Dit was nou LEKKER!
Thanks to all for a really great weekend of good company, good laughs, incidents that will be told and re-told many times over, but without incidents and mishaps, there would be no story to tell.
Been needing a ride for ages, just been working and commuting for far too long. When this "Planning a Ride - Klein bike of enigiets" appeared, it sounded like weekend not to be missed.
Met with the WD's at Cullinan after an easy early morning ride on tar, even Diepsloot hadn't woken up when I went past there. Always interesting to meet the faces that belong to the WD's nom de plumes, and I was really surprised to see Subie has teeth!
The ride has pretty much been described and I'm sure will be shared for a while yet, that's what makes this forum such a special place. I really enjoyed the ride from Cullinan to Settlers, an area I've ridden a few times but never in the wet, I must mention (no one else has) that I arranged some strippers to do a show on the side of the road, problem was the guys were a bit thirsty so said they couldn't stay to watch as the though of seeing boobs without a beer just didn't gel. The Settlers area has had good rains and I pray that the farmers have a really good season, mag julle groot oes die jaar! Both my father and grandfather farmed in the area and I remember as a young boy, them going to the Boere Saal to pray for rain on more than one occasion.
We rode from Settlers to Naboom past the old Holmepark Trading Store, I recall the store being owned by the Neeser family, old Mrs Neeser used to sit and listen to all the telephone conversations on the party line, the handset of the phone tied to her ear with a doek, this she did while she knitted, so when you made a call, you could hear the needles clicking in the background, if you challenged her as to why she was listening in, she would immediately deny that she was! If you needed to know were someone was, just phone Mrs Neeser, she knew exactly who was "kuiering" were.
The game farms around Nylstroom (Modimole) are looking fantastic after the rain, there are a number of exotic game breeders buying up the old cattle farms and farming "coloured" game, not my thing, but I suppose if someone is prepared to pay R7.2 million for a saddle back Blessbok, and R3.4 million for a Golden Wildebeest then why not make a buck (no pun intended).
Nylsvlei went by in a flash and so did Boekenhout Trading Store, as we were heading for Naboom so not much time to stop and have a look see. Die manne was dors!
Good meat to be had at Waltkon Vleisand and very reasonably priced. Worth a stop if you are in the area. A few cold ones to be had at Sashas, interesting place just off the main road - turn left at Walkon Vleis, first left again and about 300 meters on the left, just park inside. The barman and his side kick were most intrigued by the Wilddogs and how we came about and where we were off to. Good pizza and lekker music not to mention the barman's daughter......
Off to Tinmyne, I was last there in 1978 for the Rhino Rally at Ofcolaco, that's another story for a campfire.
The road from Entabeni to Tinmyne was messy, managed to peg a land claim on the "greacy section", got off lightly with no damage to the bike, not even scratched (I checked - spent Sunday afternoon washing the mud off - hey, at least I brought home some top dressing for the lawn). Bought a few beers and a bag of ice, chatted up the petrol pump attendants and watched a few locals wobbling around at the Mpedi Store, the best entertainment can be found on the side of the road! - (remember the strippers), then on to Pokolo, what a magic place! The setting is absolutely beautiful, looking on to the pinnacle on the Entabeni Game Reserve in the distance, beautiful sandstone mountains surrounding the village and the bushveld with its green dress on looking absolutely gorgeous.
Had a hot shower, my absolute best at the end of a good days ride, great company, educational stories being told and a damn fine supper of the best Waterberg beef, potato salad, braai brood and beer, what more can you wish for!
Not one to stay up all night, I hit the sack at around 10pm so thereafter, what goes on tour stays on tour.
Early morning was just stunning, nothing beats a bushveld sunrise after a night of shabeen thumping music, which went on till around 4 am, then switched to gospel, don't you just love Africa.
The road to Vallwater was like riding through a zoo, I haven't seen so much game in wonderful condition in years. You have to ride the Makekeng to Marken road (tar), amazing twisties and a good road surface, just watch for odd fallen rock. It was a case of on our left we have wildebeest, on the right, rooihartebeest, sable, white blessbok (wonder if its seen itself in a mirror - the others in the heard didn't seem to notice), red eland, was good to see some "normal" giraffe, ostriches giving us a run along the fence, saw a few emus in between as well. You have to feel for the farmers with rhino, they are being poached at an alarming rate in the Vaalwater area.
Fuel stop in Vaalwater, then Subie and I rode the Tweespruit road towards Warmbad (Bele-Bela) and had a leg stretch at Leeupoort.
Dit was nou n lekker stuk pad!
From there on to Brits and then home, split from Subie at Silkaatsnek near Harties. Seeing the "clean" Breakfast runners, made me understand why I do it in the dirt!
Thanks to Subie for putting the ride together, for the routes and for making it happen. Thank you to all you guys who made this a great weekend of riding, laughs, good food and better company.
Pictures to follow.
atch:
