Day 2 of 2
The following morning we woke up at about 06h45, which is not really that early. It was however still dark and amazing to note such a difference in the time it gets light by being further west than Johannesburg. We thought that we were going to end on the wrong side of this life due to the cold, but eventually slept fairly ok. Brakenjan complained about some snoring in the caravan, but I honestly didnâ??t hear anything.
This is the suspected pride of the Cambell residence during his 1930â??s land speed record attempt:
(Apologies for this pic as well as some of the next few: Between dodgy light, a point and shoot camera and the total absence of any photography knowledge /skills on my side, I struggled a bit with taking piccies in these conditions)
(Note that the Adventure was almost similar to a young (i.e. 8 month or so) Labrador pup in the morning â?? he was already wagging his tail, jumping up and down and roaring to go - pumping cold oil through that boxer â?? you could almost sense his anticipation and sense of willingness to be the central part of the action to unfold on this spectacular flat piece of dirt called Verneukpan.
Here is the ablution block.
The tents and trucks in the background belonged to an outfit called Felix Unite. Quite a GV bunch if I remember correctly from my days as guide on the Orange. Louis was telling us that they are responsible for fair a portion of his business, as this Tented Camps division have various contracts in the filming industry and as such are outsourced on a regular basis to provide infrastructure during a film shoot on the pan. We missed all of the action as they were packing up and leaving that same day, but apparently this time they were outsourced by an Italian underwear manufacturer who was conducting a film shoot of an Italian soccer team parading around in their jocks. Quite a sight according to Louis, but I was happy to have missed â??the actionâ?. For a start I donâ??t like Itaâ??s and their attitudes (I think they give us South Africans a good go when it comes to being the most arrogant nation that have walked this earth) and it would just have ruined my time here if I had to be confronted by a busload of the bastards, wearing knopstores â??out here in the desert â??
As you may have noted, today was Brakenjanâ??s turn on the silver dream adventure touring machine. Fortunately for him I had a bit of a stiff ankle from the previous dayâ??s fun and games, so I was happy to let him have a go.
According to the GPS, Louisâ?? setup is a good few kmâ??s into the pan. However, he is now contemplating to start farming on some of the areas as the field and vegetation is encroaching on to the pan â?? according to him as a result of the mineral content in the soil becoming less and less and thus allowing vegetation to grow again â?? forgot to ask him if this is a good or a bad thing?
Here is the track leading from the caravans to the area on the pan were Jacobs had his fatal accident. As you can see a lot of vegetation.
With the sun rising in the east, it is not possible for me to describe the moment. The picture is crap (sorry), but these moments while the new day woke up, stretched out and fiddled with its balls before confronting us in all its morning glory, was just the cherry on top of an already great trip.
And then it got better.
When Brakenjan sped off in the distance and opened that 1200 boxer beast, I could not believe how it sounded. The acoustics on the quiet pan early in the morning for some reason amplified every last grunt â?? It honestly sounded like a 747 just after touchdown with full reverse thrust engaged â?? just magnificent.
I then realised yet again just what a fine piece of machinery this 1200GSA is. And Iâ??m not trying to boast with it, Iâ??m just relating my experience of it. First of all its riding comfort is unlike anything I have experienced on two wheels. You just canâ??t compare for instance the dearly beloved KLR with the comfort on this machine â?? I yesterday did in excess of a 1000kmâ??s in the saddle and was literally playing like a kid during the last couple of kâ??s to the caravanâ??s from Louis house. And that after nine hours of moving time. Iâ??d really like to know if there are in fact other bikes out there where guys are experiencing the same?
The other thing which I just find unbelievable on a big and heavy bike like this is its balance. Once again I have to compare it to the KLR and in my opinion it handles even better in sand. I only realised this morning what kind of terrain we came through the previous night, and I was amazed to see the thick stretches of sand which I didnâ??t even notice the previous evening.
Its suspension also seemed to have handled everything that was given to it the previous day, especially the trenches diagonally across the road as a result of the heavy rains.
Anyhow, surely the bike must have some negative points? I have just yet to discover any. Maybe its tank is a tad too small? >
Here Brakenjan is on the return run of his attempt at the world land speed record in the category for people moving from Johannesburg to Cape Town on a two day weekend with a white bakkie and silver bike:
Some more light on the subject are starting to do the place a bit more justice:
Donâ??t you also just want to get on this thing and write your name with the back of a TKC 80 on a canvas thousands of metres wide?
Thatâ??s exactly what I did â?? I just opened up and started to float.
What a feeling! I didnâ??t attempt the â??10 seconds with your eyes closed usual Verneukpan routineâ? â?? no mate, at 180km/h on that pan, this boyâ??s family jewels was tried, tested and found (also just barely â?? it was frieken cold) lacking . . .I guess I needed bigger kahunas than mine to do a silly thing like that
This is the Verneukpan surface.
And this is the Verneukpan surface, signed by a Bavarian beauty.
By now the sun was nearly out in full
and Brakenjan was asking so nicely, I just had to get off and let him pry the bike from my hands for another round of pure unprotected sex. He he he
We then had to leave this place with a heavy heart and made good time towards Brandvlei via some very good and enjoyable gravel tracks at first and thereafter nice roads like this one:
In Brandvlei we stumbled upon the Windpomp Bar & restaurant, attached to the Boesmanland Instap Superette & Take Aways, which does not stock any Jellie Tots, so stock up before you decide to visit Brandvlei.
Does this tyre look like it has done almost 8500kmâ??s?
We had a Widpomp brekkie at the Windpomp Bar and then I decided to slowly make my way so long while Brakenjan was faffing about. The wingman (not knowing how the GPS works) decided to head out to Kenhardt instead of taking the obscure turn off towards the Loeriesfontein gravel road. Fortunately the manâ??s basic sense of direction prevailed and he realised that the sun was now on the wrong side (or was it just that he wasnâ??t able to catch the slow cage after about 15minutes of doing 180km/h?) Either way, we manage to reunite the party and took another nice road
