Four Corners March 2013

[Grotex]

After missing the WD Gariep dam 1100/1150 bash
due to a bypass operation in November 2012
The wife and I decided to tackle  the 4 Corners tour
of the Pretoria BMW MCC and to go for Extreme Gold

9 March 2013
After attending the AGM of the Friends of Blouberg Vulture rehap
we pushed on to Pont drift  with a fully loaded 1998 R1100GS
to test the loading,handling etc.

The odometer 30Km from Louis Trichardt at our first refuel
at Kutuma filling station

The first outpost at Pont Drift and all is well

H.F.Verwoerd tunnels in the Soutpansberg


Back in Louis Trichardt to attend a firends 60th birthday on the 10th
and disaster struck, The RH handlebar loom melts into a ball
of indistinguishable plastic



Day 1  456 Km

 

[edgy]

4=Four and not For

 

[Grotex]

You are so kind.  Anyway

10 March  Day 2
No biking activity

11 March Day 3

An early start. cleaning up the melted wires to give the Autolec.
a  descent change of rewiring the bike today

By 11h30 the bike is packed and we are ready to go


LETABA JUNCTION
A must stop if you are in the Tzaneen Letsiteli area


Strydom Tunnel


Dullstroom


Sleep over with family at Jerigo Dam near Amsterdam

Day 3  570Km

 

[1ougat]

:thumleft: What road did you follow to Ponddrift  Apparently the bridge still non operational?

 

[Grotex]

Vivo- Alldays-Pontdrift

Potholes for the last the last 20Km
I am not sure about the bridge but will investigate

 

[Grotex]

12 March  Day 4

A battle to get the bike onto the road from a very muddy garden


Josini and a boaring ride to Kosi bay




The speed bumps at every pedestrian crossing in Kwazulu
works better then anything else

Somewhere on the east coast


Must be at this time that my wife except Helmet-hair


and onto Empangeni for a ripoff accommodation experience


Day 4 677 Km

 

[Bob Vark]

:ricky:


Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  :dousing:,,,dit behoort alles te sê !!!

 

[alwyn_gs]

Gooi nog Grotex!  :thumleft:

 

[Malibu]

*sub*

 

[Grotex]

13 March  Day 5

Short trip to St Michealls on sea
Was stopped by a Cop in Balito and had to explain that the number plate
just came loose and that it will be replaced in East London
He believed me..
Plenty cold ones and an opportunity to get rid of access clothing and
over packed items.
Like I posted earlier.  Did I hear the clutch slip under load ??
Day 5  326Km

 

[Grotex]

14 March  Day 6
Well rested after a short day and a good sleep
Beautiful road to Kokstad, breakfast at the Wimpy
Transkei with roadworks and more all the way to East London




Entering East London I felt the bike "give"
The rear wheel Valve has disintegrated
I manage to push the bike to Yamaha Marine & Motorcycle and have it fixed in no time
Sleep over at family

Day 6  566Km

 

[Piston Pete]

Nice...i like a good tar/gravel trippie RR  :thumleft:

 

[Grotex]

15 March Day  7
a Lovely ride to Knysna, this is our first visit to this area on the bike
Amazing scenery and beautiful road stalls
Fortunately there was no packing space for shopping





Sleep over in the Knysna hotel
Good clean and fresh, Good value for money


Day 7  659Km

 

[DirtRebell]

Sub! Very nice so far - keep it coming :thumleft:

 

[stan1975]

Nice RR so far, good to see you popped into my old home town of Slummies

 

[Lem]

looks like an awesome trip, with one of the best pigs ever, the 1100  :thumleft:

it's also good when you have family, like it seems, wherever. you can save a lot on accomodation, and you get a chance to see them, not just on weddings and funerals.

 

[Grotex]

16 March  Day 8
Sedgefield,Barydale,Riversdal,Cape Augulas and sleep over in Caledon
"The Worlds best motorcycle rides" can spend ALL there time here
This is Motorbike heaven.You guys are spoilt

The third corner/outpost


One to go

Day 8  641Km


17 March  Day 9
a Short trek to St Helena bay looking forward to a good rest


Day 9  357Km

 

[Grotex]

18 March   Day 10
Rear tyre is shot
Terence at Bike & Tyre Centre had me sorted
By 09h00 we were on the road again

Had Brunch in Citrusdal.. Its Cape Epic time

At the Markuskraal turnoff on the Glanwilliam Piketberg road
Poon hit 100 00Km



We spend the night at Port Nolleth hotel.  Good value


Day 10   724Km

 

[Grotex]

19 March  Day 11
Sort of sad
We will finish our quest today
Alexander Bay is looming, we will decide later where to next
Left the baggage in Port Nolleth and ride to Alexander Bay
to take this picture and have breakfast.
We got the pic.
No crowd,no band,no funfare,no nothing
Forth Corner


Ai-Ais . Why not??
We spend the day in the spa , massage rooms and bar



We ran into Connie and Elsje from Belville and had a great time
listening to their Luderitz travel stories..

They are on their way to Belville we are going to Luderitz


Day 11  507Km

 

[Grotex]

20 March  Day 12
First stop at Canyon Village Conference centre
Then onto the Fish river Canyon and an amazing stop at
the Canyon Roadhouse


Take note THERE IS NO Petrol at Gaugep (230Km to Luderitz)
We had to take a tow to Bethanie to get petrol
Al ls well ....

The desert heat is a terrible +45C  and
as you enter the coast mist ,it drops to 5C



We were spoiled rotten in Luderiz, stayed over in an old German mansion

Day 12  591Km