Lesotho Tour - a picture & video story

[alienhost]

This looks like an awesome adventure, must say it looks like the KLR's are doing a great job !

 

[CAR6850]

Again , I can only say wow and well done :thumleft:

Jy skryf darem lekker ingils vir n boertjie :mwink:

 

[KnopKop]

Congrats guys - what an awsome adventure !!!!

:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[onderbroek]

:thumleft: :thumleft:

awesome story,

what camera did u use?
did u take  a video camera and a photo camera?

i have a slr, but it takes up so much space, so i want to get a "mik en druk" but i don't want to lose quality and i also want to adjust shutter speed and aperture, and also have video recording..

the photos look amazing, will come back to watch the videos, getting hassled at work cause i rape the bandwidth.

 

[Blackballl]

Gr8 RR , thanks for giving me some good reading every day. Pic's are awsome and just a pitty I can't watch all the video clips (bandwidth issues at work).
Keep it comming :deal:

 

[CARLOS]

Well Done!

 

[Kamanya]

John's sense of adventure needs a sense of adventure.

 

[Bakkie]

John's sense of adventure needs a sense of adventure.

:laughing4:

I love the part where he suggest that you put the camera away cos it's not about making movies it's about surviving now.....

I found it...

"At this stage John really urge me to stop taking pictures and making videos because, as he explained, we are
in a situation of life and death and we should be concentrating on getting out of the mess I got us into in the
first place. I, on the other hand, only saw more photo opportunities and dramatic footage for my documentary…

I’m a very persistent photographer but John has strong methods of persuasion. Fearing to lose all the footage
I partially obey orders only sneaking out the camera when he can’t see it. Sooner than I’d hope I am caught
out though and now things turn a bit nasty… "

This is great an awesome report Michiel... I start the video downloads first and then read the report when I'm done then the video's are ready to watch. :thumleft:

 

[hennielowe]

that is the footage you will cherish the most and laugh at afterwards, making a documentary is about the drama and not the pleasantness. when people are stressed and tired the acting is over and the real personality comes out.

great work, I will definitely have a job for you at my company as a tour guide and photographer!!!

:drif:

 

[SGB]

Great story, well done!

That Mantsonyane - Semonkong stretch can be a serious challenge.  You can never say what the conditions will be like, well done for trying!  :thumleft:

Hope Lesotho sees you again soon!

 

[Michiel]

Day 8
Motsoanakaba to Nooitgedacht, Jagersfontein (428km)

Waking next to John in his tent we share I’m reminded of yesterday’s ordeal. I take comfort though in the fact that,
if all goes well, by tonight I will sleep in a familiar bed on the family farm.

Breaking up camp we are closely watched by the local children. Clearly this is a sight they are unfamiliar with.
I should admit to enjoy being a curiosity.

Motsoanakaba Primary School, what a remote place to build a school. Come to think of it, all the villages in
the area obviously have children that need educating.

A big thanks to the families for coming to our rescue with supplies of water, food and just peace of mind.

Last night it rained a bit and as we make our way back to Mantsonyane we encounter one after the other
muddy pool of Lesotho clay. I think it is fare to say we have had our share of adventure and would now like
to get back to the comfort zone we know. I am not the cocky rider anymore that came down this road yesterday.
Sliding around in the mud I’m anxious for John’s mood and rightfully so because after only a couple of k’s his
temper flares again. “Dis jou f***en skuld dat ons hier is en nie al by die huis nie!” Guilty as charged.

Speeding ahead once more I lose sight of John. The whole idea was to not ride alone for in case one of us
get in trouble. Navigating the slippery 2-spoor I end up skidding sideways but luckily no harm done.

The road that descents to Auray. Two ladies posing for a portrait I hand them the last of my nikkerballs and chapies.

I finally catch up with John at Mantsonyane. From here we are back on main roads and as John instruct,
we head back to the home country on the shortest route, I obey.

Filling up with cheap petrol just before crossing the border at Maseru Bridge I decide to shake hands and part
as we are now in tamed land again. I want to thank you John. We had a tough time and my stubbornness, even
call it selfishness, was responsable for putting you in a situation that made you feel out of comfort and control.
Doing this trip and the roads we did was only possible if I could find someone to ride with me. Going by myself
would just have been too risky. You were the only one to take up on my invitasion. Thanks.

John rode off as I videoed the moment. Now I'm riding solo again.

My destination is farther South than John’s and with this I revert back to original plans by travelling on gravel.
Reddersburg makes for another chance to get the camera out.

With the old girl turning 20K I realise we will have to celebrate her 21st before I get back to Cape Town,
probably somewhere on the N1 crossing the Karoo.

Now I’m almost there, the family farm a mere ½ hour’s ride away. I will stay there for a week until my final
return to Cape Town.

I would like to leave the end of my story for the video to tell. Don’t you also feel such a lonesome sadness
once a big exiting journey/holiday has ended? Now all that is left are the memories.

Here is the video corresponding to Day 8. The End... till the next adventure of course.  :thumleft:

 

[hennielowe]

well done!!!

 

[rubiblue]

Great read!

I hate that "ending" feeling. Freedom, OVER!

 

[hennielowe]

its not a ending, its a beginning

 

[Bakkie]

awesome michiel looking forward to meeting you at the EC WD bash!

 

[CliveG]

Great report Michiel, you have the right adventurous spirit that would have got you to Semonkong.

I did that same trip from Mantsonyane to Semonkong in April with my nephew, him on a TTR230, me on a DRZ.  I really loved the ride so much that I going to do the same  trip as you from Sani to Katse, then Mantsonyane to Semonkong over the 13 to 16 June.

 

[alienhost]

What a great trip, now the fun can begin all over again. You get to start planning your next adventure  :ricky:

 

[onderbroek]

:thumleft: :thumleft: :ricky:

well composed RR, enjoyed every second

 

[Spore]

Dankie Michiel vir moeite met uitstekende RR!! :thumleft:
Sien uit na jou volgende een!!

 

[bradleys]

Bladey awesome,well done to both of you.You the man Michiel,great report and pics :thumleft: