Karoo/Namibia Ride 2017 ... well, almost...

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Joined
Sep 13, 2010
Messages
3,605
Reaction score
174
Location
I would rather be in Great Brak...
Bike
Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
One thing we learnt from our Namibia 2016 trip was when not to do it ... it was not just the normal damn hot in September last year - no Sir, it was moerse warm! So after much back and forth we came to a brilliant conclusion ... we'll do it in August! Yep, no doubt you can imagine our surprise at this ... the answer to all our dilemmas was right there all along! So, with this huge weight off our shoulders we did the usual preparations: bike good? ... check, tyres good? ... check, passports got all pictures & clean pages? ... che ... well, you get the idea.   

Then, in early June a speed wobble to upset all carefully made problems shows up; Allen's eldest, the first born and clearly one of his 3 favorite offspring had plans of her own, #2 was on the way, ETA 1st August! Quite correctly some may ask what this has to do with Uncle Allen's Namibia 2017 bike ride?? ... well, I asked too but was informed that Roleen requested his presence at her side after the birth AND for 2 weeks thereafter. One does not mess with "Porks" as Tappet will confirm so just like that I was looking at my 2nd solo Nam trip. OK, jawellnofine then.

Last year we had planned on stopping in Nieu Bethesda, paid a deposit and then never made it due to the delicate love/hate relationship of tubes and tyres. Amazingly the deposit was still valid, so I asked Hannes (XRRX) if he had time for a ride, as short or as long as he had time for and he agreed as it was time to visit the folks oppie plaas in die Vrystaat. 

So here then is what happened:

We meet in North George as I have a stop to do on the Outeniqua Pass.







This is what I call 'n mooi plaashuis!



Hannes manages to just miss a suicidal calf so needed a smoke.



Still new roads for me.





Notice that unusually intense stare at the AT ... ou liefde me thinks as he did the first 1000km running her in for me early last year, Thanks Oom Hannes!





 
Ian in Great Brak River said:
ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS said:
Tik boeta tik ek is lus vir n RR :thumleft:

Ekke is maar net 'n twee finger tikker ...
Is reg ek ook en ek lees dieselfde spoed wat n twee vinger tikker tik.... ;) :lol8:
 
Now I can see what all the interest is in this dorpie in the middle of the Klein Karoo.











We stay in Elsies Huis of iets ...



I would have parked the bikes inside but we better behave ourselves in other peoples homes.





They serve the best Goat foot alla Gemsbok this side of ... well, anywhere ...













Great time of the year to be out here, crisp and clear in the mornings.







Hannes needs to continue on to the Freestate so my solo ride begins. Within an hour I come across this Steenbokkie ... no car in sight ...??













Cape Town in the Klein Karoo.



Day 1 video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaIds2yQ9YA
 
:eek: :eek: ... at last!!!  :sip: :sip:

"Notice that unusually intent stare at the AT ... ou liefde me thinks as he did the first 1000km running her in for me early last year, Thanks Oom Hannes!"
:lol8: :thumleft:

Just checking if you are looking after her!!  :patch:
 
Hey Buddy. Cool let her rip, been waiting for this RR even though it i dont really want to read  the bloody thing as i missed our ride  this year together and i no how i feel as i could just not be on the bloody ride.  :biggrin: :biggrin:  :ricky: :ricky:
 
Prieska, a town that I have been to before on the Varadero with Charlotte about 10 years ago. I book into the same place but it's changed with new owners and their new ideas and is the better for it.







After a good breakfast.



Strange stones with a white speed stripe down the middle.



... even here there is rubbish to be found ...



I am also aware of more and more abandoned houses.



20k's from Vanwyksvlei I find an open gate to a pan ... always wanted to try this.











Quiet roads today.





Just on 10 000k's on her so far, great bike this is.







Kakamas in the dip, and the Vergelegen Lodge.



Nice place and I get a room right at the back so do not hear the road noise ... that much.





Day 2 video;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH3GlzCgldc&t=301s


 
Jealous but dam im enjoying the  :ricky: . Gooi it Buddy
 
Niice!!
Wish I could have joined you further!!!  :(

Great pic - Freedom/Solitude !!!  :thumleft:
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/mejijA.jpg
 
Ek wag vir die res in spanning... Lekker report sover.  :thumleft:
 
Thanks to Xpat for the tip on Vergelegen Country Lodge, he mentioned it in yet another epic solo trip  ... I am clearly unworthy ...  :-[

... and just like that starts day 3 to Felix ... it's 400k's and I have decided to cross the border at Onseepkans/Verloorsdrift. In 2014 at this crossing they were very interested in our bikes but not much else ... this year the Cop dude follows me out of Customs and at the bike shakes me down for my fancy red plastic pen ... when I tell him it's a Clicks R4 special he insists on having it ... what the hell ??  ...  should have kept my mouth shut.





This bridge and the campground on the left makes me think of ChrisL's RR 2 years ago when he camped here on his way to the Koes Rally and the "doef - doef" kak music that night ... classic!



500m up from Nam Immigration I turn left onto the lekker ...





Just for you, see the comparison from 2015 and 2017 in these 4 photos ...









Warmbad Garage makes me an offer I can't refuse: full service, lunch and new T-shirt ... all for FREE!



 
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