A Bash and a few Ben's

[Dwerg]

A few of us met up for a ride down to the KZN bash. Myself, [member=24549]MonkeyNot[/member] , [member=217]bud500[/member] , [member=14670]GeVarlik[/member] and [member=5291]quicksilver[/member] met up a garage on the R25 past Bapsfontein.

In this foto LTR: [member=217]bud500[/member] , Myself, [member=5291]quicksilver[/member]

We almost immediately got onto the dirt and rode past Redstar Raceway direction roughly Greylingstad. We stopped at a chicken farm somewhere along the route for some chicken biltong (not as bad as you'd think) and a quick refreshment.

In this photo FLTR: [member=24549]MonkeyNot[/member] , [member=217]bud500[/member] , me, [member=5291]quicksilver[/member]

Back on the road, the next refreshment stop was just outside of Greylingstad. I noticed that my bike reached it's first birthday and *someone* promptly lit him a candle.

We also briefly met [member=6275]Bobby Chang[/member] here who was riding in a group behind us with [member=7106]Slaaiblaar[/member] and a few others.

We set off again past Greylingstad, hit a left on the tar and took the first dirt road to the right. Excuse the lack of detail and photos but at this stage I was just riding along with the group, enjoying being back on a trip for the first time in over a year. I am usually very slack with photo's. Apart from him being my brother, he's camera happy and it's another reason why I love going on trips with [member=13184]Noneking[/member] and anyone who's read his reports will understand. I did try a little harder on the second part of the trip so stay with me. I even have video or two.

We eventually rolled into Vrede and as we do, headed straight for the pub. Who invited he guy on the BMW?

Apparently we are not welcome but they let us in anyway and ended up being super friendly.

As you'd guess in a group with a few KTMs, it's inevitable that someones bike would need attention. We didn't expect it to [member=14670]GeVarlik[/member] 's BMW and borrowing tools from a KTM rider no less >

Just a loose bracket but we'll take it.

After a few cold ones and sarmies all round, we made the decision to take the tar to Memel to get on with the business of Bash V0.1.

In front of the Memel hotel

Bash V0.1 was a big party with some great food and atmosphere at the restaurant next to the hotel. I ate the most delicious oxtail.... I'm told.

 

[Dwerg]

We were all a little slow to get going that morning, especially me. I had a piece of wire through my tyre. Thanks to tubeless it was sorted in no time.

Notice the SE on the trailer in the background of the top pic? OrangeSwifty who'd ridden down with [member=13158]Kevin_ZA[/member] had a wiring issue messing with his fuel pump. This was sorted in Newcastle by our token BMW rider, [member=14670]GeVarlik[/member] . O yeah that's why we invited him....

From Memel we left towards Normandien pass led out by uncle [member=13158]Kevin_ZA[/member]. The weather was cool ad misty

The Legend and The New Kid

The mist got worse as we ascended.

Still beautiful though

The picture doesn't show it but visibility was less than 10m in paces

The summit

 

[Dwerg]

We eventually all met up in Newcastle to get some warm coffee while [member=6768]Orangeswifty[/member] and [member=14670]GeVarlik[/member] sorted out his bike.

I was in a rush to get going so I set off on my own on tar. It was cold, wet and misty so it was a bit of a crappy ride down to Richards Bay. Still better than a good day in the office.

This is my only pic for that ride. Some wild horses

After arriving at the bash and checking in, I got a chalet and it had the best view.

 

[Dwerg]

I don't have anything to add bash wise except that it's one of the best I've been to and we took part in the usual bash stuff: drinking and laughing.

Next up: My solo 5 day return trip around Lesotho. But that will have to wait for tomorrow

 

[Heimer]

Lekker Dwerg.

 

[windswept]

:thumleft:

 

[Dwerg]

Warning: Solo trip is code for “A lot of pictures of the writer’s bike”.

For all the ADHD sufferers, I promise this will be the wordiest part of the RR. I’ll try to keep that to a minimum going forward.

Now just a bit of background for those that don’t know, I was in a crash last year that severely injured my left foot. I’m recovered now and this would be my first multiple day ride and really apart from a few quick dashes, my first dirt ride since Namibia last year June. Or was it July? The idea was to ride something familiar to ease myself back into things, regain my confidence and so on. It’s also been 5 years since I’ve owned a bigger ADV bike so it was an adjustment in that regard too.

So with a hangover on a level that only a bash can provide, I set off with my KTM My Ride app set for Nottingham Road. I’ve never been patient enough to learn how to use a GPS properly and I quite like being able to punch a town into my phone and have the turn by turn NAV on my dash. My chosen route home was also selected because I knew the roads well enough to be able to make my way should all electronic devices fail me.

I reached Nottingham Road a lot earlier than expected and had a nice red ale plus a lovely porter at Notties Brewery. The plan en route was to find accommodation in Nottingham Road but it was around 1o’clock by the time I’d finished my beers so I decided to push on to Himeville via Lower Lotheni. It’s a very scenic and easy ride and highly recommended. I’d done it once before on the bike and once in a car. It still didn’t disappoint.

Even though I have the lowest KTM dual ever made, I still sometimes can't get a foot down properly

Storm in the east. Luckily my route was south west

I arrived in Himeville and checked into the famous Himeville arms. I honestly don't know why so many people stay there. In short, it's an overpriced dump. I'll elaborate on costs at the end of the report

 

[Carrots]

Lekker Midget het klaar meeste van die pics gesien maar ek lees nou jou storie.  :thumleft:

 

[Noneking]

Sub

 

[2StrokeDan]

Congrats with that 10 000 mark, nice report.

That Bud500 is a giant!

 

[Dwerg]

I had a terrible sleep getting at most two hours, a theme that would carry through for the rest of the trip. I was keen to depart at sunrise but it was way too cold for that and I probably only left around 10 o’clock. The only plan for the day was to get to Elliot area and to book into Mountain Shadows hotel.

I set my KTM My Ride on shortest route to Elliot and head off. The first tar section after Underberg was beautiful.

I then got onto some nice dirt that skips out the Kokstad tar section.

I got back onto the tar at Matatiele. After Mount Fletcher it was time for a drinks stop.

From there I continued past Mount Fletcher and Maclear. The tar all the way from Matat to Ugie is just endless sweeping bends. Great fun. In Ugie I was desperate for a coffee but the only coffee shop I could find was closed on Mondays. I pushed on and just outside of Ugie I noticed a dirt road to the right and just after that, a cement bridge over the tar road which looked very familiar. I instantly knew where that dirt road lead and thought stuff this easing in business, let’s do it.

Anyone recognise this road?

How about this gate?

It’s the start of Bastervoetpad and would be my first of the Ben’s for this trip.

From here I need to do a bit of video editing but first, Sunday breakfast run. I'll continue this afternoon.

 

[skydiver]

:sip:

 

[Exploratio]

Sub.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Exploratio]

Congrats with that 10 000 mark, nie report.

That Bud500 is a giant!

You have no idea[emoji6]
Both in stature and personality.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[2StrokeDan]

Congrats with that 10 000 mark, nie report.

That Bud500 is a giant!

You have no idea[emoji6]
Both in stature and personality.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[katana]

Sub

 

[Tonteldoos]

Nice Gooi!!

 

[2StrokeDan]

Nice Gooi!!

Ja Dwerg, gooi! Ek wil saam met jou bastervoetpad ry.

 

[Noneking]

“I then got onto some nice dirt that skips out the Kokstad tar section. “


Swartberg pad.... baie mooi stukkie pad om al daai teer uit te sny......hom ook al paar maal gery. Eerste keer met kar grootte slaggate aan die Matat kant...

 

[ROOI]

Lekker  :thumleft: