Dreaming in the wind ....Solo from Somerset West to Augrabies Falls

[Bokveld]

  Lekker Brian.Must admit that road to the campsite made me also a bit nervous.Enjoy your RR. :thumleft:

 

[TVB]

Nice RR and have to agree that you pack the bike really neat!  :thumleft:

 

[Karoo Rider]

Mens moenie RRs lees in die oggende voor werk nie...

 

[Oubones]

Mens moenie RRs lees in die oggende voor werk nie...

Kan dit weer sê!

 

[GIDEON]

SUPER NICE :thumleft:

 

[Coxwain]

So there we were in the middle of the night, driving aimlessly around in the bush, looking for a kopie composed of Rose Quartz and a dry river bed.  Eventually we found the right place and set up a braai. As I said earlier, the moon was full and the bush had an eerie magical quality. We braaied till after midnight and then headed back to the Augrabies camp site. An evening well spent.
Sunday was spent exploring Kakamas ….not much to say about that, and Sunday night was spent braaing at Pirre,s chalet, playing musical quiz. We had an unexpected visitor in the form of a Genet, which appeared out of the bush, and hung around for a while. All in all a very pleasant evening. 
Monday morning it was time to pack up and get on the road. As luck would have it, The Dark Lords fully laden pig would not start, the battery had gone flat. We tried push starting it, but that’s like push starting a tractor…no chance. After a lot of swearing and cussing by The Dark Lord we finally unpacked it, borrowed some jumper cables and got it going. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. It felt good to be alone again, with the road stretching endlessly into the distance. The weather was perfect, and soon I was dreaming in the wind and heading home.
The trip back was pretty uneventful, I camped at the Vanrynsdorp Caravan Park which was also OK ish. A bit run down, but with a very reasonable restaurant. I had a good steak roll and chips for dinner, served by a very friendly young lass, who was fascinated by the concept of travelling long distances on a motorcycle. I finally retired to my tent only to be kept awake by a buzz saw sleeping in a tent a short distance away.
Tuesday morning I hit the road early and headed for the Cederberg…. not the best idea I’ve ever had. I turned off just before Citrusdal and within 2 km  knew this was a bad choice. Being the Tuesday and the last day of the long weekend, every man and his trailer was going home …..at speed … I should have turned back, but I decided to press on. The dust was really bad, I could not see a thing and I was worried that somebody coming from behind wouldn’t see me and take me out. I usually enjoy the Cederberg but this was horrendous, and to make matters worse, the old Girls temperature gauge jumped to maximum bars and started fluctuating up and down. I was worried, but it turned out to be the damping relay was playing up. I swopped it with the hooter relay and she was back to normal. It pays to know your Pig.  Took me over three hours to get through and I must say …..I was very happy to see the tar road to Ceres.  I had fun on Gydo pass and took Bains Kloof pass for the final stretch home.
It was a great weekend and the ole girl performed flawlessly, other than the relay which I was going to replace anyway. I’m looking forward to my next solo ride …..Its the only way to go.       
   

 

[TVB]

Good one  :thumleft:

Solo is good, the greatest benefit to me is going at my own phase. Stopping where and when I want to without annoying fellow riders.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Nice one indeed, because of this we have penciled in the Rondeberg Resort as a stop over for our Aug ride.

Thanks for sharing.

8)

 

[Coxwain]

Good one  :thumleft:

Solo is good, the greatest benefit to me is going at my own phase. Stopping where and when I want to without annoying fellow riders.

Like you say Tom .....solo is great , there is no pressure :thumleft:

 

[Coxwain]

Nice one indeed, because of this we have penciled in the Rondeberg Resort as a stop over for our Aug ride.

Thanks for sharing.

8)

Thanks Ian ......you wont be disappointed with Rondeberg. Just make sure you book before you go.

 

[ALLEN I]

magic little ride thanks for the share mate

 

[Deon]

There is a great circle route going north from the eastern Riemvasmaak.  Lots of unmarked side roads as well.  A bit sandy in places, but the BMW should make it. Stunning scenery. Used to be part of the army.  When we still had an army. We stayed over near the warm springs.  It was magic.  I will go again.

 

[BlueBull2007]

It pays to know your pig ;D

Thanks for sharing this nice RR with us.

 

[dpmza]

Thanks Coxwain, I really want to do that trip but also include the Canyon as I think it is not too far from the falls albeit for a border post