GO GIRL's Namib Desert Run

[GO GIRL]

Where do I start???? How ironic while on the Sutherland trip out with the WDs I meet BradleyS and he says that he is doing the D Run....WOW I say that must be a helluva lot of fun.....I have read about it stax of times .....

I meet XXX a couple of weeks latger (on the 12 Feb 2008) and he says says to me you coming on the D/Run with me ....me?? I said you nuts!! Shucks there's got to be a catch....whats the catch???? How can this complete stranger offer this this to me...

He then showed me a DVD of previous runs....ok  ok I thought thats doable and thats doable, but none of the tricky stuff was shown... : : so I phone a friend Leon, he too says its fun, just remember to fall away from your bike ??? hell thats encouraging

XXX manages to convince this wildchild and off we go .....I have no idea whats lying ahead waiting... ??? ???

XXX has given me the most wonderful opportunity a memory and experience of a lifetime ;D ;D ;D XXX thanks for a wonderful opportunity BTW guys .....there was no catch!!

So we depart from Bloubergstrand.......I have no idea whats ahead except that I am filled with trepidation, excitement, anxiety u name it....

 

[GO GIRL]

Just some of the photos on depparture  and no comments at the Katooms being on the trailer this was to save the tyres....and I knoww you all know that I would have easily ridden from CPT to Kuruman and the rest so here goes 

XXX after loading up

 

[GO GIRL]

We stop over at Calvinia at the world's  biggest post box ..

 

[GO GIRL]

We arrive in Kuruman at Red Sands Lodge at 330am pitch tent get to sleep at 430 am up again at approx 0730 campsite organised a bit moved the "home" into the shade of the tree and park off naturally the Beast get preference ;D

XXX gets real relaxed  8)

Me I still have no idea what lies ahead, I just see more n more quads and people p[ulling in more trepidatrion and anxiety

Im just chatting to all and sundry and I just see more n more guys pulling in with their 'little'toys no other big DS bikes saw a V strom  and some 650 Dakars I think I seriuosly need my head read ???

XXX is just chuckling awasy much better ;D

 

[GO GIRL]

Aaand what would the Desert Run be without the traditions.... 8) 8) 8) as XXX has been here before he takes me to the tent where we enrol meet Simon Fourie and naturally the Stroh Rum and and raisins which have been soaking away for the last five weeks or so ??? ???

I get fed this stuff.....well the photos say it all

First the spoon feeding

Then the tasting .....

Now what do I do with all this mixture in my mouth 

My expressions said it all Simon and XXX think this is just a joke well you guys who have done this before need I say more 8) 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

And the day dawns and tru to tradition the heavens open up  ??? ??? it's still dark and we manage to bundle all the camping gear into the jeep I saddle up my Beast and we ride out while its still dark in the pouring rain get to kuruman and its still raining catsn dogs ??? ???

We decide to have brekkies at the wimpy opening at 0700

Just a few photos to prove that it was raining... ???

Anel and myself she was riding a honda small bike surely this should have told me what was lying ahead???? ??? ???

Just some pics just to prove it was raining :

Arriving at Hotazel at the beginning of the official start point....alll I can say is that I am glad that I rode that bit as I sorft of settled into my Beast and settled myself....the nerves were building up stomach sitting in my throat ant more descriptions to describle all this uncertainty ???

 

[GO GIRL]

XXX speaks to two other guys Andri and Maurius (Andri on a V strom and Maurius on the 650 Dakar) and asks them to watch out for me .....being me I sya to them dnt worry you guys carry on I ride a lot slower and dont want to hold them up....

We all depart togethet those two fly off I settle in at a comfy pace qnd find my 'wheels'  we arrive ar Van Zyls river and all do the sosatie thing there....me Im to hyped up only want water and to get going ;D ;D

I like what Im experiencing, but wait now its the road to the Molopo River bed, off we go and here I manage to hook in behind
Andri and Maurius ansome very rocky and difficult terrain.....my first ;D

we all meet up at the bottom of the first stretch at the Botswana fence Im totally relieved at being here in one piece...

Here I am told well thats it the worst is over now its plain sailing....MMM If I knew what was lying in front....who knows I might not have finished ??? ??? 8)

Here are somne of the photos arriving at Middelputs(I think)

This is a photo taken bt XXX of Mark(surgeon) we later named him Voete or Flinstone650 as he paddled just about the whole route thru!

Mark(650 dakar) Andri( V strom - he was later to fall twice in the Molopo river Bed) GO GIRL and Maurius(650 dakar)

 

[GO GIRL]

So after we have a break at the Botswana bend in the Molopo River Bed hey the rest oif the trip easy WOW everything but

We stop for a break under the tree and found this snake doing his rounds for food in the nest we managed to get a couple of photos of him and boy he was a big guy 

After this break this is where all the fun n games started......yeeha ;D ;D ;D

Sand and sand and sand and more unfortunately no action shots all I can say is that this Beast of mine reared and bucked and swayed under me and Ai honestly thought I was going to lose myself and the Beast< Andri slowed down and took a fall

Maurius and I helped him up steadied him and things went well for a while untill the paw paw hit the fan the second time....
#$%^andri said this is not on he has simply had #$$% enuff!!! we picked him up agian and no convincing from this energy bunny would do

The following pictures say it all  Andri loaded up his bike onto XXX's trailer  ???

This little escapade cost us two hurs in the sun and XXX's Jeep got stuck in the sand  ???

An attempt was made by a Prado to tow him out then the two big boys(landcruisers) and eventually they got XXX out of the sand 8) 8)

 

[Adventurer]

This much fun should not be legal, keep it coming, awesome so far. 8) 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

Just before loading Andri's bike I had to get the bike out of the way and had to ride up the embankment....OOh Boy another
challenge 8) 8) I enjoyed this ;D ;D

 

[lonerider]

Looks like hard work - but an awesome lot of fun as well!! Keep em coming GG!

 

[GO GIRL]

This loading and waiting for vehicles to tow XXX out cost us riders at least two hours in the heat and we still had to get to the Molopo Lodge I still had no idea what was up front..... ???

so off Maurius and I went met up with BradleyS at the refuelling stop....was pleased to see another WD BTW he was one of the official medicsa on the trip....

we had another breather here and Simon popped me over to the other side of the Bots border and I became an official illegal immigarant for a about 5 minutes or so.....

That stretch in the Molopo River bed was incredibly challenging
Those in the know who have done this bvefore were all surprised at the amount of sand therer was and how bad the route was

I couldnt tell the difference I was just too pleased to get thru that section....

The photo taken of me was taken by XXX as he wanted to show everyone that  I do get tired....yes that is so but that expression was amixture off heat excitement, anxiety ADRENALIN big time any more you want to add and I will gladly relate...

Well thats all for now i wil carry on posting again tomorrow..... Im not evfen finished with the first day ???

Everytime we stopped somewhere and I managed to finish a section I would get off with this huge grin albeit tiring, I would say
MORE MORE and Andri had a couple of choice words to say to that he maintains this gal MAL ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[GO GIRL]

I think this pic says a whole lot of my feeling of ecstasy exhiliration 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

After the refuelling stop we stil had agood 60/70 kms to go  ??? I have no idea where we are.... ???

So I keep hauling Im now ok wioth the gravel and trying all sortsd of tricks in the corners so now AI am past the tired stage I want to play with this Beast ;D ;D

BTW what I forgot to mention is that Andri has now decided to drive the Jeep and XXX has off loaded his Banjee so now he he is riding his quad......

Eventually we threeXXX Maurius and Mysself we get to anothere resting point this is where I again have to wait for the boys cos now XXX decides he wants to offg load his katoom and put tghe banjee back on the4 trailer well what do you guys say....

WTF???? so another hour goes by here while the men are doing their thing..... ???

In the meantime XXX comes to me and says he thinks that he must load up my bike tomorrow as there is a very difficult dune coming up.....do I see that dune XXX points in a direction to a dune.....

I look and see and say I want to give it a bash

He says to me the dune is 2x that size but this gal is not being convinced,.....I say I want to try I still have no idea what is up front he is convinced he wants to load up my bike this gal NO WAYS  im riding.... ???

So off we go another hour and a half later  we hit the road to arrive at the MOLOPO River Lodge much to myt relief

 

[GO GIRL]

A different looking gal tired lots of sun and clean 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

The next morning is the Molopo Rietfontein stretch....normal thing to do is saddle up the BEast 8) 8)

Just some of the photos before entering the pans

XXX this is the entrance road to the pans mmmm sand

It was along this section that XXX decided to ride in front of me he was not going fast enough for me and need I say more I took a dive.... ;D ;D

some photos in the pan ass well as the road leading to the ominous dunes which I still had no idea what was ahead ;D

and in tru tradition XXX had to get this photo  enjoy alll 8) 8) 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

My Beast and the road on the way to the infamous dunes that XXX wanted me to  load up 

 

[GO GIRL]

The road to the dunes...

Its amazing to ride around in the pans...I would love trying to ride there when there is water in it 8)

 

[GO GIRL]

And this is where all the fu  started 3 guys on little toys went hauling thru the dunes I gingerly paddled thru find my 'feet and wheels' got up and statted 

What I rode I simply cannot describer.. all I know is that XXX was behind me and what he saw he honestly thought I was  going to lose my bike according to him I was being bounced around like a ping pong ball on the Beast she fishtailed and bucked and reared..... I just hung on and HAULED... ;D ;D ;D

Then it (the dune) the first one rose above I saw this and thought what the hell how am I going to get through this I dropped a gear and went I got to the top and was so excited tyhat I actiually made it  I simply could not believe it 

When I stopped to collect myself together I fell over...... ;D ;D ;Dthis to me was really funny my expression says it all 8) 8)

this photo says it all I could not be4lieve it and of course out the camra comes!!!!

 

[JourneyMan]

Well done for doing the alternative routes! Much more challenging and fun!