Botswana fence ride

[Partyranger]

From the dam we encountered the sand.
To my relief we did not have to scale any mountains or do any rocky climbs up so I was feeling more confident that we will make it to camp. > :lol8:

The sand, in sections and normally around the corners, is deeper than expected however since I've started planning my ride I was looking for sand. :ricky:
I love sand riding and places like 3 fences riverbed is just exhilarating so I was thrilled to finally see a little soft Kalahari reddish type stuff. Fielies on the other hand, I think not soo much. :biggrin:

Not very long into the sand section (about 10 mins  ;D ) Fielies had his first near miss with the front wheel deciding the grass looks like a more viable route.
Now I am sure everyone will understand that even a slight off drains a lot of energy.  Trying to save a bike from falling or even worse having to pick a bike up sucks every ounce of energy out of a person.
Now once you have to pick up a bike the muscles are tired and the concentration is down which often results in another drop not long after.  Especially if the sand does not let up. :

Now, the following I am only reporting the incidents caught on camera or I witnessed personally.  If nobody saw it, it did not happen. :lol8:
The first fall, (luckily all slow speed drops so no real damage) happened typically in a sandy corner and front does a snaky and down it goes.

Not long after a fence blocked the track in a section of the deepest sand on the entire trip.  ( this sections sand was similar to the sand trap at Rhino park or 3 fences river, only looser and softer)
I tried in vane to warn my friend but it was too late, that heavy GS was going down and there is nothing he could do about it.  T add to the exhaustion he now had to manhandle a u-turn in this crazy soft stuff and go back the way he came.

By this time it was about 2pm and Fielies was out of water and I can see the fun factor draining quickly.
Just a few minutes later another corner and the GS goes down again.
Aaaand then 2 minutes later another corner jumps infront of the bike it is number 4.

Fielies is exhausted and the fun factor has gone AWOL.
Luckily the track straightens out a little and the sand lets up before we hit a village and big road heading for the tar.

 

[Partyranger]

We reached the tar at about 4pm and I know the road past Madikwe has always been in a bad condition.
We phone Moselasela camp to update them and let them know we are en route.

The tar is boring but luckily the miles go by quick, we turn right towards Derdepoort and I am surprised to find a tar road where I was expecting a very bad dirt road.  :

We the shock did not last long and by no surprise we jumped onto a really bad dirt road with a mix of corrugations, potholes and ruts formed in dried mud.
With the 690 fairing still shacking I try to ride with 1 hand while holding the fairing with the other.
Fielies on the other hand is simply trying to hold on to the GS handlebars for dear life.  His teeth is clattering and he is by now hating every inch of the road.

Finally, after what feels like thousands of kms (only about 30) we reach Derdepoort where we need to fill up.  The GS comp is showing he can only go another 36km and then its game over for the BMW.  The KTM was much lighter on fuel through the sand so I'm guesstimating i could do another 60-80kms.

But I made a huge planning mistake and did not consider that Derdepoort fuel station is closed on weekends.  We are standing in front of locked gates and Fielies is in despair
He is not in the mood for jokes and to top it all off he realized that he has lost his tool bag off the back carrier. 
Luckily my wife had arranged with Dylan, who lives next to the petrol station so he was semi expecting us.  He helped us fuel up and a few minutes later we were on our way again.

Being the nice friend I am I offered to backtrack on the dirt road to go look for the lost bag, Fielies meanwhile heads off to Moselasela camp at 5:30.

Now the 690 is an incredible machine.  I knew the road is bad but fading light is urging me to push down the road. 
The harder one rides the 690 the better it simply soaks up any bumps or corrugations. 

With no bag to be found and the sun disappearing really fast it was full speed ahead back to look for the camp.
At pace the once bad road was surprisingly smooth. 
Being in a hurry I did not put the camp location  in the gps and just hoofed it.  Fielies just heard the 690 at flat taps fly 10km past the camp.  :imaposer:

In the end I made it as the last light faded.  What a day with the most amazing riding.  This is THE best all round trip and you will deal with every type of terrain on 1 route.

A big thumbs up to [member=27385]Fielies_RSA[/member] well done bud. You managed to drag that GS through and I am certain you did enjoy parts of the ride at least. :ricky: Shall we talk about the next day? >

 

[OomD]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

 

[2StrokeDan]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

But please narrate that GS out of the trip, it's simply frustrating........laat n mens uit eie wil so moet sukkel. :xxbah:

 

[Grunder]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

But please narrate that GS out of the trip, it's simply frustrating........laat n mens uit eie wil so moet sukkel. :xxbah:

No! Fielies also wants his day in the sun.

Plus, the Beemer makes the KTM look better.  8)

Otherwise it would just be a cocky guy on a cocky bike  ot:

 

[2StrokeDan]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

But please narrate that GS out of the trip, it's simply frustrating........laat n mens uit eie wil so moet sukkel. :xxbah:

No! Fielies also wants his day in the sun.

Plus, the Beemer makes the KTM look better.  8)

Otherwise it would just be a cocky guy on a cocky bike  ot:

:imaposer: :imaposer:

 

[Partyranger]

We woke up Sunday at the beautiful Moselasela camp.  It is really well worth a visit. 
It is self catering but if you phone before hand they can arrange braai packs if required.  We had an awesome kuier around the fire and got to bed way after my bed time, I have no idea how Fielies managed to stay awake after his earlier humor loss but we shared many stories and laughs around the fire.  It is exactly what we needed after the long day.

So we departed on a nice recently scraped road. (I pre-ran this road at mach 7 the previous eve > )
Once we hit the tar the GS felt more at home it seems because slowly but surely the pace started picking up.
We headed for Thabazimbi and eventually the 690 had to do its best to keep up to the GS who by now had clear intentions.

Due to my additional rally specials the previous evening I was running out of petrol at an alarming rate, luckily made it to Thaba but the GS raced past all the fuel stations.
Breakfast was on his mind.  :
But not only breakfast, the previous days picking up of a heavy bike is only now starting to catch up with our esteemed sand conquering GS rider.
He mumbled about back spasm or pyn in die g[member=6090]t[/member] of iets, I did not want to hear his complaints. However the earlier high speed riding was explained the he could not continue with the long route and intended to take the tar back home.  :laughing4:  So with that we parted ways.

I continued up to Rankins pass, the route that runs past the southern side of Marekele Nat Park.  The pass section close to Thaba is horrific.  This was the worst piece of road I've seen in a long time and if possible should be avoided at all cost. (you cant really avoid it unfortunately :'( )
However once on top it becomes a nice track and I saw some good game as well, during the day I saw Elephants, Sable, Roan, Blesbok, Blue wildebeest, Impala & Kudu.

I took a windy route which was posted by one of the members in a previous RR but I cant remember who posted it.
It was a nice-ish track and actually will make a great ride if someone is not used to sand or would like an easier introduction into sand riding.  (please don't take someone like this on the Fence line route)   
This route is all big wide roads with some sand to keep it interesting at least. However to be brutaly honest, after the previous days amazing riding I was bored.
However my planned route was to do at least 1000km to fall in line with the Riser app World Adventure Week challenge so I had to see my route through and complete it even if its boring.
A bad day riding is still better than a good day at work.  :ricky:

I made it to Brits for a last refuel at 1pm and realized my riding buddy had only just made it home. :-\  Turns out he stopped of for breakfast at Beestekraal and lounged there like a lazy GS rider.  >

Around 2 I arrived home to my wife who already had the fire going and a lovely ice cold Rum & Coke waiting for me.
So to tie in to the first post, Did the GS make it?
YES and No.  He made the difficult parts look even more difficult than what I experienced.  :lol8:  But he made it, with his slick rear and heavy bike.  A GS can ride sand but I hope [member=27385]Fielies_RSA[/member] will share his experience and feelings about the ride and the bike.
Did he finish the ride? No but the intention was not to break him or our friendship however I managed to finish my personal challenge.

Will I do the ride again?  For sure, It is all I dreamed it to be and more.  Thanks [member=9492]Xpat[/member] and everyone for their RRs and the information they shared.

 

[Partyranger]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

But please narrate that GS out of the trip, it's simply frustrating........laat n mens uit eie wil so moet sukkel. :xxbah:

Ha ha shame maar as ek die GS uithaal was die storie maar nie.  The RR would have been " I had an EPIC ride, it was amazing, the end"  :biggrin: :imaposer:

 

[Partyranger]

...

Shall we talk about the next day? >

Yes please!!!  :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

But please narrate that GS out of the trip, it's simply frustrating........laat n mens uit eie wil so moet sukkel. :xxbah:

No! Fielies also wants his day in the sun.

Plus, the Beemer makes the KTM look better.  8)

Otherwise it would just be a cocky guy on a cocky bike  ot:

:imaposer: Exactly and at the end of day we all get to share amazing experiences. 
If we did not have different experiences on this trip the story might have been a little shorter.  I am really glad he decided to join the trip and I will do any ride with him again.
 
p.s. I must add fielies has done dewildt numerous times, on plastic bikes, so he is not an absolute newbie on a bike. 
So my comments about if he could make it was a little tongue in cheek. 

 

[Sheepman]

Thanks for a great report Partyranger  :thumleft: Your bud on the GS surely chewed off a lot to take that tank in there, but good on him for doing it  8)

 

[Numsch]

Nice ride report! Looks like you had a lekker trip [member=25172]Partyranger[/member].

 

[Halfdaft]

This is so on my to do list, maybe later this year..... [member=11110]Halfdaft[/member] ?

I'm game

 

[LeonDude]

When riding sand like that, it is extremely important to pick your line correctly.
In this case, a different fence-line with less sand might have been appropriate.
:biggrin:

 

[OomD]

When riding sand like that, it is extremely important to pick your line correctly.
In this case, a different fence-line with less sand might have been appropriate.
:biggrin:

Net so!  :imaposer:

Maar sal ook laaik om daai roete te ry eendag... wanneer ek sand se baas is.

Pity the sand trap at Rhino has been closed to bikes and quads, I went there once in the hopes of getting some sand practice. Apparently they're converting it to camping ground.

 

[Jackol.]

Dit was n baie lekker lees verslag! Dankie vir die deel!!! Ek sal dalk erens die tracks by jou mpet kry… [emoji1303]


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[Partyranger]

Dit was n baie lekker lees verslag! Dankie vir die deel!!! Ek sal dalk erens die tracks by jou mpet kry… [emoji1303]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks ja laat my weet waneer jy begin beplan dan stuur ek vir jou bietjie info en idees

 

[Partyranger]

When riding sand like that, it is extremely important to pick your line correctly.
In this case, a different fence-line with less sand might have been appropriate.
:biggrin:

Net so!  :imaposer:

Maar sal ook laaik om daai roete te ry eendag... wanneer ek sand se baas is.

Pity the sand trap at Rhino has been closed to bikes and quads, I went there once in the hopes of getting some sand practice. Apparently they're converting it to camping ground.

OomD as jy nie seker is oor die sand sou ek se gaan doen die laaste dag se route. Veral as jy hom anders om ry dan is die intro na die dieper sand meer gelydelik.
Volgens my is sand ry meer en deels n geval van hou die bike los onder jou. Hy gaan wiggle en dinge maar op die einde van die dag wil hy nogsteeds regop bly.
Hou die gewig laag op die pegs, no need to meerkat, lig net die boude efens en hou momentum.  Daai sand pit was rof. Ek het met die plastics daar in gegaan en ek dink op n swaar bike gaan dit baie sukkel. 
As ek reg onthou het Rhino ook ander sand patches agter by die koppie se kant.

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

When riding sand like that, it is extremely important to pick your line correctly.
In this case, a different fence-line with less sand might have been appropriate.
:biggrin:

Net so!  :imaposer:

Maar sal ook laaik om daai roete te ry eendag... wanneer ek sand se baas is.

Pity the sand trap at Rhino has been closed to bikes and quads, I went there once in the hopes of getting some sand practice. Apparently they're converting it to camping ground.

OomD as jy nie seker is oor die sand sou ek se gaan doen die laaste dag se route. Veral as jy hom anders om ry dan is die intro na die dieper sand meer gelydelik.
Volgens my is sand ry meer en deels n geval van hou die bike los onder jou. Hy gaan wiggle en dinge maar op die einde van die dag wil hy nogsteeds regop bly.
Hou die gewig laag op die pegs, no need to meerkat, lig net die boude efens en hou momentum.  Daai sand pit was rof. Ek het met die plastics daar in gegaan en ek dink op n swaar bike gaan dit baie sukkel. 
As ek reg onthou het Rhino ook ander sand patches agter by die koppie se kant.

Some years ago I went to the BMW academy Sand Training day out on a farm near Roodeplaat, I was riding my 1200GS Adv, and ****-scared of sand. It was all going well until just before lunch when we on an "out-ride" on sand tracks, with some thicker section, with normal single-track between, to get us all used to it.
I under-powered into a corner, front washed left, over-corrected and did the worlds most gentle weight-transfer high-side at walking speed, went down on my left, landed slightly funny and "crunch" in my left hand.......
Battled to pick up the bike, everyone thought I was a wuss, but crunchy bones..... Anyway, I was asked to complete the short section to the end, then they would bring a trailer and return me and the bike to the main staging area. In the end I had to drive the bike back to Benoni, by myself (there was another accident, broken legs, required the trailers to be used), which was interesting not being able to use your clutch hand.....
My wife was also cross, as she was out shopping and I foolishly asked her to take me to the hospital, silly me..... Result was a plate and 7 screws in my hand, but zero pain since then!
BUT I STILL HATED SAND EVEN WORSE!!!
Then I bought a 650 X-Challenge, and discovered that, with the correc tools, sand is actually a HUGE amount of fun!! I did some sections of DeWildt last year (not  the riverbed), I had an absolute blast!!! So I reckon the Bots Fence could be a load of fun on my light 650 (144kg)!!

 

[mtr89]

Thanks for the RR [member=25172]Partyranger[/member].
That ride looked like a lot of fun and your writing did it justice.
The 690 looks pretty *** too.

 

[Roxtar]

Lekr read thanks PR... :thumleft:

I would love to join on a trip like this sometime