Lekker little teaser you're giving them Sack... :ricky:
The idea was to ride together, Dustdevil and I, to the Free State and from there Dustdevil would descend
once again to his family in the North Eastern Cape for x-mas. He wanted to check Orania out and since I
know a friend there we decided to try and make it all the way from Cape Town in one day. As the crow fly
we travel on gravel.
Alain is a friend I met about 3 years ago when I still had my beloved Honda CX500. As he also still ride one,
this was the point of interest that brought us together. Since then I swapped the CX for a KLR and took to
Adventure Riding. Alain soon took interest in this as I shared all I got up to. Long story short, I love it when
people show interest and enthusiasm in the things that make my boat float and as Alain did I thought it well
to invite him to ride to Sutherland. He jumped for the opportunity, went out and rented a KLR and before
we knew it we were ready to roll.
After endlessly nagging Dustdevil to make sure he's got all his ducks in a row for this trip I arrived on the long
awaited morning to a chaotic workshop with a very tired Dustdevil still tightening bolts on the HPN... We were
supposed to leave town on that Saturday morning at 4. By 5 we finally got going. Alain was already waiting at the
Winelands Engen. Just as the knoblies started howling along the N1 Dustdevil flagged me down. He explained that
his backpack is hurting his back, ain't gonna do and we have to try and get Leftless to get out of bed and sell him
another backpack/hydrapack.
So, for the next 30min we rode around Leftless's neighbourhood trying to locate his house. Finally found him and
gentleman he is Leftless sorted us out, no questions asked.
By 6AM we rocked up at the Winelands Engen and found Alain patiently waiting. Here's one of the HPN finally
ready to roll...
More picture opportunities in the Bainskloof Pass. I thought we would roll through here with the sun just rising,
we were seriously behind schedule. Dustdevil and I.
Alain with his rented KLR.
On towards Sutherland riding from Ceres. As soon as we hit the first dirt it was clear that this day would become
a long one. I completely overestimated Alain's dirt riding abilities and started to realize we were in for a looong day.
On these Karoo Highways one can, in some places, open a 1200GS up full taps but we were doing at best a very
shaky 70km/h. I couldn't even shift into 5th gear!
Stopping to check out this weird-looking bush I took my time to give Alain a head start so I could at least shift into 5th.
Here Dustdevil proved to be a much more worthy a soul by taking Alain under his wing and handing out lessons on
how to stand up and use his weight to control the bike ex ex. I helped by making sure Alain was running correct tyre
pressures.
I should admit, I lost patience way too easy and was it not for Dustdevil's endless sources of it things might have gone
the wrong way. We FINALLY made it to Sutherland... 4 Hours behind schedule! Alain was to stay here for the night,
check out the town and surrounding countryside and make his own way back to Cape Town the following day. After
we had a much needed lunch and organized Alain acommodation for the night Dustdevil and I made speed for Fraserburg.
For as far as the KLR could keep up the HPN could now show off it's racing heritage.
By the time we roared into Fraserburg Dustdevil was in desperate need of a little power nap. As we've done before
we scouted for the nearest shady stoep, he collapsed and started snoring almost immediately. I also setteld down
but was too exited about the awaiting adventure to fall asleep.
A short while later another Dog on his 1150GS rolled into town. He was going in the opposite direction heading
for Cape Town but having left Jo-Burg that morning he decided to stay over in Fraserburg. Now let me tell you,
there is no quicker way to get Dustdevil going than to point at his bike and ask: "what is this?" This oke obviously
looked right past my trusty steed and, pointing to the HPN, asked: "what is this?" With that Dustdevil rose from his
grave and as if somebody pushed his nitro button started talking a hind leg off a donkey...
