KAROO AND BAVIAANS TRIP, AUGUST 2019

[Vis Arend]

More

 

[Vis Arend]

We got to Prins Albert and had a nice brekkie at the Hotel.  From there it was to Klaarstroom and then to Willowmore.

From Prins Albert I noticed my bike was back firing excessively.  Just after Klaarstroom I stopped to see what it could be.  Found these bolts a tad loose.  Tightened them up and all was good to go. 

 

[eberhard]

Wow, I envy you! You should be banned for posting this. Now I am depressed and need to go back on my meds.

 

[Vis Arend]

On the way to Willowmore we stopped at Vondeling station for a smoke break and some shade. 
In Willowmore we stopped for fuel and something to braai tonight and some refreshments for a sore throat.  atch:  :biggrin:

Then it was down to Baviaans, Uitspan. 

 

[eberhard]

Did you encounter much traffic on those beautiful, isolated roads (excluding the lost cyclist or two)?

 

[Vis Arend]

We arrived at Uitspan and once again were received by friendly people.  We stayed in on of the caravans their.  Very nice and organized, you have your own ablution, and al the rest you need, fridge / freezer, stove, braai facilities crockery and the like.  All that for a very small fee.  We stayed and braaied like kings and had a wonderful evening in the kloof. 

 

[Vis Arend]

Wow, I envy you! You should be banned for posting this. Now I am depressed and need to go back on my meds.

:biggrin:  Thanks eberhard  :thumleft:

Did you encounter much traffic on those beautiful, isolated roads (excluding the lost cyclist or two)?

Nope, very few, I think most we encountered were farmers and here and there a tourist or two.  Just the way we like it.  :thumleft:

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 7  Uitspan to King William's Town.........................nope  Port Elizabeth it will be.  Unplanned but a little more of that later.

Todays trip woud be the route through Baviaans and then as straight as possible back home in King William's Town.  Things did not work out as planned, instead we would be sleeping in Port Elizabeth.

Today was a big day for my wife.  We did Baviaans several times in the past, but she was always pillion and today would be her 1st day attempting it herself.  I could sense there were a bit of nerves from her side and I tried my best to keep her calm.  I stopped frequently for her to rest and to take as much as possible fluids in.  I kept telling her the roads were are riding today is nothing else that she did before, just at another location.  She later seemed to enjoy the ride and even the scenery.  That told me she calmed down a tad.

We left early and encountered a couple of river crossings, nothing serious, all easy going and in no time we were at the entrance gate to the reserve. 


 

 

[Vis Arend]

We paid our due's at the gate and carried on.  The road became a little more "challenging" with loose stone / rocks in places.  Nothing serious but you had to start concentrating. 

The wife however seemed to enjoy the ride.  She even did a small ramp at one stage and further on she attempted a wheelie.  :eek7:  :lol8:  I still rember telling her to take it slow.  :biggrin:

 

[Vis Arend]

We now started to climb some of the passes towards Smitskraal.  We enjoyed the ride and the scenery. 

 

[Vis Arend]

Some more up and down the mountains. 

 

[Vis Arend]

We got to Smitshkraal and stopped at the picknick spot for a good rest and some left over braai for brekkie.  It also helped the bikes to cool down before we attempt the water crossing.  We however at this stage did not know how deep or shallow the crossing is. 

 

[eberhard]

And the torture never stops!

 

[Vis Arend]

To our suprise there were very little water at the crossing.  The entrance were almost bone dry.  A little further the were a pool of water that we had to negotiate.  I went 1st and found the exit of the pool to be a bit challenging as you had to climb a steep cement slab.  Other than that the usual loose rocks underfoot. 
Note the 1st lot of photo's were taken from my gopro. 

 

[eberhard]

This picture almost says it all.

 

[eberhard]

To our suprise there were very little water at the crossing.  The entrance were almost bone dry.  A little further the were a pool of water that we had to negotiate.  I went 1st and found the exit of the pool to be a bit challenging as you had to climb a steep cement slab.  Other than that the usual loose rocks underfoot. 
Note the 1st lot of photo's were taken from my gopro.

Respect!!

 

[Vis Arend]

Then it was the wifes turn.  She started well, just to loose her self believe and stopped in the middle of the pool.  Momentum lost she tried to walk the bike out but could not get her momentum back.  She slipped on one of the rocks underfoot and went down. 
I rushed to her aid and helped her and the bike up.  I then took het bike and rode it out onto the slab. 

These photo's still from my gopro.

 

[Vis Arend]

The view from her gopro.  :eek7:

 

[eberhard]

A wet wife. The adventure just keeps getting beter.  :thumleft:

 

[HB 9]

Total Respect!!

As always - an awesome RR with the Visarende!!  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft: