Damaraland & Kaokoland – Finally!

[hartebees]

Eh no, lekker Natallers they turned out, but laglag vlot Afrikaans ook, plus the nicest two people too....

What stood out to me about Alan and Sharon was how quickly they became experts in being part of a motorcycle touring crew. They had no background in doing this sort of thing, but just by observing keenly they picked it quickly.

I remember was Alan helping the guys on Van Zyl's down the steep section, literally running to keep up in case they lost balance. He was always around when some work on a bike was done, no doubt so that he could perform the procedure in the field if required.

Sharon just saw us loading a few bikes on the trailer, next thing I see her take a bike, put up the sidestand, get it in neutral, all deftly with her foot, and push it to the ramp, ready to load.

 

[Rooies]

We continue on towards Puros and the landscape changes dramatically, from open plains with vegetation and riverbeds to a rocky moon-like environment. With the off behind me, I admire the scenery, you can’t not. But my body is stiffening up and that shoulder is sore. We wrestle a few more river sections, which is becoming a bit of an effort for me. Vasbyt.

We emerge from the river to enter another piece of uninhabitable mountainous desert, strewn with rocks.

@hartebees manages to get a puncture near the only shady spot in a 20km radius, provided by a rock overhang. The guy even plans where to get his punctures - genius!

 

[user 27974]

Marble camp to Puros, was also my favorite part of the trip, more special the warning on my GPS

 

[Rooies]

Marble camp to Puros, was also my favorite part of the trip, more special the warning on my GPS

Yes! I saw it on mine as well, but didn't take a photo Stoopid.

 

[BuRP]

@hartebees manages to get a puncture near the only shady spot in a 20km radius, provided by a rock overhang. The guy even plans where to get his punctures - genius!

Admittedly cleverderder than me, I had a smokebreak literally around the previous corner, in the blazing sun of course
Once I got going again I saw that generously sized shady spot and thought....
Oh well, such is life in a desert!

 

[Rooies]

A few more videos on the way to Puros.

Johan was taking it easy. His nemesis, Divorce Pass, was soon approaching, we would be there in a few days. That is where he nearly lost his life the previous year.



The title says it all:

 

[Rooies]

We were now fast approaching Puros. Bits and pieces of the last section was done in and alongside the Hoarusib River. By now I was properly tired and sore all over my body. This caused me to fall a couple of times, once right in front of Hardy as I went up a small hill. I fell in the river probably three or four times, all of them slow speed spills with no damage. But I was struggling to pick the bike up, I was buggered!

There was even some water in the river. This is good, but unfortunately meant that there was water in the veld as well. The hardened desert animals were therefore not forced to come to the river area, where more moisture could be found. They could source it in the veld and in the mountains as well, limiting our animal sightings a bit. Awesome, nonetheless.

 

[LouisXander]

Dis darem maar mooi wereld daai.

 

[NIMMO]

Another shout-out to @bowmansharonlee and her care. I struggled on this day due to successive exhausting days and whenever I saw her she checked in to see how I was doing and offering sweets, rehidrats and cooldrinks to keep me going. I was very thankful for her help. She was the REAL sweeper.

At this point of the trip it becomes essential to look out for any signs of exhaustion in yourself or fellow riders because you can start making bad decisions when this sets in. Everybody is tired to a greater or lesser degree after a week of riding in these hot conditions. There are some tell tale signs that should never be ignored - Hardy has taught me a lot in this regard. On this day I was mumbling into the radio and that immediately put me on the special care list for the day, and rightfully so.

Here I would also like to give @hartebees a huge thanks - the first 3 days of the trip I somehow manged to get cold-fever and my energy levels were lowwww, I did not sleep and mentally I was in a **** space. At Palmwag @Striggs and Patti helped me with ice and getting me settled, bringing down my "fever". When I got to camp Jaco had put my stretcher and stuff out for me. It was a godsend on a crap 3 previous days. Strangers that I have now come to respect.

 

[BuRP]

the first 3 days of the trip I somehow manged to get ...... When I got to camp Jaco had put my stretcher and stuff out for me.

You're a better man than me, I'd have kept on faking it until the end - that's almost roomservice man!?
I'd have faked a nasty dry cough also, I mean I knew all the time that Hardy stashes some OBS away, and we all know that a shot of this soothes a throat big time!
Tsk tsk tsk.....

 

[Hardy de Kock]

Gerry Brynard arrived at the hotel from the airport with a Rastafarian wig on his head.
This, I was later told was just to see my reaction. I will never forget what I thought when I saw this figure stepping out of the shuttle.
Gerry is an anesthetist from Somerset West and probably the friendliest guy anyone will ever meet. Someone earlier in the thread referred to Gerry's willingness to help anyone with everything, anytime of the day, and I can honestly say that is exactly how he was throughout the tour. His energy was addictive and I loved every moment in Gerry's company.
He is an accomplished rider and he loves our sport just as much as @BuRP does.
I realized halfway through the tour that the guys and girls in the Western Cape are very fortunate.
Just from the people I met on tours you guys could learn so much and no one has any excuse for not being able to find good company for weekend breakaways.
Thanks Gerry - See you soon

 

[FredK]

This is the washout where Bart hurt his wrist. Fred also hurt his ribs here when he smacked into his own handlebar. I was lucky to not hurt myself here, luckily the embankment into which I slammed was quite soft and absorbed some of the impact.

Ribbes is darem nou weer so te sê heel

 

[FredK]

Next up, Marian Fluss, a quick stop at Rooidrom and then our destination, Marble Camp. The riding is fun and the views are breath-taking.

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Andries enjoying himself:






Rooidrom

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Die Rooi Drom, een van die ikoniese landmerke van hierdie streek wat op my bucket list was. Lekker RR Rooies

 

[Rooies]

We get to camp early in the afternoon, and everyone starts setting up their sleeping quarters and doing their own thing. Some of the group jumps onto their bikes to visit the famous Manchester United shebeen in Puros, a few kilometres further down the road. I am sore and tired and done with riverbeds, no riding for me, not even for cold beer.

We noticed a few other niggles on the bike at my crash site, and Hardy & Jaco offered to help me fix the bike up. While working on the bike under Hardy’s supervision he laughs at my ten thumbs. In my defence, I wasn’t in the best of conditions! But we sort out the bike and soon its as good as new (okay, not entirely).

For those in the group keen to be spoilt with, probably, one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen, we are told to be ready just before sunset: we are going for sundowners on the Jan Joubert Koppie, taking the Cruisers. Suffice to say the view from up there was nothing less than spectacular. The photos and videos can do the talking. @NIMMO, I took the liberty and used some of your FB photos here. I think some might be Sharon’s as well. Thanks in advance to you both! (Blatant plagiarism, I tell you!)

The boys at the bar. (Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

Sunset on top of Jan Joubert Koppie

@hartebees , @bowmansharonlee & Alan (Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

(Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

If you look carefully, you can see two giraffes in the valley down below walking away from the camera.

Patty, @Striggs , @Parkinoff , @FredK

 

[Hardy de Kock]

We get to camp early in the afternoon, and everyone starts setting up their sleeping quarters and doing their own thing. Some of the group jumps onto their bikes to visit the famous Manchester United shebeen in Puros, a few kilometres further down the road. I am sore and tired and done with riverbeds, no riding for me, not even for cold beer.

We noticed a few other niggles on the bike at my crash site, and Hardy & Jaco offered to help me fix the bike up. While working on the bike under Hardy’s supervision he laughs at my ten thumbs. In my defence, I wasn’t in the best of conditions! But we sort out the bike and soon its as good as new (okay, not entirely).

For those in the group keen to be spoilt with, probably, one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen, we are told to be ready just before sunset: we are going for sundowners on the Jan Joubert Koppie, taking the Cruisers. Suffice to say the view from up there was nothing less than spectacular. The photos and videos can do the talking. @NIMMO, I took the liberty and used some of your FB photos here. I think some might be Sharon’s as well. Thanks in advance to you both! (Blatant plagiarism, I tell you!)

The boys at the bar. (Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

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Sunset on top of Jan Joubert Koppie

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@hartebees , @bowmansharonlee & Alan (Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

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(Photo courtesy of @NIMMO on FB)

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If you look carefully, you can see two giraffes in the valley down below walking away from the camera.

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Patty, @Striggs , @Parkinoff , @FredK

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Mooiste plek in Suider Afrika
Die' plek kry dit elke keer reg om almal wat daar aankom vir 'n paar oomblikke stil te maak.

 

[P.K.]

What a lekker ride report Roux....thanks for the effort in putting it together.
I always suffer from varying degrees of post trip depression (for want of a better word) and reliving it here goes some way to sorting my head out, although we all know deep down that the only real remedy is another trip..!

Purros , particularly , is a special place for me: to sit outside camp in the evening and/or morning with the low, soft light is always one of the highlights of the trip for me and I was pleased to see you out there on the low dunes, alone, just appreciating that rugged, beautiful landscape.

 

[Rooies]

The following day is a rest day, we will be staying at Puros camp for two nights. The rest day couldn’t have come at a better time for me, I am stiff and sore, and a day relaxing is just what the doctor ordered. I am up early that morning and go for a walk outside the camp, only to find @P.K. already sitting on a little mound, deep in thought. I do the same just breathe in the air. The perfect place to reflect and clear your head.

The rest of the morning is spent drinking coffee, having chats with, now fast becoming, very good friends, reading and relaxing.

My helmet is fesh-fesh infested and it needs a good clean.

Later that morning I feel ready to get on the bike again and I head off to see the greater metropole of Puros for myself.

Pure bliss. What a treat sleeping under the stars like this. Not sure my wife would approve of my closet, though.

Later that afternoon I head off with Bernice and @Gerryb to the local for a cold one.

@P.K. and a few more join us. It is clear that @P.K. is a celebrity. One of the locals insists that Peter sits on his chair, which needs to be approached with care as not all on that chair is working as it should. However, Peter is on a chair, us plebs are seated on beer cases. We anoint him the Prince of Puros.

Bar fully loaded.

 

[Rooies]

Puros couture. These Herero ladies' dresses are beautiful, standing out in stark contrast to their surroundings.

 

[Rooies]

It’s getting late in the afternoon and a rowdy crowd has built up at the shebeen. We decide to head back to camp. Jan Joubert Koppie touched me and before we turn into the riverbed to get to camp, I let the group know that I will join them later. I head on towards the koppie on my own. Once I get there, I sit for a long time and just watch the sun setting, appreciative of all the wonderful things in my life. I realise that I must bring my wife and children here, I will return to Puros.

 

[Frannarossi]

Nou het ek darem die middag lekker sit en om lees en fotos en videos kyk