- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
- Messages
- 5,159
- Reaction score
- 345
- Location
- Brakpan, South Africa
- Bike
- BMW R1200GS HP2
It’s been a long time coming – our “monthly” One Night Stand which hasn’t happened since heaven knows when!!!! Mother was the main instigator here and planned a weekend away to his possy in the mountains near Kestell. Recent reports about heavy rain in the eastern free state did not deter us so it was with great anticipation and excitement that we met in Bapsfontein on Saturday morning. Ben Bapsie and family was nowhere to be seen so we hit the road soonest!
Busines sin Delmas
A quick stop in Delmas to take care of some business saw Carla being informed that the geyser in her house had popped so her weekend was summarily cut short as she had to rust back to Mamelodi south Silver Lakes to take care of the problem.
Me thought Cosmos flowers in Mar to April – Loverly roads
More lovely roads
The rest of da gang, 6 bikes and all headed for Kestell along the scenic and back roads. The area we passed through was painted green due to all the recent rains and truly a sight to behold. The rains had also compacted the roads very nicely so there was little to no dust and our progress was excellent.
Pit Stop
First time I’ve see a Coca Cola River in Gauteng
Engen 1 Stop on the N3 near Villiers was a nightmare due to the visiting bikers attending the annual Stag rally, so after a bite to eat we returned to the roads less travelled were traffic and fellow road users were the absolute minimum.
Signature stuff
I’d rather be in Tonteldoos, but not today
South from us a major storm was unleashing and we were convinced that we were due for a bit of water before we would arrive at our destination.
Guess who’s bike
Every single river was in flood, the low water bridges blocked with tons of driftwood that was washed downstream by all the rains and mealie field were turning yellow from all the water.
Rivers flowing strong
Protecting the pip after a no 2 haircut
The dark side calling Excalibur
Stop in Vrede
Scenery
In the bustling metropolis of Vrede we pulled in to stock up on some liquid refreshments, meat, petrol and whatever else was needed.
Our relaxed travelling attitude brought us to with 40km’s from our destination by mid afternoon, when Basil decided to have a blow out on his front tyre.
Imagine the force of the water to wash these plants to this spot – no river to be seen anywhere close
At first we though it was an impact puncture as we could not see an holes, but after running the compressor for several minutes without any success we pushed the pig into the water by the side of the road which revealed a sizeable cut just off the running surface of the tyre. Three plugs later and we were on our way.
Basil’s kark starting with his tyre
Water everywhere
2 Km’s up the road we came across a major water obstacle. The road was covered with ducks and geese swimming where the road was supposed to be. A road sign was barely visible so we had to check it out first. Within 20 meters the water was running into our boots from the top which made it absolutely clear that none of the beemers was going to make it.
The road stops here:
Mother checking the depth
Shaun tacked the obstacle with his Katoom and made it through without so much as a sputter from the willing motor. We indicated to him to return and once he was back on our side of the shore it was abundantly clear that the water would most definitely be sucked into the air filter of our trusty Beemers. The only option was to find an alternative route.
Shaun tempting the unknown
Quite a long stretch
Late afternoon, 140 km’s later and we were chasing the setting sun and the watch to catch a shop open in Kestel to get that all important ice & coke. Our “new” route proved rather challenging with lotsa mud, muddy twee spoor tracks and several spilsl installed for some of us. The tyre on Basil’s Adv had spit out the plugs several times but our only option was to replug and pray that it would last the distance.
Lovely roads
Wrestling the heavy pig
As dust turned to absolute darkness we pulled into the farm and quickly set about settling in. What a lovely rustic place Mother had set up here!
Lurking thunder storms
Honey looking lonely
Mud everywhere
The backpackers could accommodate ± 12 people with a lounge suite, kitchen bathroom and whatever else a wilddog would want. Now it was time for some serious kuiering and I am sure no one was disappointed.
Lotsa water crossed here
Sunset
Excalibur after trying to outrun Honey with his machine
Werner & Angie
The Capes finest – courtesy of my friend Van Rheenen in Riebeeck West
Resting
Talking kark
..more talking kark
Mother & Excalibure
Derick fixing the RT’s exhaust
Our spot for the night
Group photo
Lekker wet & muddy
Derick on the dirt with the R100RT
At 12 o’clock, “in fact” at 12:03 we decided to call it the day as we had majored in kark praat and some of us were adopting weed eater mode. We rode on beautiful roads, saw lotsa water and mud but we never actually ran into any rains. Splendid!!!
Road to Golden Gate
Mother fooling around
……..more Golden gate
Zebra’s
Sunday morning we headed for Golden Gate via the gravel road from Kestell and man o man, what an awesome site. Everything was green, the scenery absolutely amazing and the gravel was nice and damp from the previous nights rains, no dust worth mentioning. By 10 am we parked our bikes in Clarens to have breakfast, ran into Deon – man the dogs are everywhere, and then headed home fastest route.
We were stopped as we had no permit
…..so we had to turn back
Clarens
Ashwood fallout
Stop and Go on the way to Lindley - @#$%^ frustrating
The @#$%^& plugs popped out the tyre several more times till we eventually popped in some of those figure 8 shaped BMW jobbies which did the job till we got home. We avoided the road to Frankfort due to all the stop and go’s, but alas not long before we experienced it on the Lindley road as well. At least the free state government seems to be fixing some of the roads as travelling the rural roads in SA is becoming more and more a GS affair. Hell the state of our roads is absolutely shocking.
Well we all made it back safely, had a fabulous weekend riding and now one can cherish the memories and savour all the nonsense talked around the fire last night with an ever so slight smile on my dial
Thanks Mother – was a great 1.
Busines sin Delmas
A quick stop in Delmas to take care of some business saw Carla being informed that the geyser in her house had popped so her weekend was summarily cut short as she had to rust back to Mamelodi south Silver Lakes to take care of the problem.
Me thought Cosmos flowers in Mar to April – Loverly roads
More lovely roads
The rest of da gang, 6 bikes and all headed for Kestell along the scenic and back roads. The area we passed through was painted green due to all the recent rains and truly a sight to behold. The rains had also compacted the roads very nicely so there was little to no dust and our progress was excellent.
Pit Stop
First time I’ve see a Coca Cola River in Gauteng
Engen 1 Stop on the N3 near Villiers was a nightmare due to the visiting bikers attending the annual Stag rally, so after a bite to eat we returned to the roads less travelled were traffic and fellow road users were the absolute minimum.
Signature stuff
I’d rather be in Tonteldoos, but not today
South from us a major storm was unleashing and we were convinced that we were due for a bit of water before we would arrive at our destination.
Guess who’s bike
Every single river was in flood, the low water bridges blocked with tons of driftwood that was washed downstream by all the rains and mealie field were turning yellow from all the water.
Rivers flowing strong
Protecting the pip after a no 2 haircut
The dark side calling Excalibur
Stop in Vrede
Scenery
In the bustling metropolis of Vrede we pulled in to stock up on some liquid refreshments, meat, petrol and whatever else was needed.
Our relaxed travelling attitude brought us to with 40km’s from our destination by mid afternoon, when Basil decided to have a blow out on his front tyre.
Imagine the force of the water to wash these plants to this spot – no river to be seen anywhere close
At first we though it was an impact puncture as we could not see an holes, but after running the compressor for several minutes without any success we pushed the pig into the water by the side of the road which revealed a sizeable cut just off the running surface of the tyre. Three plugs later and we were on our way.
Basil’s kark starting with his tyre
Water everywhere
2 Km’s up the road we came across a major water obstacle. The road was covered with ducks and geese swimming where the road was supposed to be. A road sign was barely visible so we had to check it out first. Within 20 meters the water was running into our boots from the top which made it absolutely clear that none of the beemers was going to make it.
The road stops here:
Mother checking the depth
Shaun tacked the obstacle with his Katoom and made it through without so much as a sputter from the willing motor. We indicated to him to return and once he was back on our side of the shore it was abundantly clear that the water would most definitely be sucked into the air filter of our trusty Beemers. The only option was to find an alternative route.
Shaun tempting the unknown
Quite a long stretch
Late afternoon, 140 km’s later and we were chasing the setting sun and the watch to catch a shop open in Kestel to get that all important ice & coke. Our “new” route proved rather challenging with lotsa mud, muddy twee spoor tracks and several spilsl installed for some of us. The tyre on Basil’s Adv had spit out the plugs several times but our only option was to replug and pray that it would last the distance.
Lovely roads
Wrestling the heavy pig
As dust turned to absolute darkness we pulled into the farm and quickly set about settling in. What a lovely rustic place Mother had set up here!
Lurking thunder storms
Honey looking lonely
Mud everywhere
The backpackers could accommodate ± 12 people with a lounge suite, kitchen bathroom and whatever else a wilddog would want. Now it was time for some serious kuiering and I am sure no one was disappointed.
Lotsa water crossed here
Sunset
Excalibur after trying to outrun Honey with his machine
Werner & Angie
The Capes finest – courtesy of my friend Van Rheenen in Riebeeck West
Resting
Talking kark
..more talking kark
Mother & Excalibure
Derick fixing the RT’s exhaust
Our spot for the night
Group photo
Lekker wet & muddy
Derick on the dirt with the R100RT
At 12 o’clock, “in fact” at 12:03 we decided to call it the day as we had majored in kark praat and some of us were adopting weed eater mode. We rode on beautiful roads, saw lotsa water and mud but we never actually ran into any rains. Splendid!!!
Road to Golden Gate
Mother fooling around
……..more Golden gate
Zebra’s
Sunday morning we headed for Golden Gate via the gravel road from Kestell and man o man, what an awesome site. Everything was green, the scenery absolutely amazing and the gravel was nice and damp from the previous nights rains, no dust worth mentioning. By 10 am we parked our bikes in Clarens to have breakfast, ran into Deon – man the dogs are everywhere, and then headed home fastest route.
We were stopped as we had no permit
…..so we had to turn back
Clarens
Ashwood fallout
Stop and Go on the way to Lindley - @#$%^ frustrating
The @#$%^& plugs popped out the tyre several more times till we eventually popped in some of those figure 8 shaped BMW jobbies which did the job till we got home. We avoided the road to Frankfort due to all the stop and go’s, but alas not long before we experienced it on the Lindley road as well. At least the free state government seems to be fixing some of the roads as travelling the rural roads in SA is becoming more and more a GS affair. Hell the state of our roads is absolutely shocking.
Well we all made it back safely, had a fabulous weekend riding and now one can cherish the memories and savour all the nonsense talked around the fire last night with an ever so slight smile on my dial
Thanks Mother – was a great 1.
