The first thing I did was make sure the bike's engine was stopped, I've not heard good things about these boxer engines when left running while lying on it's side. Appreciating my waterproof boots I could stand in the calve-deep water to try and lift the bike, only to be told to relax, a few guys will help lift the bike.
But I'm running ahead now, left me start at the start. Tufan (my son), Nicobie and I met Subie in Eldoraigne. Nicobie's eyesight must've improved a lot because he no longer wears the glasses on his avatar pic. Leaving Eldoraigne at 7 we made our way to the Bronkhosrtspruit road, which we then followed to Rayton and through to Cullinan. There we met up with the rest of the gang; Woestynhond, Masterbeerkie, Heebs, Dirty Des (I though your avatar was joining us?) and Megapix. Strompie was also there, but only to meet us and he then left. I think he had to go wash his hair. Oh wait, he had a lawn to mow.
So we left Cullinan and soon found ourselves on a piece of dirt road, where Megapix summarily demonstrated the correct way of falling off your bike while mounting it. Even though I missed the kodak moment it was to be repeated later on... So we casually rode along, happily dodging ruts, until. Well, until we got to a section where the aftermath of the weeks rain had left its mark... a series of swimming pool (OK, some jaccuzi) sized pools of water, just lying there inviting us to take a dip.
Everything went fine, really, and after the first few water crossings I started appreciating the newer GS's higher air inlet. My old one would surely have drowned already, but this one just pushed through the water like a hot knife through butter. That was until I struck something under the water, and down I went onto my left side.
The first thing I did was make sure the bike's engine was stopped, I've not heard good things about these boxer engines when left running while lying on it's side. Appreciating my waterproof boots I could stand in the calve-deep water to try and lift the bike, only to be told to relax, a few guys will help lift the bike.
A few of us got the bike upright again, and after letting the adrenalin levels normalise again we were off. This time I tried harder to avoid the water, but at one point I realised I'll have to fix my confidence and cross that bridge again. Oh wait, there was no bridge. Just water. Water everywhere. I chose what seemed to be a nice shallow puddle to attemp water again, while Megapix was standing on the opposite side taking pics. Ag tog, I had almost (seriously, almost!) made it through when my front wheel slipped into a rut underneath the water, and down I went again, this time to my right.
Again, switched off the engine quickly and we picked her up, but not before some oil had accumulated in the head it seemed, as she smoked like an old steam train for the next few km's. It cleared up soon enough though, and she still sounded as smooth as always so I was not worried about the bike at all. I was more worried about my ability, or lack thereof, of keeping her upright.
Luckily the big pools seemed to be behind us, and after a few km's I could again attempt a small one... made it through! Phew!
Couple of stops where the guys had the odd beer, and before you know it we were in Naboom (but not before Megapix had decided to leave the road and rest his KLR for a bit, but I'll let him tell the story). Picked up some lekker meat as the butchery was closing, and met Subie and the guys at Sashas. What a nice place! Awesome people running it too!
From Naboom I followed Masterbeerkie and Woestynhond on the tar road, my confidence deciding to remain non-optimal so I thought that two falls were enough for the day.
Or so I thought.
Taking the turnoff at the den I encounter some sand, and the GS decides a little rest will do it good. Luckily I anticipated this, and managed to simply step aside as the GS decided to lie down. Helped her up, and spoke nicely with her to just get me to the blerrie den in one piece.
We made it there, and I was glad to have reached it. Nicobie and the guys that took the remaining piece of gravel had their own adventures which I missed, I'll let them tell those stories.
The night sky at the den is something to behold, with a lightning storm in the distance with the occasional flash in the clouds to the side. What a beautiful sight. I was ravenous and could not get to enjoying the braai soon enough, with a nice helping of salad too.
Well I've written a lot now, time for some pics. Youtube video will follow later..
But I'm running ahead now, left me start at the start. Tufan (my son), Nicobie and I met Subie in Eldoraigne. Nicobie's eyesight must've improved a lot because he no longer wears the glasses on his avatar pic. Leaving Eldoraigne at 7 we made our way to the Bronkhosrtspruit road, which we then followed to Rayton and through to Cullinan. There we met up with the rest of the gang; Woestynhond, Masterbeerkie, Heebs, Dirty Des (I though your avatar was joining us?) and Megapix. Strompie was also there, but only to meet us and he then left. I think he had to go wash his hair. Oh wait, he had a lawn to mow.
So we left Cullinan and soon found ourselves on a piece of dirt road, where Megapix summarily demonstrated the correct way of falling off your bike while mounting it. Even though I missed the kodak moment it was to be repeated later on... So we casually rode along, happily dodging ruts, until. Well, until we got to a section where the aftermath of the weeks rain had left its mark... a series of swimming pool (OK, some jaccuzi) sized pools of water, just lying there inviting us to take a dip.
Everything went fine, really, and after the first few water crossings I started appreciating the newer GS's higher air inlet. My old one would surely have drowned already, but this one just pushed through the water like a hot knife through butter. That was until I struck something under the water, and down I went onto my left side.
The first thing I did was make sure the bike's engine was stopped, I've not heard good things about these boxer engines when left running while lying on it's side. Appreciating my waterproof boots I could stand in the calve-deep water to try and lift the bike, only to be told to relax, a few guys will help lift the bike.
A few of us got the bike upright again, and after letting the adrenalin levels normalise again we were off. This time I tried harder to avoid the water, but at one point I realised I'll have to fix my confidence and cross that bridge again. Oh wait, there was no bridge. Just water. Water everywhere. I chose what seemed to be a nice shallow puddle to attemp water again, while Megapix was standing on the opposite side taking pics. Ag tog, I had almost (seriously, almost!) made it through when my front wheel slipped into a rut underneath the water, and down I went again, this time to my right.
Again, switched off the engine quickly and we picked her up, but not before some oil had accumulated in the head it seemed, as she smoked like an old steam train for the next few km's. It cleared up soon enough though, and she still sounded as smooth as always so I was not worried about the bike at all. I was more worried about my ability, or lack thereof, of keeping her upright.
Luckily the big pools seemed to be behind us, and after a few km's I could again attempt a small one... made it through! Phew!
Couple of stops where the guys had the odd beer, and before you know it we were in Naboom (but not before Megapix had decided to leave the road and rest his KLR for a bit, but I'll let him tell the story). Picked up some lekker meat as the butchery was closing, and met Subie and the guys at Sashas. What a nice place! Awesome people running it too!
From Naboom I followed Masterbeerkie and Woestynhond on the tar road, my confidence deciding to remain non-optimal so I thought that two falls were enough for the day.
Or so I thought.
Taking the turnoff at the den I encounter some sand, and the GS decides a little rest will do it good. Luckily I anticipated this, and managed to simply step aside as the GS decided to lie down. Helped her up, and spoke nicely with her to just get me to the blerrie den in one piece.
We made it there, and I was glad to have reached it. Nicobie and the guys that took the remaining piece of gravel had their own adventures which I missed, I'll let them tell those stories.
The night sky at the den is something to behold, with a lightning storm in the distance with the occasional flash in the clouds to the side. What a beautiful sight. I was ravenous and could not get to enjoying the braai soon enough, with a nice helping of salad too.
Well I've written a lot now, time for some pics. Youtube video will follow later..
