Jules and Li Ride Swaziland - December 2008

[Jules]

We werenâ??t planning to go away in December but when RCI let us know that our time share points were expiring at the end of the year we took the opportunity to book 2 chalets at the Ezulweni Sun from the 1st to the 5th of December.
As we were taking the kids and other family members with us the decision was made to trailer the bikes down and then make day trips around Swazi on the bikes.

What can I say about Swaziland, this is truly Adventure Bikers Paradise! The People are friendly the streets are clean and we were lucky to have great biking weather. The mornings were cool and overcast with rain in the evenings to suppress the dust. Our first trip was due south from Manzini. We left at 5:45am for the 200KM route, Our idea was to leave early and get in a long ride and be back by lunch to spend some time with the kids and family.

First Water!

Something to note in the LOADS of pictures I will post is the stunning roads in the background and the awesome green scenery, this is a beautiful country.

Our route took us up the mountain for what felt like ages, the roads got steeper and steeper  and we were rising up towards the cloud cover, It felt like we were going to end up in space.

After entering the cloud cover visibility dropped to less than 5 meters, it was scary having these drop offs next to you and not knowing whatâ??s coming next, We were down to 30kph at one point and just when it felt like we would be suffocated we broke free and drove out on top of the clouds Wow it was amazing so much so I forgot to take a picture 

I R The Dirt Stig

Li Flying Past

At one point while riding past a massive forest we took a small fire trail into the heavily wooded forest.

The forest trail led along a very rutted path right up to the recently cut down section of the forest

Li was amazing through the whole trip, her trail and technical riding skills are improving in leaps and bounds!

End of the Forest

Jules is having fun in case you didnâ??t know!

Day 1 ends with 240km on the clock and some truly wonderful roads and trails ridden.
We took some smaller paths that often ended up in dead ends or in someoneâ??s back garden loads of fun and we were back in time for lunch.

 

[Misty]

Very nice Jules and Li - ag now I'm going to have to add Swazi to the list too - it's getting sooo long now!! :biggrin:

 

[Malibu]

Looks like you two were having the time of your lives... ok, Day 1 done, where is the rest...  ;D

 

[Jules]

Day 2

We started out even earlier and were on the road by 5:20am

We headed out north from our hotel and started off with a nice steep dirt mountain pass,
Things were going great until coming around a bend I see 2 dogs come running down a very steep driveway right at me I just missed them when an unseen third mutt ran right in front of me, I didnâ??t even have time to brake and went down Hard, I was seeing stars when I jumped up and clutching a rock decided that if the dog survived it would get a rock down its throat, I stumbled around trying to find the thing but somehow it had run away , It seems we were both running on 100% adrenalin at that point, I doubt it survived being struck at 50kph by a KLR. I wobbled around checking the bike for damage when Li arrived and helped me right my bike. I must say that SW Motec did a great job in designing the crash bars as it took the full force of the impact and only had a scratch to show for it, my rear right indicator was also broken but was easy to fix using some duct tape. After sorting the bike out I started to check myself out for damage, Stiff calf, stiff and bruised hip stiff shoulder and neck, and it wasnâ??t even 6am yet! As we are about to set off Li notices a sharp piece of rusted steel sticking out of my rear tire, I notice some green slime around the piece of steel but the tire was still fine, I decide to leave it as is and take it easy, If needed we could change the tube later.

I rode a lot slower with the thought of a blow out on a mountain pass keeping my right wrist in check.
I checked the tire and piecs of steel  all day and it never budged or lost any air. I only removed it once we were home and even then the slime stopped it from deflating all the way, it was still at 1 bar when I had a new tube fitted 4 days later. My faith in endure tubes and slime is restored.

Back to day 2
If anything the roads on day 2 were even better  than day 1.

At around 10am we come to a low river bridge with some beautiful rapids and pools close by
We stop and take a break, The water was lekka and quite soothing on my sore bones

No comments on the skinny legs please!

At this point the route go a little harder with some water crossings and degrading road surfaces.

At this point we ran out of sane road and things got HARD

At one point I was trying to get Liâ??s bike to the top of this mountain and the road on the other side when I realised I was taking too much of a chance the surface was very hard with lots of soft dust on top (Zero Traction) it was steep and the wash outs were wider than the bike and twice as deep. If I lost it here the bike would be unrecoverable as there is no way to get a vehicle up here. We had to pick up the 180kg KLR and drag kick and cajole it down the slope, after an hour of this we were finished.

We then had to make our way back through the 5 river crossings to get back to a road to take us back. With my battered body and exhausted mind I did a river crossing at speed without checking first and hit a deep pothole and went down again, on the same side, luckily the bike didnâ??t take on any water and I was able to start it up and ride it out, My bruises were now bruised but at least I was cooler . I was very happy to get to a semi decent dirt road for a nice cruise back to the hotel.

I spotted the local chap with a very well crafted â??Draad Karâ? I took a picture or two and when I gave him R20 for his effort his face lit up like a xmass tree, as I drove off he said â??Come next year  Iâ??ll make a green motor bike for Youâ?

The last stretch of tar took us on this amazing winding route through the more upmarket areas of Swaziland a truly amazing stretch of tar to really test those nobly tires, I was having loads of fun throwing my KLR into the corners like a motard (or Retard if you listen to Li)and it was only the sudden though of my punctured rear tire and the piece of steel still sitting there that made me slow it down to a reasonable pace.

We were going to do 3 days of riding but I was in no shape for it the next morning so we spent it by the pool sipping cocktails instead. Even with all the drama it was my best biking trip yet.


Do yourself a favour and Go Ride Swazi !



Jules and Li

 

[blazes]

Shame on you Jules and Lisa ??? Brings back memories of 1,000 of kilos i have ridden there-----Special---Awesome--Orgasmic. I just do not have words for the area, Except i need to go--like tomorrow again. I see the red roads and can even now remeber how slippery they can get when wet Not to mention that off-camber turn up on the Tea Road--Scarey when a car or bus is coming from the front.

Great riding guy's  :thumleft:

 

[shark_za]

Nice trip guys.
I will be doing this in January. I'm working there a few days a week at the moment and will take my bike instead of flying in.

 

[Jules]

Nice trip guys.
I will be doing this in January. I'm working there a few days a week at the moment and will take my bike instead of flying in.

Take the KDX and tell me whats on the other side of that fing mountain!



;D

 

[letsgofishing]

Great trip and RR Jules - looks like a awesome area to ride - tx for posting

 

[shark_za]

The guest house I always stay in 

 

[shark_za]

Send all GPS tracks you have! I'd love to see them if you dont mind.

 

[Jules]

My Planing routes and the actual tracks we did



Jules

 

[Gee-S-rider]

Never been to Swaziland but now I'm going! Nice report and pics.

 

[edgy]

Very nice..dig that KLR of yours :thumleft:

 

[Cracker]

I R Jealous

 

[Beltzer]

very nice!

 

[NewEra]

Thanks Jules.  Seems you had great fun - Swaziland is now definately on the to do list!  Awsome place seen from you pix and report.

 

[GundaGunda]

Great Suff J&L.

And Jules, those legs look a bit white as well as skinny  ot:

 

[Mungo Park]

lekker report...great pics,that vapor any good?

 

[Plore]

Awesome

 

[Jules]

lekker report...great pics,that vapor any good?

The Vapor Dash is fantastic, hasn't missed a beat in 10 000kms of hard dirt riding!


Jules