hartebees
Pack Dog
Toe ons in die Ugab kom, toe begin die drama! Maar eers het @Parkinoff ons vermaak met ‘n paar wheelies.
Damaraland & Kaokoland – Finally!
- Thread starter Rooies
- Start date
hartebees
Pack Dog
Dit was vir my heerlik om daai XR deur Kaokoland te idle so veel ek kan. Hy trek dan homself vorentoe en dit klink so mooi!Pragtige video Jaco ............ maar jirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre tog, jy kreun daai arme 650 wragtig tot die absolute minimum - in TWEEDE rat!
Ek haat dit, en gooi laglag eerste rat in - sodat my handlebars & ek pelle bly EN elk hul eie ding doen, ek like nie as die twee saamkom nie
skydiver
Race Dog
Dis is regtigwaar 'n pragtige, under-stressed, brom geluid wat daai enjin maak.
hartebees
Pack Dog
On this last day of riding, the group split into two. I’ve marked Roux’s group on the map that did the longer route through Divorce Pass and around Brandberg. The other group, including @ETS and @BuRP amongst others, did a sandy jeep track more or less directly into Brandberg.
Once we got to the meeting point, we had a chat with Hardy and decided to deviate from the planned route and ride in the Ugab riverbed all the way to camp. This area is well known for having elephants and lions, and in those canyons you can’t see far ahead so Hardy drove ahead to warn us of any danger.
We went up the river - amazing scenery - for a few kilometres. Then everything came undone.
There was still some water in the river and in some areas the thick sand was drenched, ready to suck in any wheels that may cross.
The cruiser got sucked into one of these patches.
@ETS offered to ride to camp and get the other cruiser to help, as we could not get the cruiser out by ourselves. On his way back he rode into a wire fence that had been washed away by the recent rains, causing a nasty cut in his arm.
@BuRP and @Parkinoff also went back, but Bart got his bike properly stuck in a similar soft area. The two of them together couldn’t get it out, so Peter came back for help. Myself, @Gerryb and @P.K. went to Bart, and just as we got there @P.K. also got stuck!
It was all a little chaotic. At this point we had not even received confirmation that the other cruiser was on the way, so we were all scattered along the river. Fortunately we got Peter’s bike out quickly, then Bart’s as well.
About 30 minutes later the cruiser was also recovered, having used three tow straps shackled together to get enough length.
It was another beautiful, exciting, eventful, tiring and memorable day in Namibia.
Once we got to the meeting point, we had a chat with Hardy and decided to deviate from the planned route and ride in the Ugab riverbed all the way to camp. This area is well known for having elephants and lions, and in those canyons you can’t see far ahead so Hardy drove ahead to warn us of any danger.
We went up the river - amazing scenery - for a few kilometres. Then everything came undone.
There was still some water in the river and in some areas the thick sand was drenched, ready to suck in any wheels that may cross.
The cruiser got sucked into one of these patches.
@ETS offered to ride to camp and get the other cruiser to help, as we could not get the cruiser out by ourselves. On his way back he rode into a wire fence that had been washed away by the recent rains, causing a nasty cut in his arm.
@BuRP and @Parkinoff also went back, but Bart got his bike properly stuck in a similar soft area. The two of them together couldn’t get it out, so Peter came back for help. Myself, @Gerryb and @P.K. went to Bart, and just as we got there @P.K. also got stuck!
It was all a little chaotic. At this point we had not even received confirmation that the other cruiser was on the way, so we were all scattered along the river. Fortunately we got Peter’s bike out quickly, then Bart’s as well.
About 30 minutes later the cruiser was also recovered, having used three tow straps shackled together to get enough length.
It was another beautiful, exciting, eventful, tiring and memorable day in Namibia.
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hartebees
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2014
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- Loxton - Northern Cape
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- Yamaha T7
I enjoyed showing "my"group the sand road. It is definitely not for someone with a fear of sand.
I had a lot of fun that day watching how much the guys enjoyed the track.
I underestimated a river crossing and can still remember that sickening feeling when you know the Cruiser has sunk onto its chassis.
These vehicles are great but the guys who owns them will tell you that they are a ***** to get un-stuck.
I must mention the guys who under very dangerous situations did all they could to assist me in getting the bakkie out.
All of you were bullets and if not for you, I would probably still be there
@hartebees
@Parkinoff
@BuRP
Gerry Brynard
@ETS
@Chantal Burger
@Oubones
Special mention to @ETS who after he helped, and left for camp, crashed into a fence that seriously cut up his arm, turned back to bring the other Cruiser back to where I was in the riverbed.
@ETS - Jy is 'n vriend duisend
I had a lot of fun that day watching how much the guys enjoyed the track.
I underestimated a river crossing and can still remember that sickening feeling when you know the Cruiser has sunk onto its chassis.
These vehicles are great but the guys who owns them will tell you that they are a ***** to get un-stuck.
I must mention the guys who under very dangerous situations did all they could to assist me in getting the bakkie out.
All of you were bullets and if not for you, I would probably still be there
@hartebees
@Parkinoff
@BuRP
Gerry Brynard
@ETS
@Chantal Burger
@Oubones
Special mention to @ETS who after he helped, and left for camp, crashed into a fence that seriously cut up his arm, turned back to bring the other Cruiser back to where I was in the riverbed.
@ETS - Jy is 'n vriend duisend
hartebees
Pack Dog
Pretty sure mine and everyone else’s was out as well, you are just the one on camera.Jeez, amazing how often my landing gear comes out..
It was quite something special to see you and Patti working as a team to get through the technical areas. It's hard work in that heat.
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Hier's myne, wat al so gelyk het voor die trip - en nog steeds so lyk, en vir n laaaaang tyd sal bly!
Daarem lankal nie meer seer nie.
Raak maar gewoond aan dit, of as dit jou pla sit nailpolish op!
Attachments
A Cruiser is the best 4x4xfar, this slogan unfortunately stolen by some blighty brand.... but true nonetheless.
It follows that IF you get stuck you'll also get stuck best!
And no Hardy, @Parkinoff & moi didn't help you at all, worse even, we deserted that scene in haste to get to a cold one
But in doing so I took a shortcut let's say, I mean it looked dry-enough at the time!
My front wheel suddenly sank completely in a soggy mudpit, like in wholly, and my 'gee hom vet' came too late! The front wheel came out yeah, but the rear went to visit China
and the bike stopped solidly.Parkinoff behind me saw this happening, and consequently slapped his Pig... and made it through however only juuuust, phew!
We tried to pull and wiggle and even tip my bike over but we could not, partly due to the fact that we also could not stand there where we needed to be.... so Peter went back to appoint some volunteers.
With a tow-strap and a few muscles we got it out, thank you chaps again for this!
Only me rode on to White Lady, the rest turned back to the stuck Cruiser.
Expecting to meet Chantal en route somewhere I'd have told her to give that boggy stretch a wiiiide berth.... but I never saw her, and neither did I see Kobus nor his mishap - eina boet!
Anyway, all that ends well is well!
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Chantal Burger
Pack Dog
I enjoyed showing "my"group the sand road. It is definitely not for someone with a fear of sand.
I had a lot of fun that day watching how much the guys enjoyed the track.
I underestimated a river crossing and can still remember that sickening feeling when you know the Cruiser has sunk onto its chassis.
These vehicles are great but the guys who owns them will tell you that they are a ***** to get un-stuck.
I must mention the guys who under very dangerous situations did all they could to assist me in getting the bakkie out.
All of you were bullets and if not for you, I would probably still be there
@hartebees
@Parkinoff
@BuRP
Gerry Brynard
@ETS
@Chantal Burger
@Oubones
Special mention to @ETS who after he helped, and left for camp, crashed into a fence that seriously cut up his arm, turned back to bring the other Cruiser back to where I was in the riverbed.
@ETS - Jy is 'n vriend duisend
@ETS weereens baie dankie vir jou hulp. As jy nie aangebied het om my en @Oubones na Hardy toe te gevat het nie, sou ons baie lank gesoek het vir hulle.
Ek het baie respek vir jou en het nog meer gekry vir jou op daardie dag.
It seems like the other route to White Lady camp was just as amazing. Thanks for the photos, @NIMMO
This was, for me, a gem of a surprise day!
Last year I'd done the 'long' Divorce Hill route already, the 'long' bit the crater added afterwards - which turned out to be an eventful day, and quite frankly I wanted to do this stretch again!
But, I knew quite a bit of rock had to be fought there, and my shocks-less stanchions (all oil gone aka a Pogo stick now) would rattle my wrist also, I wasn't looking forward to that bit.
OR do the 3rd route, the shortest one by far (only some 70 km's) with allegedly some tricky sandy track towards the end... but quite frankly this sounded like the most wuss option to me so I would not do it: Divorce Hill etc here I come, my pols kan maar gaan kak.
To my surprise there were actually quite a number of 'wusses' volunteering (zero insult intented or implied to any of the participants lol
) to do this short sandy stretch however, see above pic, so I thought OK, what the hell, I'll join this motley lot!I'm glad I did - and no, not for missing the wristhammering - because this was an AWESOME route!
The klipperige beginning of it was 'fine' but then further on it became 'sandy' - but let me explain.
For me, no sandgod at all mind you, this was the most difficult sand of the entire trip: very loose fine dry warm sand snaked into the shape of a winding 2spoor jeeptrack, with not a klippie in sight for any helpful grip, in a sparsely tree-dotted grassy landscape that rolled to the horizon so any planned detours (for some grip in that sparse grass) would be a bad idea because of all kinds of lurkers... one had to stay on this winding track!
Now I like to sit on the seat, I'm a 'sitter' and feel more in control then, and I'll only stand if I really need to.... I needed to here!
I found out on this track that if you give it some speed the bike listens to one's knees, leans over a little whilst I stay upright et voila, suddenly flowing curves become automatic.... and the result was I've stood on the pegs for the entirety of this track, which was what, some 22 km's? A personal record and yes, it was Fabulous!
I wasn't even tired when we got to the riverbed playground where we had some fun first before entering the narrow bits towards the lodge.
It was a pity that the cruiser got stuck here, dayumm, and with that us seeing ellies evaporated.
Oh well, one cannot have it all in one trip: next time better!
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All good things come to an end, and so did this trip. The following morning we pack up and it's a two and half hour dash to Usakos where we load the bikes and head to Windhoek.
We spend the night at Arebbusch Lodge in Windhoek, and just like that it is all over.
A question I have been asked often since my return is “were you a group of friends/mates that decided to do it together?”. People are surprised to hear that the answer is no. I went, like many of the others on the trip, on my own. I sort of knew and knew of a few of the people through WD’s and Quest Bootcamp, but to say “friends” would be a stretch, more like acquaintances. To say, however, that I came back with very good friends would be true.
To my fellow riders on this tour, I would like to say thanks!, you "awesome human beings", for making this bucket-list trip something that I will forever remember. To @Hardy de Kock and the amazing crew (@Chantal Burger , @hartebees , Hennie, Allan, @bowmansharonlee), what a pleasure it was to tour with you and thanks for looking after us the way you did!
Until we meet again.
Fluit fluit, my storie is uit.
We spend the night at Arebbusch Lodge in Windhoek, and just like that it is all over.
A question I have been asked often since my return is “were you a group of friends/mates that decided to do it together?”. People are surprised to hear that the answer is no. I went, like many of the others on the trip, on my own. I sort of knew and knew of a few of the people through WD’s and Quest Bootcamp, but to say “friends” would be a stretch, more like acquaintances. To say, however, that I came back with very good friends would be true.
To my fellow riders on this tour, I would like to say thanks!, you "awesome human beings", for making this bucket-list trip something that I will forever remember. To @Hardy de Kock and the amazing crew (@Chantal Burger , @hartebees , Hennie, Allan, @bowmansharonlee), what a pleasure it was to tour with you and thanks for looking after us the way you did!
Until we meet again.
Fluit fluit, my storie is uit.
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Exploratio
Race Dog
Parkinoff
Race Dog
Lekker tune Roux, jy al "Into the Wild" gekyk? Eddie Vedder doen die hele sound track
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 22,733
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- 5,375
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- Bloemfontein
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- Kawasaki KLR 650
Dit was nou 'n lekker lees.
Parkinoff
Race Dog
Baie domastrant van my gewees en ek kan myself gelukkig ag dat ek niks oorgekom het nie. Sou iets gebeur het was dit sleg gewees het vir almal. Hierdie is nie my laaste Specialised Adventures trippie nie maar wel my laaste soortgelyke dom ding wat ek beplan om te doen.....
Parkinoff
Race Dog
Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
Gonna rise up
Burning black holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
Suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole
Ek het jou gevra waarna jy graag luister. Jy't nie geantwoord nie en ek kon nie myself voorstel waarna jy sou luister nie. Hierdie spesifieke tune is my mantra. Nog n gunsteling vir my van Pearl Jam is "Around the Bend"
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