Father & son ride to Anysberg - extreme adventure

[DikZol]

So the next morning brings some welcome sunshine and renewed energy for what lay ahead.  There was a marked excitement in the camp in anticipation of the helicopter rescue.  I was scheming how I was going to negotiate with the pilot to load my bike on that helicopter.  

The call came through that the helicopter is running a bit late.  So we passed the time walking around and taking some pics.  It really is a beautiful place and I am keen to come back with my family.





A really old lady








The friendly people from Worcester and Marius the park ranger.


We could hear the Huey come long before we could see it.  Smiles and anticipation all round.  These people have been stuck here in rainy weather for days not knowing when they will be able to get out.  At least they were going to be in time for school!

 

[DikZol]

The helicopter brought 200 litres of diesel, food supplies and some firefighters who were going to get to work fixing the roads.

 

[Knormoer]

What a trip!

 

[Oros]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a cool RR, your son takes awesome photo's for a 8 year old. RESPECT. :thumleft:

 

[Hentie bm]

Awesome  :thumleft:

 

[cocky]

Epic trip ... for you and your son .... great respect for what you went through with your bike and your.

 

[DikZol]

Incidentally Marius used to be a parabat.  He told some interesting stories the previous evening.  It felt like I was born a few years too late.  Not having been in the army makes one feel somewhat inferior when the boys talk about the "good old days".  Made me think of my late father who also served in Angola and was a real tough guy.





Doesn't look like the air hostess will be wearing a mini on this flight! I did crack that joke at the female co-pilot.  Not sure if she really thought it that funny.



Quick induction about helicopter flight and "auto rotation"...something to do with softer crash landings...


Off they go

 

[Maddoglips]

Awesome

 

[BEN TAP]

JULLE HET GUTS BAIE NICE R/R EN FOTOS

 

[MaxThePanda]

You know it!!  I was wondering how a farkled 690 would do in these conditions.  I am hoping to do a test ride of one this coming Saturday.  Not that I am looking to buy one....just yet!

Haha - this is hilarious! I was doing a solo ride through the more remote parts of the northern Tankwa this weekend, where the rain has also done a lot of damage and made fords impassable etc. Actually had mapped out a route from Sutherland back via a few 4x4 tracks and Anysberg. Ended up a bit short of time and canning my plans and heading straight back via the lower Tankwa.

Now I'm gutted I did - that looks FANTASTIC! I'm on a farkled 690, and it is a wonderful bike - do yourself a favour and test ride one! Only had mine 6 months but that included a trip around Angola and my respect for the thing keeps growing. It LOVES tracks like the ones in your pictures. As does my respect for you doing that on a pig!

Well done - I'm tempted to head back to Anysberg this weekend!

 

[DikZol]

So my son was off.  My wife was not happy the previous evening when I called her with the plan to fly my son out.  I convinced her (or so I thought) that it was the best thing to do.  Her first question to me:  Why did you go in when you saw it got difficult?  I didn't really have a coherent answer and just mumbled something about not wanting to go back across some of the more difficult crossings.

So now my son was off on a helicopter ride, arrangements made to pick him up in Worcester.  The plan was for me to ride the same way out with the Land Cruiser following to assist if I got stuck.  The guys seemed to just patter around and I started getting itchy.  It was past 11:00 already and I had a lot of riding to still do.  I packed up and started getting ready to leave with or without support.  Marius came back after putting the fire team to work on the roads and said that he just wants to get something to eat and they will then get going.  I was worried about getting stuck and running out of daylight so told him that I was going to leave and that if I got stuck they will catch up with me in any case.  

The sun helped to dry out some patches slightly, but it was also beating down on me.  Always something to moan about!!!  The bike felt lighter since I sent most of my son's gear with him on the helicopter.  I was determined and focused and wanted to get to where I can call my wife and confirm that he is OK.

It is interesting how obstacles are a bit easier to negotiate the second time round.  There seems to be more commitment in the throttle and more haste on the open sections.  Open section meaning anything from second gear upwards!

I got back to that stony crossing again where the firefighters were hard at work already.  I begged them to help me across which they reluctantly did.



I then found a different point to get across that ugly mess of washed away road, but managed to get stuck on the opposite embankment.  I was missing that TKC again!




A picture of a calm Touwsrivier


And so I was back at the most worrysome point of the trip.


After about 40 minutes of packing stones to try and build a ramp

 

[DikZol]

I knew that I will probably not get a second chance at this.  It will either work or will be an epic failure with the bike toppling over and getting badly damaged.  I was praying out loud for power and balance.  I walked the bike, working the throttle and clutch.  I got stuck.  Unable to go forward or backward.







I was disheartened and it was getting really hot.  I took out my pistol and fired two shots into the distance, hoping that the firefighters or somebody would hear it and come to my rescue.  I needed a few hands to get me up this obstacle!  Nobody came, so I prayed some more.  I decided to lay the bike down and pull it to the left to try and get a better line.





I picked up the pig and feather the clutch with ample throttle.  I made it to the top...Yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! I was jumping and shouting and just whooping.  The adrenalin was flowing freely and I was on a high.  Gratitude, greatfulness...not sure what to call it.  I knew I cheated being stuck there for a long time.  I was really blessed and lucky to be a few feat higher!



The rest of the crossings went by relatively uneventful.  I was back on the Bloutoring road and the Karoo was showing its splendour.

 

[DikZol]

This little watercrossing caught me out and I gently laid the pig down for a snooze in the soft mud.  Complacency is a b....


I got to Oubergpas again and called my wife.  All was OK and my son was safely back home.  I relaxed.

I got to the second last driffie before reaching Montagu and it was severely damaged.


This farmer on his bicycle came to help me so I handed him the camera after checking the depth of the stream.








I was out!  Montagu lay ahead where I was going to stop for a quick bite before heading home.

 

[DikZol]

I made the mistake of ordering a beer.  It disappeared without hesitation and then the fatigue hit me.  I ate one lekker burger and sat there for an hour.  I was moer toe.



I send my wife a message that I am on my way and cruised towards Worcester doing 160 Km/h most of the way.  The cagers were driving very considerate and were making way most of the time.

Last pictures at Rawsonville.




As I went by Du Toitskloof lodge a cop caught me on radar.  I was too late in closing the throttle.  Funnily nothing happened, so I just blasted on, ditching my plan to go through the tunnel since they would be able to corner me there and going over Du Toitskloof again.

I arrived home just before 18:00 and just in time to receive Marius' call to check if I arrived home safely.  My wife looked tired and I could see that see did not sleep the previous night, worrying about us.  It was good to be home.

 

[Carrots]

Roll of honour stuff

 

[brettp]

man-o-man...this is epic stuff.

 

[hando]

Roll of honour stuff

Agreed. Well done.

A nice adventure.

One that words and photos will never be able to fully explain.

 

[arno]

Epic stuff Riaan !
jy het darem vir jou eie gat n lat gepluk...hoe gaan jy nou hierop verbeter daai laaitie sal nou altyd weer wil terug helikopter .
Goed gedoen !

 

[DRAZIL]

fantastic report :thumleft: :thumleft:
you sure you weren't following ExploreSA in the Baboons pass :
thanks :thumleft:

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Jo-jo, wat kan 'n mens sê.  Ek dink daai kind van jou het die beste vakansie storie in die land om te vertel.  Ek het baie respek vir jou, maar ek haal my hoed af vir daai klein fotograaf wat jy saam ry.  Jy is 'n wenner, seun.  Doen so voort.