SGB
Race Dog
Milkybar and friends put together a ride in Hoopstad / Hertzogville area - within easy striking distance from Bfn and we were keen to join in. I knew what the terrain looks like, some good friends farm in the area too. And us townies don't get the opportunity to ride proper sand too often. Thank you to all involved with the planning and putting together - We were only there for the day on Saturday, everyone else please share your stories of the rest of the weekend, just add on here if you like!
We (Bees1 & myself) left Bfn early Saturday, arrived in time for morning coffee with Mikedabike who was up and sitting at the pub waiting for us. Thanks brother! Slowly we started seeing more signs of life around the farmhouse, and soon there was lots of activity as people started getting ready for ride. By 7:30 the group was lined up and ready to go. The riders briefing was short and sweet - "If you don't know sand, just go fast and sit down. Let's go".
Some noise (symphony :ricky
and dust filled the fresh morning air and the sand was there immediately. And the sand monster lives in the sand and it was quite hungry. Looking at those 2 farm boys on the orange 950's, I think the sand monster on their farm is very hungry, it does not get fed very often. It is a good thing that the Western Freestate is quite flat (you can see on Wednesday aslready who's coming to visit on Sunday.... :) , and the scenery is not very spectacular, so the only thing there is to admire is the track.... So that is where we were looking for most of the time! The pack was getting a little bit stretched out, there was all skill levels from the vlamgat Hoopstad boere to those who have never before encountered the sand monster.
There were bikes of any shape / size, Honda NXR 125, DRZ, 250 2T, 450, 650 in various tastes - X Country / X Challenge / GS, Tenere, 950, 990, 1200 GS, GSA. Wide selection all having fun together. And I saw again that there is something in the club but more in the swing.....
The ride was stunning. Once you find the rythym, you become almost immune against the poison of the sand monster. Cruising down those sandy tracks, I saw 140 on the speedo a couple of times and I was never in front.... Nice group of people! :thumleft: Here are some pics I took during the ride - pity we never stopped in the thick sand, everyone was doing such serious West FS sight seeing that nobody had the courage to decelerate in that stuff. You could see and feel the sandmonster's teeth (or was there sinkplaatpad under the sand? :biggrin
Did Piet get some sand up his nose?? :laughing4:
Feeding the monster....
Cooldrink stop - MB was following in a bakkie - handing out energy bars and cooldrinks en route. Such luxury we are not used to....
The farmers are planting maize, and the mood is good - there is moisture in the soil and things are looking up. There is something John Deere green in the heart of any farm boy....
Forum identity noticed....
Off we go again! :ricky:
The flying GSA - almost left behind that German cosmetic mudguard 8)
More of those yummie sand tracks - REALLY enjoyed the riding! :biggrin: :ricky:
Back at Piet's house for lunch, some real farm hospitality as we know it - thanks boys & girls! Awesome!
Off again after lunch, some more of that same stuff - lekka! :thumleft: :mwink:
The sand monster leaves tracks, but not permanent ones, they wash off easily!
Rural traffic takes shapes you do not see on the N1, these farmers have really nice toys...
Another thing about this monster is that it is heavy on equipment. I dont think it's a normal characteristic, it just had a bad day.
We had a 950 / 990 fuel pump fail, and a 1200 GS rear shock breaking out of the swing arm, and the monster chomped two of those German mud guards.
We had a great day, back in Bfn safely. Sorry that we did not stay for the braai, but we had to get back to town. Thanks very much again to all who made this possible, we would love to come back. Pleeeaaase!!!
Hope everyone else has a safe trip back too!
We (Bees1 & myself) left Bfn early Saturday, arrived in time for morning coffee with Mikedabike who was up and sitting at the pub waiting for us. Thanks brother! Slowly we started seeing more signs of life around the farmhouse, and soon there was lots of activity as people started getting ready for ride. By 7:30 the group was lined up and ready to go. The riders briefing was short and sweet - "If you don't know sand, just go fast and sit down. Let's go".
Some noise (symphony :ricky
and dust filled the fresh morning air and the sand was there immediately. And the sand monster lives in the sand and it was quite hungry. Looking at those 2 farm boys on the orange 950's, I think the sand monster on their farm is very hungry, it does not get fed very often. It is a good thing that the Western Freestate is quite flat (you can see on Wednesday aslready who's coming to visit on Sunday.... :) , and the scenery is not very spectacular, so the only thing there is to admire is the track.... So that is where we were looking for most of the time! The pack was getting a little bit stretched out, there was all skill levels from the vlamgat Hoopstad boere to those who have never before encountered the sand monster.There were bikes of any shape / size, Honda NXR 125, DRZ, 250 2T, 450, 650 in various tastes - X Country / X Challenge / GS, Tenere, 950, 990, 1200 GS, GSA. Wide selection all having fun together. And I saw again that there is something in the club but more in the swing.....
The ride was stunning. Once you find the rythym, you become almost immune against the poison of the sand monster. Cruising down those sandy tracks, I saw 140 on the speedo a couple of times and I was never in front....
Nice group of people! :thumleft: Here are some pics I took during the ride - pity we never stopped in the thick sand, everyone was doing such serious West FS sight seeing that nobody had the courage to decelerate in that stuff. You could see and feel the sandmonster's teeth (or was there sinkplaatpad under the sand? :biggrin
Did Piet get some sand up his nose?? :laughing4:
Feeding the monster....
Cooldrink stop - MB was following in a bakkie - handing out energy bars and cooldrinks en route. Such luxury we are not used to....
The farmers are planting maize, and the mood is good - there is moisture in the soil and things are looking up. There is something John Deere green in the heart of any farm boy....
Forum identity noticed....
Off we go again! :ricky:
The flying GSA - almost left behind that German cosmetic mudguard 8)
More of those yummie sand tracks - REALLY enjoyed the riding! :biggrin: :ricky:
Back at Piet's house for lunch, some real farm hospitality as we know it - thanks boys & girls! Awesome!
Off again after lunch, some more of that same stuff - lekka! :thumleft: :mwink:
The sand monster leaves tracks, but not permanent ones, they wash off easily!
Rural traffic takes shapes you do not see on the N1, these farmers have really nice toys...
Another thing about this monster is that it is heavy on equipment. I dont think it's a normal characteristic, it just had a bad day.
We had a 950 / 990 fuel pump fail, and a 1200 GS rear shock breaking out of the swing arm, and the monster chomped two of those German mud guards.
We had a great day, back in Bfn safely. Sorry that we did not stay for the braai, but we had to get back to town. Thanks very much again to all who made this possible, we would love to come back. Pleeeaaase!!!
Hope everyone else has a safe trip back too!
