The next morning saw us sore and tired, but it was our final stretch. We planned to go via Quacha's Nek to Matatiele, load the bikes and go back to Fish Hoek. One look at the misty wet conditions outside, Kobus consulted our map and suggested we rather go down via Ramatseliso's Gate - it would cut out a large chunk of our day, and our bikes needed it.
While packing up our stuff, Kobus got all our cable ties together and managed to patch my handle bars to such an extent that I was actually able to ride again.
Yet again, that first 10km was a bitch to ride - especially downhill. Add this to no brakes ('cause I forgot to disengage the abs), and it wasn't long before I had my final fall. This one I could FEEL. Because there were no crash bars on my bike, the front fairing acted as a scoop to the boulders next to the road, so the whole one side of my bike looked as if it came out of a Mad Max movie. My riding gear took a beating, but luckily the bike started again and we were off. Refueled in Sehlabathebe, and made our way to the border crossing.
4km to go, Kobus stopped Johan, as his soft luggage was melting again against his bike. When I tried to start the bike again, it flatly refused. It was the end of my Lesotho trip. So close, but yet so far. We had no idea how to get the bike down the mountain into Matatiele, when all of a sudden we heard the rumble of a diesel. The truck we passed ten minutes before appeared in the mist and after a lot of sign language, the driver helped us load the bike. What are the chances...?? On this remote piece of road - an empty truck actually going to Matatiele??
I honestly don't know what was worse - my earlier falls or the truck-ride back to SA. At one stage I got ready to jump should the truck's wheel slip and we all tumble down the mountain. This pass and the dirt road back to Matatiele were the worst I ever saw. In places, there are a road next to the road, to avoid that sharp rocks. Almost in Matatiele the driver stopped next to Johan that was waiting next to the road with Kobus' bike (missing the front tyre). It seemed that the road took its toll - it was our first puncture. Later on it became clear that Johan's bike also got a flat on that piece of shitty road!
The driver helped to offload my bike at a garage, and I gave him what was left in my wallet - a whopping R150.00. He was over the moon... Kobus brought the X5, we loaded the bikes and 14:00 we were on our way back to Cape Town. We drove without any further incident and arrived 04:30 in Fish Hoek...
My bike was written off. I am quite sad, but now I am forced to do that upgrade to either an 800GS or the 990...
I promised myself - never again. But I will be back. I HAVE to do the Matabeng again - I just have to...
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