Outhere
Race Dog
Took a week off left for Jeffery’s Bay from Howick Thursday 15 April at 9am
65 km out of town towards Bulwer left onto dirt till Mt Freer then tar to Ugi were we spent the night.
For this trip I bought some GSA pannier racks .Hose clamped thin sheets of ali to them and strapped soft luggage to them nice to be able to roll them up and not stress
About things jumping up and down in them and if a little time taken to strap them properly they were going nowhere.My tail bag has only tools ,tubes. Compressor,
And rain suits in. The tank bag has rag or two oil first aid Q20 and is used for shopping
when needed .Both are strapped tightly to the bike and live there even on a day trip.
The road winds round the back of Bulwer and on in the direction of Ixopo and Kockstad.
At Fraklin Sarah had her Hair Appointment she likes it platted to stop knotting.
From There to Chesterville left on Tar for 50m then right on Dirt again to Mt Freere.
We had couriered our Spoked rims to J Bay with TKC 80 tyres on so were riding with
Mag rims with anarkees on front rim which had just been repaired got one or two more smillies in it and started to loose air not a nice feeling when that front tyre goes flat on you so the second time it happened we took a shifting spanner placed it on the smilly part of the rim and beat it out with a hammer not a pretty sight but it worked and the air is still in there.
Next day as above dirt again towards Stutterhien in drizzly weather .Took a wrong turn was not zoomed in enough on GPS and while doing a u turn rode over small rock in road and wobbled over OOPS.
Not far from there rain continued to get harder and this called for a small break.
From there great ride to Stutterheim
From there rain forced us to divert to King Williams town and on to Jefferys
Arriving around 5 pm. Bella Vista time share our base for the week.
18 Prawns from ys kas tea room recommended to us by some locals cooked in garlic butter with fresh rolls and early to bed.
Planned to meet PE dogs in Humansdorp but due to wet roads ride was canceled
So we did our own ride roads were wet but dried fairly quickly.
Must just say here that on our way to Humansdorp we me Kobus who works at
Toyota He was taking the muddy route to work on his wife’s GS 650 and we popped in at his office to check the latest developments on the PE dogs planned ride.
Kobus has since become a member he rides an Afican twin and goes riding with his wife and there two kids ride pillion. Thanks so much for all your help Kobus.
While waiting at the wimpy to see if any PE guys pitched anyway I plotted a site seeing route for us as we have never been in this area before.
At St Francious we stopped to look at the estuary walking through someone’s garden to get to the beach we heard a bike arriving I waved him down thinking he was going to
Cruise past but it turned out we were in his garden and he was Gary from PE who has
His own Wild dog pack that he rides with in PE.We chatted about the routes I had planned for the rest of the week.
Didn’t get a photo of him but this is his awesome bonnie.
The port with the boats that fish at night with there bright lights. What’s with that?
Super Tubes not too much swell
Supper at John Dorries and a few games of pool fairly early to bed again.
Sunday planned a ride to Addo Elephant park. Having never been in this area
We did come to some no go areas and locked gates but this just adds to the adventure.
Stopped here for lunch after Zuurberg pass.
This dog tried to sell us chips but we had toasted sarmies.
After one rock through brand new TKC . Repaired with three plugs we went on to Darlington Dam and detour to find Petrol in Steytlerville .
Then home on some interesting roads to say the least via Antonisberg pass our first taste of the Baviaans only getting back to Jeffrey’s Bay way after dark.
Not before one more gash in tyre and three more plugs to fill it.
Toasted sandwiches and early to bed.
Monday planned to ride through Baviaans kloof nature park to union dale and down prince Alfred pass and home but ended up meeting Johonotin and Brian who recommended russ and vrede eco trail which I had already been told to stay away from when riding alone not to mention with a pillion but this is what we came for
And were not disappointed.
Brian and Johnotin who had ridden Russ and vrede eco trail to kareedouw and back
from in the Baviaans kloof the day before.
Once we rode off the road and had to reverse and on this section I opted to do it without Sarah. At first I took the wrong line and landed in a rut. Then got going stood up and kept going till the top of this hill. Then ran down to help carry Sarah’s
Helmet and jacket she was not impressed that I had left her behind.
And the rocks didn’t end
This is on the way down the other side not nice.
Who’s counting?
Very relieved to have made it and the desire for adventure satisfied took tar home from Kareedouw.
Home before dark chicken and pork fillets for supper and early to bed.
Two really testing days on the bike Die hell was to be next .
Woke to rain so headed out on tar to Uniondale then from there on dirt to die hell no accommodation booked and arriving at the start of 37km into die hell at 14,30 we decided to ride in for a hour and then turn around Made 33 kmin the hour.
Wooly Buggers next GS
Top of Swartberg Pass
That road was great fun and we managed to get to the top of the very winedy section in one hour after stopping for ten minutes for a leak and an apple.
From there back out and down Magnifisiant Swartberg pass to Prince Albert to look for dinner and a B&B.
Dinner at Steak house next to hotel good Karoo lamb chops Sarah had ribs and early to bed.
Next day Dirt to Willowmore and down Baviaans . Took it slow and tried to see if we could spot one of the eight rhino no luck but plenty other wildlife we mist when going the other way must have had something to do with the speed .
Made good time to Willowmore this is why straight flat dirt roads.
Home before dark stopped at mall bought steaks home to cook and not to early to bed as planed to rest the next day.
Woke to rain again and started to pack for trip back left in the rain and rode to Fort beuford where we stayed in BB pepper tree .Rained most of the way therefore camera was packed.
Woke early next day and left for Rhodes via Hogsback bit chilly and wet but had a good ride apart from air leaking out of plugs which had been in since Sunday.We have since learnt these sticky worm plugs melt when tyre warms up to much.
So some time spent on more than one occation repairing . Got to Rhodes around 4.30pm. Where we meet Mr and Mrs Badger [Jeff and Fran] .They had come from Durban that day and had got to Rhodes in time to do some shopping for lamb chop curry that’s Jeff glad you didn’t have to break your Friday night tradition.
Woke the next morning to -7 degrees and a dead battery on Jeffs GSA after a tow up the hill and a push down the hill we had no more problems.Planned a day trip round Rhodes perfect day ending with a night ride down Naudes Nek Pass into Rhodes.
Came apon these guys getting ready for rally raid weekend
Top of Jobouert pass near Lady Grey
Next day home to Howick via lower pitseng road tyre went down 4 km form home plugs melted again.
All in all 4500km in11 days every day except one we where on the bike by 7am and rarely got back before 4pm .
Sorry about Quality of pictures most taken while riding with one hand often on wrong setting etc.
Thanks to my wonderfull wife Sarah who did not complain once and was great to share this time and adventure with you.
Ive done this report in Word and will now post it hope fully all the pics are in the right place.
Attached files for view in mapsource
65 km out of town towards Bulwer left onto dirt till Mt Freer then tar to Ugi were we spent the night.
For this trip I bought some GSA pannier racks .Hose clamped thin sheets of ali to them and strapped soft luggage to them nice to be able to roll them up and not stress
About things jumping up and down in them and if a little time taken to strap them properly they were going nowhere.My tail bag has only tools ,tubes. Compressor,
And rain suits in. The tank bag has rag or two oil first aid Q20 and is used for shopping
when needed .Both are strapped tightly to the bike and live there even on a day trip.
The road winds round the back of Bulwer and on in the direction of Ixopo and Kockstad.
At Fraklin Sarah had her Hair Appointment she likes it platted to stop knotting.
From There to Chesterville left on Tar for 50m then right on Dirt again to Mt Freere.
We had couriered our Spoked rims to J Bay with TKC 80 tyres on so were riding with
Mag rims with anarkees on front rim which had just been repaired got one or two more smillies in it and started to loose air not a nice feeling when that front tyre goes flat on you so the second time it happened we took a shifting spanner placed it on the smilly part of the rim and beat it out with a hammer not a pretty sight but it worked and the air is still in there.
Next day as above dirt again towards Stutterhien in drizzly weather .Took a wrong turn was not zoomed in enough on GPS and while doing a u turn rode over small rock in road and wobbled over OOPS.
Not far from there rain continued to get harder and this called for a small break.
From there great ride to Stutterheim
From there rain forced us to divert to King Williams town and on to Jefferys
Arriving around 5 pm. Bella Vista time share our base for the week.
18 Prawns from ys kas tea room recommended to us by some locals cooked in garlic butter with fresh rolls and early to bed.
Planned to meet PE dogs in Humansdorp but due to wet roads ride was canceled
So we did our own ride roads were wet but dried fairly quickly.
Must just say here that on our way to Humansdorp we me Kobus who works at
Toyota He was taking the muddy route to work on his wife’s GS 650 and we popped in at his office to check the latest developments on the PE dogs planned ride.
Kobus has since become a member he rides an Afican twin and goes riding with his wife and there two kids ride pillion. Thanks so much for all your help Kobus.
While waiting at the wimpy to see if any PE guys pitched anyway I plotted a site seeing route for us as we have never been in this area before.
At St Francious we stopped to look at the estuary walking through someone’s garden to get to the beach we heard a bike arriving I waved him down thinking he was going to
Cruise past but it turned out we were in his garden and he was Gary from PE who has
His own Wild dog pack that he rides with in PE.We chatted about the routes I had planned for the rest of the week.
Didn’t get a photo of him but this is his awesome bonnie.
The port with the boats that fish at night with there bright lights. What’s with that?
Super Tubes not too much swell
Supper at John Dorries and a few games of pool fairly early to bed again.
Sunday planned a ride to Addo Elephant park. Having never been in this area
We did come to some no go areas and locked gates but this just adds to the adventure.
Stopped here for lunch after Zuurberg pass.
This dog tried to sell us chips but we had toasted sarmies.
After one rock through brand new TKC . Repaired with three plugs we went on to Darlington Dam and detour to find Petrol in Steytlerville .
Then home on some interesting roads to say the least via Antonisberg pass our first taste of the Baviaans only getting back to Jeffrey’s Bay way after dark.
Not before one more gash in tyre and three more plugs to fill it.
Toasted sandwiches and early to bed.
Monday planned to ride through Baviaans kloof nature park to union dale and down prince Alfred pass and home but ended up meeting Johonotin and Brian who recommended russ and vrede eco trail which I had already been told to stay away from when riding alone not to mention with a pillion but this is what we came for
And were not disappointed.
Brian and Johnotin who had ridden Russ and vrede eco trail to kareedouw and back
from in the Baviaans kloof the day before.
Once we rode off the road and had to reverse and on this section I opted to do it without Sarah. At first I took the wrong line and landed in a rut. Then got going stood up and kept going till the top of this hill. Then ran down to help carry Sarah’s
Helmet and jacket she was not impressed that I had left her behind.
And the rocks didn’t end
This is on the way down the other side not nice.
Who’s counting?
Very relieved to have made it and the desire for adventure satisfied took tar home from Kareedouw.
Home before dark chicken and pork fillets for supper and early to bed.
Two really testing days on the bike Die hell was to be next .
Woke to rain so headed out on tar to Uniondale then from there on dirt to die hell no accommodation booked and arriving at the start of 37km into die hell at 14,30 we decided to ride in for a hour and then turn around Made 33 kmin the hour.
Wooly Buggers next GS
Top of Swartberg Pass
That road was great fun and we managed to get to the top of the very winedy section in one hour after stopping for ten minutes for a leak and an apple.
From there back out and down Magnifisiant Swartberg pass to Prince Albert to look for dinner and a B&B.
Dinner at Steak house next to hotel good Karoo lamb chops Sarah had ribs and early to bed.
Next day Dirt to Willowmore and down Baviaans . Took it slow and tried to see if we could spot one of the eight rhino no luck but plenty other wildlife we mist when going the other way must have had something to do with the speed .
Made good time to Willowmore this is why straight flat dirt roads.
Home before dark stopped at mall bought steaks home to cook and not to early to bed as planed to rest the next day.
Woke to rain again and started to pack for trip back left in the rain and rode to Fort beuford where we stayed in BB pepper tree .Rained most of the way therefore camera was packed.
Woke early next day and left for Rhodes via Hogsback bit chilly and wet but had a good ride apart from air leaking out of plugs which had been in since Sunday.We have since learnt these sticky worm plugs melt when tyre warms up to much.
So some time spent on more than one occation repairing . Got to Rhodes around 4.30pm. Where we meet Mr and Mrs Badger [Jeff and Fran] .They had come from Durban that day and had got to Rhodes in time to do some shopping for lamb chop curry that’s Jeff glad you didn’t have to break your Friday night tradition.
Woke the next morning to -7 degrees and a dead battery on Jeffs GSA after a tow up the hill and a push down the hill we had no more problems.Planned a day trip round Rhodes perfect day ending with a night ride down Naudes Nek Pass into Rhodes.
Came apon these guys getting ready for rally raid weekend
Top of Jobouert pass near Lady Grey
Next day home to Howick via lower pitseng road tyre went down 4 km form home plugs melted again.
All in all 4500km in11 days every day except one we where on the bike by 7am and rarely got back before 4pm .
Sorry about Quality of pictures most taken while riding with one hand often on wrong setting etc.
Thanks to my wonderfull wife Sarah who did not complain once and was great to share this time and adventure with you.
Ive done this report in Word and will now post it hope fully all the pics are in the right place.
Attached files for view in mapsource
