Lesotho, the hard way.(Complete)

[Michiel]

I'm sorry guys, I know this is frustrating, but I'm trying to lure Sack and Dusty into participating
by leaving open ends... Dustdevil seem to be having a writer's block but I promise he's got some
really beautiful pictures coming. Nearly all the images on the DVD cover fat b showed comes from
Dustdevil. I hope he doesn't sue me.  :3some: Come on Dusty.

 

[Rynet]

Thanks Michiel  for the DVD , you 5 made chicks ( and one guy) very happy on Saturday evening  :thumleft: We loved the first DVD , but haven't even got to the second one yet , we're watching that next Saturday night 

 

[Just Blip It!]

I am enjoying this.......more please!

 

[Dustdevil]

I was following Stefan's muddy trail in the stark blue light of the HID when he came to a sudden halt. Although I asked him to repeat the words he uttered for a video later on it was impossible to capture the same disappointment in his voice as he explains to me that he has a flat front wheel. How could it be possible to have a flat only minutes after having a major breakdown.
It is pitch dark and we must have stopped next to a village because we were drawing a spectator crowd in seconds. Stefan decided to try his luck with a can of tire weld but that was all he managed to do, try. A few yards down the luck ran out of the tube and the wheel was flat again. He decided to carry on at a snails pace rather than fix a tire in the dark and mud, and with a crowd that is all around you but that you cant see most of the time. I must add that our uneasy feelings were unfounded and that these mountain people you could trust with your life. I guess we all suffer from the "black wave of destruction" syndrome.

It took a while to get to the backpackers where a warm soft bed was waiting for us.

 

[fat b]

Keep it coming ... keep up the momentum ...  :thumleft:

 

[madmike999]

yes yes don't stop

 

[Michiel]

Leading them to the Backpackers in the pitch black of night Sack and Dustdevil had no idea what the
landscape around them looked like. I know this feeling. It does make for a pleasant surprise in the
morning though. It has become custom for me to ride the bike round to the front of the building,
over a trench bridged by a stone slab, and park right by the bedroom window. I assumed they would
follow my track but to my amazement both Dustdevil and Sack aimed right for the trench and just
blipped the bikes over a  40cm wide and rather deep sloot.

We were happy to be safe and sheltered and settled down for the night. There were also a group of
mountain bikers sharing the backpackers but we didn't really get to chat to them till the next morning.
The facilities has been described as rustic, this basically mean no electrisity and no whatever comes with
electricity.

Getting his gear off Dustdevil pointed out his knee was all swollen. Inflamed he called it. Another dark
cloud hanging over the trip I thought. We slept well.

The next morning the inevitable procedures followed.

 

[MrBig]

You guys really know how to drag this out hey

 

[g1_]

I'm still busy catching up on the RR, I'm still on page 8. Enjoying the read so far!

I'm planning a 3 week trip later this year and am hoping to film the trip. Can I bounce some stuff / questions off you guys?
Also, would it be possible to get a DVD? My internet connection is not really appropriate for streaming video of more than 5min.

btw, if you want to put your video's up on the net and don't want to break them down into chunks for youtube, have a look at vimeo.com
They seem to allow longer video's.

 

[fat b]

I watched my dvd's again last night ! Better than Multi-Choice anytime !! :thumleft:

 

[Dustdevil]

So we woke to this landscape at the backpackers the following morning;

I took a nice warm shower and went walking about with my camera;

 

[madmike999]

respect respect respect DD,

Those images are unbelievable  :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Michiel]

Last night Dusty and I were a bit loud and the cyclists banged on the dry wall separating our rooms to
voice their frustration. Being a bit wary I approached them the next morning but they turned out to be
a pleasant bunch. While Sack fixed up his flat tyre they had their bicycles upside down on the grass to
clean the gears ex. Heading towards Sehonghong they asked about what we knew on the area.

It has become an must for me to make at least one stay-over at the Molumong Backpackers each time I
pass by the area. The house was built by an Scot and served as residence to the people who ran the trading
post. Nowadays no more trading happens here, as far as I know, but there does exist an interesting and
alluring aura around the place. I have been recieved here with no less than open hands and hospitality.

We have another exiting day ahead of us so I hurried Dusty up and off we were. The road from Molumong
towards Thaba Tseka is one of the most beautiful in Lesotho. One winds along deeply cut valleys with streams
down below. The landscape is just spectacular. Not far from Molumong we came across a village right by the
road side. Dustdevil had been searching for opportunities to take pictures of the Basotho huts and houses.
I stopped as there was a magnificent specimen to be sampled.

Here are some of my images but Dustdevil has some really special shots. Come on Dusty, give it up...  :deal:

 

[fat b]

Yes dusty kom nou !

 

[Hitman]

Hoe meer ek lees, hoe meer hoop ek dat ek ook eendag in van julle spore sal kan volg!

Julle ouens weet hoe om 'n storie te vertel - Uitstekend!!  :thumleft: :thumleft:

Saam met almal kan ek nie wag vir die res nie.

 

[Dustdevil]

Not much to say here, but again I am awestruck by how clean and unspoiled the surroundings of this villages are and by the pure simplicity of village life and yet the people do not come across as being poor although they are always asking for stuff. I guess it became a habit but I always found that they are content when you explain that you do not have something to give them.

The Houses are simple and mostly constructed with natural materials. I like the symmetry of the centrally placed door with one window each side.

We spend a lot of time at the village filming and taking stills so when we got going again we did not stop much till we got to Thaba Tseka where we filled up our tanks and bellies and recharged camera batteries and download all the memory cards. We will not have another opertunity till we get to Semonkong, if we ever get there!

I managed to get some interesting shots on the fly.

 

[fat b]

Altus thanx for the pics , I can see by the time you posted you probably could not sleep , that's the kakkest thing about broken ribs , comfortable sleep becomes almost impossible . But hang in there this will be one of those campfire stories you will tell your grand children one day !  :thumleft:

 

[Michiel]

Stopping by these villages and taking the time to observe the smaller details really make a trip like this
more memorable. In front of that hut grew some bushes with small blue/purple flowers. Bees were busy
gathering nectar while piglets grazed on the grass a short distance further. The Basotho seemed to be
interested in what we were doing and didn't mind the cameras. As Dustdevil has mentioned, have a look
at how clean the village is. This is right next to a busy road between two big towns in Lesoho and not a
single piece of paper or plastic were to be seen. More than I can say of my family's farm...

The Bloemfontein - Jagersfontein road cuts right through the middle of it and one can pick up a bag full of
rubbish at any place along the 10 km stretch within 5 min. This is from people throwing things out of their
cars. Dreadful.

After crossing the Senqu River, just upstream from where we crossed two days ago, this time on a long
low water bridge we track the same piece of road we were on back then.

The day is getting on and by midday we make a stop in Thaba Tseka for petrol and lunch. At this stage we
are lucky for the weather is beautiful. On the surface we have a carefree and light spirit but underneath
and deep down there is a growing concern. I like to fill up with petrol before looking for lunch because the
petrol attendants usually know the best eating spots. The lady at the pump pointed us back the way we
came into town and at a new white building. A hotel and conference centre of some sort.

Parked safely our pony's basking in the Lesotho sun we stepped into what, at first, looked like a kitsch styled
receiving area. The dining room did surprise us though. Heavy curtains, deep soft carpets and luxurious wooden
trimmings from floor up to and on the ceiling. Very decorative.

On the menu we only had one option for food, the day's meal. Well, I suppose we don't have much of a choice then...
We didn't expect much. Boy, was I impressed when our meal did arrive. It came with salads and a pudding as well.
This for only R50 or something like that.

Both Dusty and Sack had some beer to wash the food down. Not a good idea to take alcohol at this point I thought
but I kept that to myself.

 

[fat b]

Both Dusty and Sack had some beer to wash the food down. Not a good idea to take alcohol at this point I thought
but I kept that to myself.

MMM.... I am sure I remember reading somewhere that Dusty NEVER drinks even the evening before he is gonna ride ???? So WTF ????  :imaposer:  Just goes to show we all break our own rules sometimes , guess that's what makes us human ?  :thumleft:

 

[Michiel]

Both Dusty and Sack had some beer to wash the food down. Not a good idea to take alcohol at this point I thought
but I kept that to myself.

MMM.... I am sure I remember reading somewhere that Dusty NEVER drinks even the evening before he is gonna ride ???? So WTF ????  :imaposer:  Just goes to show we all break our own rules sometimes , guess that's what makes us human ?  :thumleft:

He would say: "Dis net 'n biertjie man!"

Don't worry though, they're going to sweat it off before the sun goes down...