My contribution to Hanno’s first ride. It started off with an idea and a map.
And it progressed to a photo of a road on my bucket list, which got an immediate approval stamp from Bie.
The weather did not play along, so the ride was called off twice, but squeezed on three times, so guess who won. It was still drizzling when I and Jupiter met at the Caltex garage. That’s where I first fell in love with that R80G/S. You know how it’s like if you talk to somebody and it’s difficult to look them in the eye because of their assets. It was the same with Jupiter and his Beemer. I’m not exaggerating, I grew up with these airheads, but it was mostly tourers. To see an airhead out of that era, but a fully fledged DS bike made my day.
Me and Jupiter off to meet up with Hanno at the Total garage.
We all shook hands with the guest of honour and off we went.
As I’ve said, I just had to give a stare back at the old lady.
Can you see what I saw? I never saw anybody so excited to do a ride.
The Cockscomb road was slippery and it was a little concern to me because of Hanno’s front Anakee. So I monitored him in my mirror as we went along. At one stage I looked in my mirror and Hanno was gone. I felt how the blood drained from my head. That sick numb feeling started to flow over me like a raging river. I turned around rushed back and as I got over a little hill, there they were, taking photos. I was so relieved to see them both upright and OK.
No photographer in his right mind can resist such a scene and I decided to forgive him for giving me a heart attack.
Jupiter and his beautiful R80G/S
As soon as we’ve continued on our trip, the rain came down.
The Cockscomb road is usually a Gravel highway, but the recent rain took its toll.
At the turnoff toward Glenconnor we stopped for a quick pic.
I had problems with my visor fogging up, so I decide to take out the backup.
Our own Hanno, the master photographer.
Please pardon me if there’s too many pics of the R80G/S, or can there be too much??
Lots of water in the area.
I took a snapshot of the weather building up toward Uitenhage when I discovered (showing only on the Cam) that what I saw there was my helmet strap. I rode for about 16km without my helmet secured. I remember afterward that when I met up with Bie, my Helmet strap was loose and I thought I loosen it already. I don’t know if this ever happened to you, but that was the first time it happened to me. A big reminder to me to make sure the helmet is secured. I share it with you to be more aware that things like this can happen.
The weather toward Wolwefontein didn’t look that bright either.
Must admit it’s not the most exiting road I’ve ridden.
Arrival at Glenconnor and Bie was waiting across the road.
The first time I’ve met Jupiter, the first time I’ve met Hanno, and the first time I’ve met Bie. A bunch of strangers from the Wilddog family. It panned out very well. Bie invited us for a hot mug of coffee at his parents farm. We all agree that it was a brilliant idea as the temperature was around 10°C all the time.
And off we went toward my “bucket list” road. It was here were we’ve encountered the road that was washed away asI’ve already showed in a previous clip.
A small distance into the road and we were on Bie’s parents’ farm. We were greeted with the hospitality you only get from farmers.
After Coffee and rusks, we were off again.
We must have crossed that river about 10 times. Here’s a sequence of photos with Bie leading us.
The river on the right
I was looking back to see if Hanno keeps up. No problem, he rode like a pro.
And that’s where Bie decided to have a sosatie braai. In the middle of a public road. This was not in the original plan, but it’s events like this that make as trip a memorable one.
We gathered some wood laying around and Bie started the fire.
I took the time to take some photos of the moment.
The last stretch of this road was more rustig, with a crossing or two.
There were a few gates to negotiate on the next stretch, but it was all worth it.
Bie
Hanno
Jupiter our voluntary sweeper.
A sloot in the road.
Hanno going through like a pro
The old Lady stretch het legs and even popped us a little wheelie.
Some patches had a lot of sand.
And this patch almost had me.
Hanno went through it like a knife through butter. The sand patch is just before the gate and I got a bit fixated on the little sand wall next to the track and guess what happened? It sucked me in and almost saw my behind.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/4Waf7M9R03k[/flash]
Mud, but again, it did not faze Hanno. I’m telling you, he’s either not as green as he says he is or he’s a natural.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/Dx22aNl1-0U[/flash]
Bie gave us a bit of history on the area.
The MAN. I seldom saw Hanno without a grin of some sort.
We saw some Bokkies next to the road.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/o9V5kqJmEmI[/flash]
The aloe plants were in flower. It was a nice contrast to the greenery.
Beautiful area.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/RXPgDzfUTM0[/flash]
Hanno mentioned that he had difficulty with the loose gravel. It was quite slippery.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/aymXWi8fenQ[/flash]
More water crossings
Some locals
I rode next to Hanno but couldn’t retrieve the video for some reason, so I snapshot it.
This is where we ran out of gravel.
The road to Kirkwood.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/qsNiyGYJlWQ[/flash]
Chameleon restaurant
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/Zh6Z4uoEofI[/flash]
The plan was to have breakfast at the Chameleon but nobody was hungry after Bie’s sosaties.
A coffee and toasted samie was all we could manage.
The Chameleon bar. I wondered how many dogs would burn this bar if it could talk.
It was time to depart. Bie was heading back in the direction of Jansenville and we were off to PE/Uitenhage.
Jupiter spot something hanging loose from Hannos back bag and Hanno secured it.
We were riding out of Kirkwood when I decided it was time to fly home. Wave the guys goodbye and off I went while Hanno and Jupiter disappeared in my mirror.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/q1_0gF6z7fs[/flash]
The clouds over PE really looked intimidating.
20km before Uitenhage the first rain started to bucket down.
Passed Makro in PE it was bucketing down.
I was almost home and I just wondered where Jupiter was since I dropped them just outside Kirkwood. I wondered what time he would be home since me “gooied” it to PE.
Guess what happened next?!?!?!?
She may be old, but with age there’s wisdom. Jupiter, maybe you must enlighten me with the route you took as it must have been way faster than mine.
[flash=854,480]https://www.youtube.com/v/1R0APggH2TY[/flash]
It was an awesome trip. The trip consists of a bit of everything. We had a ball of a time, and I will ride with you dogs anytime.
Thanks Hanno, Jupiter and BIE.
ot:
