3 hours 45 minutes and 35 km later we were basically out of Bastervoetpad’s grip. We were very tired.  Trevor made coffee which we enjoyed very much. We carried on riding dirt back to Elliot and up the Barkly Pass to Mountain Shadows Hotel.  Ashley (Ashman) and I tucked into a few cold ones, because we deserved it!!
Tuesday 3 April. We travelled from Mountain Shadows Hotel to MaClear by tar. Then we hit the dirt all the way up to Naudesnek pass. The surrounding areas and vegetation are beautiful.

From Naudesnek it is a lovely winding road down the mountain into the quant village of Rhodes.  Here Trevor took out “patience” (gas stove) and boiled water for coffee and a light lunch.  We were going to do Lundines Neck Pass, but time caught up to us because we still had to travel to Lady Grey for our overnight stay.  The dirt road to Rhodes leading out was rather bad and we were tiring.  So we skipped Lundines Neck Pass and headed straight for Lady Grey, where we stayed at Gairtney  Guest house on a farm about 20km from Lady Grey. The owner, Johan Du Plessis, braaied for us and dished up salads, etc. I will recommend this stay to everyone.

Wednesday, 4 April.  We rode tar from Lady Grey through Barkly East down Barkly Pass, Elliot, Maclear on to Mount Frere, Mt Ayliff, Kokstad to Underberg.  Here we stayed at Underberg Backpackers.  All nice and clean and we had a lovely braai. The road through the Transkei area, was hectic as usual!

Thursday 5 April.  We were very nervous that morning because Sani Pass lay ahead and only Trevor had done it before. Charl from Cape Town joined us here outside Underberg and we took the tar to the Sani turnoff.  We hit the dirt to the border post.

After that there was no turnaround. We had plus/minus 300km to cover before sunset to get through Lesotho to Finksburg.

 

[Mrs.T]

Sani Pass is a monster!!  It took us nearly 2 hours to cover 13 km!  I fell twice!!  Trevor fell 3 times, but Ashley came through unscathed!  Sani has a grading of 1:6 and the corners are very sharp. Our bikes being 1200’s and loaded, were heavy. So you have to keep the momentum and pick the right line through the rocks to stay on top!  Not an easy job!! 

The last 3 sections are very technical before you reach the top.  We helped each other through the corners, just stabilizing the bikes to get the bikes over the rocky outcrops.  We were very tired getting to the top, bet we were elated and showed it!  Camaraderie played a huge role here.  We had a beer at the highest pub in Africa and pushed on again up Black Mountain Pass.  The road is hectic and long. 

Travelling through Lesotho is different because of all the passes we had to cover and cross.  When you hit tar and think it’s all good, a rude awakening hits you soon! The tar starts breaking up and potholes form (huge ones) and eventually it becomes a gravel road!  It carries on forever.  We travelled by tar from Ficksburg through Clocolan and Wepener, where turned right onto a dirt road for about 60 km to Aliwal North.  We bought a six pack of beers and a Texan steak.  We stayed on a farm on the Goedermoed Road about 25 km outside Aliwal North, called Badfontein.  This place is also good value for money.  We even had a nice swim in a hot spring pool on the farm.

Saturday 7 April. We travelled to Bethulie, where we had something to eat and rode over the longest dual purpose bridge in South Africa, 1.2km long and back. Then we travelled towards the Gariep Dam.  We were riding into strong North-westerly wind and we really had to hang onto our bikes to keep rubber side on the tar!  We took the old tar road to Colesberg.  We hit the tar again to Middleburg.  Plus/minus 60 km from Middelburg it started to rain and hail!  We made it safely to Middelburg and very thirsty.  We stayed at a friend of mine’s place and had a lovely braai.

Sunday 8 April. We took the road from Middelburg via Lootsberg to Graaff-Reinet, Jansenville back to Port Elizabeth.  The wind was very strong and swept us violently across the road. But we made it home safely.
In conclusion I want to add that we had a great spirit amongst us and the camaraderie was exceptional.
It was a fantastic adventure 

 

[Mrs.T]

Warrior's Pics

 

[Mrs.T]

 

[Mrs.T]

 

[Mrs.T]

 

[JACOVV]

This report is getting better by the day  :ricky:  :ricky:    :ricky:

Nice, very nice.  Thanks

 

[BMWPE]

Thanks guys
Great report  :thumleft:

 

[Red Adventure]

Hey Warrior

That huge "Woooo hooooo" as you came to the top of Sani resonated all around, even the little dude sitting next to the Sani Chalet's balcony broke out in laughter.
Well done to both you and Ashman too. :thumleft:

 

[Swart Baard]

Very nice  :thumleft:

Mrs T.... I hope you are charging admin fees for posting on behalf of non wilddog members  :imaposer:

Get Warrior and Ashman to join  ot:  :3some:  :ricky: 

 

[Tweetie]

Nice one guys. Ettiene, I trust you thoroughly enjoyed it.  (Obviously not a pillion friendly adventure otherwise mammie would be with  ;D

 

[n0b0dy]

:ricky: