It all started at Toorwater…
- Thread starter Trailrider
- Start date
Succi
Race Dog
Succi
Race Dog
Succi
Race Dog
And then onward to Toorwater where we met up with Trailrider and RovRat.
Toorwater is a magical place and the campsite was awesome with our own hotwater jaccusi,
with 45deg water straight from the earth.
We had many stories to share late into the night.
(RovRat made the "Lewensgevaarlik" sleep outside)
Toorwater is a magical place and the campsite was awesome with our own hotwater jaccusi,
with 45deg water straight from the earth.
We had many stories to share late into the night.
(RovRat made the "Lewensgevaarlik" sleep outside)
Attachments
TR that feather place outside De Rust must be one of the most beautiful houses of its time Ive ever seen. Both times I passed it I wanted to go and ask if I can see the inside.
Bakkie
Race Dog
RovRat said:
Ja you were the only oke with a weight problem
Snafu
Grey Hound
Ek skat julle het nie 'n probleem met kole gehad nie
also
its not cool for 2 men to use a 2man tent.
apparently its a brokeback mountain move.
also know when to stop talking. koos asked me if i wanted steak and i said "nee, eks nog vol van die wors".
that didn't work with the tent story already hanging.
its not cool for 2 men to use a 2man tent.
apparently its a brokeback mountain move.
also know when to stop talking. koos asked me if i wanted steak and i said "nee, eks nog vol van die wors".
that didn't work with the tent story already hanging.
fat b
Race Dog
Lucky I wasn't there !Bakkie said:RovRat said:
Ja you were the only oke with a weight problem
Oom Foe-rie
Race Dog
:happy1:
Trailrider
Bachelor Dog
RovRat said:
:laughing4:
Bakkie
Race Dog
Trailrider
Bachelor Dog
We woke the next morning feeling surprisingly energetic.
Where to? Well, Sakkie and Bakkie were adamant. We ride North. Due North. Through Toorwaterpoort.
Uhm... There is no road through there...
(Foto from this website)
It's cool being "Gung Ho" and all, but what if a train catches us in there? And so it started, looking for solutions, not problems. Firstly we found out from the locals that only one train runs through there on a Saturday morning around 9. Sounds great.
Just before nine 4 Wild Dogs were on Toorwater station, cameras ready, waiting for the train to come through.
And we waited and waited.
Let's put a "Penny op die Spoor!"
Bakkie didn't have any loose change though
And then we waited some more...
This little station has 'n story. The film Paljas was made here.
Very fitting because we had our very own "Paljas" (Clown) in Bakkie, who by now was playing on the tracks.
Sakkie was the first to suggest "Let's just go".
Lets ask the locals first. A worker from a nearby farm assured us that the train would come through any minute now.
So we waited some more...
Still nothing. Bugger this. Lets ride. We'll ride into the Poort as far as we can go without going on or near the track. Nice little road this.
But soon we were at a point where we'd have to go on the track for a section. Where is that bloody train?
We phoned Transnet to inquire about the time the train would come through Toorwater. We said that we plan to travel through the Poort next to the line, but might need to cross the line and obviously the bridge so need to be sure we'll be safe. We got the Oudshoorn number but no-one answered. Back to the people in Cape Town. They assured us the train went through Toorwater at 9:27. Uhm... No it didn't.
So we waited some more.
Maybe if we walk along the track to see how far we'd have to be on it before we can get off?
Wat loer jy?
Then we phoned up Mrs. TR. Please phone around and find out what is going on. After a while she phoned back. The train is supposed to come through Toorwater just after 9, but sometimes when there is not enough passengers the train does not run at all. Well, now they tell us.
It was 11am now and our educated guess was that the train for today was canceled.
Operation Toorwaterpoort was under way. The line is quite high so at the section where we'd have to be on it the bikes has to be carried onto and off the line. For safety sake we stuck together, got all the bikes on, did the section and helped each other to get off.
My heart was in my throat let me tell you. What if the train comes?
We all agreed that this was an adrenalin rush of note!
Riding on the track is not a pleasure at all. The shaking is extreme. Bakkie was in front and he knew I was nervous as hell. Just around the corner he stopped his bike (so we all had to stop), got off en took a photo. Sheez man! Ride! Lets get off the track!!!
Rovrat drew the short straw and he rode at the back. Apparently the GS800's front shock has a tendency to stiffen up on corrugated road. Imagine how that problem is amplified on a railroad track.
The shocks hardened up so much that he had to stop at times to give the pressure in the shocks some time to equalize (I'll let him post the specifics). Stopping and waiting on a train track. It's "Lewensgevaarlik" I tell you!
Riding over the bridge was a helluva experience too.
All this stopping and waiting, getting on and off the tracks etc took a lot of time. The scenery is amazing though.
After about 1 and a half hours we had Vondeling in our sites. It was a grueling 10km but we made it!
Where to now? Lunch in Willowmore! Sakkie had to ride there anyway. He only joined us for the night and he still had to ride through Baviaans to Patensie before the rugby started at 5.
The cold refreshments in Willowmore were very welcome indeed. We barely sat down when the train came rushing through town. In the end it was no more than 10 minutes behind us!
Close call. My 2nd one in 2 days
We planned to ride with Sakkie at least some of the way to Baviaans but we were way to "rustig" and he still had a long way to go so he set off. Eventually after lunch we had to "stock up" for the night but found all the Food stores in Willowmore were closed.
We rode to my parents-in-law and literally bought some meat out of their freezer.
Some Springbok ribs, chicken and some "Vrek Lekker" sosaties
Next stop - Uitspan in Baviaans. Hopefully in time for the rugby!
Nuwekloof Pass:
So we didn't do a lot of km's today, but man what a ride. I also certainly didn't expect to end up in Baviaans. Roam Free indeed.
(Clickable map)
And when the rugby started, so did the party
We sure did whip some Aussie ass!
Two more bikers arrived and as it turns out one of them was a Wild Dog too. jxharding aka "Mohair"
We invited them to our campsite and braai. We had "Vrek lekker" sosaties after all!
Then the shooters started...
There are no more pics of the rest of the evening
I have absolutely no idea what time we got into bed, but I reckon the sun wasn't far from rising when Bakkie finally decided to turn in.
Where to? Well, Sakkie and Bakkie were adamant. We ride North. Due North. Through Toorwaterpoort.
Uhm... There is no road through there...
(Foto from this website)
It's cool being "Gung Ho" and all, but what if a train catches us in there? And so it started, looking for solutions, not problems. Firstly we found out from the locals that only one train runs through there on a Saturday morning around 9. Sounds great.
Just before nine 4 Wild Dogs were on Toorwater station, cameras ready, waiting for the train to come through.
And we waited and waited.
Bakkie didn't have any loose change though
And then we waited some more...
This little station has 'n story. The film Paljas was made here.
Very fitting because we had our very own "Paljas" (Clown) in Bakkie, who by now was playing on the tracks.
Sakkie was the first to suggest "Let's just go".
So we waited some more...
Still nothing. Bugger this. Lets ride. We'll ride into the Poort as far as we can go without going on or near the track. Nice little road this.
But soon we were at a point where we'd have to go on the track for a section. Where is that bloody train?
So we waited some more.
Maybe if we walk along the track to see how far we'd have to be on it before we can get off?
Wat loer jy?
Then we phoned up Mrs. TR. Please phone around and find out what is going on. After a while she phoned back. The train is supposed to come through Toorwater just after 9, but sometimes when there is not enough passengers the train does not run at all. Well, now they tell us.
It was 11am now and our educated guess was that the train for today was canceled.
Operation Toorwaterpoort was under way. The line is quite high so at the section where we'd have to be on it the bikes has to be carried onto and off the line. For safety sake we stuck together, got all the bikes on, did the section and helped each other to get off.
My heart was in my throat let me tell you. What if the train comes?
Riding on the track is not a pleasure at all. The shaking is extreme. Bakkie was in front and he knew I was nervous as hell. Just around the corner he stopped his bike (so we all had to stop), got off en took a photo. Sheez man! Ride! Lets get off the track!!!
Rovrat drew the short straw and he rode at the back. Apparently the GS800's front shock has a tendency to stiffen up on corrugated road. Imagine how that problem is amplified on a railroad track.
Riding over the bridge was a helluva experience too.
All this stopping and waiting, getting on and off the tracks etc took a lot of time. The scenery is amazing though.
After about 1 and a half hours we had Vondeling in our sites. It was a grueling 10km but we made it!
Where to now? Lunch in Willowmore! Sakkie had to ride there anyway. He only joined us for the night and he still had to ride through Baviaans to Patensie before the rugby started at 5.
The cold refreshments in Willowmore were very welcome indeed. We barely sat down when the train came rushing through town. In the end it was no more than 10 minutes behind us!
Close call. My 2nd one in 2 days
We planned to ride with Sakkie at least some of the way to Baviaans but we were way to "rustig" and he still had a long way to go so he set off. Eventually after lunch we had to "stock up" for the night but found all the Food stores in Willowmore were closed.
Next stop - Uitspan in Baviaans. Hopefully in time for the rugby!
Nuwekloof Pass:
So we didn't do a lot of km's today, but man what a ride. I also certainly didn't expect to end up in Baviaans. Roam Free indeed.
(Clickable map)
And when the rugby started, so did the party
We sure did whip some Aussie ass!
Two more bikers arrived and as it turns out one of them was a Wild Dog too. jxharding aka "Mohair"
Then the shooters started...
There are no more pics of the rest of the evening
Riaanrw
Race Dog
This pic makes me think of those animals that sit around. What they called again?
People started getting bored and argued over where to ride next!!
This train track ride is just something you have to do yourself. You cant put the feeling into words.
You can use your own imagination for the next few pics. Something to do with broke back mountain!!! I had laughing pains the next day!! :imaposer:ot:
People started getting bored and argued over where to ride next!!
This train track ride is just something you have to do yourself. You cant put the feeling into words.
You can use your own imagination for the next few pics. Something to do with broke back mountain!!! I had laughing pains the next day!! :imaposer:
ot:
Briekmerk
Race Dog
F@kket! Lyk na lekker ekskursie!
