As the we hurriedly gather round the carousel to collect our luggage I return missed calls, answer messages and let the vrou know I'm safely in Jhb. Inside me it's all systems go!! Three and a half years of dreaming and two weeks of planning is soon culminate in a weekend that'll be the start of a new chapter in our lives!
Yes motorcycling, specifically adventure riding is a big part of who I am, to me it's a basic necessity that I (and the vrou) have suppressed for the last three and a half years due to circumstances and two hours from now it's about to change!!
My heart is pounding and I'm growing ever more anxious, where's the luggage I'm thinking as the same three cases gingerly squeaks past for the fifth or sixth time....
Finally some action as the carousel start filling with bags and cases. On the other side of the carousel I spot my 13.8kg heavy bag with all my riding gear tightly cling wrapped making it's way round the corner towards me. I keep myself from bumping my way through the crowd to get to it 7seconds earlier but stay laser focused on it ready to grab when it's in reach.
Suddenly 3seconds inbound a hand protrudes from the crowd and grabs my bag!! WTF!! Surely not!! My facial muscles instantly get signal from my brain to change expression, the eagle eye stare should do the trick!
I follow the hand (now looking for the tag) up the shoulder, up the neckline to the head. Shame man, it's an old couple. Brain to face....brain to face, STAND DOWN!
My facial expression returns to normal but the colour remains. That must have been a 5second delay. The bag reaches me and exactly as planned, suitcase and helmet in left hand ready to go I grab my gear bag and we're off.
Once I got past all the eager taxi drivers my boet is waiting. Quick formalities, load the boot and of we go! My boet's a great guy!! We get on very well. He's instantly aware of the urgency and hastily gets us to his house where my clean sister & little nephew are packed ready to go. We all don't have a lot of time together so any minute or two we can spend together we do hence the family outing to Secunda and back.
Traffic isn't to bad. At Carnival City we get onto the N17 through the R9.00 toll gate. The N17 is a mess! In my mind this is one of the least civilized roads in SA. Head on collisions are quite common on this stretch of road as people impatiently overtake one another on blind rises. It's a kind of adapt or die situation on this road. And tonight it's busy but it's moving at a healthy average.
The N17 towards Secunda
We go through the second toll gate. I haven't stopped yabling about all sort of things. Normally I'm quite quiet and laid back. Our rugby coach always used to say "people who talk alot are nervous"....
And I was leaning towards the apprehensive side of the scale for the task ahead.
The weather is good, the usual industrial foggy grey blue sky, dry roads with a slight southerly cross wind and the mercury hovering around 16deg C.
Planned ETA as per my conversation with Leandra (at the shop) a week ago was 18:30. I also feel rushed as they are specially waiting late for me. Arrive 18:39. Not bad considering all the possible variables.
As we come round the corner I feel an almighty smile appear as I first lay eyes on Gus which up to now I've only seen on pictures.
Parked in front of Roaring Wheels Secunda next to André's Africa Twin (the new one).
"It's bigger than I thought" is my first thought as it stands shoulder to shoulder to the AT.
I have a quick look around and realize it's more than I hoped for! I'm happy!! VERY VERY HAPPY!
By now the sun has already fallen out the sky. I quickly take a few snaps in the bit of daylight left and into the shop. Leandra immediately recognizes me from almost six years back. She has everything ready, the papers, keys, extra's and promptly shows me the service items they had just done. It also had a new battery fitted today. Basically they knew the bike has to travel to CT and have prepped it according. Even the new chain is properly lubed! Brilliant!! Thank you!
My apprehension slowly dissolves as we start talking whilst I have another look around the bike. Wow!! It's all there!
The honesty behind the situation I will leave for a later paragraph! I would like to give the people I've dealt with the proper credit due!!
The reveal!!!!!
See I'm used to riding on big bore bikes. The 1200's give you a sense of authority on the road. It instils a kind of sense of security into even a novice rider as it sorts out the technicalities for you. This leaves you with two jobs, keep it on the road and enjoy the view.
With the above in mind I hope that my nervous disposition will naturally be understood with the following.
Ladies and Gentlemen......Meet Guss!! (I'm still deciding if it should be one or two "s"es)
2009 BMW G650 X Country!!
André and me in his shop
Previously owned by Kalla who was the second owner!
Once back at base I will compile a post for the "specific make model" section as to the reasons for buying this bike as apposed to that what would normally come naturally without any other consideration.....a boxer!
What's in a name.....?
Well, driving toward Hermanus last weekend over Sir Louwries pass, the vrou and I were talking about the bikes. I mentioned that in the fraternity the X Challenge is referred to as a BMX. We then spoke about our BMX's as children and I mentioned that although I never had one I always wanted a Mongoose BMX. They had the thick frames and the handle bars could swing 360deg without the brake cables twisting around the headset. I then thought, maybe I should call the X Challenge "Goose" and we both laughed!! A moment of silence ensued as we both enjoyed the view of valse bay from the top of Sir Louwries before we go over the top.
Suddenly I out of the blue I piped up, "Gus!!", what about "Guss?" Goose sounds close to Guss!! The vrou said "that's quite cool!"
And so the Beemer was dubbed Guss (wif twee esse I just decided!)
By now it's dark, I'm fully kitted and ready to go! One more check over! Money in the right pockets for the toll gate. Despite the dipping temp I decide on my summer gloves. I just want to get a feel for the controls.
Both my boet and I still have to fill up with fuel. The Shell garage is 300m away. I gear up, start the bike and swing my leg over. Bugger, I'm too short! My boot catches the top box and attempts to step through onto the bike saw me nearly kicking it over.
To make matters more challenging I put every inner I have for my adventure suit in which now gives me a close resemblance to the infamous Michelin man, and as a result my movement is an even closer resemblance. No worries! I draw inspiration from Gaston Rahier!! I've been here before!
On my 1150GSA I used to get the bike on the centre stand, hop on, start and select fist gear, rock of the stand and as I feel the bike go I let out the clutch all in one continuous movement and of I go.
I put the bike back on the side stand, left foot on the left peg, lean left to keep the bike weighted towards the left and swing my right leg over and slowly descend onto the seat. I'm impressed, the bike is quite solid on it's side stand. With a quick shift to the right load the suspension kick up the side stand and quickly wiggle onto my left bum and put my right foot on the ground. The bike is light and I feel calm and at home!
I can feel that a sanity top up is about start.
As the 650 Rotax gently comes to life I can feel the motor is good, it feels tight and smooth. It revs eagerly! I feel the clutch is surprisingly light as I pull it in to select first gear. I say my final goodbyes to André and let out the clutch whilst twisting smoothly on the throttle. The clutch grabs a bit high for my liking I feel as Guss briskly starts to move. Second, third stop, indicator right, turn, first second third, 90 deg lean (it grips and feels nice)!! Indicator left second pull into Shell! Smiles all round. It's love at first ride!!
Guss and I are going to get on very very well indeed!!
I fill up the centre tank only! 6.37litrs. I'll fill up both tanks tomorrow before I leave Benoni.
Our first fuel stop
Benoni here we come!!
Making use of the tollgate infrastructure stay upright
Spots work well!!
Pictures speak a thousand words.
Fits like a glove
It is now 1:46am! Guss rode like a champ!! Solid on the road, legal speeds no problem!! The seat, the seat is fine...so far!!
Good night Guss!! Good night John Boy.....
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