Ben 10: (not) getting to grips with mud
- Thread starter Zanie
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I think it will need to remain a mystery, since it turned out that it is very likely on private land (hence the locked gate).So can we now get the name of this pass?
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- I would rather be in Great Brak...
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Wow! Huge effort this was and really good photos. Thanks!
EssBee
Grey Hound
Saved that last video clip to "watch later" on the TV and watched it last night. Phew, guys, that is some ride. Those contrasting colours are something else! Thanks again.
PS - ' always better on the biek skreen'
PS - ' always better on the biek skreen'
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Lance will be really happy to know the video and pics are appreciated. He prettified all the footage snapshots I took, using Lightroom. And those vids take hours of editing and colour-correcting. Although the main reason for the vids is for us to be able to reminisce about our trips. It's great to have something to look back on.
Definitely a bucket list item! This one was on my list for a very long time.
We did indeed ride it, on our way home, via Hogsback.
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I may be wrong, but I think you and your mates probably ride a lot faster! Less margin for error. We snail along. Exhibit A: the ride videos. Exhibit B: the daily average speeds.
Sometimes. But for instance in rocky inclines, I would let the ones ahead get clear to avoid having to stop half way if someone ahead of me falls over.
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Lance has got super-skills (except for on the TTT day...), which is why he can risk it (all footage is from him). I guess he also wants to capture then moment if (when!) I fall, up close and personal. Perhaps I should be nicer about his motives: maybe he wants to be close to assist when I fall.
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Day 5 (19 April 2022): Carlilsehoekspruit, Volunteershoek and Joubert's Pass
Key statistics:
Distance: 299 km
Time: 8h55
Speed: 34 km/h (total) or 47 km/h (moving)
Video of day 5:
Today’s passes included one we’ve done earlier in the trip (Carlilsehoekspruit), one of the more infamous passes (Volunteershoek), and one name that I didn’t recognise and hence assumed won’t be too hectic (Joubert’s Pass).
We had been advised to leave out Volunteershoek, due to its dangerousness (I’m amazed that MS Word recognises that as a word – you live you learn). I was worried, since I had seen photos taken on the pass from just a few months earlier. The most fear-inducing factor was the stacks of car tyres placed on the road to prevent erosion and help stabilise the surface. They looked particularly un-fun to navigate on a motorbike.
(Pic credit: Hein Piek)
Yet Lance, the eternal optimist, said we had to give it a try. Therefore the day’s plans remained unchanged. We left Rhodes at 9am and headed towards Carlilsehoekspruit Pass. We first had to get past an assortment of domestic animals.
Some non-metal steeds:
We had to wait for the smaller two-stroke version to calm down:
Lance’s met up with his “friends” from the stinky goat mud fall corner on the TTT day.
Heading up Carlislehoekspruit Pass (who the heck comes up with these long names?):
It was nice change of scenery to ride the pass in reverse to that of the other day. You spot things you hadn’t done before, including a sign that suggests that you “drive confidently”.
Spot the bike, confidently taking the (very sharp and steep) corner on the bottom left:
You have two choices here: insane gradient on solid surface or a gentler slope through some earth ruts. On a little bike, both are equally awesome. On a big bike I assume they’d be equally terrifying.
Near Tiffendel, we spotted two old “ballies” on their own hiking mission. We stopped to chat and learned that they were hiking the Rhodes Camino. They covered 24km the previous day. Yoh! Let me rephrase: two old “ysters”!
Mud was a constant on this trip:
A dodgy crossing next to the Loch Ness Dam made me wonder whether the monster had been fed recently.
Approaching Volunteershoek Pass:
Life on the edge:
We still had to contend with wet spots:
And the domestics:
The mountain had a beautiful gold hue:
And where were the infamous tyres? Absorbed into the road! Comparing the road conditions now with that of WhatsApp clips I’d seen of the road just months earlier was like chalk and cheese.
It was as if a grader had recently gone down the pass. Sure, it was steep, but you could stick your bike in first or second gear, letting it roll along while you ogle at the lovely scenery. You can’t go too fast, or you will catch some serious sub-frame busting air on one of the many speed humps.
This was the road a few months earlier (photo credit: Hein Piek):
This really highlights that no gravel road can be trusted to remain in a static state: either someone fixes it, or it eventually becomes Erzberg from neglect. Even the tar roads in this area are suspect (exhibit A: Sterkspruit Main Road from day 2).
Another one of those dodgy bridges, this time without Nessie:
A forest of magic colours at the base of the pass:
Note the “road closed” sign in the background. I assume it is left down during inclement weather.
There was no escaping the daily dose of “wet”.
One of the crossings of the day (not pictured, since it was so miniature and unassuming) was named “Kar Wegspoel Drif” (car washed away drift). At some point in history, someone had a really bad day there.
Rocks that looked painted:
Trees that look painted:
Painted rocks and trees:
Ballochs Pass:
Wintersnek Pass:
Nameless scenery:
Life in the slow lane:
Life in the fast lane (jackal):
Life in the very slow lane:
Joubert’s Pass was an easy ride:
Our route had taken a big loop to inspect this pass. The views were absolutely worth it.
Heading towards Lady Grey:
Our passes mission was complete, but we still had to get back to Rhodes. The remainder of the day was an uneventful 60km of tar to Barkley East, where we fuelled up yet again, followed by the takes-70-minutes-to-ride-60km-due-to-fear-of-hospital piece of road between Barkley East and Rhodes.
We reached Rhodes just after sunset. There was still some lingering light, so - using this leeway of interpretation - we will count this officially as the second day of this trip where we arrived at our destination “in the light”. Two out of five. Not bad for Lance…
Lunch generally consists of snacks throughout the day, so breakfast and supper need to be substantive. Walkerbouts Inn didn’t disappoint. Tonight it was stir fry veggies, ribs and roast potatoes, with ice-cream for dessert for Kim and Remo – the only people who could fit in more!
As was usual on this trip, we were all in bed at 9pm. Party animals we are not. Party poopers maybe? Actually, just plain pooped.
And we had a big day looming. Tomorrow we tackle the infamous Bastervoedslaan Pad. Hopefully the two sunny days have allowed things to dry out a bit…
Key statistics:
Distance: 299 km
Time: 8h55
Speed: 34 km/h (total) or 47 km/h (moving)
Video of day 5:
Today’s passes included one we’ve done earlier in the trip (Carlilsehoekspruit), one of the more infamous passes (Volunteershoek), and one name that I didn’t recognise and hence assumed won’t be too hectic (Joubert’s Pass).
We had been advised to leave out Volunteershoek, due to its dangerousness (I’m amazed that MS Word recognises that as a word – you live you learn). I was worried, since I had seen photos taken on the pass from just a few months earlier. The most fear-inducing factor was the stacks of car tyres placed on the road to prevent erosion and help stabilise the surface. They looked particularly un-fun to navigate on a motorbike.
(Pic credit: Hein Piek)
Yet Lance, the eternal optimist, said we had to give it a try. Therefore the day’s plans remained unchanged. We left Rhodes at 9am and headed towards Carlilsehoekspruit Pass. We first had to get past an assortment of domestic animals.
Some non-metal steeds:
We had to wait for the smaller two-stroke version to calm down:
Lance’s met up with his “friends” from the stinky goat mud fall corner on the TTT day.
Heading up Carlislehoekspruit Pass (who the heck comes up with these long names?):
It was nice change of scenery to ride the pass in reverse to that of the other day. You spot things you hadn’t done before, including a sign that suggests that you “drive confidently”.
Spot the bike, confidently taking the (very sharp and steep) corner on the bottom left:
You have two choices here: insane gradient on solid surface or a gentler slope through some earth ruts. On a little bike, both are equally awesome. On a big bike I assume they’d be equally terrifying.
Near Tiffendel, we spotted two old “ballies” on their own hiking mission. We stopped to chat and learned that they were hiking the Rhodes Camino. They covered 24km the previous day. Yoh! Let me rephrase: two old “ysters”!
Mud was a constant on this trip:
A dodgy crossing next to the Loch Ness Dam made me wonder whether the monster had been fed recently.
Approaching Volunteershoek Pass:
Life on the edge:
We still had to contend with wet spots:
And the domestics:
The mountain had a beautiful gold hue:
And where were the infamous tyres? Absorbed into the road! Comparing the road conditions now with that of WhatsApp clips I’d seen of the road just months earlier was like chalk and cheese.
It was as if a grader had recently gone down the pass. Sure, it was steep, but you could stick your bike in first or second gear, letting it roll along while you ogle at the lovely scenery. You can’t go too fast, or you will catch some serious sub-frame busting air on one of the many speed humps.
This was the road a few months earlier (photo credit: Hein Piek):
This really highlights that no gravel road can be trusted to remain in a static state: either someone fixes it, or it eventually becomes Erzberg from neglect. Even the tar roads in this area are suspect (exhibit A: Sterkspruit Main Road from day 2).
Another one of those dodgy bridges, this time without Nessie:
A forest of magic colours at the base of the pass:
Note the “road closed” sign in the background. I assume it is left down during inclement weather.
There was no escaping the daily dose of “wet”.
One of the crossings of the day (not pictured, since it was so miniature and unassuming) was named “Kar Wegspoel Drif” (car washed away drift). At some point in history, someone had a really bad day there.
Rocks that looked painted:
Trees that look painted:
Painted rocks and trees:
Ballochs Pass:
Wintersnek Pass:
Nameless scenery:
Life in the slow lane:
Life in the fast lane (jackal):
Life in the very slow lane:
Joubert’s Pass was an easy ride:
Our route had taken a big loop to inspect this pass. The views were absolutely worth it.
Heading towards Lady Grey:
Our passes mission was complete, but we still had to get back to Rhodes. The remainder of the day was an uneventful 60km of tar to Barkley East, where we fuelled up yet again, followed by the takes-70-minutes-to-ride-60km-due-to-fear-of-hospital piece of road between Barkley East and Rhodes.
We reached Rhodes just after sunset. There was still some lingering light, so - using this leeway of interpretation - we will count this officially as the second day of this trip where we arrived at our destination “in the light”. Two out of five. Not bad for Lance…
Lunch generally consists of snacks throughout the day, so breakfast and supper need to be substantive. Walkerbouts Inn didn’t disappoint. Tonight it was stir fry veggies, ribs and roast potatoes, with ice-cream for dessert for Kim and Remo – the only people who could fit in more!
As was usual on this trip, we were all in bed at 9pm. Party animals we are not. Party poopers maybe? Actually, just plain pooped.
And we had a big day looming. Tomorrow we tackle the infamous Bastervoedslaan Pad. Hopefully the two sunny days have allowed things to dry out a bit…
Tires looked the same with us.And where were the infamous tyres? Absorbed into the road! Comparing the road conditions now with that of WhatsApp clips I’d seen of the road just months earlier was like chalk and cheese.
Not sure which parts of the pass this was, but some of it felt the same again. Yes, amazing how quickly these roads change then.This was the road a few months earlier (photo credit: Hein Piek):
This really highlights that no gravel road can be trusted to remain in a static state: either someone fixes it, or it eventually becomes Erzberg from neglect. Even the tar roads in this area are suspect (exhibit A: Sterkspruit Main Road from day 2).
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Lovely RR. Tends to cause some serious GREEN colouring for me.
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Jammer man. Werk en als was bietjie mal aan my kant. En dan, wanneer dit naweek is, voel ek net lus van wegkom van die laptop - of ten minste van dink! As ek in daai bui is skryf ek net "en toe ry ons hier en toe ry ons daar". Maar die dag se storie is al geskryf. Met al die emosies wat gepaard gaan. Nog net fotos edit (dis Lance se werk daai) en koppel. So binne die volgende 2-3 dae sal ek dit kan oplaai. Daar's baie fotos!Het hy julle gewen? Seker die trip het nie hier geindig nie
