Kaokoland...makes you thirsty...for more!

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.5

Brian was such a gentleman and allowed Gordon the 690 for some relaxation in the sand!

The rest of our group had opted to follow the jeep track next to the river bed, and after having a good dose of sand riding, Hennie Roos lead the group on to firmer land! The 690 went back to Brian. :'(

As it was hot, I decided to carry on at a slow pace for cooling of the body. :thumleft:

It wasn't long before the group came flying past.

After a quick photo break, I continued to find that the group had stopped some distance further along the jeep track.

It appeared to be a normal break/regroup stop, but on getting closer I observed Bertie's 500 in a shallow ditch next to the jeep track.

He had run wide in a corner, with the ditch throwing him off the bike. :'(

Bertie was on his feet, but complained of pain in his right upper arm and shoulder. >

Gene's Cruiser was to become Bertie's mode of transport, and the 500, although unscathed was loaded on the back-up Cruiser. :'(

Pic 1: The photo stop.

Pic 2 : Brian in a hurry.

Pic 3 : Bertie's brake/sliding mark.

Pic 4 : Bertie in pain, and understandably not a happy chappy.

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.6

We're still on the 7th day of our adventure through the Kaokoland, traversing the 110 kms from Marble Camp to Puros. :thumleft:

We have exited the Khumib's dry river bed, and following the jeep track to the Puros Conservancy.

What makes the Kaokoland special, is the privilege of riding your motorcycle in a wilderness area with game roaming freely, and not a fence in sight! :biggrin:

Pic 1: Stopping for giraffe

Pic 2: A closer pic

Pic 3: Ian Timoney, having a break, the smile a testimony of the great riding.

Pic 4: Duncan, and some greenery.

Pic 5: An easier section for Gordon on the AT.

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.7

Having exited the Khumib river, we are still following a rocky jeep track to Puros, intercepting the dry river bed of the Hoarusib river, which joins our track from the North-east. We will be following the Hoarusib river for 24 kms to Puros. :biggrin:

Pic 1: Entering the Puros Conservancy. Hennie Roos and Brian Harmse in the background.

Pic 2 : The jeep track.

Pic 3:  Duncan and Hennie Oubones

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.8

Pic 1: Hennie Oubones, with the sand and vegatation of the Hoarusib river leading to Puros, in the background.

Pic 2: Kobus Myburgh and Hennie Oubones

Pic 3: Late entry: Gordon and his Himba love!

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.9

Before tackling the sand of the Hoarusib river, we had our "lunch break" under some shade trees, with the sand in close view!

 

[ktmmer]

Dankie vir al die detail , namens al ons ouens wat op die stadium net kan droom van so n trip.  :thumleft:

 

[chopperpilot]

Dankie vir al die detail , namens al ons ouens wat op die stadium net kan droom van so n trip.  :thumleft:

Probeer om te gaan...dis die beste besluit wat ek geneem het....die omgewing en bike ry is uit die heel boonste rakke ...ek verlang erg terug na Kaokoland... :'(

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.10

After the break, we started the 24km stretch along the Hoarusib river to our overnight stop at Puros. :thumleft:

The Hoarusib had some water recently, although most subsided. A mixture of sand, rocks and even mud awaited us.

The last few kilometers we picked up some speed, on a wide, hard, sand stretch.

The front group of riders were voluntarily ambushed by Hennie and Brian to the Manchester tavern, where we enjoyed a few cold ones. ;D

After some time, we realised that Gordon was not with us. More on this later. ;D

As mentioned, the river conditions varied. I was riding behind Ian as we crossed the river, following a muddy rutted 4 x 4 track.

The track threw Ian off balance, landing in the mud.


As he had lost his LH handguard earlier on the trip, the fall snapped his clutch lever. :'(

Ian, at first despondent, was advised to push the bike in neutral, then jump up and select 1st simultaneously. The pushing was to much effort. He started the bike, crashed it in 1st, and off he went.

At our next stop I was able to do a temporary repair with a heavy duty cable tie.

Pic 1: The muddy crossing, that claimed the clutch lever.

Pic 2: Discussing repair possibilities.

Pic 3: The cable tie repair. A spare lever was fitted at camp.

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.11

Some of our group went directly to the lodge. :thumleft:

We only used the ablution facilities at the lodge. Bertie was however given a comfortable bed, to ensure he was as comfortable as can be. The rest of us were still "camping".

Some general pics at the Puros Lodge.

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.11

Besides being in the company of Ian and Brian, the alcoholic refreshments added to many laughs at the tavern.

To be honest, I had many laughs on this trip, but Ian was hilarious at the tavern. :imaposer:

We have some video material of Ian in action. It has unfortunately been classified as " Top Secret"!


Pic 1: Ian, Brian, Henk, Hennie Roos, Peter and Duncan in front.

Pic 2: Brian "Sipho" Harmse, with Duncan, Peter, Hennie and the locals joining for the laughter!

Pic 3: The tavern.

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 7.12

Pretty surprising, we noticed after a few beers, that Gordon wasn't with us.

He was part of the group that were riding to the tavern. :

We left the tavern for camp, and found Gordon about a km or 2 from the tavern. He had run out of fuel. He was not a happy chapp at first..being left behind.  :'(

We quickly siphoned some fuel to get Gordon going. :thumleft:

Ian then suggested/instructed that we had to return to the tavern, as Gordon had not had a beer yet!

We al faithfully complied, and returned for more beers and laughter! :imaposer:

At dusk we decided to find camp, before "Headmaster Hardy" dished out "6 van die beste!

Pic 1: Henk and Gordon. The wide sandy plain can be seen in the background.

Pic 2: Hennie and Brian siphoning some fuel from the XR. Duncan keeping a lookout for elephant and lion!

Pic 3: Ian, Gordon, Duncan and Peter

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 8: Puros to Khowarib....but first some fun in the dunes! :biggrin:

Day 8 initially consisted of a 200 km section from Puros to Khowarib, including the Purros canyon. The canyon section was cancelled, due to the possible danger of desert elephants in the canyon.  :'(

We had a late breakfast and departure, as today was to be good gravel roads. :-\

This provided ample time to visit the sand dunes, just to the East of Puros. It was early morning, and the views of the area at sunrise were breathtaking. ;D

Without hesitation I accepted the invite to join Hennie Roos and Brian Harmse to ride the dunes. ;D

Pic 1: The lodge/camp is at the river, just above the right hand guard.

Pic 2: Brian and Hennie Roos.

Pic 3: Brian

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 8.1: Entrance to Purros Canyon

Brian suggested we have a quick look at the entrance of the Purros Canyon, as we still had some time to kill before breakfast. :biggrin:

We raced down the dune, past Puros village and followed the jeep track for a short distance into the canyon, before stopping for a few pics, maintaining a good lookout for any elephant activity.

After breakfast, fuel was added to the bikes from the jerry cans. We would pass the town of Sesfontein today, were fuel could be bought, the first time since leaving Opuwo.

Due to a rocky ridge underneath the Hoarusib river, water is visible on the surface at the entrance of the canyon. :thumleft:

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 8.2: Puros to Khowarib

We followed some sand from the lodge, then gravel jeep track, before jumping on the D3707 next to the Gomatum river. On this road we would pass the tiny settlement of Tokamas, then onto the Giribes plain (@ 55km).

From the plain we approached the Sirib mountains to the West of Sesfontein, which provided for some twisty gravel passes to ride.  :biggrin:

I  stopped next to the road to take a few pics of our riders.

Pic 1: Ian Timoney

Pic 2: Craig Botha

Pic 3: Peter King

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 8.3: Puros to Khowarib

More of the riders. :thumleft:

Pic 1: Hennie Dekker

Pic 2: Kobus Myburgh

Pic 3: Hardy de Kock

 

[chopperpilot]

Day 8.4: Puros to Khowarib

Pic 1: Zanie conducting a Meerkat stance on the Honda CRF 230.

Pic 2: The 500 patiently waiting for its rider.

Pic 3: Riders and bikes have a rest in the shade.

 

[Fransw]

Hoekom is Diesel heeltyd aan band? :snorting:

 

[chopperpilot]

Hoekom is Diesel heeltyd aan band? :snorting:

Eintlik nog ń puppy...so nog besig om te leer.

 

[Fransw]

Hoekom is Diesel heeltyd aan band? :snorting:

Eintlik nog ń puppy...so nog besig om te leer.

Oulike honde die Rifrug! Goeie jagters. Het ook een gehad..

Great RR! :thumleft:

 

[chopperpilot]

Hoekom is Diesel heeltyd aan band? :snorting:

Eintlik nog ń puppy...so nog besig om te leer.

Oulike honde die Rifrug! Goeie jagters. Het ook een gehad..

Great RR! :thumleft:

Hy ry egter baie soet links voor saam met Chantal in die Cruiser.