Bas in Africa

[darkhelmet]

Today I will leave home to start my trip through southern Africa.

in 2009 i visited South Africa, and had 3 weeks of fun riding a bike around. Did something like 5500km and felt is wasnt enough. So now I'm going back, but this time a little longer. I will be on the road for little over 4 months. I do keep a blog, but since y'all are probably lazy dogz i will do some reporting on the wilddog forum. Hopefully I will be able to entertain you with my reports and perhaps photo's (although taking pictures isnt one of my strongpoints).

Blog: https://basinafrica.blogspot.com

Some details about my trip:
Start - end: 1-6-2011 till 12-10-2011
Starting point: Port Shepstone
Halfway: Moshi, Tanzania
Finish: unknown, South Africa
Route:

https://maps.google.nl/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=nl&msa=0&msid=211667491440577269280.0004a496218340e6261e5&z=5

Bike: Honda Africa Twin

Starting Odometer: 73.700 km

My last known location:
https://www.google.com/latitude/apps/badge/api?user=-8119649110271123775&type=iframe&maptype=roadmap

 

[Billbob]

Good luck and most of all enjoy. Even shiet pitchas are pitchas of things we enjoy, so no excuses :mwink: :ricky:

 

[onderbroek]

:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[darkhelmet]

The packing:

trying to fit everything within a limited size and weight, so i can take it as regular checked luggage, was a bit of a challenge. Yesterday i discovered the scale is dead, so have to guestimate the weight...

The gear:

 

[onderbroek]

can you give us you blogs web address?

 

[RobCrouch]

Have a good trip! :thumleft:

 

[darkhelmet]

can you give us you blogs web address?

would make sense, yes

https://basinafrica.blogspot.com


put it in the FP aswell

 

[RobCrouch]

Will be following your progress! :thumleft:

 

[Duracell]

:happy1: :clock: :useless:

 

[roxenz]

Good journeys, Bas!  Shall follow your progress.

 

[ROAD HOG]

Good luck and I hope to see you Namibia...!

 

[Tonteldoos]

safe travels..  :thumleft:

 

[darkhelmet]

Have arrived in Port SHepstone at The Spot backpackers.

Slowly getting back into the 'old' vibe. Good to be back!
Was picked up by Thomas from Moto Zulu. He was accompanied by Pete, who i also met 2 years ago in The Spot. Het was just shipping his bikes to Asia. Now he's back again, small world . Pete has travelled the world the last years on an XT. RESTEKP!!!

Just heard that my bike needs to go through roadworthy, and then a TRN for me to get the bike registered. Hopefully I will get it done tomorrow so I get get going to Gauteng and take care of business....

My first beer tasted great after more then 24 hour travelling the boring way

Too bad there isnt an Android App to update this topic. My blogspot I can update from my phone

 

[darkhelmet]

All my stuff i left home with. The big one is about 26kg:

I was dropped at the Spot and had a few beers. The guy who runs the place is really a character. Jokes all the time, and a catchy laugh. He has all kinds of stories. Below a picture of him telling a story playing cricket with the thieves that tried to rob the bar.

 

[darkhelmet]

Today i got the papers on the bike sorted. It's in my name now. A good feeling

Tomorrow I will go on a ride with Pete and Bruce to the Oribi Gorge and back on gravel roads. Cant wait. But first a good nite sleep....

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Have a great ride Bas and we'll follow from here.

 

[darkhelmet]

Thanks guys, nice to know some are reading

My bike in front of The Spot. The GPS is hooked to the battery, the Wolfman panniers have been on and fit perfect.

Had a good brekkie aswell:

Today I went on a ride with Pete. Bruce didnt join. I got her bike for the ride though, a XT600. It's already done about 80k and has been everywhere.

The roads were dusty and slippery at places, also some steep decents, rocks and stuff. So a lighter bike would make more sense.
Was a good ride. The surroundings here in P. Shepstone are great.

Me with the XT600

Pete with the XTs

Great sceneries and the weather was superb

a bit dusty, but you get the idea


Tomorrow I will set of to Bergville on the foot of the Drakensberg. That's halfway up to Pretoria, where I'm going next. Hopefully drop by Adventurer to pick up a Heidi for the rear. In Pretoria I will pay Off Road Cycles a visit and do some shopping for camping gear.

And then on to the Nelspruit area for an overnighter before slipping into the Mozz...

 

[TVB]

Gr8, subscribe!  :thumleft:

 

[steady eddy]

Subscribed .the A T wont let you down. :thumleft:

 

[darkhelmet]

The Spot was all about surfing:

The Spot is all about surfing: