KTM Adventure Rally - There and Back Again

[GraZer]

I've long since been keen on attending one of the KTM Adventure Rallies in Australia or New Zealand and was delighted when I heard that South Africa will be hosting their very own. Not really sure of the format for the American and European ones, but the Australian and New Zealand ones are typically 5 days with different overnight stops. I was a little disappointed that the South African one would be 2 days of riding from the same venue, but open mind and all that. I'm not one to trailer my bike and with the event being in the Drakensberg I decided to ride there and back. To make the most of it I also wanted to do two days in Lesotho. Initially I had planned to leave Tuesday, but that did not allow enough time to include Lesotho. So my KTM Adventure Rally has turned into an 11 day, mostly solo, ride.

Day 1 - Cape Town to Willomore
Today was nothing special and I just slabbed it all the way to make time and get out of the Western Cape.

Leaving Cape Town. Was a lot colder than I had anticipated.

Some snow while approaching Ladismith.

Leaving Oudtshoorn, there was a fair bit of snow about on the nearby peaks.

 

[TinusBez]

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[mtr89]

looking forward to this one!

 

[katana]

:thumleft:

 

[Wolzac]

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[Dwerg]

:sip:

 

[Renrew]

This is depressing :biggrin:

Enjoy it! Are you doing Red?

 

[hondsekierie]

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[GraZer]

Enjoy it! Are you doing Red?

The plan is to do Black. But will make a final decision on the day.

What about you. Will I see you there?

 

[hondsekierie]

Are you including Ongeluksnek and Matabeng Pass?  We did Sani to Matatiele via Matabeng a couple of months ago and stayed overnight at a lovely farm in Matatiele which belongs to a fellow biker (Ian).  If you come from the EC side you can cut across and exit via Ongeluksnek and stay over on Ian's farm if you haven't planned anything as yet.  He doesn't advertise but I can give you his details in a PM - I'm sure he'll gladly accommodate you :thumleft:

Safe travels bud :ricky: 

 

[KTMvan]

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[J-dog]

:sip:

 

[GraZer]

Are you including Ongeluksnek and Matabeng Pass?  We did Sani to Matatiele via Matabeng a couple of months ago and stayed overnight at a lovely farm in Matatiele which belongs to a fellow biker (Ian).  If you come from the EC side you can cut across and exit via Ongeluksnek and stay over on Ian's farm if you haven't planned anything as yet.  He doesn't advertise but I can give you his details in a PM - I'm sure he'll gladly accommodate you :thumleft:

Safe travels bud :ricky: 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm already committed to stay elsewhere. Will be going through Lesotho South to North from Matatiele.

 

[Thump]

The pass up from Matatiele is beautiful, a great start to Lesotho, enjoy

 

[Jehan]

Dit klink lekker.  :sip:

 

[Ri]

:sip:
Safe travels! :ricky:

 

[GraZer]

Day 2 - Willowmore to Queenstown

Today I would spend some much needed time off the beaten track on some dirt. Was fairly cold this morning in Willowmore and got going soon after breakfast. The route would be sorter than yesterday (450km), but with more remote riding. The last 145km would be tar.

Bike had a lot of dew on it this morning.

Even the dogs were cold. The small one with the blanket on was shivering.

Let the games begin...

The Sundays river on Sunday

Start of one of the passes.

Looking back down the pass.

The terrain on top changed, with some great views of the Eastern Cape.

The top of another pass.

I stopped to fill up at Cradock and by chance met up with Mahnac72 at the petrol station. He's was returning from a 14 day trip with his fully loaded BMW 650. After a quick chat we discovered that we were both going to Queenstown for the night and decided to ride together. That BMW made me work hard on the tar as I normally travel a bit slower to try and save tyres.

Was great meeting you Mahnac72, hope you get home safe.

 

[armpump]

Lekker man lekker

 

[m0lt3n]

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[ROOI]

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